Gels are pure fuel, but they aren't for everyone all of the time. We get it. Here are the alternatives Matt uses to hit his fueling targets without touching a traditional gel.
I meet athletes all the time who don't like gels. I get it. Maybe it's the sticky wrappers, the texture, or the sweetness. All very legit reasons.
But here's the thing: even if you love gels, you should be mixing in other forms of carbs. Variety keeps your tummy happy and your fueling interesting. Here are the options I actually use.
Quick reminder on the goal.
Gels exist to give you quick carbs (and sometimes caffeine and electrolytes). If you're fueling right, you're consuming 2–4 per hour, depending on the format. The number we care about is carbs per hour. That's sacrosanct. Start at 70g per hour, and with experience, push toward 100g for maximum performance.
Here's how to hit those numbers without the sticky.
My first choice is Liquid Gels from the Italian brand Enervit
Yes, it's technically a gel... but not really. I used this product 25 years ago. The formula's been updated, but the idea is the same: a liquid shot of carbs in a spout pack. Twist the top, squeeze, done. 30g carbs per pouch.
Tadej and other pros love this format in major cycling races. They can consume it in a breath without breaking rhythm on a climb. No sticky fingers, no fumbling with wrappers.
For some reason, I find the energy hits me faster with these. It's not just for endurance sports either. This is Jannik Sinner's favorite fuel during tennis matches, and I recently sent a bunch to PGA players.
Chew on Something
If anyone says “chews” are candy. You can tell them Matt from The Feed says they are performance fuel and you have permission to have as many as you want during your workout.
For a while it looked like chews were going to replace gels entirely, but 5 years ago gels had a moment, and it continues today.
What I love about them: you can dose better. One chew, two chews, you don't have to commit to the whole pack at once. Scientifically, more frequent fueling is always better than dumping a bunch of carbs in at once. Your stomach will agree.
There's been a lot of development here recently. Let me break it down:
Precision Fuel Chews. These take the sweetness out. They're bigger, more like a small bar than a traditional chew. PF 30 gives you 30g carbs (two 15g chews per pack). PF 60 gives you 60g (two 30g chews). Pick based on your fueling targets.
Noogs and Clif Sour Chews. Delicious and refreshing. You genuinely can't stop eating them, which is actually a feature. The biggest problem most athletes face is not eating enough. These solve that.
SIS Beta Fuel Chews. More traditional chew texture, 45g carbs per packet. Good middle ground, not as sweet as Sour Chews, but sweeter than Precision. Great chew texture, but not sticky on your teeth.
But what if you want a bar to bite into?
My last pick is also from Enervit, they have really innovative when it comes to alternative formats to gels. The Carbo Chewable Gel. Not quite a chew, more solid than a gel. I love it because it satisfies that desire for something you actually bite into. The taste is spot on, and it melts in your mouth faster than a traditional chew. I feel it is easier on your teeth, too.
They make a workout version, but there's also Pre-Sport for pre-fueling. Slow-burning carbs, no sugar spike. Great way to top off before you go.
The bottom line. Liquid gels for speed. Chews for control. Bars for when you want to actually eat something. Mix it up. Your gut will thank you, and you'll stop dreading the fueling part of training.
Not sure where to start? Try one of each.
