Energy Gel or Gel Mix: Which One Fits Your Training Style?

September 4, 2025 Helen Keith

Our Gel Mix and Energy Gels are great for fuelling your races, training and workouts. Both are great for settling your stomach during exercise due to their ginger content, but which one fits your training style? In this article we’ll breakdown some of the key differences in convenience, customisation and intensity between pre-made Energy Gels and mix-it-yourself Gel Mix.

Why does ginger make a difference in sports nutrition?

We use natural root ginger in our nutrition products. The ginger in Active Root can help contribute towards a normally functioning settled stomach, thereby allowing athletes to focus on their performance rather than their stomach. In addition to preventing stomach discomfort, ginger also stimulates appetite, making it easier for athletes to consume necessary nutrients and fluids during prolonged exercise sessions. This appetite boost becomes increasingly crucial during endurance events where maintaining fuel and hydration levels is critical.

During exercise, especially endurance activities like long-distance running or cycling, many athletes experience nausea and gastrointestinal (GI) distress. This can be a result of intense physical exertion, which diverts blood away from the stomach to the muscles, making digestion more difficult. Many runners often struggle with conventional gels, which can often exacerbate stomach issues.

Furthermore, ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds that can help sore muscles recover faster. It is often used to ease stiff and sore joints too. Research indicates that supplementing with ginger post-workout can help with muscle pain and support your body with recovery.

What’s the difference between Gel Mix and Energy Gels?

Gel Mix is ideal for those looking for a way to have greater control over their fuel intake, whilst Energy Gels are a quick and convenient way to energise on the go! Gel Mix comes in powder form in a sachet or pouch, and you mix it with water in a soft flask. Energy Gels are in ready-to-consume sachets with no preparation required.

Why choose Gel Mix?

Our mix-it-yourself Gel Mix means you can decide on the amount of carbohydrates, calories, and sodium you get so you can fine-tune your fuelling strategy. Mix the required amount of Gel Mix powder in a soft flask with water, shake well, and you’re ready to go! One 170ml Soft Flask can hold between the equivalent of 1-4 gel servings. Carrying one or two soft flasks provides you with up to 8 gel servings, enough for a marathon, without having to worry about loose gels all over your kit.

Single use gels often have to be consumed all in one go, whereas with the soft flask, you can consume as little or as much as you need. Mixing it with water yourself also allows you to control the viscosity of the gel. You can have it as runny or as thick as you like!

Customise the amount you add to provide:

1 Serving (25g) = 98 calories, 24g carbs, 40mg sodium

2 Servings (50g) = 196 calories, 48g carbs, 80mg sodium

3 Servings (75g) = 294 calories, 72g carbs, 120mg sodium

4 Servings (100g) = 392 calories, 96g carbs, 160mg sodium

The pouches that Gel Mix come in are recyclable, coupled with the use of reusable soft flasks for consumption, means that there is less waste when compared to the use of conventional gel wrappers.

Our Gel Mix comes in three flavours (all containing ginger!): Original Ginger, Cacao and Peppermint, and caffeinated Guarana.

Why choose Energy Gels?

Our range of Energy Gels are designed to enhance your performance and provide reliable support for runners, cyclists and athletes. Crafted with quality and convenience in mind, as well as being gluten free, vegan and all natural, these gels ensure you don't hit the wall, and keep pushing on! They are light, convenient to carry, gentle on the gut but powering your strong performance.

Energy Gel contains 50mg of ginger to maintain a settled stomach, 30g of carbohydrates for a steady release of energy, and 122 calories in each gel. You need around 60g of carbs per hour for a steady rate of exercise. We would recommend consuming a gel 15-20 minutes before you start to give yourself a strong start to your run or triathlon. During your event you should aim to consume a gel every 20-30 minutes to maintain a steady supply of energy. Finally, you can take a gel immediately after you finish to replenish energy levels. To ensure proper hydration, take 300ml of water with every 2-3 gels per hour of exercise.

Our Energy Gels come in five flavours (all containing ginger!): Original Ginger, Lemon, Apple, Rhubarb, and caffeinated Citrus.