33Fuel’s Chia Energy Gels use just four real-food ingredients and allow you to add carbs to your hydration from a resealable pouch.
Choosing the best running gel for your personal goals and preferences is an important step towards optimizing your performance on the track or trail. In recent times, we’ve group-tested a batch of the best options on the market, to give you all the info you need before trying one of these gels for yourself. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at 33Fuel Chia energy gel to see how it stacks up.
Men’s Fitness verdict
33Fuel’s Chia Energy Gels use just four real-food ingredients and allow you to add a big hit of carbs to your hydration from a resealable pouch.- Only simple, real-food ingredients
- Great taste
- Even energy release
- Need pre-filling
- Resealable caps can break off
- Difficult to stash
How we test running gels
When it comes to running gear, Kieran Alger is one of the best product reviewers in the business. He regularly trains for (and competes) a wide range of running disciplines, so we tasked him with assessing the effectiveness of each running gel on test during his regular sessions. Along the way, he made sure to take note of key criteria, including: energy-to-weight ratio, effectiveness of energy release, ingredients, taste, price, and even how well the packaging fits in your pocket.
33Fuel Natural Sports Nutrition’s chia-based gels are simple, tasty and 100% natural. In many ways, they change what you should expect from a gel. They swap the maltodextrin-based artificial chemical goop for real-food ingredients, fresh flavors and a textured mouthfeel that you look forward to consuming.
Each gel uses just four ingredients: chia seeds, coconut palm sugar, organic vanilla and Himalayan pink salt. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Rehydrating 33Fuel Chia Energy Gel
Unlike all the other gels in our test, the ingredients in the resealable packs come dried, so you have to add liquid to rehydrate them ten minutes before you plan to use them. The hydrated gels are more bulky and a less stashable shape than other gels, and the extra step is a double-edged sword. Yes it’s extra prep, but if you’re carrying fuel for a longer ride or run, the dehydrated gels take up less space.
In dried form, each gel delivers 11g carbs. That’s quite a lot lower than most other gels. However, you don’t have to use water to rehydrate them. You can boost the carbohydrate hit by adding milk, fruit juices, coconut water or whatever liquid you want. There’s added salt to help balance your hydration, but if you’re looking for a caffeine boost you’ll need to add your own espresso.
How does 33Fuel Chia Energy Gel deliver its energy?
Unlike some rush-and-crash sugar-based gels, the energy boost is nice and even. The puffed-up chia seeds are a pleasant change from the usual non-descript sludge of regular gels and these are incredibly easy on the stomach. Plus, there’s no lingering artificial taste to get tired of.
The flip-top resealable lid also means you don’t have to down a whole gel in one. However, I found sometimes the chia seeds clogged the lid and I had to take care not to snap it off. Overall, though the 33Fuel Chia Energy Gel is a refreshingly different take on on the standard energy gel format.
What other energy gels are worth considering?
If you were to ask me what my favorite running gel is right now, I don’t think I’d give the honor to 33Fuel. That’s not to say that these gels aren’t worth your time, it just means that I think PF30 gels are even better. Produced by Precision Fuel & Hydration, PF30 gels offer 30g of carbs in each 51g sachet – that’s more than double the amount you get with 33Fuel, and trust me, on an intense run, you’ll feel the difference. Like 33Fuel, however, PF30 gels also offer a nice consistent flow of energy rather than administering it in sharp spikes. And, as far as flavor goes, while it’s nothing to write home about, it’s also entirely inoffensive and therefore won’t distract you from your run. Maurten Gel 100 is another option that has similar traits.
If flavor is important to you, Vala Energy gels should be towards the top of your to-try list, as long as you like dates. Largely concocted around date paste, Vala gels have a refreshingly natural set of ingredients and consequently a natural taste too. Some might find them a little too sweet, but I was fan, as I was with the taste of 33Fuel’s gels. UnTapped Athletic Fuel‘s syrup-y style is also definitely worth a shout as far as flavor goes. Though, they aren’t exactly the best option for easily stowing in your shorts pockets.
Overall, it must be said that there are some other running gels out there which will make life easier for you, compared to 33Fuel Energy gels, due to the need to rehydrate them. But, if you don’t mind that and are simply after a competent, steady-release energy gel which tastes nice, 33Fuel is a brand which is definitely deserving of your consideration.
