Best Energy Gels for Endurance Athletes 2026: 7 Picks

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Kilometer 30 of a marathon, the third hour of a gravel ride, the bike-to-run change in a triathlon, extra time in a summer tournament: that’s when the legs go quiet and you reach into a back pocket for a gel. The best energy gels for endurance athletes are the ones your stomach handles, that give you the carbs you planned for, and that are tested for banned substances if you race under anti-doping rules. We compared seven real, currently sold gels by carbs, sodium, caffeine, third-party testing and price per gel.

Prices change often. The prices below are what we saw at the maker or a major retailer in October 2026; check the current price before you buy.

Safety first: energy gels are sports foods, not medicine. Several come in caffeinated versions (up to 100 mg per gel here), which aren’t for everyone: if you’re sensitive to caffeine, have a heart condition or diabetes, are pregnant or take medication, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before using them. Follow the label and try every gel in training before race day.

Our top picks

Energy gels compared

Gel	Carbs	Sodium	Caffeine	Testing	About (Oct 2026)	Per gel
Maurten Gel 100	25 g	20 mg (retailer)	0 (CAF 100: 100 mg)	Informed Sport (maker)	$45 / 12	$3.75 (CAF $4.33)
GU Energy Gel	21–23 g	60–125 mg	0, 20 or 40 mg	Informed Choice	$48 / 24	$2.00
SiS GO Isotonic	22 g	10 mg	0 (GO + Caffeine: 75 mg)	Informed Sport (maker)	$65 / 30	$2.17
SiS Beta Fuel Gel	40 g	Not confirmed	0	Informed Sport (maker)	$22 / 6	$3.67
PF 30 Gel	30 g	None added	0 (caffeine version: 100 mg)	Informed Sport (maker)	$3.12 each	$3.12
Neversecond C30	30 g	200 mg	0 (C30+: 75 mg)	Informed Sport (maker)	$42 / 12	$3.50
Huma Chia Energy Gel	22–25 g	105–110 mg	0, 25 or 100 mg by flavor	Not third-party certified	$60 / 24	$2.50

The best energy gels for endurance athletes, one by one

1. Maurten Gel 100: best for race day

Maurten’s gel looks and feels different: a firm, jelly-like “hydrogel” rather than a syrup, with just six ingredients and almost no flavor. Each 40 g sachet has 25 g of carbs (glucose and fructose in a 1:0.8 ratio) and about 100 calories. The CAF 100 version adds 100 mg of caffeine. Maurten says all its products are certified by Informed Sport and every batch is tested against the WADA list. It’s the priciest here at $45 for 12 (about $3.75 a gel; CAF 100 about $4.33), so many athletes save it for races and long key sessions.

• Good: neutral taste that doesn’t get sickly late in a race; short ingredient list; batch-tested.
• Watch out: the most expensive per gel; the texture surprises first-timers; very little sodium.
• Best for: marathons, triathlons and drug-tested racers.

Check the Maurten Gel 100 price on Amazon

2. GU Energy Gel: best value

The classic. GU’s original gel is a 31 g packet with 100 calories, 21–23 g of carbs, 60–125 mg of sodium and 450 mg of amino acids (BCAAs), depending on flavor. Caffeine depends on the flavor too: none in flavors like Strawberry Banana, 20 mg in Salted Caramel, and 40 mg in Espresso Love, so check the packet. GU sells a box of 24 for $48 (about $2.00 a gel), and the maker lists it as Informed Choice certified (a program that tests for banned substances; Informed Sport adds batch testing before release).

• Good: lowest price here; huge flavor range; sold almost everywhere, including race expos.
• Watch out: thick and sweet, so most people take it with water; caffeine hides in some flavors.
• Best for: everyday long runs and rides, and stocking up.

Check the GU Energy Gel price on Amazon

3. SiS GO Isotonic Energy Gel: easiest on the stomach

Science in Sport made the GO Isotonic thin and watery on purpose: a 60 ml gel that you can take without a drink. Each has 22 g of carbs, 87 calories and about 10 mg of sodium, with no caffeine (the separate GO Energy + Caffeine gel has 75 mg). Running Warehouse sells 30 for about $65 (around $2.17 a gel). SiS says all its products are Informed Sport certified. The trade-off is bulk: a bigger packet for fewer carbs.

• Good: goes down easily with no water; mild flavors.
• Watch out: bulky to carry; lower carbs per gel than most.
• Best for: athletes with sensitive stomachs, soccer and rugby players at half time, open-water swimmers.

Check the SiS GO Isotonic Gel price on Amazon

4. SiS Beta Fuel Gel: most carbs per gel

Beta Fuel packs 40 g of carbs (maltodextrin and fructose in a 1:0.8 ratio) and about 158 calories into a 60 ml gel, with no caffeine. That’s almost two regular gels in one, which is why long-course triathletes and ultra cyclists like it. SiS lists it as Informed Sport certified. Running Warehouse sells a 6-pack for about $22 (around $3.67 a gel). Sodium numbers differ between sources, so check the box if salt matters to you.

• Good: fewer packets to carry and open; caffeine free.
• Watch out: a lot of carbs at once; practice with it before a race.
• Best for: Ironman, gravel and ultra events.

See SiS Beta Fuel at Science in Sport

5. Precision Fuel & Hydration PF 30 Gel: best neutral taste

The PF 30 is a plain, lightly flavored 51 g gel with 30 g of carbs (glucose and fructose, 2:1) and 120 calories. It has no added electrolytes, by design: Precision sells its sodium separately, so you can mix and match with its drinks and tablets. A caffeinated version has 100 mg. The maker says it’s Informed Sport certified. Running Warehouse lists single gels at about $3.12.

• Good: easy to count carbs; flavor fatigue is less of a problem.
• Watch out: no sodium, so plan your salt elsewhere; not easy to find on Amazon.
• Best for: athletes who plan fueling by the gram.

See the PF 30 Gel at Precision Fuel & Hydration

6. Neversecond C30: best for salty sweaters

Neversecond’s C30 is a 60 ml gel with 30 g of carbs (maltodextrin and fructose, 2:1), 120 calories and 200 mg of sodium, the most salt in this group. The C30+ flavors add 75 mg of caffeine. It’s $42 for 12 at the maker and Running Warehouse (about $3.50 a gel), and Neversecond says its products are Informed Sport certified.

• Good: carbs and sodium in one packet; thin texture.
• Watch out: fewer flavors; mid-to-high price.
• Best for: hot-weather races and heavy sweaters.

Check the Neversecond C30 price on Amazon

7. Huma Chia Energy Gel: best real-food gel

Huma is made from fruit purée, cane sugar and chia seeds, so it tastes more like baby food than candy. Each gel has about 100 calories, 22–25 g of carbs and 105–110 mg of sodium, depending on flavor. Caffeine ranges from none (Strawberry, Mango) to 25 mg (Chocolate, Lemonade) to 100 mg (Doubleshot Mocha). It’s about $2.50 a gel. Huma makes no third-party certification claim, so it isn’t the pick for drug-tested athletes.

• Good: real-food taste and texture; gentle for many stomachs.
• Watch out: not third-party certified for sport; chia texture isn’t for everyone.
• Best for: trail runners, hikers and recreational cyclists.

Check the Huma Chia Energy Gel price on Amazon

How to choose an energy gel

• Count carbs, not packets. Gels here range from 22 g to 40 g. In sports nutrition research summarized for the IOC, 30–60 g of carbs an hour is a common target for longer events, with up to 90 g an hour for events over about 2.5 hours. A sports dietitian can help you set your own number.
• Check the caffeine. It can be 0, 20, 75 or 100 mg depending on the gel and flavor. Count every caffeinated gel, plus coffee and pre-workout, across the day.
• Texture and water. Isotonic gels (SiS GO) need no water; thick gels (GU) go down better with a sip. Hydrogels (Maurten) are somewhere in between.
• Tested if you’re tested. If you compete under anti-doping rules, choose Informed Sport, Informed Choice or NSF Certified for Sport products and look them up on the certifier’s website yourself.
• Never new on race day. Gut comfort is personal. Try each gel in long training sessions first.

Gels cover carbs; for salt and fluid, see our best electrolyte powder guide and best running hydration vest to carry it all. Training for a big one? Read how to train for your first marathon and recovery for runners, or browse Performance Formulas. A talk with your doctor or a registered sports dietitian is the best way to build a fueling plan around your health and your event.

Energy gel questions

When should I take an energy gel?

Most endurance athletes start fueling before they feel empty, often within the first 45–60 minutes of a long session, then at regular intervals. Follow the packet directions and work out your own timing in training.

Do I need gels for a 10K or a one-hour workout?

Usually not. The research summaries above suggest only small amounts of carbs matter for efforts around an hour. Gels earn their place in sessions and races that go well beyond that.

What’s the difference between Informed Sport and Informed Choice?

Both programs test supplements for substances banned in sport. Informed Sport tests every batch before it’s released; Informed Choice tests samples on a regular schedule. Neither guarantees a product, but both lower the risk for drug-tested athletes.

Can I take gels with an electrolyte drink?

Many athletes do, but add up the carbs and sodium from both. If your drink already has carbs (like Skratch or Tailwind), you may need fewer gels.

Do energy gels expire?

Yes. Each packet has a best-before date. Store them cool and dry, and check the dates before a big race, especially on boxes bought in bulk.