Gel 100
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The Maurten Gel 100 is the most consistently endorsed race-day gel across independent reviewers, but the consensus is almost equally consistent: it is too expensive for everyday training, and its GI advantage only materialises at high intake rates.
- GI distress advantage: Hydrogel technology delivers meaningful stomach protection at four gels per hour (100g carbs/hr) — Road.cc's Jim Cotton hit unusually high power numbers with zero bloating at that rate, but reported no edge at normal one-to-two-gel usage.
- Texture: Uniquely thick, Jell-O-like, and unflavored — Cycling Weekly called it "sweet and wonderfully chewy" and "perfect in every way"; Alex Larson Nutrition's sports dietitians flag it as divisive and requiring multiple trials to adapt to.
- Price: The most cited friction point across the corpus — roughly £2.77–$3.75/gel depending on market, making it the most expensive gel in multiple comparison series; reviewers from Paincave, Road.cc, Running Warehouse, and several YouTube creators all recommend reserving it for races or key sessions only.
- Carb density: 25g of carbohydrate per packet is on the lower end — the Maurten Gel 160 delivers 40g at a better cost-per-gram, and registered sports nutritionist James LeBaigue notes standard gels may be equally effective for athletes without GI sensitivity.
- Reviewer disagreement: Garage Gym Reviews rates it 4.8/5 and "Best Overall"; Road.cc gives it 6/10 — the gap reflects whether you test it at full recommended rate or casual use.
Skip if: you don't suffer GI distress with standard gels and aren't willing to pay a significant premium for a marginal advantage most reviewers say disappears below three to four gels per hour.
- performance
Does Maurten Gel 100 actually reduce GI distress compared to normal gels?
Yes, multiple sources and reviewers consistently report near-zero GI distress. The hydrogel technology encapsulates carbs in a pH-triggered matrix that passes through the stomach intact and releases in the small intestine, reducing bloating and nausea. Road.cc's tester consumed four gels/hour with no sickness; Running Warehouse testers reported zero digestive issues across 16+ mile runs. 225
- known issues
What does Maurten Gel 100 taste and feel like compared to other gels?
It's unflavored and mildly sweet — reviewers compare it to honey, maple syrup, or plain sugar water — with a unique Jell-O/jelly texture rather than the syrupy consistency of most gels. Opinion is polarized: Cycling Weekly called it 'perfect in every way,' while some athletes need 3–4 tries before getting used to the thick, chewy texture. 2
- value · price
How much does Maurten Gel 100 cost and is it worth the price?
It costs ~$3.60/gel (box of 12 for $43), making it the most expensive gel in most comparisons — roughly 4x the price of budget alternatives. Most reviewers say it's worth it for race day or key sessions where GI reliability matters, but too expensive for everyday training. Paincave estimates a rider using it for two long rides/week would spend $330/month vs. $16 for cheaper options. 2
- components
What are the nutrition stats — carbs, calories, sodium — per gel?
Each 40g packet delivers 25g of carbohydrates, 100 calories, and 20mg of sodium. The carb ratio is 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose, optimized for dual-transporter absorption. Note: sodium is low, so you'll likely need to supplement electrolytes separately. 1127
- use case
Do you need to take Maurten Gel 100 with water?
You can take it without water — unlike traditional syrupy gels — and many athletes do. However, pairing it with 150–250ml of water improves gastric emptying and absorption. Skipping water entirely, especially at high intensity or in heat, can cause the stomach to slow emptying and increase cramping or nausea risk. 82527
- use case
Should I use Maurten Gel 100 for every ride/run or just races?
Virtually every reviewer recommends saving it for race day or key sessions, not daily training, due to the high cost. Road.cc, Paincave, and multiple YouTube reviewers all explicitly suggest using cheaper gels for training and reserving Maurten for when GI reliability matters most. 2
- vs. competitors
Is Maurten Gel 100 or Gel 160 the better choice for cycling?
Gel 100 is cheaper per packet ($3.60 vs $5.00), smaller and easier to carry, and available in a caffeinated version — making it more practical for most cyclists. Gel 160 costs less per gram of carbohydrate (12.5¢ vs 14.4¢) and reduces how many gels you need to carry per hour. Dietitians recommend Gel 100 as the starting point for those new to high-carb fueling. 1118
- known issues
Is the packaging easy to open and use mid-ride?
Reviewers disagree: Road.cc and Paincave flag the small tear-off tab as a genuine problem mid-ride — it creates a tiny opening that makes squeezing out the thick gel difficult. But the YouTube reviewer Caroline found the packaging 'super durable' and 'very easy' to open. The jelly consistency also means some riders prefer to put the whole packet in their mouth and chew it down rather than squeeze. 2
What reviewers actually said
Maurten's Gel 100 (no flavor listed) has a similar consistency [to super-absorbent diaper goo]. Upon discovering this, I was initially taken aback, but quickly bypassed all additional emotions and ended up at delighted.
The Gel 100 delivers 25g of carbs (100 kcal) in a compact pouch.
Maurten claims that the glucose to fructose ratio of 0.8:1 – the only product on the market that has this ratio – enables you to absorb a slightly mind-boggling 100g carb per hour.
Morton gels are known as hydrogels which is something that they have the patent to. They have encapsulated the carbs and according to their website this helps the carbs to travel through the stomach much easier and be better absorbed especially during hardcore training or racing.
Their gels come in 160s or 100s caffeinated or the non-caffeinated.
The gel 100s and the CAF 100s are much more jelly like in their consistency and some people may find that a little bit more difficult to swallow. You need to kind of break the Morton gel down a little bit in your mouth first, kind of like almost chomp it up a little bit to get it to a kind of size where you can swallow it.
As the official race nutrition products for Ironman events, Maurten gels have gained a lot of popularity among endurance athletes.
Maurten gels have become very popular, even though we continue to hear athletes either 'love them' or 'hate them'. The texture is probably the biggest struggle as it is very thick.
How it compares
The nutritionfield — SKUs we’ve researched or seen mentioned alongside the Maurten Gel 100. Research a competitor to add its full brief.
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