Best energy gels for running in Australia: the 2026 guide.
The best running gel is the one you can actually get down at race pace, that gives you the carbohydrate you planned for and that your stomach has already met in training. Here is how to choose one in Australia and what is inside the two gels we stock.
Short version: look at carbohydrate per sachet, texture, caffeine and the daily limit on the label. Practise with your gel on long runs before race day. If you want to read the science first, start with Do energy gels work?
What to look for in a running gel
- Carbohydrate per sachet. Most gels carry 20 to 30g. More per sachet means fewer sachets to carry for the same amount of fuel.
- Texture. Thick, paste-like gels are hard to swallow when you are breathing hard. Thinner gels go down faster. Most gels still go down better with a sip of water.
- Caffeine. Useful late in a long effort, but caffeine adds up quickly across gels, coffee and pre-workout. Australian sports food labels cap it per day.
- Your stomach. The gel you race with should be one you have used on at least a few long training runs. Nothing new on race day.
- The daily limit on the label. In Australia, gels sold as formulated supplementary sports food must state how much to take in one day. Read it before you plan your race.
- Price per sachet. Bigger packs bring the cost per gel down, which matters if you train with them every week.
How much carbohydrate runners need
Your body stores enough carbohydrate for roughly 60 to 90 minutes of hard running. After that, pace drops unless you top it up. Sports nutrition research (Jeukendrup, 2014) puts the useful range at about 30 to 60g of carbohydrate per hour for efforts longer than an hour.
| Session length | Carbohydrate during |
|---|---|
| Under 60 minutes | Usually none needed |
| 60 to 90 minutes | Around 30g per hour |
| Over 90 minutes | 30 to 60g per hour |
That carbohydrate can come from gels, sports drinks and food. However you get it, stay within the directions and daily limit on each product's label. Our marathon fuelling guide walks through race week and race morning.
yohemite energy gels
yohemite is Korea's best-selling energy gel. It is built around maple: the gel is about half Quebec maple water, with glucose for fast energy alongside it. The point of difference you notice first is the texture. It is runnier than honey, so it clears in one swallow instead of sitting in your throat.
| yohemite Original | yohemite Caffeine 110 | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate | 27g per sachet | 27g per sachet |
| Caffeine | None | 111mg (guarana and coffee) |
| Maple water | 50.8% | 53.3% |
| Sachet | 40g, about 110 Cal | 40g, about 110 Cal |
| Diet | V-Label vegan, gluten free | Gluten free |
| Daily limit | As printed on the pack | One sachet a day |
How to take it: one sachet 15 minutes before or during exercise, best taken with water. Do not exceed the daily limit printed on the pack.
Who it suits: runners who struggle with thick gels and anyone who wants a vegan, gluten free option. Caffeine 110 suits runners who want a caffeine gel saved for the hardest part of a race.
Shop yohemite Original or yohemite Caffeine 110. Try a single sachet on a long run first.
amino VITAL Perfect Energy
amino VITAL is made in Japan by Ajinomoto. Perfect Energy is a carbohydrate gel that also carries amino acids, which makes it different from both a standard gel and an amino supplement.
- 24g of carbohydrate in a 45g sachet, about 109 Cal
- 2,500mg of amino acids: 2,250mg alanine and 250mg proline
- No caffeine and no declared allergens
- Grapefruit flavour, sharp rather than sweet
- A larger, more liquid sachet than most gels, sold in packs of four
Alanine and proline are non-essential amino acids, which means the body can make them. We list what is on the pack and leave performance claims to the research. If you like a less sweet gel, or want a Japanese option alongside your usual one, this is the one to try.
Which should you choose?
- You find most gels too thick: yohemite Original.
- You want caffeine late in a race: yohemite Caffeine 110, one a day.
- You prefer a less sweet, citrus gel: amino VITAL Perfect Energy.
- You are not sure yet: buy singles, test each on a long run, then buy the one that worked in a bigger pack.
Frequently asked questions
Do energy gels actually work? For runs longer than about an hour, carbohydrate during exercise helps you hold pace. For shorter runs, most people do not need them. More in Do energy gels work?
Do I need water with a gel? Most gels go down better with a sip of water. The yohemite pack also recommends taking it with water. Plan your gels around drink stations or carry a small bottle.
How many gels can I take in a day? Follow the daily limit on each product's label. Australian sports food labels must state the recommended amount for one day. Caffeine gels are usually limited to one.
Should I take electrolytes too? On long or hot runs where you sweat a lot, often yes. See Electrolytes vs water for when it matters.
Are these gels vegan? yohemite Original carries the V-Label vegan certification. Check each product page for the others.
Running gels, shipped from Sydney.
yohemite and amino VITAL in singles and value packs. Free shipping over $100 to most metro areas, same-day dispatch on most weekday orders before 11am.
Shop energy gels →
