PURESPORT ENERGY GELS
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PLEASE NOTE: I was gifted a trial pack by one good thing to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means I may receive a small share of the sale.
WHAT PURESPORT SAY
Puresport position these gels as a clean, performance focused gel designed to deliver energy efficiently without upsetting your stomach.
Their key focus areas appear to be:
- Natural ingredients
- Dual-carbohydrate energy delivery
- Electrolyte support
- Easy digestion
FLAVOUR AND TASTE
I tested the variety pack, which included both orange and berry flavours.
The orange flavour is light and slightly citrusy, without being sharp or overly acidic. It’s easy to take and doesn’t feel overpowering, even later into a run.
This ended up being my preferred option, mainly because during longer efforts, especially around mile 18–22, stronger or overly sweet gels can become difficult to stomach for me. Therefore, I’ll be sticking with the orange for Milan Marathon.
The berry flavour is slightly sweeter and closer to what you’d expect from a more traditional gel, but it’s still well balanced. It has a subtle fruitiness without tipping into that overly artificial taste that some gels have and it remained easy to take throughout.
Both gels are noticeably less sweet than many gels on the market, don’t taste artificial and don’t leave a lingering aftertaste. More importantly, they stay palatable deep into a run, which is often where gels start to become a struggle. Even at around the 20-mile mark, where I’d usually start to find gels difficult to get down, these were still manageable.
Puresport also now offer an ‘unflavoured option’.
THE SPECS
On paper, each gel is straightforward, but the detail is in how it’s put together. You’re getting 30g of carbohydrates per gel, alongside a 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio, plus a blend of electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium), all within a vegan, naturally flavoured formula.
The most important part here is that carb ratio. It’s easy to overlook, but it plays a big role in how effectively your body can use the energy you’re taking on.
Different types of carbs are absorbed through separate pathways in the gut, glucose uses one transport system, while fructose uses another.
By combining the two in the right ratio, you can increase the total amount of carbs your body is able to absorb per hour.
In practical terms, that means you’re more likely to:
- Take on more usable energy.
- Avoid overwhelming your stomach.
- Maintain steadier energy levels over time.
Rather than a sharp spike and crash, it feels more controlled and consistent, which is exactly what you want during longer runs or races.
From my experience this wasn’t just theoretical. My energy levels felt stable throughout and I didn’t run into the usual issues that can come with higher carb intake, particularly over longer distances.
COST
These sit firmly in the mid to premium price range, but the cost becomes more reasonable the more you buy:
- 6 pack: £14 (£2.33 per gel)
- Subscription: £2.10 per gel
- 48 pack: £78 (£1.63 per gel)
There’s also a 12 and 24 packet option.
While the upfront price is higher than some budget options, they become more competitive if you’re buying regularly.
More importantly, you’re not just paying for the carb content. You’re paying for consistency, ease of use, and gut comfort, which are often the things that separate a gel that works on paper from one you can rely on in training and on race day.
For me, that balance makes them feel worth the price.
INGREDIENTS
Puresport uses maltodextrin and fructose together to form the gel’s carbohydrate base. Maltodextrin provides a fast digesting source of energy, while fructose uses a separate absorption pathway in the gut. In practice, this dual carb approach allows your body to take on more fuel per hour without overwhelming your digestive system.
The texture is created by pectin which is a natural fibre found in fruit. Rather than feeling thick or sticky, it gives the gel a smoother, more fluid consistency, which makes it noticeably easier to take on. This is one of those details that doesn’t seem important until you’re trying to get a gel down mid run, at which point it makes a real difference.
Flavour wise, the use of natural flavourings helps keep things light and avoids the overly artificial taste that a lot of gels have, especially later in a run when your tolerance for sweetness tends to drop.
Puresport also included rowan berry extract (Sorbus aucuparia L.) for its antioxidant properties. While that might sound like a small detail, it’s aimed at supporting gut comfort and reducing irritation during prolonged exercise, something that aligns with how easy these felt on the stomach across multiple long runs.
Alongside the carb base, the gels also include a blend of electrolytes, such as sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. These play a supporting role in maintaining hydration balance and muscle function during longer efforts.
From personal experience, this is a feature I really appreciate as I’ve had issues with cramping in the past, and while a gel alone won’t completely prevent that, having those electrolytes included adds an extra layer of support when fatigue starts to build.
HOW TO USE THEM
Puresport recommend aiming for 60g of carbohydrates per hour, which typically works out as 1 gel every 30 minutes.
HOW I USED THEM
Rather than strictly timing gels, I based mine around distance and session type, which I find more practical during runs:
Long runs = 1 gel every 4–6 miles
Shorter efforts = 1 gel 5–20 minutes pre-run
I used these across a wide range of sessions, from steady long runs to short races, which gave a good picture of how they perform in different situations.
Long runs:
22 miles (9 miles at MP, avg 7:13/mile)
Gel every 4 miles
20.25 miles (off-road, avg 8:02/mile)
Gel every 6 miles
22.5 miles (5 × 2 miles at MP, avg 7:18/mile)
Gel every 5 miles and 1 pre-run approx. 5 mins before starting.
These sessions are where fuelling really matters, especially when mixing steady running with marathon pace efforts.
I spent a lot of time practicing taking gels to find what best suited me in preparation for Milan marathon.
I have decided to take a gel every 4 miles at Milan which is largely in line with their recommendations of 1 every 30 mins.
Mid-distance training run
12 miles (avg 7:42/mile). Gel at mile 6
I hadn’t fuelled properly during the day for this run and started feeling flat, to the point where I was considering stopping at 8 miles. After taking a gel at mile 6 I noticed that my energy picked up quickly, effort level dropped back to manageable, and I was able to complete the full run.
Faster sessions & races (Pre-fuelling)
3 mile race. (5:48/mile). Gel 20 mins before.
Track session (5-mile progressive threshold, avg 6:13/mile). Gel 15 mins before.
Parkrun (5K) (5:55/mile). Gel 20 mins before.
For shorter, higher intensity efforts, the gels worked well as a pre run top up, helping ensure energy availability from the start.
Across all sessions, a few things stood out
- Quick energy availability: The gels felt like they kicked in relatively quickly, particularly noticeable when I was under fuelled.
- Stable energy: No spikes or crashes.
- Flexible use: They worked equally well before hard efforts and during long endurance runs.
CONSISTENCY AND EASE OF USE
Over the past few months, I’ve tested a variety of gels while trying to find a reliable marathon option, and the difference in consistency between brands is huge.
Some are thick and gloopy, others weirdly chewy, and some are so watery they end up more on your hands than in your mouth.
Puresport’s gels sit comfortably in the middle, which for me is ideal. They’re smooth and easy to swallow without feeling heavy, but not so thin that they turn into a mess. I have been able to take them quickly and easily.
One of the biggest positives is that I didn’t feel the need to wash them down with water. I usually limit water during marathons to avoid risking a stitch, so finding a gel that goes down easily on its own is a win.
Something runners don’t talk about enough is how small inconveniences can feel massive when you’re 18 miles in, exhausted, sweaty and losing coordination. I’ve had races where opening a gel feel like such hard work, once I even managed to squirt one directly into my eye, whilst wearing contact lenses and blinded me for 2 miles!
However, I found the packaging is easy to grip even with sweaty hands, and the tear opens cleanly every time, no half‑rips, wrestling or sticky disasters. Once open, the gel goes down smoothly without needing to slow your pace.
It might sound like a small detail, but in the late stages of a race, that level of simplicity and reliability makes a surprisingly big difference.
GUT COMFORT
This for me is where these gels impressed me most. I’m usually very cautious with gels because my stomach doesn’t always tolerate them well.
However, with these I experienced no stomach discomfort, bloating or urgency mid-run toilet breaks! That dual carb system seems to genuinely help which I appreciated.
DOWNSIDES
To keep things balanced, there are a few limitations worth noting.
- There’s no caffeine option.
- They’re not the highest-carb gels on the market. With 30g per gel, they sit at a more traditional level, whereas some newer options push closer to 40-90g. That’s not necessarily a negative, but it does mean you may need to take them slightly more frequently if you’re aiming for higher carb intake.
- The flavour profile is quite subtle, which worked well for me, particularly over longer distances. However, if you prefer stronger, sweeter gels, they might feel a bit too mild.
- They do sit at a slightly premium price point, especially if you’re buying smaller quantities.
CONCLUSION
I’ve been really impressed with these gels, and I feel that they performance better than expected (I have also tried their electrolytes and have been equally pleased!).
I think that pure sport is really nailing their fuel for runners. These are well created, and I appreciated how easy they are to open and consume, whilst causing me no stomach issues. I found them to be a well balanced gel that does exactly what I need.
WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?
Yes, I’ve been really impressed with these across varies distances and paces.
They’re a great option for runners who:
- Have experienced gut issues with other gels
- Want a dependable marathon fuelling option
- Prefer lighter, less sweet flavours that remain manageable over longer distances
| From £12.60 | BUY NOW FROM PURESPORT |