tomato coupe

Did anyone say it was the end of the world? The OP merely asked for recommendations for an alternative brand.

Barry2 

maltodextrin is good stuff.

Barry

terrymorse 

Why is maltodextrin good?

Barry2 

Because of its high glycemic index.

Barry

tomato coupe

It's the main ingredient of most gels.

Eric F 

I tried those for a little while. The flavors always struck me as a little wonky.

terrymorse 

I had the same reaction to Hammer gels.

wolfchild

It's only good for providing quick energy while performing athletic activities but not so good for long term health. Very high glycemic index and fast digestion means it's a good source of very quick energy while performing physical activities, really no different than eating few tablespoons of pure sugar...Maltodextrin or dextrose are two main ingredients used in almost every sports energy supplement. It's also a main ingredient in weight gaining powders which are used by skinny gym rats trying to gain weight fast. Some people buy that stuff in bulk for very cheap and mix it with whey protein to make their own sports drinks.

Eric F 

Noted. I haven't tried Hammer.

Other folks have commented about blocks and other formats. I'm not familiar with blocks, so maybe I should check it out. If the packaging requires 2 hands to open, however, they aren't going to completely replace gels for me. I have some packages of chews/gummies from Skratch, but the packaging isn't conducive to accessing them while moving, and once you open the package, you kind of need to eat them all or they can end up loose in your jersey pocket collecting whatever kind of funk is going on back there. If you have time to stop and enjoy a snack, they're pretty good.

I've also had good results from the Skratch Super High Carb (formerly "Superfuel") powder. I typically run it at about half of the recommended dose per bottle.

Eric F 

Since you don't use them, maybe you don't understand why this matters to some people. I'll try to explain...

For many of us, there's a process in finding a favorite gel (or other on-bike nutrition product). It's not just flavor, but also finding one that reacts well in our body during long and/or hard efforts. As msu2001la mentioned, sometimes certain products can leave us with digestive discomfort. Having to repeat the process of finding one that we like and doesn't cause issues is kind of a bummer (which is not the same thing as "the end of the world").

terrymorse asked for recommendations to replace his favorite gel from folks who may have also used the product and found others that are similar - a totally reasonable request. He also informed us that the manufacturer of a popular gel is discontinuing the product - a piece of helpful info. None of this may relate to you, or your experiences. For others, it's something that matters.

livedarklions

He's being intentionally obtuse. OP asked for suggestions, not a referendum on gels. You, me, and everyone with a functioning brain can figure that out.

"Have you tried x (e.g., a certain food or candy, honey packets) instead?" would be a legitimate response.

"No other brand, but here's how I make my own..." is definitely relevant.

"I don't use them" is of no interest to anyone.

jaxgtr

I've been using Bolt by Pro Bar, easy on the stomach.

While not a gel, if you have a Fresh Market in your area, they have these things they call Power Chews. Basically rice cake type of things, but in a much smaller cube. Almonds, Brown rice, Honey Cranberries, some other stuff. They are fantastic and I take them in a small baggie, 10 or 12 of them and eat them on the long rides. I figure they are about 40 cal per cube, so If I eat 3 or so an hour along with my mix in my bottles, I am good for the rides with an an occasional gel block. I used to make my own, but these are very tasty and very convenient. There are where you can get nuts and seeds

jaxgtr

Hammer Gels are good, I've found them less sweet tasting then others on the market. They had a Peanut Butter that was awesome, but I think they stopped making that one.

livedarklions

Obviously, you missed this quatrain from Nostradamus:

"Thus, the Angel Clif doth shoot his last, and the River of Fire shall consume the swift and the slow."

indyfabz

Have you tried their Huckleberry? I like it.

tomato coupe

Both Peanut Butter and Chocolate/Peanut Butter seem to have disappeared.

Koyote

Yeah, that's too bad. I like the sweet ones...But late in an event, I really start to crave something a little more savory.

Juan Foote

I personally like the gels when there isn't much ride left and you just need something to keep from bonking and finish. I found that often after taking these they would make me feel queasy. I enjoyed the various bars and "waffle" a bit more in many cases. TBH, my favorite thing was when I could stop and grab a Snickers bar. Always did the trick for both a quick fix and a bit of fuel for later. To be fair, I also couldn't use things like Gatorade at full strength either. I most often had one bottle of "pure" water, and another bottle with a small amount of (some type of ) salt (that I can't recall).

Sy Reene

1/2 strength gatorade and half of a nuun is my 'energy drink' bottle. Plain (or maybe a nuun added) water in the other bottle.

Fahrenheit531 

Based on the amount of traction he's gained in the responses, this last point is debatable.

livedarklions

Traction?

indyfabz

Have they gotten as expensive as bike tires?

terrymorse 

Apparently, yes. From the Walmart stores, a single gel packet:



Clif Shot Mocha, 1 gel packet

indyfabz

Price gouging!

Sy Reene

For the scientific minded... how long past the 'expiration date' can a Clif Shot be eaten safely? I do have a box of the Mochas still in a closet, but the sell-by date was May 2022.