GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel, 24-Count, Salted Caramel

I’ve used this product for years. When I was a triathlete I used GU so I wouldn’t hit the wall or bonk. Now I’m a tournament Pickleball player. I used GU for immediate energy during play. It works immediately.

These things taste like plastic and the box I had came with a two or three that didnt seal properly from the factory and had some GU leaking out. Other than that, theyre pretty good. I used them on 2 marathons and quite a few training runs. However, theres something about them that didnt seem quite right. Maybe they were quality rejects? Others Ive had just had more real caramel taste.

This is the most palatable of these energy packets Ive tried. It tastes like caramel, which I expect to be sweet so it isnt so shocking when I put it in my mouth. But really I buy it for the energy; it has a little more punch than other gels. I use it before swimming and during my long runs. Gu is thicker than other brands so when it is cold it is really thick.

This has helped my endurance on longer runs and bike rides. Because of the cost, I use it only for competition runs, or when Im cycling with people who I have trouble keeping up with. I figure that 100 calories every 45 minutes, when Im burning 400+ calories, is a good tradeoff. And the slightly better pace offsets some of those calories. The cost is too high, even at Amazons discount pricing, for me to use it for regular running and cycling.

Have been using these for years prior to a run; great boost of energy! Need some water to flush it down though as it is a bit thick. I prefer the vanilla flavor and also the chocolate but that is even thicker. No after taste at all.

There are Gu Gel people and then there are the rest of us. I started off in the former camp - used the Gu Gel on a couple long runs and loved the energy burst. So I took the plunge and bought a 24-pack from Amazon, in Vanilla Bean (my favorite flavor). But as my long runs increased above 15 miles, I found the Gu Gel upset my stomach and instead I needed real food to fuel my body. Just depends on your mileage and personal preference. If you like the Gu Gels, Vanilla Bean is great and the price at Amazon (for a 24-pack) is the best Ive seen.

This is one of my favorite supplements, I can use it with boxing, rock climbing, firefighting, general labor, great pick me up on the go. It has amino acids, the building blocks of protein, caffeine for muscle recovery and sodium to stay hydrated with extreme heat or heavy activity.

Recommend

Decent flavor and as easy to get down as any gel (which isnt that easy but easier than gummies). I wish they offered a smaller packet because its kind of hard to get the whole thing down, especially late in a run and once youve opened it, youre committed to either finishing it or finding a trash can. Id rather carry twice as many 50cal packs and be able to eat less at a time. The packet offers some excessive recommendations about how many of these to use (1 before starting then another one every 45 minutes). If you follow those instructions, youll probably puke (or want to). . Everybodys different but if youre new to gels and sports one uses them for, dont start by following the directions, start with a much more conservative regimen (like none to start and 1 every 90 minutes or 2 hours) to see how you tolerate it and how often you really need it. Also, they recently started marketing this as something you might eat in casual settings like before going to the gym- thats ridiculous- the only reason to use this product rather than eat real food is if the duration and circumstances of your activity require fuel that a) you can carry with you in short shorts b) you can consume while moving and c) can get your blood sugar up without requiring a fully operational digestive system. Its not a workout enhancer, its just a packet of sugars and electrolytes that tastes good enough that it doesnt make most people sick.

As a triathlete maintaining nutrition during an Ironman event is critical. Using these products ensures that I am keeping up with what is needed to keep my calories and nutrition equalized during this type of endurance race.