Myprotein ENERGEL Orange Zest Flavour

Myprotein is a sports nutrition brand (the UK's No 1, according to its website) with a large portfolio of products ranging from fish oil tablets to weight gain powders, and including these Energel energy gels, which are tasty, effective and good value.

These Energels (it's written ENER:GEL on the packaging) are available in various flavours, and we're testing the Orange Zest variety. They definitely taste of orange. To be more precise they taste of orange flavouring – like the taste you get in sweets and fizzy pop. And it's definitely zesty too; tingling on the tongue, not surprisingly reminiscent of Tango.

This impression is further enhanced by the Energel's texture and consistency. They're pretty runny; more like a drink than a gel in that respect. That's a plus for riders who find some other gels on the market a bit thick and hard to swallow, especially when the legs are starting to fade halfway through a race or big sportive.

According to the Myprotein website, Energel's main ingredients are water, maltodextrin and fructose. There's also citric acid, sweetener (Sucralose) and natural flavouring, plus some minerals (sodium chloride, calcium lactate, potassium chloride, magnesium carbonate) and vitamins (niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B12).

The minerals in the gel will help replace the ones you lose via sweat, and so may help ward off cramps, while the B vitamins are nice to have (although I was unable to ascertain if their inclusion actually makes the gel more effective). But the most important aspect of an energy gel is, er, the energy, and each 60g gel provides 101 kcal, consisting of 25g of carbohydrate. There's no protein or fat, and virtually no fibre.

For most riders, 25g of carb provides enough energy for between 20 and 40 minutes on the bike (after an initial two hours or so, when you don't usually need extra fuel), depending how hard you're riding and other aspects such as physiology. I tested the gels on a couple of long training rides and then in a 100-mile sportive, and they certainly powered me along nicely.

The weight if these gels is worth noting. At 60g they're pretty bulky, and if 25g of this is carb, then you're carrying 35g of other stuff – mainly water – in your back pocket. There's nothing wrong with that if you're a rider who likes to combine liquid intake with carb intake. But if you prefer to get your liquid from your bottles, and carry less weight in your back pocket (or at least, more carbs for the weight) then there are other gels available.

On price, a box of 24 x 60g Energels costs £23.99 from the Myprotein website, so just over £1 each, once delivery is taken into account (although at the time of writing there's a 25% off special deal). Most competitor brands are about £1 to £1.50, and often a smaller size (25-40g), so on that basis Myprotein Energels are good value.

However, as mentioned above, each Energel contains only 25g of carbohydrate, but even on a blunt carbs-per-quid basis, this is still good value compared to most competitors.

There are other energy gels available which weigh less overall and/or have a higher carb content, so if that's your main concern then Energels might not be for you. But if you like to combine your gel and liquid intake, and enjoy a lively taste, and save a few bob into the bargain, then Myprotein Energels are well worth a try.

Verdict

Effective and tasty energy gels. Bulky compared to most competitors, but good value.