GU Liquid Energy and PF 30 cost the same per gram of carbs. PF 30 packs 30 g into each gel with no sodium, and GU has 24 g with 75 mg of sodium.
GU Energy
24 g of carbs in a 60 g (2.1 oz) serving, from maltodextrin and fructose.
Choose it if
Precision Fuel & Hydration
30 g of carbs in a 51 g (1.8 oz) serving, from maltodextrin and fructose.
Choose it if
Updated October 20, 2026 · numbers from each brand's label, verified by CarbRate
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GU Energy Liquid Energy
Precision Fuel & Hydration PF 30 Gel
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| Liquid Energy | PF 30 Gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | 24 g | 30 g |
| Serving weight | 60 g (2.1 oz) | 51 g (1.8 oz) |
| Calories | 100 | 120 |
| Sodium | 75 mg | 0 mg |
| Potassium | not listed | not listed |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Protein | not listed | not listed |
| Carbs from | maltodextrin, fructose | maltodextrin, fructose |
| Cost per serving | $2.50 | $3.12 |
| RC Science Score | 92 | 100 |
They match on all 4.
GU Energy Liquid Energy
Precision Fuel & Hydration PF 30 Gel
Set your carbs an hour and race length. Both options hit the same target.
| Liquid Energy | PF 30 Gel | Half each | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gels an hour | 2.5 | 2 | 1.3 + 1 |
| Gels for the race | 10 | 8 | 5 + 4 |
| Weight to carry | 600 g 21.2 oz | 408 g 14.4 oz | 504 g 17.8 oz |
| Sodium an hour | 188 mg | 0 mg | 94 mg |
| Cost for the race | $25.00 | $24.96 | $24.98 |
| Half each takes half your carbs from each. | |||
Your own carbs an hour depend on your body and goal time.
Build my free planPF 30 costs more per gel, but each gel has 6 g more carbs. Both work out to about 10 cents per gram of carbohydrate.
That means an hour at 60 g of carbs costs about $6.25 on either gel. So you pick between them on how many gels you want to carry and where you want your sodium to come from.
Three gels that each lead on one thing.
More carbs for the money
Carbs Fuel Original Energy Gel50 g of carbs in 85 g (3.0 oz) · $1.97
Lightest to carry
Endurance Tap Maple Syrup and Ginger Double Tap Energy Gel50 g of carbs in 56 g (2.0 oz) · $4.44
Most carbs per serving
226ers High Energy Gel50 g of carbs in 76 g (2.7 oz) · $3.45No. PF 30 is a carbs-only gel, so the sodium in your plan has to come from your drink or a separate electrolyte. Each GU Liquid Energy packet has 75 mg.
At 60 g of carbs an hour, about the limit for an untrained stomach, you need 2 PF 30 gels or 2.5 GU packets. At 90 g an hour, which takes a stomach trained with fueling practice, that's 3 PF 30 gels or almost 4 GU packets.
Yes. Both are listed as vegan and gluten-free.
CarbRate builds your fueling plan from the amount of glycogen you burn, your goal time, your course and the gels you use.