Gels and Chews

Reviewed by Andrew F.

Untapped All Natural Athletic Fuel (which I will call "UnTapped" for the remainder of this review) might be one of the simplest energy supplements out there. It is a small foil pouch of pure maple syrup. That means 26 grams of carbs in one small, easy-to-consume shot. If you like the taste of maple syrup and can handle the super-sweet taste, they are a worthy addition to your arsenal.

INTRODUCTION UnTapped is an elegantly simple energy supplement  — it is a one-ounce foil packet of pure, organic, Vermont maple syrup. For those of you who are into your syrup, it's Grade A amber rich. That is a very popular grade for table use with pancakes, waffles, etc.   DETAILS Each foil pouch of UnTapped fits in the palm of your hand. Literally. Within that almost weightless packet are about 100 calories, 26 grams of carbohydrates. Maple syrup also has small amounts of potassium and meaningful amounts of riboflavin and manganese.

Read more: UnTapped Gels review (1)

Reviewed by Daniel Oates

Natural tasting chews filled with B vitamins and electrolytes, which are quite filling compared to other chews. I'd recommend these energy chews for trail runs, training days, or workouts, but there are better options for long trips in the backcountry.

I enjoy trail running and have been trying several different trail snacks over the years. Most times I make my own, but decided to get a box of the ProBar Bolt Organic Energy Chews. There are four different flavors (as of July 2015) and like other ProBar products, the chews are made with natural ingredients. I tested these chews before or during several different activities including my morning strength training, trail runs, and as a supplement on a weekend of disc golf. I purchased the variety pack, consisting of 12 packs total of (1) Raspberry, (2) Orange, (3) Berry Blast, and (4) Strawberry.

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Featured review by Gilipollas

Taste great, seem to do the trick for energy.

These are as good as energy chews get. I've tried the Clif energy block things and some Gatorade ones, not to mention gels and other stuff, and these are far and away the best. They taste great, kind of like honey flavored candy with a hint of whatever flavor they're selling it as, but not too sweet. They give a good kick, fill you up a decent amount, and the caffeinated ones definitely gave me a little boost when I needed it.   The packaging isn't that great, it's a large bag for how many you get inside, but at least they aren't all stuck together.

Read more: Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews reviews (3)

Featured review by Seth Levy

The full lineup of Clif Shot energy gels. I tested the new (2011) formula of Clif Bar's Clif Shot energy gels while hiking, snow-biking, and road biking in a variety of conditions. These convenient little foil packets taste relatively good overall (though some flavors are better than others), and provide a noticeable boost in energy, though they do little to relieve hunger. Clif Shots aren't meal substitutes and won't make you feel full, but will give you the energy you need to get where you're going.

Read more: Clif Shot reviews (4)

Featured review by KiwiKlimber

A fruit-flavored organic energy chew with great flavor and no filling feeling. However, I found I need to consume a whole pack (six chews) in order to feel any energy increases.

Taste:There are some creature comforts that we deprive ourselves of while out on the trail. Because of my sweet tooth, I always crave sweet treats while on the trail, but some of my favorites—cookies, candies, and baked goods—don’t lend themselves well to being stuffed in a pack. When I set out to find a snack that could serve as a delicious treat and hold up well in my pack, I found the Clif Shot Bloks, specifically the strawberry flavor.  The taste is not overpoweringly sweet nor is it full of fake strawberry flavoring like many candies, but rather it is pleasant, with only a light to moderate strawberry flavor.  Energy: The packaging recommends consuming 3-6 chews per hour during activity, being sure to wash them down with plenty...

Read more: Clif Shot Bloks reviews (2)

Featured review by Bryce Allen

I have tried all the flavors of the GU energy gel. The one that tastes the best to me are the strawberry banana and the peanut butter. The chocolate is way too filling and the mocha (caffeine in the ingredients) make me feel way too thirsty during the run.

Just this year running has become a very successful hobby of mine. While training for my fist half marathon I used GU. The first flavor I used was strawberry banana. The texture was comparable to syrup. The next few flavors I tried were the caramel, mocha (with caffeine), vanilla and chocolate. Although I tried the other flavors available strawberry banana seamed to taste the best. Vanilla would be my least favorite. Chocolate filled me up too much and mocha caused me to be a little more dehydrated as usual while running.

Read more: GU Energy Gel reviews (2)

Reviewed by KiwiKlimber

Although I'm not an energy gel enthusiast, these gels did a fine job at giving me a little boost when needed. The flavors were pleasing and the texture was thick, but very easy to manage.

I've tried two different flavors during two different pursuits. The first being a 5.5 mile city run in hot weather (and I haven't run in a looong time), the second being a 5 mile hike on muddy hilly terrain.  The energy gels were given to me by a GU representative at an urban 5.5-mile race that my brother-in-law convinced me to run with him. I haven't run in years, so I knew I was going to feel a bit sluggish and easily winded.  I thought maybe the GU energy gels would help me return to my glory days of running like a gazelle (okay, maybe not a gazelle).

Read more: GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel review (1)

Reviewed by Scott C.

Awesome nutritional, energy, and hydration supplements.

I mainly mountain bike due to crushed nerves in my leg. However, I do receive an occasional injection to sedate the nerve. It only last a few days for me. That said, I have tried all the other energy products that were available. My bike shop owner knows I’m diabetic and how other gels, chews, waffles etc either tear up my stomachs (at the worst possible timing) or shoot my sugar out the roof. He said he found this new product at sea otter show and ordered some for myself and a few others to try.

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Reviewed by Andrew F.

I was provided with four flavors of CLIF organic energy food: pizza margherita, banana mango with coconut, banana beet with ginger, and sweet potato with sea salt. All four were reasonably tasty, with some specific preferences outlined below. I felt the fruit-based ones were better for on-the-go energy, whereas the others were more filling and felt more like a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack than high-carb energy. The packaging makes these easy to carry, eat, and re-seal.

BASIC DETAILS Each packet of Clif Organic Energy Food is small and fits in the palm of your hand, a small pocket on a hip belt, or in a cargo pocket on a pair of shorts. The fruit packs are slightly shorter and smaller. To open them requires a number of twists of the top; a nice part of that is you can twist the top back on and reseal it. The top pieces are large, so they are easy to unscrew while hiking or cycling. The packet format makes them all very easy to eat: just squeeze and gulp, no chewing required.

Read more: Clif Organic Energy Food review (1)

Reviewed by Tÿcho

My go-to gel.

I've tried all sorts of gels, some taste like canned frosting, some are too sweet with simple sugars and some try too hard to be natural. This gel is just right. The formula used in this energy gel contains more complex sugars which take a little time to absorb. This means that you get a nice even energy boost instead of the high and crash of gels that use simple sugars. The formula also uses proteins which help with the sugar rush and minimize muscle tissue degradation. I like the espresso flavor best as it tastes like a dark chocolate, and has a little caffeine for a boost. I've used this gel as food on several long runs over six hours and I never got tired of the flavor, which is more than I can say about most electrolyte drinks and...

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