We gave our selection of gels to a variety of testers to sample. As always, though, use our results only as a guide. Test the products yourself, find out how you like them and which ones perform best for you.

CarbBoom: This one was another surprise for our tasters. Several liked the fruit flavors—apple cinnamon, banana-peach and strawberry-kiwi—even if they found the taste startlingly un-sweet at first. One said the crisp flavors provided a good wake-up in the middle of a long run. CarbBoom is working to establish itself in the market this year with two new flavors, new packaging and sponsorship at several marathons and at Great Floridian and the new 5430 Ironman-distance triathlon this year.

ClifShot: The energy gel produced by the folks at ClifBar. Many of our tasters liked this product, but their responses do indicate how important it is to try this stuff on your own. While one really enjoyed the viva vanilla flavor, another said it was like trying to swallow straight Karo syrup. Go figure, and more importantly, go try it for yourself. ClifShot has added a new caffeinated gel to its line—sonic strawberry—to go with mocha mocha, the other amped-up flavor. ClifShot has also introduced the "litter leash" this year—a little piece of the packet keeps the top attached after you’ve ripped it open. No little flying plastic thingies. It’s a nice touch aimed at helping you keep the roads and trails free of litter.

GU: One of the industry’s bigger gel manufacturers, available in a host of flavors. Most testers liked GU a lot and with the range of flavors—from just plain to banana blitz—there’s almost sure to be something in there you’d like. Be sure to check the labels, though, if you’re avoiding caffeine. The majority of flavors contain kola nut extract, which functions like caffeine. Some flavors are now available in larger-size, multi-serving pouches so users can fill gel flasks. [Note from Slowtwitch publisher: husband Dan likes vanilla bean and plain; wife JulieAnne prefers banana blitz and tri berry (always banana in training for her, she says, because it has no caffeine)].

Hammergel: A favorite among our testers. It goes down easy, comes in a variety of flavors, provides lasting energy and can be purchased in bulk. Hammergel’s consistency is not as thick as, say, that of Powergel or ClifShot. The fruit flavors taste of real fruit, especially the raspberry and new apple cinnamon. Because you can buy the gel by the bottle, you can also mix flavors: combine orange and vanilla to make creamsicle, perhaps, or put chocolate and espresso together to make a mocha. The espresso flavor is made with caffeine.

Leppin Squeezy: The original energy gel, and one that scored high with our tasters. They liked the crisp, clean fruit flavors—including peach, grape and lemon-lime—that some said verged on the tart. Leppin also comes in different-sized bottles that will allow users to fill gel flasks or other nutrition delivery systems, like the Fuel Belt. Its consistency, again, is thinner than that of the more commonly available gels.

Powergel: Another big name that the testers liked. As it is with the company’s Powerbars, there’s bound to be a flavor you like in here—they range from vanilla to tropical fruit. Powerbar also produces some caffeinated flavors, as well as the double-caffeinated tangerine flavor—for those who really need a jolt. (And this was a popular item among our tasters!) Like GU, Powergel has also started selling some flavors in larger pouches that can be used to fill gel flasks.

Sharkies: While Sharkies aren’t really a gel, they are gel-like. Sort of. OK, they’re gummy sharks. Our testers found them to be tasty and to serve their purpose well. One complained about the colors being remarkably similar from flavor to flavor. That aside, they are a good source of quick energy and electrolytes and, perhaps most importantly, they are fun—something that is often missing in the world of sports foods. Their fruit flavors are not too sweet and one taster reported that they even stayed down well when eaten before a track workout.