Nutritional facts
Looking at the nutritional profiles, they are not too dissimilar. Both offer 100 calories, but Maurten delivers the energy via a heavier package. Regarding carbohydrates, GU Roctane provides significantly less but includes a boatload of sodium and a generous dose of BCAAs, its main selling points.
Maurten: 1 x 40 g sachet provides the following:
- 100 calories
- Carbohydrate 25 g (all sugar)
- Fat 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Sodium 35 mg
- Calcium 21.6 mg
GU Roctane: 1 x 32 g sachet provides the following:
- 100 calories
- Carbohydrates 21 g, with 6 g of sugars.
- Fat 0g
- Protein 0g
- Calcium 30 mg
- Sodium 125 mg
- A blend of amino acids totaling 1425 mg
Taste and consistency
I tested the GU Roctane’s Strawberry Kiwi flavor, but the product series consists of 11 other options, including some unique flavors such as Tutti Frutti and Blueberry Pomegranate.
Maurten offers one other energy gel, Caf 100. It tastes the same but with 100 mg of caffeine added.
I’m of the school that there are no tasty energy gels, but some are palatable. Slamming down a fruity syrup will never be enjoyable, but I have been using GU since I started running, so I’m used to them. In the flavor department, GU Roctane Strawberry Kiwi offers no surprises. If you’re a fan of GU, you should have zero issues. It’s light with a pleasant tartness kick. One of the better fruity gels I’ve tried.
Maurten is mildly sweet with a unique consistency similar to jello that’s not quite completely set. The Swedish company created a “neutral” taste to make energy gels more tasteless to solve the unsolvable flavor issue. In a roundabout way, the company provided a good solution.
Maurten gets the W in my book.
Packaging
Both energy gels’ sachets are well designed. They will fit in almost any fuel-carrying gear – compression belts, hydration vests, running short pockets, etc.
I have one minor quibble with Maurten, but it’s nitpicking. Both the top and bottom of its sachet are the same width, which makes it difficult to distinguish them by touch. When going at higher intensities and wearing gloves in cold weather, you have to pay closer attention to where the pre-cut opening is located. A tiny inconvenience when your focus should be on maintaining your running rhythm.
Regardless, it’s a tie.
Performance
Both GU Roctane and Maurten worked well for me. They sustain my energy levels and never give me stomach stress, whether marathons, ultras, or cycling.
I do feel more of an instant boost when I eat GU Roctane. I heard on a podcast that Maurten’s lack of “surge” could be due to its carbohydrates being encapsulated in a hydrogel, preventing the enzyme salivary amylase in your mouth from immediately processing the simple sugars. However, I couldn’t find research studies to substantiate this reasoning.
I also want to point out that a surge feeling is usually due to a significant spike in blood sugar. It might be nice to feel a boost when you want to speed up or tackle a big climb, but big blood sugar peaks and troughs could harm overall performance.
Another tie.