The Enervit Gel with Caffeine packs a decent punch and is quite gentle on the stomach. I especially liked the packaging design which means you shouldn't end up with it all over your fingers or dribbling down your chin.
- Pros: Easy to swallow without a drink, neatly packaged
- Cons: Slightly manufactured taste
I'm not a habitual gel user, I must admit. I'll have one in my pocket to get me out of trouble if needs be, but I think this helps me notice the difference between them. I don't like them to be overly sweet, and I want to be able to swallow them without the need to wash them down with a swill of drink. The Enervit Gel ticks both of these boxes. Neither of the flavours (raspberry and citrus) are exactly 'natural', but they aren't overly sugary either.
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Each 25ml serving delivers 81 calories with 20g of carbohydrates and 0g of fat or protein, so this is purely a shot to get you round in the here and now.
What does help is the 20mg dose of caffeine, something I'm a fan of, using it to fuel plenty of rides. I often ride fasted for a couple of hours each morning with just a coffee lining my stomach, and I found that the Enervit Gel gave me that little extra nudge if I was starting to struggle about half an hour away from home.
> How to fuel right for sportives and long rides
I like the overall shape of the packaging, too, with its long neck. You can pull off the tab without exposing the actual gel, allowing you to clamp your mouth right over the opening before squeezing, so no spillage issues. There's nothing worse than having sticky fingers on a warm summer's ride.
Priced at £1.65 each, and sold in packs of 24, the Enervits aren't that extremely priced against the competitors. Similar offerings from the likes of Torq are around the £1.85 mark, for instance.
Overall, I'd say the Enervit Gels deliver a decent energy boost for the money.
Verdict
Offers a decent punch of carbs and caffeine without upsetting the stomach
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Enervit Gel with Caffeine 25ml (During)
Size tested: 25ml
Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Enervit says, "Enervit Sport Gel is a Carbohydrate based energy product used immediately during intense and sustained effort in sport.
Energy product with carbs and vitamins.
Safe and practical for Sports
High content of caffeine (100mg/100ml)"
It is very palatable and provides a hit of energy.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Enervit says:
HOW TO USE
In case of intense and sustained exertion in sports practice, take Enervit Sport Gel immediately before or during the activity. The recommended dose is up to 4 mini-packs.
WARNINGS
Do not exceed the recommended dose. This product should be used as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women (80mg/100ml). Store in a cool, dry place.
More Info:
Ingredients: Carbohydrates
Product type: Gel
Sport: Running, Cycling, Triathlon, Cross Country Skiing, Team sports, Ironman, Tennis
Properties: Gluten Free
Consuming time: During Sport
INGREDIENTS (Citrus)
Glucose Syrup DP4 (72%) (Based on polymers composed of 4 glucose units), Water, Fructose syrup (2%), Maltodextrin (1%), Trehalos** (1%), Isomaltulose (1%), Flavouring, Acid: citric acid,Preservative: potassium sorbate, Caffeine (0,062%), Nicotinamide, Thiamin hydrochloride, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride, emulsifier: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids). Percentages expressed in g/100 (100g = 78ml). Trehalose is a source of glucose, Isomaltulose is a source of glucose and fructose.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Per 100ml/25ml Serving:
Energy: 1369kj, 342kj, 322kcal, 81kcal
Fat: 0g, 0g
Of which saturates: 0g, 0g
Carbohydrate: 80g, 20g
Of which sugars: 15g, 3.8g
Protein: 0g, 0g
Salt: 0.1g, 0.025g
Thiamine: 0.66mg, 0.17mg
Niacin: 9.6mg, 2.5mg
Vitamin: 0.84mg, 0.21mg
Caffeine: 80mg, 20mg
INGREDIENTS (Raspberry)
Glucose Syrup DP4 (73%) (Based on polymers composed of 4 glucose units), Water, Fructose syrup (2%), Maltodextrin (1%), Trehalos** (1%), Isomaltulose (1%), Flavouring, Acid: citric acid,Preservative: potassium sorbate, Caffeine (0,062%), Nicotinamide, Thiamin hydrochloride, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride, emulsifier: mono and diglycerides of fatty acids). Percentages expressed in g/100 (100g = 78ml). Trehalose is a source of glucose, Isomaltulose is a source of glucose and fructose.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Per 100ml/25ml Serving:
Energy: 1369kj, 342kj, 322kcal, 81kcal
Fat: 0g, 0g
Of which saturates: 0g, 0g
Carbohydrate: 80g, 20g
Of which sugars: 15g, 3.8g
Protein: 0g, 0g
Salt: 0.1g, 0.025g
Thiamine: 0.66mg, 0.17mg
Niacin: 9.6mg, 2.5mg
Vitamin B6: 0.84mg, 0.21mg
Caffeine: 80mg, 20mg
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
I felt that it delivered the required hit of energy when I required it.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Gentle on the stomach.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The taste is a little manufactured.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It's similar to the opposition.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
Well-designed packaging with a decent product inside at a sensible price.
About the tester
Age: 40
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed
Stu knocked out his first road.cc review back in 2009 and since then he's chucked the best part of seventy test bikes around the West Country, a couple of them quite literally! With three alloy and two steel bikes in his fleet he's definitely a metal man (that'll be the engineering background) but is slowly warming to that modern carbon fibre stuff along with fat tyres & disc brakes.
It's not all nostalgia though, after spending the last few years in product design Stu keeps banging on about how 3D printing is going to be the next big thing and he's a sucker for a beautiful paint job too.
1 comments
I think we bikers are hooked on these wee plastic bags of goo. "took a gel to get me home". No it didnt, you got you home. 30 grams of carbs did feck all. You/we all have 5,000grams of easily accessable carbs on your arse.
Bananas, Honey poured on cake the night before. ALL better than these chemical messes.
Rider beside me on tuesday nights club race took two each side 5 minutes of the start.
It was a 27 mile race.