By Sharael Feist
2003
Whether climbing a mountain or a big wall–you’ll not only need stamina and strength, but fuel! An easy way to get a quick burst of energy is to use energy gels. When I tasted my first energy gel, I thought of kids eating paste in kindergarten and imagined that this must have been what paste tasted like. But the sweetness lured me to keep trying gels. My recommendation: peanut butter flavor!
1) PowerGel is the thickest of the gels. Some say it has the consistency of cake frosting. For me, I like the “chewy” texture. It feels more substantial. It comes in the following flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon Lime, Tropical Fruit, Strawberry Banana, Tangerine (Double Caffeine), and Green Apple (Caffeinated-New Flavor).
2) ClifSHOT is more translucent and not as thick. The Razz Sorbet reminds me of jelly. This one is appealing because it doesn’t feel like you need to drink as much water with it since it is more runny, which is a plus because it’s not always convenient to have water with you. Flavors: Razz Sorbet, Viva Vanilla, Mocha Mocha (Caffeine), Mmm .. Chocolate (New), and Sonic Strawberry (Caffeine-New).
3)GU Most people I know use the word “GU” as a generic name for all energy gels. The consistency is light and the flavor is sweet. It comes in lots of flavors, including: Orange Burst, Just Plain, Tri Berry, Chocolate (my friend Amy’s favorite energy gel), and Banana Blitz.
4) Carb-BOOM Although Carb-BOOM has not gotten as much publicity as some of the other energy gels, it’s worth trying. It is sweetened naturally with fruit, which gives it an appealing taste. It comes in the following flavors: Apple Cinnamon, Banana Peach, Strawberry Kiwi, and Vanilla Orange (Double Caffeine).
5) Honey Stinger This all-natural product relies on honey to give users a boost. It’s not only to be used alone–try it on bread, cereal or fruit. Available in the following flavors: Gold, Mint, and Ginsting. A nice alternative.