GU Energy, Original Energy Gels, Birthday Cake - 24 Count

I purchased 3 different products to help me with fuel during a half marathon. I'm reviewing all 3 and will copy this review to the other two. My first purchase was KrampKrusher energy gummies. The second product was GU energy gel. The third product was Wasatch Nectar Honey. They were all good products but for different reasons. I liked the KrampKrushers but they were hard to get out of the bag while running so I used those about 60 minutes prior to a training run. They were super salty and had a tart lemon flavor. The Wasatch Nectar was easy to dispense and tasted fantastic but made my saliva super thick. Unless you are near a water station or carrying your own fluids, I don't recommend this product during a run. I ended up using this product at the start of the run or race with a little bit of water. The GU was my favorite fuel during the race. Birthday cake flavor was a little more intense than I would have liked but, like the Honey, it was very easy to dispense and consume while also running and breathing heavily. It also did not thicken my saliva. I think all three products served their purpose but timing of use became an important factor for me. I'm glad I tried them ahead of time and found out the drawbacks of each before race day. If you do the same, you'll know what to expect and should have pretty good luck with the product.

GU is already my go-to fuel during long runs - no stomach pains, easy to eat while moving, and the package doesn’t get too sticky. Flavor: childhood in a nutshell - fake vanilla flavor with a hint of chocolate from “sprinkles”. Not overly sweet at all. Effectiveness: definitely gives a boost of energy before or during an activity. Usually eaten every 45 minutes and it keeps me balanced throughout the run.

Great Flavor! No upset stomach. I use these often for every long run.

Delicious! One of my favorite flavors. Will purchase again

Overall, these are fine and suited for their purpose. Personally, I think they are very sweet and very viscous to the point of almost being hard to get down while running. It’s almost the equivalent of having a spoonful of rich frosting. Overall, they do what they should but if you have issues with textures, you may not like these.

I use GU Energy Gel for long bike rides and workouts, and it does exactly what it’s supposed to do—gives a quick, steady boost without making me feel jittery or nauseated. The texture goes down easily, and it’s convenient to carry and use mid-activity. I like that it provides carbs and electrolytes without feeling heavy. It really helps prevent that sudden energy crash. A solid choice for endurance exercise or anytime you need fast fuel. I ordered the Birthday Cake flavor and it is DELICIOUS! It gives me that little extra push I need on the return home from a bike ride!

Very tasty and good value for money, size is perfect for running, quality is great.

It might be worth trying a few flavors at a sports store before buying a whole box of one kind. The dessert flavors are noticeably better than any of the fruit ones in my opinion. The best flavors I’ve tried are birthday cake, chai latte, chocolate, and vanilla. Carmel is okay but a little artificial tasting. Also the temperature they’re at when you consume them matters for the texture. They’re much better if they got a little warm in your pocket and like any carb supplement taking them 30 min before you you think you’ll run out of energy keeps you from hitting a wall. The caffeine isn’t too noticeable energy wise for me but when I bring these on long hikes and bike rides I find I can keep going a lot longer. I try to eat one with a little real food and water (like fruit) to keep my stomach from getting upset.