Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Zipvit ZV7 Energy gel

9
£29.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Energy-packed gel that's tasty and simple to swallow
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.zipvitsport.com

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

This 60ml gel contains a whopping 51g of carbs – which is twice as much as some others out there, which in terms of energy makes them pretty good value. That energy comes mostly in the form of malodextrin with sucrose (table sugar) and glucose syrup and provides you with 154 calories of energy. That’s enough to keep you going for maybe 30-40mins on the bike – depending on how hard you’re riding, your size and so on.

ZV7 is isotonic too, which means it’ll deliver that energy where it’s needed without you needing to drink extra water to absorb it. You don’t get any electrolytes to replace those you’re losing in sweat, though, so if you want those on a longer rider you’ll need to get them in a drink – Zipvit’s ZV1 Energy Drink Elite, for example, contains the electrolytes you need during exercise.

You can fit several ZV7s into a jersey pocket easily and biting the top off the sachet and getting the gel down without any mess is simple – it’s a user-friendly design in that respect. On training rides I take one about one every half hour or 45mins - less if I've got an energy drink on the go too or I'm having a bar. I try to mix it up - bit of bar, drink and gel because like many other riders I find it's easy to go off some energy products although that hasn't been a problem with these.

The ZV7 gels are quite a thick consistency and both the orange and blackcurrant flavours are sweet but they were a hit in these parts we really like the taste. I found myself looking forward to the next one well before it was due, which makes a change. As mentioned above I  get sick of some gels, particularly on longer rides, and forcing them down can become a chore. Not these, though – they were equally popular with the other members of the team that tried 'em too. If you do want a bit of variety, you can always use them in conjunction with an energy drink and/or bars.

Verdict

Energy-packed gel that's tasty and simple to swallow

road.cc test report

Make and model: Zipvit ZV7 Energy gel

Size tested: 30x60ml

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 190cm  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
The _Kaner | 13 years ago
0 likes

I'd back up that review about it being gloopy...made it to 2 gulps and had to 'dispose' of the remainder...thought I was eating earwax...yoinks!  31

Avatar
issacforce | 14 years ago
0 likes

tried a zipvit gel today for 1st time,taste was ok but the consistancy was awfull, way too thick and gloopy had to drink after it, which have never had to do with high5 and sis gels

Latest Comments