Best Running Energy Gels 2026: Eight Gels Tested and Ranked

Introduction

Getting your race-day fuelling right can make or break a marathon. The difference between smashing a personal best and hitting the wall often comes down to the gels you carry, how often you take them, and whether your stomach actually tolerates them. We tested eight of the most popular running energy gels, scoring each one on price, weight, calories and carbs, alongside a hands-on verdict on ease of use, texture and taste. Every gel was bought with our own money.

How We Compared the Gels

Each gel was scored out of three on price, weight, calories, carbs and available flavours, plus a personal verdict on ease of use, texture and taste. That gives a rounded picture rather than just a specs sheet, because a gel with great numbers is useless if you cannot stomach it at kilometre 30.

A quick note on practice: whatever you pick, test it thoroughly on training runs before race day. Never try anything new on race morning.

Best All-Racer: Maurten Energy Gel

Maurten is the big hitter in the gel world, sponsoring some of the biggest names in elite running. It comes in at around £2 per gel. The texture is a pleasant jelly type that goes down easily without water, and the flavour is deliberately bland and fairly sweet, which is exactly what many racers want. It contains 25g of carbs and 100 calories in a compact 40g sachet.

Marked down only for the annoying tear-off tab that most people just drop on the floor, and for the fact there is only one flavour available. A caffeinated version and a solid bar also exist.

Huge Flavour Range: GU Energy Gel

GU offers roughly 18 different flavours, each with varying levels of salt and caffeine, and costs about £2. The birthday cake flavour we tried was a very thick paste, something like cake icing, that really needs water to get down. It packs 23g of carbs and 100 calories in a light 32g sachet.

The flavour grew on us over time. Many ultra runners love GU precisely because the sheer flavour variety stops the taste fatigue that comes with eating the same gel over and over, and the small sachets make it easy to carry a lot.

Simple and Liquid: Mountain Fuel Energy Gel

Mountain Fuel, at £1.60, should be similar to Maurten, and in some ways it is. It is very liquid and loose, so it goes down very easily, with 20g of carbs and 82 calories in a heavier 60g sachet. It has a slight chemical edge to the taste, and the runny consistency can get messy if you squeeze too hard.

It contains electrolytes, which makes it particularly good on hot days, and there are cherry, ultra cherry and caffeine versions to choose from.

Best Natural Gel: Huma Energy Gel

Huma takes a natural approach, made from real food like fruits and rice, at around £2.20 for a 42g sachet with 100 calories and 21g of carbs. The mango flavour we tried felt like mango sorbet and was genuinely lovely, with eight flavours to pick from.

Our one reservation is that it felt a little too natural and textured for hard road racing, where you want something that disappears fast. On ultras and trail runs, where you can slow down and relax for a moment, it would go down very well.

Best for Ultra Runners: Spring Energy Canaberry Gel

Spring Energy’s Canaberry gel, named after a well-known trail runner, is built on natural ingredients like basmati rice, banana, strawberry, maple syrup and coconut water. It costs about £3.55, the most expensive here, and weighs in at 46g with 100 calories but only 17g of carbs, the lowest carb count of the lot.

The pull tab is excellent and never falls off, but the thick, yogurt-like texture was sour and hard to get down quickly. A single flavour is available, with other variants including caffeinated options. Prices should be considerably lower bought directly in America. It is worth a try, but it feels like an ultra-only gel rather than a road racer.

The Familiar Classic: SiS Isotonic Energy Gel

Science in Sport is probably the most widely available gel, sold in supermarkets and sports shops everywhere, and for many people it was their first ever gel. At £1.70 for a 68g packet, it is the heaviest here, with 87 calories and 22g of carbs. The isotonic format means it goes down easily with no water needed, so you can take it whenever you want rather than waiting for a water station.

The lemon and lime flavour was subtle and easy to enjoy, with nine flavours plus electrolyte and caffeine versions. It is vegan-friendly and gluten-free.

Overall Winner: High Five Energy Gel

High Five sponsors a lot of races, especially in the UK, so you often see it out on course. At £1.49 for a light 40g sachet with 91 calories and 23g of carbs, it delivers excellent value. The texture is very liquid, which could get messy, but it goes down fast and the orange-juice-like taste was genuinely good.

It won on best stats, best taste and best overall score, a real surprise. It is a strong alternative to more expensive options, and a gel we would happily carry in a marathon.

Best Stats on Paper: Precision Fuel Energy Gel

Precision Fuel, from the electrolyte specialists at Precision Hydration, costs about £2.25 for a 51g sachet carrying 120 calories and a list-leading 30g of carbs. The figures are impressive, though the higher carb load may be harder to digest, so test it carefully. The taste was lightly peachy and quite sweet and thick, nicer than expected, though probably best taken with a little water.

It is batch tested by Informed Sport, as are Maurten and SiS, which matters for professional athletes concerned about banned substances. There is currently one flavour, and the carb count printed clearly on the front is a nice touch. The brand also offers sweat testing if cramping is an issue for you.

How Many Gels Do You Need for a Marathon?

Most people can absorb roughly 60g of carbs per hour. For a two-and-a-half to four-hour marathon, that means taking a gel roughly every 30 to 35 minutes right from the start, sometimes even one five minutes before the start line. That works out at around five gels for a sub-2:45 marathon, and around eight or nine for a four-hour marathon.

Plan how you will carry them, whether in a waist belt for a marathon or a couple in your hand for a half, and practice exactly that setup on your long training runs.

Buying Advice

For road racing, Maurten, Mountain Fuel and SiS are the safest picks, with High Five as the standout value winner. Precision Fuel looks great on paper and deserves more testing in big sessions. For ultras and trail adventures, Huma and Spring Energy bring natural ingredients and textures that suit a slower pace. GU is the pick if flavour variety keeps you going through ultra-distance fuelling.

Conclusion

The High Five Energy Gel took the overall win on stats, taste and value, but the right gel for you depends on your race, your stomach and your budget. Whatever you choose, buy a few options, test them properly in training, and lock in your race-day fuelling plan well before the start line.