Putting Gels to the Test

Gels put the squeeze on the palate.

In a nonscientific blind tasting of eight sports gels, groans and words like “weird” and “yuk” wiped out any idea of second helpings.

About the only thing three tasters agreed on was the effectiveness and convenience of sports gels in general.

The tasters--ultra-marathoner Jeffrey Vannini, ultra-cyclist Cindi Staiger and marathoner-coach Cheryl Anker-Agata--are all local athletes who buy and use gels. They judged the goo on the basis of taste, flavor and consistency.

The tested gels--ReLode, Hammer Gel, Ultragel, Squeezy, Gu, Pocket Rocket, Fuel Cell and Power Gel--are available at sport stores, specialty running and cycling shops and by mail order. They are designed for endurance athletes to be used during exercise for quick energy, not as a meal.

What do the athletes want in a gel? Palatability (something that tastes more bland than sweet) and a package that is easy to carry, open and dispose of.

Staiger looks for a product that melts quickly in the mouth. Portability and package materials influence Vannini’s choice. He usually pins a packet or two to the waistband of his running shorts. Some wrappers cause irritation.

The size and compactness of the package--especially length and width--are critical because consuming gels is usually a one-handed operation.

Some cyclists roll from the bottom end to squirt the gel in the mouth. Others place the whole package in the mouth and suck or pull it through their teeth. Squeezy’s long and narrow shape made rolling and teething easy, whereas Power Gel’s fat, squat package was a bit too wide.

The tasters were not aware of which brands they were trying. Each gel was squeezed into individual cups and marked by a letter. Spoons were provided.

When asked which of the eight products they would consider buying, Vannini and Staiger said Relode. The gel, in grape flavor by Gatorade, retails for about 99 cents and is available at Southland sports stores. They liked its “mouth feel,” subtle grape flavor and medium-thin viscosity.

Anker-Agata, a chocolate-lover, cast her vote for chocolate Hammer Gel. Made in Montana, the product is new to the local market. It retails for 99 cents at a few cycling shops. Ours were purchased through Kings Bicycle Store in San Pedro.

Because chocolate is the most popular flavor, according to retailers, we asked the tasters to rate their favorite. Hammer Gel’s beat the chocolate flavors by Gu and Pocket Rocket.

But tasting gels with a teaspoon is a far cry from sucking one during a long, tough run or training ride. Body temperature, not to mention weather conditions, will change the gel’s consistency.

How it settles in the stomach, how it tastes, and how and when you use it make a difference, Vannini says.

“Picking a gel is like a diet. It’s personal,” Anker-Agata says. “Pritikin works for some; Weight Watchers for others.”