Is 32Gi a good sports nutrition brand in South Africa?
32Gi is a credible South African endurance-nutrition brand, founded in 2010 and named the official gel and energy-bar supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon. It sells gels, race drinks and electrolyte gels at mid-to-premium prices (gels about R25 to R35, October 2026). Its weak point online is thin published nutrition data, such as carbohydrate per gel.
- 32Gi is a South African brand (2010 start per the Comrades blog) and was named official gel and energy-bar supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon.
- 32Gi Race High Intensity drink: 68 g carbohydrate per 75 g serving, about 12 servings for R470, roughly R39 per serving or R0.58 per gram of carbohydrate (October 2026).
- 32Gi High Intensity Gel (27 g) costs R25 to R35 depending on retailer; carbohydrate per gel is not published on retailer pages.
- 32Gi's statement that its products are kosher and halaal certified is a brand claim we have not verified against a certifier.
What is 32Gi?
32Gi is a South African endurance-nutrition brand. The Comrades Marathon's own blog gives 2010 as its start and announced 32Gi as the official gel and energy-bar supplier for 2024. That is a meaningful signal of local credibility, though it is a sponsorship rather than a quality test. We could not confirm the current Comrades arrangement beyond that announcement, and the brand's ownership is not published in our sources.
What does the range cost?
Prices are from South African retailers in October 2026.
| Product | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High Intensity Sports Gel (27 g) | R25 to R35 | Checkers R24.99, Dis-Chem R34.99; brown rice syrup with salt |
| Race Pro Gel (100 g) | R115 | nutrition not published on pages checked, Dis-Chem |
| Race High Intensity Sports Drink (900 g) | R470 | 68 g carbohydrate per 75 g serving, about 12 servings, no caffeine listed |
| Endure sustained-energy drink (900 g) | R383 to R465 | carbohydrate and sodium per serving not published on pages we checked |
| Race Pro Carb/Protein (900 g) | R287 to R600 | 56 g carbohydrate and 8.7 g pea protein per 4 scoops; retailers disagree |
| Cramp Assault electrolyte gel (10 g) | R34 to R37 | composition not published on pages checked |
The Race drink works out at about R39 per serving, or roughly R0.58 per gram of carbohydrate. That is far cheaper per gram than gels such as SiS GO (about R2.04/g) or Maurten Gel 100 (about R3.00/g) in our calculations. Compare more on the energy gel guide.
What are 32Gi's strengths?
- Local and race-proven. It is stocked at Dis-Chem, Checkers, Sportsmans Warehouse and cycling retailers, so you can buy replacements mid-training block.
- Good value in drink form. The Race drink uses a glucose, fructose, maltodextrin and isomaltulose blend, in line with the multiple-transportable-carbohydrate approach that supports 60 to 90 g/h.
- Broad range from gels to a plant-based protein shake, with no sweeteners listed on the Race products.
- 32Gi states, in a Comrades blog post, that all its products are kosher and halaal certified; that is a brand claim we have not checked against a certifier.
What are the weak points?
- Retailer pages rarely print carbohydrate per gel, caffeine mg or sodium, so you cannot calculate carbs per Rand for gels.
- Price spreads of more than 10% between retailers are common (Endure R383 versus R465), and the Race Pro tub ranges from R287 to R600.
- Third-party testing: we found no Informed Sport or similar batch-testing listing for 32Gi in our research. Drug-tested athletes should ask the brand for batch-test evidence and check the scheme register.
Who is it for?
Runners and cyclists who want a local, mid-priced system for gels and race drinks, particularly Comrades and Cycle Tour participants. Budget buyers will find cheaper gels (Nutritech Endurade about R14.99 at Checkers). Maurten and SiS suit those who want specific hydrogel or isotonic formats at a premium.
See where to buy gels and electrolytes and the Comrades plan.
Pregnant athletes, under-18s, and anyone with kidney, heart or blood-pressure problems or on regular medication should get individual advice from a doctor or registered dietitian.
Products mentioned, with dated prices
| Product | Size | Price | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 32Gi Race High Intensity Sports Drink (900 g) | 900 g | R470Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 2026 | 12 | R39.17 | None listed |
| 32Gi Endure sustained-energy sports drink (900 g tub) | 900 g | R383–R465Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), Oct 2026 | — | — | Not published |
| 32Gi Race Pro Gel (100 g, vanilla or cappuccino) | 100 g | R115Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), Oct 2026 | — | — | Not published |
| 32Gi Cramp Assault Electrolyte Gel (10 g) | 10 g sachet | R34–R37Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), Oct 2026 | 1 | R34.99 | Not published |
| 32Gi Race Pro Carb/Protein Sports Drink (900 g, chocolate or mocha) | 900 g | R287–R600Dis-Chem Living Fit, Oct 2026 | — | — | None listed |
Compare the options
Related questions
- How does 32Gi compare with other South African gels?
- What are the best energy gels in South Africa?
- Where can you buy energy gels and electrolytes in South Africa?
- What should you eat, drink and take during the Comrades Marathon?
- What is the cheapest energy gel per 30 g of carbohydrate in South Africa?
Sources
- Comrades Marathon: 32Gi named official gel and energy-bar supplier for 2024
- Dis-Chem: energy and endurance range
- Jeukendrup 2014, A step towards personalized sports nutrition: carbohydrate intake during exercise (Sports Med)
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, “Is 32Gi a good sports nutrition brand in South Africa?”, updated 27 October 2026, https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/is-32gi-a-good-sports-nutrition-brand-south-africa/. Plain-text version: /answers/is-32gi-a-good-sports-nutrition-brand-south-africa.md