Elite Gel 180

Which flavour should I choose?

Pick by caffeine and sodium, because the carbohydrate is identical across all five. Want no caffeine and maximum salt for a hot, long day? Creamy Vanilla (280mg sodium) or Lime (228mg). Want a caffeine hit with high sodium? Chocolate (50mg caffeine, 228mg sodium). Want caffeine at standard sodium? Caramel Cappuccino (35mg) or, for the biggest kick, Double Espresso (100mg).

How is GEL180 different from GEL100?

GEL180 is the elite, high-carb gel: 45g of dual-source carbohydrate (2:1 maltodextrin:fructose) built for up to 90g/hr, with more electrolytes (up to 280mg sodium, 58mg magnesium) and 400mg beta-alanine. GEL100 is a glucose-based gel — 25g of maltodextrin plus dextrose — suited to a steadier ~50g/hr and shorter sessions. Use GEL180 when you're genuinely pushing carbohydrate on long or hard days; use GEL100 for simpler, lower-rate fuelling.

Can I really absorb 90g of carbohydrate an hour?

Yes — but only with a gut that's trained for it. Glucose alone tops out around 60g/hr because it relies on a single transporter (SGLT1). Adding fructose, which uses a separate transporter (GLUT5), opens a second lane and lifts the ceiling toward 90g/hr. The physiology is real; the tolerance is something you build in training by progressively raising your intake in long sessions.

Why a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio specifically?

Because it maps to how the gut absorbs carbohydrate. Roughly two parts glucose (from maltodextrin) to one part fructose keeps both transporters — SGLT1 and GLUT5 — working near their combined capacity without overloading either. It's the ratio most high-rate endurance fuelling is built around, and it's what lets GEL180 push total carbohydrate intake higher with less GI cost.

How much caffeine is in each flavour?

Creamy Vanilla and Lime are caffeine-free. Caramel Cappuccino has 35mg, Chocolate 50mg, and Double Espresso 100mg per gel. If you use the caffeinated ones through a race, add them up and keep the total sensible for your body weight and the time of day.

How many gels do I need for a race?

On the protocol — one before, one every 30 minutes — you're taking two per hour, or 90g of carbohydrate per hour. A four-hour effort works out to roughly eight gels. Match your actual intake to your gut tolerance and how hard you're racing; not everyone needs the full 90g/hr for every event.

When should I use the high-sodium flavours?

When your sweat losses are high — long races, heat, humidity, or if you're simply a salty, heavy sweater. Creamy Vanilla leads at 280mg sodium per gel, with Lime and Chocolate at 228mg. On cooler or shorter days, the 150mg coffee flavours cover your needs without over-salting.

Do I need to take it with water?

Although it is not necessary — we recommend a few sips of water to help wash it down. Try not to take gels one after another without fluid in between. Don't take gels back-to-back without fluid.

Is it vegan?

Yes — GEL180 is fully vegan across all five flavours, with no animal-derived ingredients.

Will 90g of carbohydrate an hour upset my stomach?

It can, if you haven't trained for it — and much less so than trying to force the same amount from glucose alone. The dual-carb design specifically reduces GI distress at high intakes by spreading the load across two transporters. The key is to build up the rate gradually in training, always take it with water, and never debut a new fuelling rate on race day.