Best energy gels for a marathon in Australia, compared honestly
Short answer: the best gel is the one your stomach accepts at race pace, in a quantity that gets you to 40 to 60g of carbohydrate an hour. Most runners do best with one main gel plus one caffeinated gel for the back half. Below is how the gels you can buy in Australia compare, including the two we sell.
We sell yohemite, so weigh our view of it with that in mind. We do not stock the others and have described them as fairly as we can.
What matters when you choose
- Carbohydrate per gel. Fewer, bigger gels mean less to carry. The gels here range from about 22 to 30g.
- How it goes down. Thick gels need water. Thinner gels are easier when you are breathing hard. Texture is the main reason people give up on gels.
- Caffeine. Useful late in a race. Amounts range from 20mg to over 100mg, so check the label.
- Price per gel. Over a training block you might use 20 to 40 gels, so a dollar a gel adds up.
- Your gut and the label. Try any gel on at least two long runs first. Some gels also carry a daily limit on the Australian label.
The comparison
| Gel | Carbs | Caffeine | Texture and water | Vegan | Price per gel (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yohemite Original | 27g (40g sachet) | none | Runnier than honey. Thin enough to take without water | V-Label certified | $3.90 single, from $3.45 in packs |
| yohemite Caffeine 110 | 27g | 111mg (guarana and coffee) | Same thin texture | Not stated | $4.00 single, from $3.55 in packs |
| Maurten Gel 100 | 25g (40g) | none (CAF 100: 100mg) | Firm hydrogel. No water needed to swallow it | Not stated by Maurten | about $4 to $5.20 (CAF about $5.10 to $6.50) |
| SiS GO Isotonic | 22g (60ml) | none (GO + Caffeine: 75mg) | Isotonic and runny. No water required | Yes | $3.49 (caffeine $4.99) |
| Precision Fuel PF 30 | 30g | none (PF 30 Caffeine: 100mg) | Medium gel | Vegan badge | $4.75 (caffeine about $6.30) |
| Koda | 29.8g (45g) | 80mg in three flavours | Liquid gel. Koda says a sip of fluid is enough | Sources differ | $2.75 |
| PURE Fluid Energy | 30g (58g) | 30mg in caffeine flavours | More liquid than a traditional gel | Vegan friendly | $4.49 |
| GU Energy Gel | 21 to 23g (32g) | 0 to 40mg by flavour | Thick. Most people take water with it | Yes | about $3.50 (some caffeine flavours up to $4.95) |
Prices checked at Australian brand stores and retailers on 12 November 2026. They change often.
Why runners pick yohemite
- It is genuinely thin. yohemite is made to be runnier than honey, so it goes down in one or two swallows while you are breathing hard. You can take it without water. If a drink station is coming up, a sip still helps.
- Half of it is real maple. About 50.8% of each sachet is Quebec Grade A maple water, alongside glucose and maltodextrin, rather than a single refined sugar.
- Certified vegan. The Original is certified by V-Label, the international vegan label. It is also gluten free and made in a HACCP certified facility.
- A sachet you can open on the move. The tear tab is a loop that stays attached to the sachet when you pull it, so you can open it one handed and there is no torn corner to drop on the course.
- Mid-range price for 27g. From $3.45 a gel in packs, which is cheaper than Maurten and Precision Fuel per gel and close to SiS, with more carbohydrate than SiS or GU.
- Two strengths, one texture. The Caffeine 110 has the same base and texture with 111mg of caffeine from guarana and coffee, about a cup of coffee's worth.
In Korea yohemite has over 6,000 buyer reviews. The Original was also seen on the live broadcast of the Paris 2024 Olympics when table tennis player Shin Yu-bin took one between matches. That was her own choice, not a paid placement.
Where each one is strongest
- Most carbohydrate per gel: Precision Fuel PF 30, PURE and Koda, all around 30g.
- Lowest price per gel: Koda at $2.75.
- Easiest without a drink station: SiS GO Isotonic, yohemite and PURE are the thinnest. SiS is the bulkiest to carry.
- Sensitive stomach, money no object: Maurten Gel 100.
- Vegan with a certificate behind it: yohemite (V-Label).
- Caffeine for the last 10 to 14km: yohemite Caffeine 110 (111mg), Maurten CAF 100 or PF 30 Caffeine (100mg). SiS adds 75mg, Koda 80mg, PURE 30mg.
The daily limit and how to plan around it
Because yohemite has added vitamins, the Australian label sets a limit: up to 2 sachets a day for the Original and 1 a day for the Caffeine 110. A four-hour marathon needs five or six gels, so plan yohemite into the moments that matter and use a second gel for the rest:
| When | Gel | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min before the start | yohemite Original | 27g |
| 45 min | your second gel | 22 to 30g |
| 1 h 20 | yohemite Original | 27g |
| 1 h 55 | your second gel | 22 to 30g |
| 2 h 30 (about 28 to 32km) | yohemite Caffeine 110 | 27g |
| 3 h 05 | your second gel | 22 to 30g |
That gives roughly 40 to 50g of carbohydrate an hour during the race. Take gels just before a drink station rather than after it. Our marathon fuelling guide has the hour by hour detail and do energy gels work explains the 60g an hour ceiling.
FAQ
How many gels do I need for a marathon? Most runners need four to six, starting at 45 to 60 minutes and then every 30 to 40 minutes.
Which energy gels can you take without water? SiS GO Isotonic, Maurten Gel 100 and yohemite are all designed to be taken without water. Thicker gels such as GU go down better with a few sips.
Are there vegan energy gels in Australia? Yes. yohemite is certified by V-Label. SiS GO and GU are labelled vegan, PURE is described as vegan friendly and Precision Fuel shows a vegan badge.
Which gel has the most caffeine? Of the gels here, yohemite Caffeine 110 has the most at 111mg, then Maurten CAF 100 and PF 30 Caffeine at 100mg. Do not try caffeine for the first time on race day.
Is an energy jelly better than a gel? Jellies are looser but bulkier. See energy jelly vs energy gel.
Test your race gel before race day
yohemite Original and Caffeine 110 come as single sachets, so you can try both on your long runs first.
Shop yohemite gels
