Honest Veloforte energy gels review (from a runner who was scared of taking gels!)
Are you nervous about trying energy gels or had bad experiences with some brands you tried in the past? I was in the same boat, until I started using Veloforte gels.
Here’s my honest review of Veloforte gels and how they help me fuel my runs.
Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted some Veloforte products, however this review is not sponsored and I only recommend products I genuinely use and enjoy.
About Veloforte
Veloforte is on a mission to help endurance sports enthusiasts fuel better and improve their performance with a range of products that taste great, don’t upset the stomach and made with natural ingredients only.
From energy gels to post-workout bars and recovery shakes, Veloforte has your fuelling strategy covered for any endurance sports.
Veloforte energy gels
There are currently 5 Veloforte gel flavours available which are all Informed Sport Certified:
Desto: Tart Cherry and Guarana
Riba: Blackcurrant & Elderflower
Doppio: Maple, Coffee & Guarana
Tempo: Date, Lemon & Ginger
Primo: Beetroot & Lemon
Alongside carbohydrates, Veloforte gels also contain electrolytes which help keep muscle cramps at bay and contribute to maintaining optimal fluid balance.
Veloforte gels are gluten-free and made with 100% natural ingredients. They don’t contain any additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other nasties that can sometimes cause an upset stomach.
How many carbs per Veloforte gel?
One Veloforte energy gel provides you with 22g of natural dual-source carbohydrates. Whilst Glucose provides fast energy release for an instant boost, Fructose offers a more sustained energy release to keep you going.
Are Veloforte gels vegan?
Yes, all Veloforte gels are vegan! The vast majority of Veloforte range is in fact plant-based, you can find the full Veloforte vegan range in this blog post.
Do they contain caffeine?
As of now there are two caffeinated gel flavours: Desto and Doppio, both boasting 75mg caffeine per gel.
My honest review of Veloforte gels
I had a fear of taking energy gels for the first few years of my running journey, because I was scared of having an upset stomach when running and had heard many runners’ stories of issues with gels.
I got to the point in my running journey where I needed to find a solution for my long runs and half-marathon races, as not fuelling was impacting my progress.
I found Veloforte energy chews which I’ve been loving for a couple years now. I’ve never had a single issue and all the flavours have a fantastic taste.
But, let’s be honest, it is easier to swallow a gel texture then chewing when you’re running fast during a race and don’t want to slow down.
It’s only a few weeks ago that I decided to finally get over my fear of energy gels and to start practicing with them ahead of future half marathon races.
I had such a positive experience with all the other Veloforte products I tried that it was the only brand I was willing to trust with gels, and I’m so glad I did.
Taste and texture
I've only given Veloforte gels a shot, so I can't compare them to other brands. But my partner, who's tried a bunch of them, thinks Veloforte gels are the least sticky and easiest to swallow.
These gels taste “natural” like fruit syrup, and yoou can tell that they don’t contain any artificial stuff that might make it taste too sugary. Personally, I'm all about the Doppio flavour – the mix of caffeine and maple, with a hint of guarana, is a great combo, and there's no weird aftertaste.
The texture of these gels is so good that I didn't have to "get used to them" like I thought I would. I just wished I'd tried them sooner!
Are they kind on the stomach?
Going by my personal experience and the plethora of glowing customer reviews, Veloforte gels seem to be kind on everyone’s stomach.
This is largely due to their formulation, with natural ingredients only and no artificial additives that can sometimes make your gut feel uneasy.
I thought that I might have some trouble with the caffeine gels when I first tried them, but I don’t have a single issue to report!
I eased myself into it by trying my first gel during a long easy run and as it went down perfectly fine, I then started practicing taking a gel during speed sessions and long run workouts.
I’m really happy to get a boost of energy without any side effects even when I pick up the pace. I know that I can rely on Veloforte gels for my future half-marathon races and won’t have any issues!
How handy are they?
Another thing I love about Veloforte gels is their pocket-friendly size. They’re much smaller than the Science in Sport gels my partner is currently using and this makes them way less intimidating to take.
They’re also very easy to tear when you’re running.
If you’re like I used to be and are nervous about energy gels, I can only recommend you try the Veloforte gels for yourself!
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