If I'm heading out for a long run I am absolutely grabbing one of these energy gels! I have tried so many things to keep my energy up during a long run and this is my favorite. You can definitely feel a difference after you take one. So they are supposed to last 45 minutes and kick in about 5 minutes after you take it. I find that this does vary a little bit and it just depends on how much you've had to eat that morning and how much energy you're putting into your run or other activity because I do use these for other things. If I know I'm going to have a hard workout I will use one of these. And to be completely honest I have even used these if I'm having a really rough day and just have zero energy. They make several varieties that don't have any caffeine in them ... MoreIf I'm heading out for a long run I am absolutely grabbing one of these energy gels! I have tried so many things to keep my energy up during a long run and this is my favorite. You can definitely feel a difference after you take one. So they are supposed to last 45 minutes and kick in about 5 minutes after you take it. I find that this does vary a little bit and it just depends on how much you've had to eat that morning and how much energy you're putting into your run or other activity because I do use these for other things. If I know I'm going to have a hard workout I will use one of these. And to be completely honest I have even used these if I'm having a really rough day and just have zero energy. They make several varieties that don't have any caffeine in them because I don't normally consume caffeine but I prefer one with a little bit of caffeine when I'm running.

Anti-Bonk Perfection

Yes you can make your own bike food. But why? I slurp one GU every 30 minutes and I never bonk. That's 3 GUs for a 2 hr ride at intensity. They stuff easily into the jersey pocket, as do the empties. I wish they sold mixed packages of 24 because it's easy to tire of one flavor, no matter how tasty, and all flavors provide the same instant energy. It's really amazing how fast they work. So go ahead , make your own food and save money. I don't want to wait 20 minutes for my calories to kick in, and then lose speed unraveling my homemade wrappers and then dealing with the garbage. I'd rather pay the money, slurp my GU, get and get virtually instant energy on the fly.

Energy without Caffeine!

These energy gels taste great and give me a boost when I'm doing long cycling sessions or out doing hiking, but you don't have to be an athlete to benefit from them, even just moderate cardio can get you very exhausted. It's been difficult to find a good energy option that's caffeine free, but these were fantastic! When it feels like I'm getting tired and I'm thinking about needing to cut my adventure short, I open up one of these and within 10 minutes I feel like I'm back! My muscles come back online and I feel like I can keep going as long as I want. Definitely made a fan out of me!

Find your flavor that works.

I have been using GU packs for all of my 40 marathons and the training since 2008. I highly recommend. That said, I get stomach issues from any of the fruity flavors, I can only do chocolate, vanilla and caramel. So fo you, you have to see if one type of flavor works best, Roctain or Regular. But they really work for me personally and I have run 10 Bostons, qualified IDK 15 times. 1 before the run or race and then 1 every 5 miles, but I do an EXTRA one at mile 17. No bonking. Whatsoever.

Great for long runs or bike rides!

I am a new cyclist but I adore cycling. I've been a lifelong runner but cycling is a new found joy! Last year I cycled 42 miles as my longest ride. I mix my training with running and hiking mostly in northern Michigan which has a lot of hills. Where are live there are some of the highest hills in the state. With Gu energy gels I can go the extra mile. As a novice cyclist, I've experienced the bonks as it is similar to hitting the wall. With proper planning, nutrition, water, and Gu energy gels I don't hit walls or bonk. I've been able to go on shorter rides from 20-30 miles and feel great! My favorite is Chocolate Outrage! Seriously tasty As someone who is lactose intolerant as well as having a wheat allergy I appreciate these being vegan and gluten free!

I've tried several

Sometimes you need energy, but don't want food. I have a friend who is trying to get into shape and gets exhausted on hikes, but can't handle food and these have been exactly what they need.Here is my opinion on a few flavors:Birthday Cake- It's birthday cake. It delicious and by the second or third taste you realize it's way too sweet... but you keep eating it lol. It's birthday cake.Cola- Its flat Cola. Ever had some leftover coke in a bottle you left capped and hoped it still had gas when you went for a drink only to be disappointed that it was flat and just tossed it out? This is that.Caramel Macchiato- ever had the iced coffee from a place like 7-eleven? Its kind of chemically and you understand what they were going for but its not that. This is that. ... MoreSometimes you need energy, but don't want food. I have a friend who is trying to get into shape and gets exhausted on hikes, but can't handle food and these have been exactly what they need.Here is my opinion on a few flavors:Birthday Cake- It's birthday cake. It delicious and by the second or third taste you realize it's way too sweet... but you keep eating it lol. It's birthday cake.Cola- Its flat Cola. Ever had some leftover coke in a bottle you left capped and hoped it still had gas when you went for a drink only to be disappointed that it was flat and just tossed it out? This is that.Caramel Macchiato- ever had the iced coffee from a place like 7-eleven? Its kind of chemically and you understand what they were going for but its not that. This is that. Maybe you like it. I do not.Chocolate Outrage- Chocolate, not too sweet, but just a tad chemically. Not as bad as Caramel Macchiato, but not my favorite.Espresso Love- Tastes like fudgy pudding. Its delicious and I can't get enough.Vanilla Bean- Sweet, not as sweet as birthday cake, no chemical taste. Very good option.

Love ‘em!

I am a very active type one diabetic and have always used glucose tabs or gels for lows (among other things). I have found that they treat the low but I feel worse after because my blood sugars spike then I crash back down.I started using Gu when I was going through the fire academy this winter, what a game changer! I would take one before a training evolution and not worry about my numbers dropping. In fact, my numbers stay almost perfectly straight, I have learned not to enter the carbs into my pump and it balances out.Now I keep 6-8 Gu in my turnout gear and just got back from 2 calls, my numbers were 135 when I got back to the station and I felt refreshed and ready to go back out! The electrolytes are an added bonus.At first I almost gagged when I tried it, ... MoreI am a very active type one diabetic and have always used glucose tabs or gels for lows (among other things). I have found that they treat the low but I feel worse after because my blood sugars spike then I crash back down.I started using Gu when I was going through the fire academy this winter, what a game changer! I would take one before a training evolution and not worry about my numbers dropping. In fact, my numbers stay almost perfectly straight, I have learned not to enter the carbs into my pump and it balances out.Now I keep 6-8 Gu in my turnout gear and just got back from 2 calls, my numbers were 135 when I got back to the station and I felt refreshed and ready to go back out! The electrolytes are an added bonus.At first I almost gagged when I tried it, but now I’m used to it and am a die hard fan! Raspberry lemonade isAwesome and blackberry is too, but 40mg of caffeine is a bit too much. Salted watermelon is my go to.

Some flavors are good, some are REALLY bad

Ok, so overall I'd say most flavors are quite decent and don't taste awful. But there is one that brings the whole thing down, and that's the Raspberry Lemonade. I figured I'd love it since I like the fruity gels, and I love lemonade. So imagine my surprise when I take one out for some quick fuel 13 miles into an 18 mile hike and about to start on a 3800' elevation gain, and it tastes like neither raspberry or lemonade. The best way to describe the taste would be like how Clorox wipes with Febreze smells. That's what this one tastes like. Or some kind of artificially fruit scented floor cleaner. It is BAD. Like, want to immediately barf bad, gotta drink my entire bladder of water to get this out of my mouth bad. I know taste is subjective, and I'm sure someone out ... MoreOk, so overall I'd say most flavors are quite decent and don't taste awful. But there is one that brings the whole thing down, and that's the Raspberry Lemonade. I figured I'd love it since I like the fruity gels, and I love lemonade. So imagine my surprise when I take one out for some quick fuel 13 miles into an 18 mile hike and about to start on a 3800' elevation gain, and it tastes like neither raspberry or lemonade. The best way to describe the taste would be like how Clorox wipes with Febreze smells. That's what this one tastes like. Or some kind of artificially fruit scented floor cleaner. It is BAD. Like, want to immediately barf bad, gotta drink my entire bladder of water to get this out of my mouth bad. I know taste is subjective, and I'm sure someone out there thinks this flavor is the best of the best, but oooof. No.

TRI-BERRY TASTY

Tried the TRI-BERRY flavor, after other flavors that I like, this was a tasty treat. I like sweets.I have experimented with the energy gels' using', 'not using', 'after30 minutes' changing timing, on a controlled 33 mile route I pedal for workouts, consistent temperature, water intake and time of day; I have found that when I delay or skip the gels, I can tell the difference in energy/firepower. Ingesting a gel later is better than not, as I sense a pick up 5-6 miles down the route. Cold water, small recovery segments and GU gels have made a big difference in performance.

Very Good, but mixed

Gu has been my go to for many years on longer, hour+ rides. Great product! Had an old camelback gel flask that I never used, so I thought I'd try to reduce litter & enviro impact with larger, refillable size. There is probably as much container material in large as there would be with Ind packets, but of course, no chance of litter, which is a hard no anyway. Container has a plastic spout, so some minus there. The plus for me is that I can premix with a little water for easier intake, and, I can add a little matcha if I'd like a controlled dose kick. For those with filling difficulties, letting it warm up a little and placing your flask in a coffee mug to help it stand upright have been helpful.