Honey Stinger, Hüma, Skratch, Nuun... how do you know which fuel to choose for those long miles?
With an eye on performace, palatability, and a more natural approach to on-the-go fueling, we took a deep dive into the two popular natural energy brands, Huma and Honey Stinger, and also asked a young cross country team to demo and taste test each. Here's what we found out!
Honey Stinger Gels
Key Specs:
With an eye on performace, palatability, and a more natural approach to on-the-go fueling, we took a deep dive into the two popular natural energy brands, Huma and Honey Stinger, and also asked a young cross country team to demo and taste test each. Here's what we found out!
Honey Stinger Gels
Key Specs:
- Flavor: Fruit Smoothie
- Calories: 100
- Caffeine: 0 mg
The difference between organic and natural gels is that the organic label is highly regulated by the USDA (the food must contain at least 95 percent organic content), whereas natural isn’t. Foods that claim to be natural don’t have added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances (although high fructose corn syrup is considered natural.) This Honey Stinger option is a go-to for an effective, tasty gel that also checks off the organic and gluten-free boxes. It’s made with just seven ingredients you can pronounce (yes, organic honey is one of them) and provides 100 calories of energy.
PROS:
PROS:
- Affordable
- Certified organic
CONS:
- Not vegan-friendly
Huma Gels
Key Specs:
- Flavors: Berries and Pomegranate, and Strawberry Lemonade
- Calories: 100
- Caffeine: 25 mg for Strawberry Lemonade, 0 mg for Berries and Pomegranate
Huma Plus is a chia-based gel that has double the electrolytes—240 to 245 milligrams sodium, 75 to 80 milligrams potassium, and 15 milligrams magnesium—compared to the brand’s regular version. Huma uses all-natural ingredients so your electrolytes are coming from coconut water and sea salt. This pack includes a caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavor, each providing 100 calories and 21 grams of carbs.
PROS:
PROS:
- All-natural ingredients
- High in electrolytes for sweatfests
CONS:
- Pricey
The Taste Comparison
The winner:
Honey Stinger. By a landslide. Based on flavor, texture and palatability, the girls across the board preferred the fruit smoothie flavor by Honey Stinger. Because these young athletes often race in the afternoons after school, nutrition can become a problem, especially in the hot sun. Most parents (and people in general) would prefer to use a fuel source with natural ingredients. Also highly recommended by the girls: Honey Stinger energy chews and Skratch energy bars, with the favorite flavor for the bar being the Peanut Butter + Chocolate.
** Quick facts gleaned from:
Runner-Approved Energy Gels for Training and Racing
No matter what you’re looking for in a running gel, we have you covered.
BY HEATHER MAYER IRVINE