What are the best energy gels in South Africa?
Among South African gels with published carbohydrate amounts in October 2026, Biogen Elite Carb Gel is the best value at about R30 per 30 g of carbohydrate, while Maurten Gel 100 is the premium option at about R90. 32Gi, official gel supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon, does not publish carbs per gel on retailer pages. Test any gel in training.
- Biogen Elite Carb Gel has 45 g of carbohydrate for R44.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, October 2026), about R30 per 30 g.
- Maurten Gel 100 has 25 g of carbohydrate; about R90 per 30 g at R75 a gel, about R82 in a box of 12.
- 32Gi was the official gel and energy-bar supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon; carbs per 32Gi gel are not published on retailer pages.
- Guidelines: up to 30 g/h for 1–2 h, up to 60 g/h for 2–3 h, up to 90 g/h beyond 2.5 h with glucose plus fructose.
- NamedSport Total Energy Strong's label cites 180 mg of caffeine per 25 ml serving.
What are the best energy gels in South Africa?
It depends on whether you value price, gut tolerance or race-day availability. Gels exist to deliver carbohydrate: guidelines suggest up to 30 g an hour for 1–2 hours, up to 60 g an hour for 2–3 hours and up to 90 g an hour beyond 2.5 hours, using glucose plus fructose. See how many carbs per hour for a marathon or ultra.
How do the main gels compare?
October 2026; cost per 30 g of carbohydrate is our calculation where the carbohydrate amount is published (retailer pages or offshore listings):
| Gel | Carbs per gel | Price (retailer) | Per 30 g carbs | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Elite Carb Gel, 60 g | 45 g | R44.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | R30.00 | not stated |
| Biogen Liquid Energy Gel, 60 ml | 23 g | R26.99 (Biogen shop; out of stock when checked) | R35.20 | none |
| SiS GO Isotonic Gel, 60 ml | 22 g | R44.90 (Sportsmans Warehouse via PriceCheck) | R61.23 | none |
| Maurten Gel 100, 40 g | 25 g | R75 (R68–R69 per gel in a box of 12) | R90.00 (about R82 in a box) | none |
| Maurten Gel 100 CAF 100 | 25 g | R80–R85 | R96–R102 | 100 mg |
| 32Gi High Intensity Gel, 27 g | not published | R25–R35 (Dis-Chem, Checkers, EasyBike) | not calculable | not published |
| GU Energy Gel, 32 g | not verified | R33–R38 (Clicks via PriceCheck) | not calculable | varies by flavour |
| NamedSport Total Energy Strong, 40 ml | not verified | R56.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | not calculable | label warning cites 180 mg per 25 ml; per-sachet amount not stated |
The Maurten and SiS carbohydrate figures come from offshore retailer listings rather than South African pages.
Which gel for which athlete?
- Best value: Biogen Elite Carb Gel. At 45 g of carbohydrate (maltodextrin and fructose), one gel is roughly an hour's fuel at 45 g an hour. It is thick and sweet, so practise with water.
- Premium and gut-friendly for many: Maurten Gel 100 uses a hydrogel with a fructose-to-glucose ratio of about 0.8:1; it costs three times more per gram.
- Comrades and local availability: 32Gi is a South African brand (2010, per the Comrades blog) and was the official gel and energy-bar supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon. Retailers suggest one gel about every 45 minutes. Check current race information for 2026–27 suppliers. See 32Gi vs other gels.
- Cheapest per gel: Nutritech Endurade, R14.99 for 30 ml (Checkers), but the page's carbohydrate figure is printed unclearly, so we cannot rank it.
- Caffeine: use caffeine gels sparingly late in long events. NamedSport's label warning cites 180 mg of caffeine per 25 ml and does not state the amount per 40 ml sachet, so treat it as a high-caffeine gel and read the pack. See caffeine gels for endurance.
How should you choose?
- Work out your target carbs per hour.
- Divide by the carbs per gel to get gels per hour.
- Buy two or three types and test them in long training runs, with water.
- Carry the same product you will find on the course if you rely on aid stations.
For the cheapest options by number, see cheapest energy gel per 30 g of carbohydrate.
What are the safety points?
Gut distress is the main risk when you try new products on race day. People with diabetes need an individual plan, and those with fructose malabsorption should avoid fructose-heavy gels.
Under-18s, pregnant athletes and anyone with kidney, heart or blood-pressure problems or on regular medication should get individual fuelling advice.
Products mentioned, with dated prices
| Product | Size | Price | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Elite Carb Energy Gel, unflavoured (60 g) | 60 g sachet | R44.99Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 2026 | 1 | R44.99 | None listed |
| Biogen Liquid Energy Gel (60 ml, orange or strawberry) | 60 ml sachet | R26.99Biogen (own shop), Oct 2026 | 1 | R26.99 | No artificial sweeteners listed |
| Maurten Gel 100 (40 g sachet) | 40 g sachet | R74–R75goneoutdoor / The Athlete's Foot via PriceCheck, Oct 2026 | 1 | R75.00 | None listed |
| Science in Sport (SiS) GO Isotonic Energy Gel (60 ml) | 60 ml sachet | R45–R49Sportsmans Warehouse via PriceCheck, Oct 2026 | 1 | R44.90 | None listed |
| 32Gi High Intensity Sports Gel (27 g) | 27 g sachet | R25–R35Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), Oct 2026 | 1 | R34.99 | None listed (rice syrup, flavouring, salt, preservatives) |
| Nutritech Endurade Energy / Sport Gel (30 ml) | 30 ml sachet | R14.99Checkers (product page), Oct 2026 | 1 | R14.99 | None listed |
Compare the options
Related questions
- What is the cheapest energy gel per 30 g of carbohydrate in South Africa?
- How does 32Gi compare with other South African gels?
- How many carbs per hour do you need for a marathon or ultra?
- Do caffeine gels improve endurance performance?
- Is 32Gi a good sports nutrition brand in South Africa?
- Where can you buy energy gels and electrolytes in South Africa?
Sources
- Jeukendrup 2014, A step towards personalized sports nutrition: carbohydrate intake during exercise (Sports Med)
- Comrades Marathon: Race information
- Dis-Chem: Energy and endurance
Educational information only, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease.
Cite this page: Healthnews24, “What are the best energy gels in South Africa?”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/best-energy-gels-in-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /answers/best-energy-gels-in-south-africa.md