The best energy gels for Ultra-Trail
Discover the new Näak energy gels designed for ultra-trail!
Why are our energy gels the best for ultra-trail? Because they were developed with our professional UTMB and Western States athletes!
Should you eat energy gels during an ultra-trail race? The answer is yes, but not just any gels and not at just any time! Nutrition is indeed the key to a successful ultra-trail, which is why we developed, together with our professional athletes, an Ultra Energy™ Gel perfectly adapted to the specific demands of ultra-distance racing.
How? In short, without revealing the key points covered in the article below, we have: listened to the advice of our pro athletes; provided carbohydrates, but not only carbohydrates; combined simple and complex sugars; focused on responsible ingredients, a semi-liquid texture and delicate flavors.
The benefits? Gentle energy and digestive comfort throughout your race, with no hypoglycemia, stomachaches or nausea!
To discover this Ultra Energy™ Gel, which we have been developing with our professional ultra-trailers at the Näak Lab for nearly 2 years, and to taste the little energy-packed, natural and delicious bombs that supported Mathieu Blanchard, Marianne Hogan and Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon during their performances at UTMB and Western States, click here!
WHY DID WE DEVELOP AN ENERGY GEL RANGE?
Our new Ultra Energy™ Gel was born from an observation: there are many energy gels on the market, but none that truly meet the specific needs of ultra-trailers.
Grégoire Guyot, Näak Lab’s director and head chef, explains: "We condensed the science behind the Ultra Energy™ Gel into a gel format to provide long-lasting energy to trail and ultra-trail runners. In fact, most traditional energy gels contain only carbohydrates, more specifically simple sugars."
This traditional formula can lead to intestinal problems and blood sugar spikes, followed by energy crashes. You have probably heard it before: "Energy gels are not recommended for ultra-trail because they cause hypoglycemia and stomach problems." That is false! The truth is that the energy gels being referred to were not suitable.
Grégoire Guyot adds: "Our idea is to address this by developing the first energy gel adapted to ultra-trail! This Ultra Energy™ Gel provides more complete nutrition specifically adapted to long-distance races!"
HOW IS THE FORMULA OF OUR ENERGY GELS SPECIFICALLY ADAPTED TO ULTRA-TRAIL?
What makes our energy gel unique on the market and specifically suited to ultra-trailers is first and foremost its formula:
1/ The key lies in the combination of simple and complex sugars provided by our energy gels. Of the 27 g of carbohydrates in our Ultra Energy™ Gel:
14 g come from simple and fast-acting sugars (7 g of fructose and 7 g of glucose) from maple syrup.
13 g come from longer-chain and more complex carbohydrates (11 g of maltodextrin and 2 g of sunflower).
This is essential for maintaining a steady blood sugar supply, without energy dips or digestive problems.
2/ Our energy gels contain the essential "carbohydrates," the body’s preferred fuel: 27 g per gel, the highest average on the market. Carbohydrates, but not only carbohydrates! Carbohydrates are important in ultra-trail, but they are not the only effective source of energy. Fats and proteins also play a crucial role. That is why, at Näak, we prefer to talk about calories rather than carbohydrates.
The 9 g of fat in each of our gels helps stabilize blood sugar, thereby providing the gradual and continuous energy sought by ultra-distance runners.
The 2 grams of natural protein, including 235 mg of BCAA provided by pea protein and sunflower seeds, help reduce muscle fatigue during exertion.
3/ Finally, the 420 mg of electrolytes in our energy gels—a blend of micronutrients including potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium—helps reduce muscle fatigue during exertion.
WHAT MAKES OUR ENERGY GELS THE BEST ON THE MARKET FOR ULTRA-TRAILERS?
The formula was one of the key areas we worked on with Mathieu Blanchard, Marianne Hogan and Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon over the course of this 2-year process. But it was not the only one: four elements make our Ultra Energy™ Gel little calorie-, naturalness- and flavor-packed bombs, perfectly suited to ultra-trail:
1/ Their semi-liquid texture, for better absorption and assimilation. Thanks to this texture, our energy gels are neither gelatinous nor sticky.
2/ The presence of caffeine provides an extra boost to stay awake at night during an ultra-trail, or after several hours of racing.
3/ Their delicate flavor. With salted maple or chocolate flavors, our energy gels are not bland, but are designed to be subtle enough to avoid the feeling of nausea that can occur over the course of many miles.
4/ Their eco-friendly credentials, as they are made from recycled maple syrup. Made with 37% recycled ingredients, our new energy gels are the most responsible on the market*.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENERGY GELS IN ULTRA-TRAIL WITH ADAM PETERMAN & ARTHUR JOYEUX-BOUILLON
One of the keys to Näak Science is involving our Näak Pro Team in the product development process. Their pursuit of performance is at the heart of our innovation approach and gives us a competitive advantage. We designed these energy gels because our professional athletes asked us for them to help reach the podiums at UTMB, Western States and all the world’s biggest ultra-trails.
We asked three questions to Arthur Joyeux Bouillon, a two-time UTMB top-10 finisher, member of the Näak Pro Team and fully involved in the development of our energy gel for the past 2 years—and Adam Peterman, a new Näak Pro Team athlete convinced that these gels will be a major ally in winning the 2024 Western States after his 2022 victory, followed by a year off in 2023 due to a stress fracture.
What role do you play in the development of Näak products? Why do you think it is important to include professional athletes in the innovation process?
Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: I joined the Näak team two years ago, motivated by the opportunity to co-create sports nutrition products that perfectly suit me through the Näak Lab. The energy gels are a good example: I ran my first UTMB (7th place, in 2022) with the first prototype version. I immediately sensed its potential. Two years later, we have a highly refined gel that I am proud of! I was fully involved. I find it very relevant that Näak listens to its Pro Team because professional athletes often push the boundaries of product development, seeking marginal gains and testing products to their limits.
Adam Peterman: I arrived recently, but I was immediately impressed by Näak’s commitment to involving us in the innovation process. They understand how crucial nutrition is for us and want to put us in the best possible conditions to perform. I appreciate that they ask us: "What are the ideal products you would like to see added to the range?" And I like imagining even more that the products I dream of could exist thanks to the Näak Lab!
What are the criteria for a good energy gel for ultra-trail?
Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: I see 4 non-negotiable criteria for creating a complete energy gel for ultra-trail. First, the weight-to-calorie ratio: the product must provide as many calories as possible while being as light as possible. Then, it is about finding the right flavor and texture: a gel that we know we can consume for several hours without ever feeling nauseous. This comes down to the flavors: salted maple, which I will never tire of, and chocolate, which provides the benefits of caffeine without coffee’s intestinal discomfort. The combination of sugars used, between fast-acting and complex sugars, is also crucial to facilitate absorption and provide sustained energy without hypoglycemia. Finally, the naturalness of the ingredients used is very important to me: Näak has banned processed products and opts, for example, for recycled maple syrup as a "sweetener." I think that is fantastic!
Adam Peterman: For me, a good ultra-trail gel is an energy gel that is easy to digest, gentle on the stomach, with a delicious flavor that the brain still craves after several hours of racing. It must also provide the right combination of nutrients—not only carbohydrates, but also fats, proteins and electrolytes!
How do you incorporate these energy gels into your nutrition plans for an ultra-trail race?
Adam Peterman: My perfect ultra-trail combination, whether racing or training, is one bottle of Drink Mix and one Ultra Energy™ Gel per hour! This provides 450 calories and 80 g of carbohydrates per hour. It is a fairly simple and intuitive nutrition plan that I have tried to apply during training on my long runs to train my gut, and that I will try to follow for my next goal, the UTMB Canyons Endurance Runs.
Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: Näak Ultra Energy™ Gel is the centerpiece of my nutrition plan for the second half of an ultra-trail race. In the first half, I prioritize Energy Bars and Drink Mix as long as I can chew and digest solid foods. Then, I switch to semi-liquid options around the middle of the race. During UTMB, starting at Courmayeur, I switched to Drink Mix and Ultra Energy™ Gel, aiming for around 400 calories per hour. I have never experienced an energy crash or stomach problems using this approach—it has always worked well for me!