Soft Flask 200

Energy gels are packets of carb-rich gel designed to provide easy, fast-acting energy for athletes during exercise. Lightweight and flavoured with natural ingredients, OTE sports energy gels provide carbohydrates, fructose, and maltodextrin to boost energy as well as essential electrolytes like sodium and potassium that are lost through sweating.

Energy gels work brilliantly for sustaining energy levels during exercise. The carbs they contain act as immediate fuel for tired muscles, while their sugars provide energy as they hit the bloodstream. Together, these ingredients re-energise the body and boost mental alertness, supporting overall performance.

We recommend taking energy gels for exercise lasting between an hour and 90 minutes. This duration of exercise will deplete the body’s energy reserves enough for the boost of OTE sports energy gels to be effective. 

As for how long energy gels take to kick in, this can vary depending on factors such as metabolism and body weight. Generally, they take around 15 minutes to take effect, so try to use them approximately halfway through your session.

When running, we recommend using an energy gel every 30 to 45 minutes, as needed. This regularity will ensure energy levels remain topped up, especially for half-marathons and marathons. For runs under an hour, we recommend skipping a gel and letting your body’s natural reserves do the work.

Energy gels can also be used before a workout. Take one around 15 minutes before you start running to provide an initial energy boost.

Thanks to their high-carb content, energy gels can be used during long runs to maintain energy levels and replenish electrolytes lost through sweat. Knowing when to take them comes down to assessing the intensity and duration of your exercise, though we recommend a general rule: use one gel around 30 to 45 minutes into your workout.

For runs or workouts under 60 minutes, energy gels are not required. This is because the body’s energy reserves should be well-equipped for handling such a short duration of exercise.

Marathon gels can make all the difference for race day performance, but how can you carry enough to last the entire race? Firstly, we recommend putting 2 to 3 gels in the pockets of your running shorts (be sure to zip them up!). Next, consider using an elastic, lightweight armband or belt to carry a few.

Once you have reached the limit for how many you can carry, ask a family member or friend to wait at a strategic point along your run to resupply your gels and provide much-needed energy boosts for the remaining kilometres.