I was excited to try Carbs Fuel as I’m aiming to consume 90 grams of carbs per hour. This can be tough when most gels only have around 25 grams. Do I really need to take four gels every hour?
Carbs Fuel is quickly becoming a go-to for athletes looking for simple, effective fueling. Whether you’re prepping for a marathon or a long cycling event, they offer several products designed for energy and performance. Unlike most brands, Carbs Fuel packs 50 grams of carbs into one gel packet, making it much easier to meet carb goals. It can so hard to intake enough carbs while running. Many gels and drink mixes only contain 25 grams and it gets expensive and exhausting to eat the entire time you are running. At what point is it a running race or an eating race?
Before trying Carbs, I had a couple of questions:
- Does Carbs Fuel Taste Good? It’s not amazing and a bit too sweet for my taste, but it’s far from bad.
- Does Carbs Fuel Cause Stomach Issues? If you take it with water as recommended, it shouldn’t cause any problems.
Now let’s get into an honest Carbs Fuel review.
About the Brand:
Carbs Fuel was created to offer high-performance fueling at an affordable price for endurance athletes. The brand emphasizes simplicity, removing unnecessary ingredients like preservatives and artificial flavors. With products developed by experts in human bioenergetics, Carbs Fuel ensures athletes get optimal energy release and support.
About Carbs Fuel Original Sports Drink
The Original Sports Drink provides fast and sustained energy for endurance athletes. It contains a 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio, 75 grams of carbs, and 500mg of sodium per serving. This balanced mix helps athletes maintain energy and electrolyte levels during long, intense sessions. You can choose how many scoops of the original sports drink you put in your bottle and each scoop contains 25 grams of carbohydrates.
- Carbohydrates: 75 grams per serving
- Calories: 300
- Sodium: 500mg
- Flavor: Light, semi-sweet, citrus
- Packaging: 1,000g pouch or 75g sachets
The drink is light in flavor and easy on the stomach, making it perfect for long races or training sessions.
My Experience
I was most excited to try the Carbs Fuel Original Sports Drink for its 75 grams of carbs per serving. However, I found it challenging to get more than two servings into my bottle during marathon training. While I could stash another bottle, it’s not ideal. That said, I still get 200 calories and 50 grams of carbs, which is better than many other mixes. I did find it much sweeter than I thought it would be. I always think unflavored wonm’t be too sweet and the end up being super sweet. I do worry if I consumed nothing but the Original Sports Drink and Energy Gel, I may end up with some flavor fatigue.
About Carbs Fuel Energy Gel
The Energy Gel offers 50 grams of carbs and 105mg of sodium in each packet, perfect for a quick boost during long events. Its 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio helps deliver energy efficiently.
- Carbohydrates: 50 grams per gel
- Calories: 200
- Sodium: 105mg
- Ingredients: Maltodextrin, sucrose, fructose, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium chloride
- Packaging: 18 gels per box, $2.00 per gel
The gel is thinner than most and has a light citrus flavor, making it easier to consume during extended activities.
My Experience
I tried my first Carbs Fuel Energy Gel during a long run. While the packet is large, it was easy to get down over two miles. The taste is sweet but manageable, especially when taken with water. I like that it provides 50 grams of carbs, and I’ve since bought more because it’s so effective.
I think I prefer the gels over the Original Sports Drink and I feel like I could do the gels for the majority of the marathon. I don’t think I could do both and truthfully I may need something else to take towards the end because I do worry it will just be too sweet for me.
Cost
Carbs Fuel is more affordable than many brands. At $36 for 18 gels or $36 for a 75-gram drink mix, it’s one of the best deals for endurance fueling. Honestly, I am amazed at the price, especially when so many other brands cost twice that much.
Conclusion
Carbs Fuel offers simple, high-carb fueling options that are effective for endurance athletes. Both the drink mix and energy gel provide a significant amount of carbs, making them great choices for long-distance runners and cyclists. They’re also affordable, with clean ingredients and consistent performance.
Who Should Buy Carbs Fuel
- Endurance athletes looking for cost-effective, high-carb fueling options
- Athletes who prefer simple ingredients without preservatives or artificial flavors
- Those needing a reliable source of energy for long races or training sessions
Who Should Not Buy Carbs Fuel
- Athletes who prefer strong or specific flavors, as Carbs Fuel is focused on neutral, citrus tastes
- Those who like thicker gels may find the thinner consistency of Carbs Fuel less appealing
You can purchase Carbs Fuel here and see all gear reviews here.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite fueling source?
How do you intake more gels?