QimmiQ energy sachets

Qimmiq energy gels are one of the most interesting energy products around. A novel package and dispense method combined with a mould-breaking natural ingredients list and a intentionally smaller portion size give these energy gels plenty of genuine USPs. But, lack of bang for your buck makes them a very expensive energy source.

For the less educated, Qimmiq (pronounced 'kimmick') is Inuit for Husky. Qimmiq currently only offer one product, the raspberry gel, which is, according to their blurb, "Jam Packed with Energy". The unique packaging made me first think that I had received a box of business cards. They stack neatly in your jersey pocket like a deck of cards, avoiding that un-pro pocket bulginess. To explain how the packaging works Qimmiq have produced a nice little video.

The system works quite well, and despite my initial concerns about exploding gels the packets are surprisingly tough; just don't leave a fresh one in your kit come laundry day. Is it an improvement over the standard gel wrapper? Well, for sportive and training ride use, I think it is, yes. For racing I found it fiddlier than a more traditional and aggressive gel technique of grab, bite, rip, spit, squeeze. What is good about it is that there's little chance of any litter from a Qimmiq packet.

Unlike most gels, Qimmiq is made from non-artificial ingredients. I am put off by the test-tube ingredients list of some gels. Qimmiq comprises red beetroot juice (is there any other kind?), fruit juice concentrate, honey and salt, plus a touch of xanthan gum and potassium sorbate. Beetroot juice and honey are both staples for me so I was delighted to be able to test a gel with both and nothing scary whatsoever.

The taste is sharp, fruity and acidic. In the comfort of the kitchen the taste is pleasant, certainly more food-like and normal than most gels I have tried. Out on the road and the trail I have sometimes found it slightly too acidic; taste at home and taste on the bike are very different things. This always had me washing it down with some water and two or three gels into a ride I found myself reaching for a banana or something else instead. That said, taste is personal and I can recommend you give it a go.

In the very comprehensive product information given to us with the gels, Qimmiq talk about how, as the product is jam based, it doesn't need to be exclusively used as a gel and can even be spread on toast. In one of my famous post-race dairy binges I found adding a shot of Qimmiq to Greek yoghurt a delight. That is something you can't say about any other energy gel, but at 99p a pop you may find it hard to stomach the price for a toast or yoghurt topping.

The reason you take a gel is to keep your energy levels up. Qimmiq currently only come in small 12g portions, that size having been chosen after feedback from gel users who can't get through a whole standard gel in one go.

I like the idea but it works out astronomically expensive in carbs per pound. With Zip Vit, for example, one £1.50 gel offers you a whopping 51g of carbohydrate – 3p per gram. Qimmiq is 99p for 7g of carb – 14p per gram. Qimmiq is several times more expensive per gram of carbs than SiS and Torq too. As a regular gel user, that means I will always reach for something else first. Throughout testing I found that a 7g serving, at my training pace, was good for about 10-15mins of energy as compared to a full hour from my usual choice.

That said, there is something which I find attractive about Qimmiq; the natural ingredients. With an increase in the energy density and a slight reduction in the sharpness of the taste this would definitely form a great alternative for those put off by other energy gels.

On the whole this is a very interesting energy product from a new British company trying something genuinely different. Novel packaging, natural ingredients and a user-friendly portion size are let down by a lack of energy density for you money.

Verdict

A very interesting energy product from a new British company trying something genuinely different from the competition. Novel packaging, natural ingredients and more user friendly portion size are let down by lack of energy density for you money.