Powerbar 1:0.8 gel test: Liquid, subtle flavour, easy to use

​The Powerbar Fuel Gel 30 provides 30 grams of carbohydrates in a 1:0.8 ratio. The tear-off tab holds firm even when torn open roughly, and the liquid gel is out of the packet in a matter of seconds. At €3.29 per gel, it is one of the more expensive 1:0.8 gels in the test, whilst the flavour remains subtle.

​The Fuel Gel 30 is aimed at ambitious endurance athletes who want to consume plenty of carbohydrates during high-intensity activities, such as races or tough training sessions. It combines maltodextrin and fructose in a ratio of 1:0.8. This allows the gut to utilise two transport pathways, enabling the body to absorb more carbohydrates per hour. This requires a well-trained gut. Powerbar itself quotes a figure of more than 90 grams, rising to up to 120 grams per hour with regular training.

Good handling, but the price is a let-down

The Fuel Gel 30 is ideal if you’re looking for a liquid gel that’s easy to open and quick to consume, even whilst racing. According to the manufacturer, you don’t need to drink anything afterwards, which is handy during running sessions. You do, however, pay more than for most gels with the same carbohydrate ratio, and the flavour is subtle but pleasant.

The gel in detail

• Manufacturer and product: Powerbar Fuel Gel 30
• Available flavours: Lemon, Grapefruit, Peach, Cola-Orange, Lemon + Caffeine, Cola-Orange + Caffeine
• Carbohydrates per gel: 30 g
• Gel size: 50 ml
• Glucose-fructose ratio: 1:0.8
• Sources of carbohydrates: Maltodextrin, fructose
• Intended use: Racing and high-intensity sessions with a high hourly carbohydrate requirement; a well-trained gut is essential
• Caffeine: two varieties containing caffeine in the range
• Electrolytes: 202 mg sodium (0.5 g salt) per gel; no other electrolytes listed in the ingredients
• Preservatives / Colourings / Flavourings: no preservatives, no colourings, natural flavouring
• Consistency: watery
• Price per gel: €3.29 (pack of 4) >> Available here at a reduced price
• Price per 30 grams of carbohydrates: €3.29

Price: more expensive than most gels with the same ratio

At €3.29 per gel in a pack of four, Fuel Gel 30 is significantly more expensive than Decathlon (€1.88), Dextro Energy (€2.24), RocketFuel Race (€2.25) and Mnstry (€2.42), calculated per 30 grams of carbohydrates in each case. All four comparison gels also operate at a 1:0.8 ratio. This gives the Powerbar gel a price rating of 4. Among the 1:0.8 gels, only the Maurten gels are more expensive.

Packaging and handling

​The gel is easy to open. The tear-off tab stays intact even if you tear it open roughly, for example during a competition. This isn’t always the case: with some of the gels in the test group, the tab tears off, or there isn’t one at all. The gel flows well, and you can consume the entire contents in a matter of seconds. Thanks to its liquid consistency, it’s also easy to empty the container completely.

Flavour and texture

The gel is sweet and tastes delicious, but the flavour is subtle. The testers had hoped for more from the grapefruit flavour; it tastes mainly sweet with a subtle flavour. The lemon variety has a slight lemony flavour; it’s pleasant and not too overpowering. The consistency is watery and is among the most runny in the test group.

Additives

​The list of ingredients is almost identical for all six varieties: water, maltodextrin, fructose, citric acid as an acidifier, sodium citrate and salt, plus a natural flavouring. None of the varieties contain preservatives or colourings. This is not always the case in the test group, as several 1:0.8 gels use potassium sorbate. This preservative inhibits yeast and mould and extends the shelf life.

Caffeine and electrolytes

According to the list of ingredients, Lemon + Caffeine and Cola-Orange + Caffeine contain 0.2 per cent caffeine, whilst the other four varieties and the variant tested contain none. You should therefore check the information on the packet. Each gel contains 202 mg of sodium (0.5 g of salt), provided by salt and sodium citrates; the list of ingredients does not mention any other electrolytes. During long sessions or when sweating heavily, you can replenish minerals through drinks. Manufacturers take different approaches here.

Overall mark: 1.9

We award marks on a school-style grading scale from 1 to 6, with 1 being the highest mark. The overall mark is based on packaging and ease of use (50 per cent), price (30 per cent) and ingredients (20 per cent).

Packaging and handling (50 per cent)

• Open: good
• Tear-off protection fitted: yes
• The tear-off protection holds: yes
• Gel flow: good
• Emptying the remainder: good
• Note: 1

Price (30 per cent)

• Note: 4 (€3.29 per 30 grams of carbohydrates)

Ingredients (20 per cent)

• Note: 1 (no preservatives, colourings or artificial flavourings)

​How TOUR Energy Gels are tested

Every product is tested in real-world riding conditions: in training, in competition and on long rides.

We rate packaging and ease of use on a scale of 1 to 6 (1 = very good). The key factors are whether the gel can be opened easily with one hand and your teeth (good, average, poor), whether there is a tear-off seal and whether it holds, how easily the gel can be squeezed out of the packet, and whether the contents come out completely.

We rate sweetness and flavour on a scale of 1 (not very sweet) to 3 (sweet) and 1 (very tasty) to 4 (difficult). As both are subjective, we state both test results; these do not count towards the overall mark.

We check the ingredients against the declared list of ingredients and compare the manufacturer’s claims with the label. Additives are assessed. Electrolytes are not included in the rating, as manufacturers use different approaches. For our price comparison, we use the price per gel when purchasing the smallest available multipack, as well as the price per 30 grams of carbohydrates – this allows for a fairer comparison of gels of different sizes and carbohydrate content. However, not all manufacturers offer the same multipack sizes; often, the price per gel decreases as the pack size increases.

The overall mark is based on packaging and ease of use (50 per cent), price (30 per cent) and ingredients (20 per cent).