As the official race nutrition products for Ironman events, Maurten gels have gained a lot of popularity among endurance athletes. But with two big options on the market, Gel 100 and Gel 160, it can be difficult to know what the right choice is for you. Today I’m breaking down the differences between the two, so you can fuel right and feel your best.

Nutrition Content: The biggest difference between Gel 100 and Gel 160 lies in their nutrition content. Gel 100 offers 20mg of sodium as well as 25 grams of carbohydrates, equating to 100 calories. On the other hand, Gel 160 contains 30mg of sodium and 40 grams of carbohydrates at 160 calories.

Overall, the Gel 160 is more energy dense, providing higher energy output per gel, but that doesn’t automatically make it the best choice. Your fuelling should be based on your individual needs and race day goals.

Caffeine Content: While Gel 100 is available in caffeinated versions, Gel 160 currently isn’t. This might change in the future, but it’s worth noting if caffeine forms part of your fuelling strategy.

Cost Considerations: Another important factor is the price of these gels, so I've crunched the numbers for you. Gel 100 comes in a box of 12 gels for $43 which works out as $3.60 per gel Gel 160 on the other hand comes in a box of 10 for $50, which ends up as $5 per gel. While Gel 100 is cheaper per packet, Gel 160 costs less for the amount of carbohydrate you’re getting.

Size and Storage: Gel 100 comes in a 40-gram packet, whereas Gel 160 comes in a larger 65-gram packet. It might seem like a small difference but, depending on how much space you have during a race, the smaller package could be considerably more practical.

It’s also important to remember that Maurten might not be the course provider forever, or they could change their formulations in a way that no longer suits you. Finding a product that works for you is great, but it’s important for athletes to have a deeper knowledge of their nutrition. That way, you can adjust your race nutrition plan to overcome any unforeseen challenges.

If you want to explore your nutrition strategy further consider joining our Triathlon Nutrition Academy program and I’ll help you get started! 

LINKS:

Podcast Episode 47: What Is A Hydrogel? Does It Improve Endurance Performance with Andy King

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Check how well you’re doing when it comes to your nutrition with our 50 step checklist to Triathlon Nutrition Mastery: dietitianapproved.com/checklist

Start working on your nutrition now with my Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart course: dietitianapproved.com/kickstart

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