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  3. Liquid Energy vs Gel 100

GU Energy Liquid Energy vs Maurten Gel 100

Maurten Gel 100 is unflavored and costs $1.25 more per gel. GU Liquid Energy comes in flavors, some with caffeine, and has almost 4 times the sodium.

GU Energy Liquid Energy

GU Energy

Liquid Energy

24 g of carbs in a 60 g (2.1 oz) serving, from maltodextrin and fructose.

Carbs
24 g
Serving
60 g2.1 oz
Price
$2.50 a serving
RC Science Score
92out of 100

Choose it if

  • You count on your gels for some of your sodium. Three GU packets give you 225 mg, and three Maurten gels give you 60 mg.
  • You like a flavored gel, or want caffeine in some of them. GU sells flavors with and without caffeine.
  • You're fueling a long race on a budget. At $2.50 a gel, GU is a third cheaper than Maurten.
See it at guenergy.com
Maurten Gel 100

Maurten

Gel 100

25 g of carbs in a 40 g (1.4 oz) serving, from glucose and fructose.

Carbs
25 g
Serving
40 g1.4 oz
Price
$3.75 a serving
RC Science Score
100out of 100

Choose it if

  • You prefer a gel with no added flavor.
  • You want a smaller pouch: 40 g (1.4 oz) against GU's 60 g (2.1 oz).
  • You want to know the glucose-to-fructose ratio. Maurten's is 1.25 to 1, and GU's isn't listed.
See it at maurten.com

Updated October 8, 2026 · numbers from each brand's label, verified by CarbRate

Which gel fits you?

Tap what matters to you. The gel that fits more of it lights up.

GU Energy Liquid Energy

    Fits you

    Maurten Gel 100

      Fits you

      Not sure what matters for your race? Find my fuel asks 3 questions and matches you.

      Head to head

      Longer bar is better for racing on every row. The lit side wins it.

      GU Energy Liquid EnergyMaurten Gel 100
      24 g
      Carbs per servingg
      25 g
      11.3 g
      Carbs per ounce carriedgrams of carbs ÷ serving weight
      17.7 g
      9.6 g
      Carbs per dollargrams for $1
      6.7 g
      75 mg
      Sodium per servingmg
      20 mg
      92
      RC Science Scoreout of 100
      100
      Full label numbers
      Liquid EnergyGel 100
      Carbohydrate24 g25 g
      Serving weight60 g (2.1 oz)40 g (1.4 oz)
      Calories100100
      Sodium75 mg20 mg
      Potassiumnot listed0 mg
      Caffeine0 mg0 mg
      Proteinnot listed0 g
      Carbs frommaltodextrin, fructoseglucose, fructose
      Cost per serving$2.50$3.75
      RC Science Score92100

      On the label

      They match on all 4.

      GU Energy Liquid Energy

      • Vegan
      • Gluten free
      • Glucose + fructose
      • Caffeine free

      Maurten Gel 100

      • Vegan
      • Gluten free
      • Glucose + fructose
      • Caffeine free

      Your race on each gel

      Set your carbs an hour and race length. Both options hit the same target.

      Liquid EnergyGel 100Half each
      Gels an hour2.52.41.3 + 1.2
      Gels for the race10105 + 5
      Weight to carry600 g 21.2 oz400 g 14.1 oz500 g 17.6 oz
      Sodium an hour188 mg48 mg118 mg
      Cost for the race$25.00$36.00$30.50
      Half each takes half your carbs from each.

      Your own carbs an hour depend on your body and goal time.

      Build my free plan

      If neither fits

      Three gels that each lead on one thing.

      Applied Nutrition Energy Gel

      More carbs for the money

      Applied Nutrition Energy Gel23.1 g of carbs in 60 g (2.1 oz) · $1.20
      32Gi Blood Orange Energy Gel Sachet

      Lightest to carry

      32Gi Blood Orange Energy Gel Sachet21 g of carbs in 27 g (1.0 oz) · $2.23
      Victus 02 During Lemon Energy Gel

      Most carbs per serving

      Victus 02 During Lemon Energy Gel45 g of carbs in 66 g (2.3 oz) · $4.12

      Similar comparisons

      GU Energy Liquid Energy vs Applied Nutrition Energy GelMaurten Gel 100 vs Applied Nutrition Energy GelGU Energy Liquid Energy vs 32Gi Blood Orange Energy Gel SachetMaurten Gel 100 vs 32Gi Blood Orange Energy Gel Sachet

      Questions and next steps

      What runners ask about these 2 gels

      Which has more sodium, GU Liquid Energy or Maurten Gel 100?

      GU, with 75 mg a packet against Maurten's 20 mg. If you fuel on Maurten, plan your sodium from your drink or a separate electrolyte product.

      Does Maurten Gel 100 have caffeine?

      Gel 100 has none. GU Liquid Energy's Plain & Simple flavor has none either, and some GU flavors, Coffee among them, add caffeine.

      Can I take more than 60 g of carbs an hour on either gel?

      Yes, once your stomach is trained. Maurten mixes glucose and fructose, and GU mixes maltodextrin and fructose. Glucose on its own is limited to about 60 g an hour, and adding fructose is what lets a trained stomach handle up to about 90 g. Without practice in training, plan on about 60 g an hour.

      Are GU Liquid Energy and Maurten Gel 100 vegan?

      Yes. Both are listed as vegan.

      Full details

      Sources

      1. Product numbers: each brand's label (guenergy.com, maurten.com), verified by CarbRate.
      2. RC Science Score: CarbRate's scoring of each product against the fueling research, explained on each product page.

      Find Out How Many Gels Your Race Needs

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