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Whats your favorite energy gel?

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Old 07-30-14, 08:23 PM
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Whats your favorite energy gel?

I've tried only Cliff and GU so far(been through many cases of each in various flavors). Cliff tastes the best, GU has the best effects. For those of you who have tried these brands and others which have you liked the most, both flavor and effectiveness?

Cliff VS GU VS Hammer VS Powerbar VS Honey Stinger VS First Endurance?

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Old 07-30-14, 08:25 PM
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GU chocolate outrage and hammergel chocolate. I'm sure anything chocolate flavor is good.
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Old 07-30-14, 08:26 PM
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I like home made (Maltodextrin, corn syrup, pectin, a pinch of caffeine). Otherwise GU is fine if you don't mind $1 each.
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Old 07-30-14, 08:37 PM
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It's so good I'd use it to top my dessert.
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Old 07-30-14, 08:38 PM
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GU chocolate outrage. Especially when it's warm from being in your jersey pocket.
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Old 07-30-14, 09:00 PM
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GU Roctane, Orange/Vanilla. Cliff shot blocks in cherry are good as well.
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Old 07-30-14, 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by bconneraz
GU chocolate outrage. Especially when it's warm from being in your jersey pocket.
My mother in law supplies me with GU. Every time she visits she brings me 20-30 packets. It's pretty nice of her. She has been doing it for 2-3 years. Anyway, she usually brings at least 5-10 chocolate ones and I have a huge backlog of GUs to consume. I've been finding that old chocolate GUs solidifies back into solid chocolate chunks. When they're past due, they become chocolate chip GUs. Other old GUs haven't been doing that, only chocolate outrage. Just a FYI from my vast mountain of GU experience.
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Old 07-30-14, 09:36 PM
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Stinger Waffles and Stinger gel (though that's like drinking straight honey).
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Old 07-30-14, 09:39 PM
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Are there any of these things that are COMPLETELY caffeine free? My electrical system is hyper sensitive to caffeine...it triggers an A-Fib...pretty unpleasant.
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Old 07-31-14, 07:16 AM
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I'm a big fan of the Cliff Shot Blocks myself.
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Old 07-31-14, 07:20 AM
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I like Hammer Gel Vanilla used with the little flask

Hammer Gel Jug - 26 Servings - Hammer Nutrition

Hammer Gel Flask - Hammer Nutrition
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Old 07-31-14, 07:38 AM
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Read the package, GU offers a few that have no caffeine. Usually somewhere on the front it will also say 35 or 40 g of caffeine.
Originally Posted by Nick94804
Are there any of these things that are COMPLETELY caffeine free? My electrical system is hyper sensitive to caffeine...it triggers an A-Fib...pretty unpleasant.
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Old 07-31-14, 07:42 AM
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Old 07-31-14, 07:44 AM
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I was a big Hammer user...most flavors are really good save just a few (tropical and Huckelberry come to mind). I got some High5 gels in a pack from ProBikeKit and I was instantly hooked...MUCH thinner, super easy to drink rapidly, decent taste (kinds like thicker fruit juice)...far less messy and quicker than most brands I've tried. They use good ingredients as well. More than likely not as organic as Hammer...but who knows, High5's stuff is not labeled for sale in the US.

On a side note, Hammer HEED is horrible...High5's drink mix is so much better, it's unbelievable.
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Old 07-31-14, 08:04 AM
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Old 07-31-14, 08:57 AM
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GU Chocolate Outrage....Bushmill's for recovery. Some habits are hard to break.
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Old 07-31-14, 10:04 AM
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The Hammer apple-cinnamon is pretty nice, though their "tropical" flavor I recall as being horrifying.
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Old 07-31-14, 10:22 AM
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Want no caffeine? Go to e-Gel

Want more per packet? Go to e-Gel

Want smooth flowing gel? Go to e-Gel

Want to do a comparison.....e-Gel Electrolyte Energy Gel - Not Just Energy ... Electrolyte Energy!

I have used the others and now use e-Gel and e-Fuel
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Old 07-31-14, 10:50 AM
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You find that these vary in effectiveness? What do you attribute that to? I haven't really noticed any difference in effectiveness between brands of gel, or between a gel and a banana for that matter. Though I gotta admit the flavor choices are rather limited with bananas.
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Old 07-31-14, 10:55 AM
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Powerbar Powergel, vanilla.
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Old 07-31-14, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Looigi
You find that these vary in effectiveness? What do you attribute that to? I haven't really noticed any difference in effectiveness between brands of gel, or between a gel and a banana for that matter. Though I gotta admit the flavor choices are rather limited with bananas.
I have some blood sugar issues...technically I'm diagnosed hypoglycemic so I have to be careful with what I eat. I love me a banana but the hard sugar content will really screw with me and I've had some serious crashes in the past riding while eating higher sugar foods.

I found that those High5 gels work well in keeping me balanced on harder efforts...as did Hammer. The higher carb to sugar ratio seems to work well with my system.

I found I stay more "balanced" with the High5 vs some other brands I've tried...possibly that due to it being so thin and easier to digest.
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Old 07-31-14, 11:25 AM
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I've tried practically every nutrition product out there.

If you like gels, my favorite is Crank Energy e-Gels. What I specifically like about them is that they're thinner so they go down easier, they taste better, no caffeine or other undesirable ingredients, they contain electrolytes so no need for Nuun tablets in your water, they contain 150 rather than 100 calories so you don't need as many, and the price is good. I haven't used anything else for years if I have a choice.

The Mountain Rush flavor is the best by far -- I don't care for the others. As far as the other products you mentioned (Cliff, GU, Hammer, Powerbar, Honey Stinger, First Endurance), I'd go Hammer Orange or Gu (lemon or orange). I can't stand Powerbar products and don't care much for Honey Stinger or First Endurance.

If you like solids and don't mind chewing, Cliffshot blocks are pretty good. I used to swear by Hammer Perpetuem, but after using it for several years, it started making me sick. Also, it can be messy to work with if you're out all day.
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Old 07-31-14, 11:27 AM
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Hammer Montana Huckleberry
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Old 07-31-14, 12:21 PM
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Gels are messy. Plus cliff bars and stinger waffles are easier on the stomach.
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Old 07-31-14, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Nachoman
Gels are messy. Plus cliff bars and stinger waffles are easier on the stomach.
I put a small piece of scotch tape on each packet of gel. Once I eat it I roll it up starting from the opened side and tape the roll. It keeps the mess down.
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