At the most basic level, sports nutrition products exist so that you can fuel up on-the-go and feel your best while being active. The four major product types – bars, waffles, gels, and chews – offer you variety in taste + texture and nutritional profile. Here at Gelvio, we believe that intuitive eating is a powerful and effective approach to fueling. So, we encourage you to consume what YOU find tasty and energizing. One man's trash is another man's treasure… ok, so the age old saying doesn't totally apply in this instance, but you get the point.
Sports nutrition products contain a mix of carbohydrates from either natural sources (fruit and honey) or from added simple sugars (fructose and glucose). The mix of carbohydrates will help you sustain your effort levels and will shorten recovery time. Some products also include electrolytes to help replenish what is lost from sweating.
The four major product types – bars, waffles, gels, and chews – offer you variety in taste, texture, and nutritional profile.
If your activity is longer than 60-90 minutes, you'll benefit from mid-activity fuel. What you consume comes down to personal preference, gender, size, intensity, and duration. The majority of people target consuming 30-60 grams of carbohydrates (120 to 240 calories) per hour for activities lasting over 60 minutes. Ultra-endurance athletes may target consuming 90 grams of carbohydrates (or 360 calories) per hour.
When selecting our list of favorites, we considered flavor, texture, ingredients, and nutrition profile. We also sampled every single product and consulted Gelvio athletes, Gelvio sponsored cycling teams and running teams, and took a look at what customers are ordering from us!
Honey Stinger - Cinnamon Waffle | $1.59/waffle
For years, similar waffles have been sold on street corners throughout Europe and eaten by pedestrians and athletes alike. A thin layer of honey is sandwiched between two waffle wafers creating a sweet and crunchy snack. You get a good amount of carbs (21 grams) from honey and a few other sources, while also replenishing salt (90 mg sodium). Compared to a dense energy bar, this waffle is remarkably easy to chew / digest and you won't feel weighed down after eating.
- Gluten-free, organic
Skratch Labs - Raspberry Chews | $2.49/pack (10 chews)
- Made with two types of carbs (glucose, fructose) to speed up energy delivery
- Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan
Spring Energy - Awesome Sauce Gel | $3.49/gel
- No added sugar or maltodextrin
- Vegan, gluten-free
Maurten - Solid Chewable | $3.00/bar
This oat-and-rice-based chewable is the purest expression of performance nutrition. And that's why you'll see many of the world's top athletes, such as Molly Seidel, fueling with Maurten on race day. The Solid checks in at 44 grams of carbohydrates, which is more than most bars on the market. You get varied carbohydrates sources – sugar, oats, and rice – along with a high sodium content (260 mg) to fuel your effort. The chewable has a mildly sweet flavor, which is consistent with how Maurten approaches flavor, and they are a little chewier than a classic rice crispy bar. The high carb and sugar content can be tasted in the overall sweetness of Solid, but that's just the tradeoff for consuming rocket fuel.
- Gluten-free, dairy free, vegan
Joolies - Medjool Pitted Dates | $2.50/pack
Medjool dates are a perfect real food energy source. Just three Joolies dates contain 30 grams of carbs and 110 calories. Many sports nutrition products use dates or date syrup as an ingredient, so why not just go right to the source! You likely won't fuel an entire activity with dates, but they are a great tasting addition to your varied lineup. Also, dates are naturally sodium-free, so you'll want to replenish your electrolytes with another source.
- No added sugar
- Includes essential nutrients: copper, magnesium, and potassium
Skratch Labs - Strawberry Rice Crispy | $2.45/crispy
Many people will exclaim, "I don't look forward to eating my energy food." Well, turn that frown upside down with a Rice Crispy Cake. The energy-packed crispy is made with a blend of puffed rices and toasted grains, which are all held together by fluffy, heavenly marshmallows. The complex carbohydrates – brown rice, red rice, wild rice, and quinoa – are easy to digest and provide you with immediate and sustained energy.
- 180 calories per crispy
- Gluten Free, Peanut Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free
Split Nutrition - Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam | $2.49/pack
- This squeezable fuel is carbohydrate light (15g), but still packs 170 calories
- Good source of healthy fats, protein, and natural fruit-based sugar
JoJe Bar - Apple Walnut Bar | $2.99/bar
If you were to dream up a healthier, tastier, and fresher version of a Clif Bar, this would be it! JoJe bars are baked in small batches and deliver a soft, chewy bite that is usually reserved for fresh cookies. These bars are made with oats, nuts, honey, and apple to provide you with immediate and long-lasting natural energy. You can taste the real food ingredients, and this dense bar is perfect for when you're pushing hard.
- This bar packs 38g carbs and 15g of natural sugars to keep you moving
- Gluten-free, Non-GMO
