The best energy gels for running you can buy in the UK (top 6)
For some people, running is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other and not stopping until you've reached the finish line (easier said than done). But some of us need a bit more help when it comes to running, and luckily there are lots of products out there which can do just that.
Energy gels have become a key tool for both competitive and amateur runners who are looking to improve their performance in a safe and legal way. A quick boost of carbohydrates can help you to keep going and to break through the wall.
Because there are so many options out there, we thought it would be useful to round up the best energy gels for runners that we've found, let's get into it:
Gu Energy
The problem with so many of these energy gels is that they just don't taste very good, which is why we were so delighted when we stumbled across the Gu Energy gels. Flavours include Espresso Love (pictured) which had a lovely coffee flavour, as well as other varieties such as Vanilla Bean and Salted Caramel. If you've got a bit of a sweet tooth you'll love the taste of these, but they're also not too sickly. If you're looking for an energy gel that you won't dread using before or during a run, this is a great option. But it's not just about the great taste - each energy gel sachet is packed with 100 calories as well as maltodextrin, fructose, and sodium. On top of that, you get 450mg of amino acids to help reduce muscle damage and 20mg of caffeine to keep you alert.
We've been really impressed by the energy gels from Gu, learn more and buy them - amazon.co.uk
HIGH5
The HIGH5 brand has been around for years, and experienced runners will likely already be familiar with some of the products from this brand, including the popular range of energy gels. Each sachet contains a multicarbohydrate blend which is designed to give you an instant boost either before or after your run. You'll get 23g of carbohydrates per sachet, plus the energy gel is made using real fruit juice. The Citrus flavour (pictured) was our favourite by far from the HIGH5 range, but you the Berry and Orange flavours also seem to be very popular. Another thing we really liked about these energy gels is that they're really easy to rip open and use, even when you're in full flow on your run. Learn more and buy them here - highfive.co.uk
Lucozade Sport Dual-Fuel Energy Gel
The Lucozade brand is well known (we've written about how healthy Lucozade drinks are previously), but not many people realise that the Lucozade Sport brand also produces a range of energy gels. Each sachet contains 30g of carbohydrates and the reason they're called Dual-Fuel sachets is because they contain both glucose and fructose. They all have that iconic orange flavour and we'd say that aside from the Gu Energy gels we put at the top of our list, these energy gels from Lucozade Sport tasted the best. If you've ever run the London marathon then you might recognise these sachets as they're usually handed out along the route. Learn more and buy them here - lucozade.com
Maurten Hydrogel Sports Fuel
You might notice that this brand looks pretty expensive, and at £3.50 per sachet, we definitely think it is! But it's also seriously impressive - made with glucose and fructose as well as calcium carbonate and a touch of caffeine, the energy gels from Marten contain everything you need to give yourself a boost before or during your run. Learn more and explore the full range here - maurten.com
TORQ gels
Similar to the Gu energy gels we included in this list, one of the great things about the range of gels from TORQ is all of the fantastic flavours you can choose from. We had the Banoffee flavour (pictured) which was delicious, but the range also includes flavours such as Lemon Drizzle and Apple Crumble. The gels contain no artificial sweeteners or colours, and they're vegan too. Each sachet contains a 2:1 ratio of Maltodextrin to Fructose and 5 key electrolytes, helping you to keep going on long runs and avoid cramps. Learn more and explore the range here - torqfitness.co.uk
SiS (Science In Sport) energy running gels
The SiS (Science In Sport) brand actually seems to be the most popular brand of energy gels in the UK at the moment - we found them stocked everywhere from Holland & Barrett to Tesco, whereas we had a bit of trouble finding some of the other energy gels in this list and had to go to some specialist running shops for a few of them. However, we're not surprised that the SiS energy gels are so popular because they're great. SiS definitely lives up to its name in terms of the science which is applied to the products, and it feels like every sachet of SiS energy gel is packed with science-backed goodness to help you on your runs. We tried the isotonic energy gels (pictured) which each contain 22g of easily digestible carbohydrates and which don't need to be washed down with water, helping to feel light and not sluggish during your run. They're also completely vegan and actually taste pretty pleasant too. If you're the sort of runner who enjoys a caffeine boost during a longer run, you can buy Sis energy gels which contain 75mg of caffeine per sachet. Learn more and explore the full range here - hollandandbarrett.com
Hopefully, this guide helps you to choose a great energy gel to keep you running for longer. Let us know if you've tried any of these or if you have any other recommendations!
Finn H
Finn is the editor of You Well and has been writing about travel, health, and more for over 10 years.