Best trail running nutrition products

Pros

• ✓Hydrogel technology: excellent gastric tolerance
• ✓Does not necessarily need to be taken with water
• ✓Neutral flavour, not cloying
• ✓25 g of carbohydrates per gel

Cons

• ✗High price compared to other gels
• ✗Few flavours available

Pros

• ✓High-purity whey isolate, Informed Sport certified (no banned substances)
• ✓3:1 ratio with added L-leucine and L-glutamine
• ✓Allergen-free, good option for sensitive digestion

Cons

• ✗Smaller format (750 g) than other brands
• ✗Does not include electrolytes, only protein and carbs

Pros

• ✓Fast absorption thanks to the carbohydrate blend
• ✓Fluid texture, easy to take while running
• ✓Wide variety of flavours
• ✓Contains amino acids and electrolytes

Cons

• ✗Needs to be taken with water
• ✗Very sweet flavour for some runners

Pros

• ✓Leading Spanish brand in sports nutrition
• ✓Good digestive tolerance
• ✓Provides carbohydrates and electrolytes together
• ✓Wide variety of flavours

Cons

• ✗Requires prior preparation with water
• ✗Higher price per dose than other brands

Pros

• ✓Combines carbohydrates, electrolytes and protein in a single preparation
• ✓BCAAs in a 2:1:1 ratio plus 12 vitamins and 9 minerals
• ✓Large format (1250 g) for multiple servings

Cons

• ✗Higher price per dose than protein-only formulas
• ✗Sweet flavour that not everyone likes

Pros

• ✓Leading Spanish brand in endurance sports
• ✓Well-balanced carb-to-protein ratio
• ✓Includes BCAAs and glutamine
• ✓Good digestive tolerance

Cons

• ✗Requires blender or shaker for proper mixing
• ✗Cost per serving slightly high

Pros

• ✓250 mg of sodium and 40 mg of caffeine in a single capsule
• ✓Combines salts and a lift: fewer things to manage in the final stretch
• ✓Ginger for digestive tolerance late in a race
• ✓Spain's benchmark endurance brand

Cons

• ✗Caffeinated: not for replacing salts throughout the whole race
• ✗You must track total caffeine across gels and drinks too

Pros

• ✓250 mg of sodium per capsule, the highest solid-format dose in the comparison
• ✓Contains ginger to reduce stomach upset on long efforts
• ✓Spanish brand: easy to find and restock before a race
• ✓Zero calories or carbs: compatible with any gel, bar or drink

Cons

• ✗100-unit bottle: more than you need for a single race
• ✗You have to swallow them with water, they don't dissolve

Pros

• ✓100% natural, no artificial ingredients
• ✓Individual wrapper easy to open while running
• ✓Solid texture that does not melt or squish in the pack
• ✓Very affordable price compared to gels and bars
• ✓High vitamin C content

Cons

• ✗Very sweet flavour, can get tiring with repeated intake
• ✗Lower caloric density than a specialised gel

Pros

• ✓310 mg of sodium per capsule: the highest solid dose, two an hour cover a hot ultra
• ✓Informed-Sport certified: batch-tested against banned substances
• ✓Contains potassium, magnesium and chloride alongside the sodium
• ✓60-capsule bottle: sensible ratio for several races without half a bottle left over

Cons

• ✗Less available in physical shops than 226ERS: plan to order them online
• ✗310 mg is a lot of sodium per dose if you're a light sweater: one alone overshoots

Pros

• ✓Bisglycinate form: maximum absorption
• ✓240 capsules: 4-month supply
• ✓No digestive discomfort (not magnesium oxide)
• ✓Dual function: muscle relaxation + sleep improvement

Cons

• ✗Capsules may be large for some people
• ✗Gradual effect, not immediate

Pros

• ✓Delivers all four key electrolytes plus chloride
• ✓Modest dose: easy to fine-tune without overdoing sodium
• ✓Spanish brand widely stocked in sports shops
• ✓Zero calories, gluten-free, no added sugars and vegan

Cons

• ✗141 mg of sodium per capsule: heavy salty sweaters need 3-4 per hour
• ✗You have to swallow them with water, they don't dissolve

Pros

• ✓Extremely high caloric density in a very small volume
• ✓Soft texture, easy to chew while running
• ✓Rich in potassium, magnesium and fibre
• ✓Natural sweet taste that does not get tiring

Cons

• ✗They stick to each other and to everything in hot weather
• ✗They come with pits: you have to pit them or buy them pitted

Pros

• ✓High sodium concentration (1500 mg/L)
• ✓Easy to use: effervescent tablet in water
• ✓Zero calories, compatible with any gel or bar
• ✓Ideal for hot conditions

Cons

• ✗Provides no calories or carbohydrates
• ✗Somewhat high price per tablet

Pros

• ✓100 g of carbohydrates in a single format, maximum energy density
• ✓1:1 glucose:fructose ratio for better tolerance at high loads
• ✓With caffeine, useful for the final stretches of an ultra
• ✓Liquid format easy to swallow without water

Cons

• ✗Large format (106 g), not suitable for small pockets
• ✗High caffeine dose not recommended to take several times during a race

Pros

• ✓The widest mineral profile in the comparison: 9 minerals plus vitamins D and B1
• ✓90-capsule bottle: low cost per dose to train and race all season
• ✓Moderate, flexible sodium dose: adjust by taking more or fewer capsules per hour
• ✓Spanish endurance brand, easy to restock

Cons

• ✗Less sodium per capsule than Crown or 226ERS Sub9: you need 2-3 an hour in strong heat
• ✗So many micronutrients are marketing for a runner: what matters in a race is the sodium

Pros

• ✓Organic and natural ingredients
• ✓Good combination of carbohydrates and protein
• ✓Filling, ideal for long ultras
• ✓Well-executed classic flavours

Cons

• ✗Dense texture, requires plenty of chewing
• ✗Not suitable for high-paced moments

Pros

• ✓Artisanal and preservative-free
• ✓Firm texture, does not melt in your pocket
• ✓Natural sweet flavour, good alternative to gels
• ✓Spanish product that is easy to find

Cons

• ✗You need to cut it into cubes and prepare small bags before the race
• ✗Does not come in individual portions

Pros

• ✓100% natural honey, no additives
• ✓Taken like a liquid gel, fast absorption
• ✓Opens with your teeth, easy during a race
• ✓Compact and lightweight single-dose format

Cons

• ✗The rigid packaging can be annoying in a vest pocket
• ✗Lower carbohydrate content than a specialised gel

Pros

• ✓45 g of carbohydrates in a 1:1 ratio, ideal for 90 g+/hour strategies
• ✓Liquid texture, not as cloying as a classic gel
• ✓Caffeine-free, suitable to take at any point of the race
• ✓Spanish brand, good value for money compared to Maurten

Cons

• ✗80 g format bulkier than a standard gel
• ✗Less widespread internationally than Maurten or GU

Pros

• ✓100% natural, no additives
• ✓Crispy and easy to eat while running
• ✓Good potassium intake to help prevent cramps
• ✓Large format (2 kg) to prepare individual portions

Cons

• ✗Lower caloric density than dates or guava
• ✗You need to prepare individual bags before the race

Pros

• ✓The lowest cost per dose in the comparison: 180-tablet bottle
• ✓Sugar-free and vegan: doesn't interfere with a carb plan or keto diets
• ✓Balanced blend of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium for everyday use
• ✓Also useful off the race: heat, sauna, hangover, low-carb diet

Cons

• ✗Doesn't state a high sodium dose per tablet: falls short for a hot ultra
• ✗Generic general-use product, not formulated for the salt demand of a long race
• ✗You have to take several to match one concentrated salt capsule

Pros

• ✓Organic, with no preservatives or added sugars
• ✓Rich in potassium, helps with cramps
• ✓Light and do not melt in the heat
• ✓Good sweet-sour flavour that breaks the monotony of gels

Cons

• ✗The fibre can cause gastric discomfort if you eat several in a row
• ✗You need to prepare individual bags for the race

Pros

• ✓Hydrolysed protein with fast absorption
• ✓Good quantity-price ratio (1 kg)
• ✓Strawberry-kiwi flavour less cloying than other options

Cons

• ✗Less well-known brand than Victory Endurance or 226ERS
• ✗Fewer reviews available to verify batch consistency

Pros

• ✓No water needed, taken directly
• ✓Fluid and light texture
• ✓Good value for money
• ✓Wide variety of flavours

Cons

• ✗Fewer carbohydrates per gel than others (22 g)
• ✗Slightly large sachets

Pros

• ✓45 g of carbohydrates per bar, very energising
• ✓Good value for money
• ✓Pleasant texture and easy to chew
• ✓Wide variety of flavours

Cons

• ✗Requires chewing, not suitable for high paces
• ✗Can feel dry in the mouth without water

Pros

• ✓Historic benchmark brand in endurance nutrition
• ✓Works both during and after training
• ✓Large format (1210 g) for long seasons

Cons

• ✗Sweeter and less neutral flavour than other brands
• ✗Carbohydrate-protein ratio less tuned to pure recovery

Pros

• ✓Cost per gram of carbohydrate far below a commercial gel
• ✓1 kg covers dozens of servings, lasts several races
• ✓Neutral flavor: takes on whatever flavor you add

Cons

• ✗You need a precision scale to dose it correctly
• ✗On its own (without fructose) it caps absorption at around 60 g/h

Pros

• ✓Together with maltodextrin, it replicates the ratio used in premium gels
• ✓Allows up to 90 g/h of carbohydrates without digestive discomfort
• ✓1 kg lasts many races, minimal cost per serving

Cons

• ✗Not used on its own: always combined with maltodextrin
• ✗Too much fructose relative to malto can cause gastric discomfort