STYRKR CEL50 ENERGY CHEWS REVIEW

Product	Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chews
Category	Running Nutrition / Energy Chews
Carbohydrates	50g per packet (Dual Source)
Key Ingredients	Vegan friendly, Gluten free, Electrolyte infused
Digestion Tech	pH balanced to prevent gastrointestinal (GI) distress
Price	Approx. £2.50 per pack (Discounts on bulk boxes)

WHO ARE STYRKR?

STYRKR is a UK endurance sports nutrition brand that positions itself around combining sports science with practical fuelling for everyday athletes. The company was founded by cyclist Christian Sanderson, with the aim of developing fuelling products that support endurance performance while remaining practical to use during training and racing.

STYRKR's range includes energy gels, chews, drink mixes, bars, and electrolytes, with a strong emphasis on research, product development, and real world athlete testing. The brand also operates its own performance lab, where services include VO2 max testing, lactate profiling, and sweat analysis.

That science led approach is central to the brand, but the emphasis appears to be on helping athletes build fuelling strategies that work in the real world rather than selling individual products.

The CEL50 is the latest addition to that range.

WHAT IS CEL50?

The CEL50 is STYRKR's take on the traditional energy chew.

Each pack contains 50g of carbohydrate, split into five individual chews delivering 10g each. Alongside the carbohydrate, each pack also contains 267mg of sodium and added potassium.

The key difference is the format. Rather than consuming an entire serving in one go, you can spread your intake throughout a session according to your needs.

• One chew gives 10g carbohydrate.
• Two chews give 20g carbohydrate.
• Three chews give 30g carbohydrate.
• A full pack gives 50g carbohydrate.

STYRKR recommends taking one chew every 12 to 15 minutes, adjusting this according to the session and your individual fuelling requirements.

The brand positions CEL50 as a complement to its GEL50 rather than a replacement. The idea is simple, use chews when you want smaller, more gradual carbohydrate intake and gels when you want a larger dose quickly.

Another feature that stands out is the electrolyte content. At 267mg of sodium per pack, CEL50 contains more sodium than other energy chews currently available.

For me, that is particularly appealing. I'm a fairly salty sweater and have experienced cramping issues during longer efforts and warmer conditions. While no product can guarantee it will prevent cramp, I like having some electrolytes built into my carbohydrate source because it simplifies my fuelling strategy and removes one more thing to think about.

INGREDIENTS

The ingredient list is relatively straightforward for a sports nutrition product. The formula is designed to do a simple job, provide carbohydrate for energy, alongside some electrolytes to help replace what's lost through sweat.

Both the Wild Berry and Citrus Fruits flavours are built around the same core ingredients:

• Glucose syrup and sugar provide the carbohydrates.
• Pectin gives the chews their soft texture and keeps them vegan-friendly.
• Sodium chloride and sodium citrate provide sodium.
• Potassium chloride provides potassium.
• Citric acid and natural flavourings create the taste.

The two flavours are nutritionally almost identical. The main difference is the colouring, with Wild Berry using black carrot juice concentrate and Citrus Fruits using safflower extract.

What really matters is that each pack delivers:

• 50g of carbohydrate.
• 267mg of sodium.
• Added potassium.

HOW I TESTED THEM

Over the last few weeks, I've used the CEL50 chews across a wide range of running and cycling sessions, from shorter, high intensity efforts through to key marathon training sessions.

Sessions included:

• 10 mile steady run (1hour 20mins) - one chew before the run.
• 16 mile off-road long run (2hours 11mins) - one chew at the start and again at around 8 miles.
• 10 mile off-road run (1hour 13mins) - one chew pack at around 3 miles.
• Track session: 3 × 3km at threshold with 400m jog recovery (39 minutes) - one chew before the session.
• 5km race (18:03) - one chew taken approximately 20 minutes before the start
• 20 mile run (2 hours 23 mins) - one chew 10 minutes before the run, then additional chew at miles 8 and 15.

The indoor cycling sessions were particularly useful because they're where I tend to sweat the most. On longer tempo rides, I took a chew roughly every 30 minutes, which allowed me to steadily top up my carbohydrate intake without relying solely on gels or sports drinks.

I also used the CEL50 during some fairly warm weather, which provided a good opportunity to see how the texture held up after spending a couple of hours in my short pockets.

HOW DID THEY PERFORM

I wasn't expecting a dramatic burst of energy when I started using the CEL50. Ultimately, they're a carbohydrate product, and their main job is to provide fuel and help maintain performance.

What surprised me, though, was how noticeable the effect felt during training. Across both running and cycling sessions, I often felt a lift in energy shortly after taking a chew, particularly when the first signs of fatigue were starting to creep in. It wasn't a sudden surge. Instead, it felt more like I was able to settle back into the effort and maintain my pace more comfortably.

One of the most memorable examples came during a 10 mile run with a friend. We both took a chew midway through the session and carried on running as normal. Neither of us had planned to increase the pace, but we gradually found ourselves running noticeably quicker than intended. 

That's obviously not a scientific test, and I wouldn't suggest the chew alone was responsible. Plenty of factors affect performance. Even so, it was enough to make me pay attention to how I felt after taking them.

What I found particularly useful was how easy it was to fuel little and often. Rather than waiting until I felt depleted and reaching for a full gel, I could take a single 10g chew and keep topping up throughout the session.

STYRKR recommends using CEL50 alongside other carbohydrate sources, such as gels or drink mixes, during longer events. Because CEL50 uses a single glucose source, combining it with fructose based products can help support higher carbohydrate intakes.

For me, that's where the CEL50 fits best. I don't see it replacing gels altogether, but it offers a flexible way to control carbohydrate intake as part of a wider fuelling strategy.

FLAVOUR

STYRKR currently offer two flavours, wild berry, and citrus fruit.

I've tried both and, honestly, I'd be happy using either. If I had to pick one, Wild Berry would just edge it, but there's very little between them.

One thing I noticed was that they avoid the overly artificial sweetness that some sports nutrition products can have. That's particularly important during longer sessions, where a flavour that seems pleasant at the start can quickly become difficult to stomach a few hours later.

The biggest compliment I can give them is that the taste held up well during longer sessions. I never reached the stage where I was forcing myself to eat another chew or wishing I'd packed something different.

TEXTURE

Compared with other energy chews I've used, these are noticeably softer and easier to eat. That might sound like a small detail, but when you're running hard or breathing heavily, the last thing you want is to be concentrating on chewing your fuel.

I found I could eat them comfortably while moving, without needing to slow down or break rhythm. The individual 10g portions helped too, as I could take a single chew and carry on.

I also used the CEL50 during several warm weather sessions. They became a little softer and slightly stickier in the heat, but never to the point where they became messy or difficult to handle.

STYRKR uses a pectin based recipe rather than gelatine, making the chews vegan friendly and gluten free. More importantly, they remained easy to carry for several hours while still being easy to eat when I needed them.

WOULD I RACE WITH THEM?

This ultimately comes down to personal preference.

For easy runs, long runs, cycling and hiking, I've really enjoyed using the CEL50. The ability to take on smaller amounts of carbohydrate as and when I need them is something I found genuinely useful.

When it comes to racing, I think the answer depends on the intensity. For anything faster than marathon pace, I'd still reach for gels. Even though the CEL50 is softer than many other chews I've tried, a gel is quicker and easier to take when you're already working hard and focused on maintaining pace.

That said, I can still see a place for the CEL50 on race day. I'd be happy using them before the start and through the earlier stages of a marathon, before switching to gels later on when fatigue starts to build. I'd also happily use them during an ultra or a triathlon, where fuelling little and often can feel more practical over several hours.

In fact, the longer and less intense the event, the more appealing they become. During ultras, long rides or all day endurance efforts, being able to take on 10g of carbohydrate at a time feels far more manageable than relying solely on gels.

For me, that's where the CEL50 fits best. It's not a replacement for gels, but another useful option that gives me more flexibility in how I fuel.

PRICE

At the time of writing, STYRKR lists an 18 pack at £49.99, working out at £2.78 per pack.

Larger bundles reduce the cost per pack, with the 36 pack and 54 pack options bringing the price closer to £2.36 each. STYRKR also offers subscription discounts.

There's no getting around the fact that £2.78 for a pack of chews isn't cheap. However, it sits broadly in line with other premium endurance nutrition products and becomes more competitive when purchased in larger quantities.

Whether that represents good value will depend on how much importance you place on the flexible 10g servings and built in electrolytes.

For me, if it's a product I enjoy using and will consistently fuel well with, so I think it’s worth the price.

PROS & CONS

The Good	The Bad
Massive 50g carbohydrate payload per packet. Very gentle on the stomach (pH balanced). Provides a much needed texture break from liquid gels on long runs.	Chewing requires slightly more breath control at threshold paces compared to swallowing a gel. Can become slightly sticky in the packet during extreme summer heat.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many carbohydrates are in Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chews? As the name implies, there are exactly 50g of dual-source carbohydrates in every packet. This incredibly high yield makes them perfect for marathon runners trying to hit the elite fueling threshold of 60g to 90g of carbs per hour without carrying a bulky vest.

Are Styrkr Energy Chews hard to eat while running fast? No. Unlike traditional gummy sweets which require heavy chewing, Styrkr has engineered these to break down and dissolve rapidly in your mouth, meaning you won't lose your breathing rhythm while trying to get them down at race pace.

Do Styrkr chews upset your stomach? Styrkr designs all of their nutrition to be pH-balanced. This significantly reduces the acidity hitting your gut, drastically lowering the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) distress, cramping, or nausea during high-intensity endurance efforts.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM?

Yes. I've genuinely been impressed by the CEL50.

What impressed me most wasn't the 50g of carbohydrate per pack. It was the combination of flavour, texture, flexibility and practicality. Being able to take on carbohydrates in 10g increments made it much easier to match my fuelling to the demands of the session rather than feeling like I had to commit to a full gel every time.

I also appreciated having some sodium built into the product. As someone who sweats heavily, particularly during warmer runs and indoor cycling sessions, it's one less thing to think about.

I'm currently training for the Amsterdam marathon with a sub 2:55 goal, so fuelling is becoming increasingly important. I don't see the CEL50 completely replacing gels, particularly during harder efforts or later in a marathon, but I can see them becoming a regular part of my training and race day nutrition.

If you're someone who struggles with gels, prefers smaller amounts of carbohydrate at a time or simply wants more flexibility in how you fuel, the CEL50 is well worth considering.

WHERE TO BUY STYRKR CEL50?

CEL50 is available directly from STYRKR in wild berry and citrus fruits.

UK orders are shipped from STYRKR’s UK warehouse and the company currently offers free UK shipping on orders over £50.