GU Energy Original Sports Nutrition Energy Gel, 24-Count, Vanilla Bean

This flavor of GU is the only flavor I like. I do like the vanilla Cliff band as well. It can be difficult finding a gel to like as it is messy, sticky, and a bit thick to swallow. However, I find that this one is not overly sweet and has a pleasant enough flavor that I can swallow it during a race rather quickly. It does help me with not feeling light headed and gives me continue energy. Of course you do need to eat multiple ones during long races/training times.

Recommend

Gave last minute energy that helped me get through 3 grueling weeks of swat school

I like both the taste and the consistency. It’s vanilla, but not overwhelming and it doesn’t repeat on me like some products do. The packaging is small with no sharp edges. Price is good when compared to similar products. The consistency is closer to pudding than runny liquid so I can eat it in two or three ‘slurps’ without it spilling over my fingers or worse still over the shifters on my bike over 30 seconds or so. I can’t speak to the amount of sodium, caffeine or amino acids but if I’m dragging this always peps me up.

When recently training for a marathon, we picked up a variety pack of Gu flavors. I would eat a different flavor first but I would always get queasy if I had anything other than Vanilla after the first gu. I changed to only vanilla flavor and my stomach was not queasy for the remainder of the training. I have a sugar sensitive stomach and I usually get gut rot when I drink more than 1 lemonade, Gatorade, cocktail...etc. The vanilla flavor was the only flavor that worked for my stomach.

Ive been using these since the 1990s, and theyre still just as good as they were back then. I frequently do rides of 50 miles (or further), and taking one of these once an hour really helps to keep my energy levels up. Plus they taste absolutely great. 10-15 minutes after taking one I seem to get some extra kick in my legs. I also use the Gu Chews (in watermelon flavor) that may taste even better. Ill chew 2 of those maybe every 15-30 minutes in between the gels. Great products from Gu.

Dont really like the taste, but definitely gives you an energy boost to get you through an afternoon or whatever youre taking it for. May try another flavor in the future

I have tried a large variety of GU gels (and similar gels made by other brands) over the course of several years of running. Pro: Like all GU gels, these have a nice, liquidy texture that helps swallowing mid-run easier than some of the stiffer gels (Clif!). Con: The Salted Caramel description suggests a nice balance between sweet and salty, but I found the actual flavor to be overwhelmingly sweet and artificial (relative to other GU gels--they all taste artificial to some degree, of course!), and had an off-puttingly cloying tinge to the flavor.

This is the best flavor of GU, and has caffeine! If I am going to be out for a long day climbing a big objective, I will bring 3-4 of these along with several CLIF Shot Bloks and a protein bar for variety. Other flavors of GU make me gag, but the salted caramel actually tastes like something you would put on ice cream... so good!