GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel (Strawberry Banana, 8-Count)

Excellent for full marathon.

Gives quick boost up

I use these a lot for endurance training, including while training for longer events like an Ironman. Living and training in the Houston area, keeping hydration and fueling under control is a big deal, especially on long hot rides and runs. I tried several other brands, and GU ended up being one of the easiest for me to use consistently. The packets are easy to handle on the bike, and I can tear one open one-handed with my teeth without much effort. That matters when you are trying to fuel without stopping or losing focus. Taste-wise, they are sweet, but that is pretty much true of every energy gel. These are manageable for me, and they do what I need them to do during longer workouts. One underrated thing I appreciate is that they wash out of clothes pretty easily. When you are stuffing empty packets into jersey pockets or running pouches, things get sticky. These still make a mess like any gel, but I have not had issues getting the residue out. Overall, these have been dependable, easy to use during training, and a regular part of my endurance fueling.

Great taste and easy on the stomach. Works great for running and biking!

I've been using GU for a long time, 10 years or more, and I think it's a wonderful product. However, I have noticed that when I'm consuming multiple ones during a race and such, they start to taste sweet, which I don't like at all; the last thing I want when I'm 20 miles into a run is something sweet. I thought all gels were pretty much the same, but alas, I now know that that's not true. I have recently discovered another product, gel from Hammer Nutrition. Their flavors are superior (to me anyway), and they're not overwhelmingly loaded with sugar. Also, after you take one you're not scrambling for the water bottle since they don't leave a syrup consistency in your mouth. If you're only going to use 1 gel, then GU can fit the bill, but if you're going to consume multiple ones, you might want to look at the gel from Hammer Nutrition. Oh, about the carbs and sugar content. There are more simple carbs in the GU gels, which means that it brings you up and down much faster. Hammer gels have a great deal more complex carbs in them (and they're natural), so you don't spike up and drop down fast, meaning that you give your body a consistent supply of energy without the spikes. This has been a nice change in my training. FYI, the flavors of GU I like are the Mint Chocolate and Vanilla. For Hammer gels, I like the Huckleberry, Raspberry, and Apple Cinnamon.