Product Review: Honey Stinger Gold gel

The Honey Stinger Gold gel sure tastes great, but does it perform?

Nutrition

The Gel has the standard 100 calories. It has 27 grams of carbs, all of which are from sugar. It WILL spike your blood sugar. That's what you get when your first ingredient is honey.

Appearance taste and texture

The gel is the same color as its name. Gold. It looks just like honey, but it is thinner. This is nice for when you are on the run. It is incredibly sweet, so you might want to take it with water. It is a very nice consistency. It is sticky, so make sure you don't spill.

Performance

It is not a very good endurance gel. It spikes your insulin, so it would be great for a 5k or 10k, but not really suitable for anything over that.


Cost

The gels are not to expensive. they cost around $1.50 if they are bought separately, and $32.00 for a case of 24.

Matthew the middle schooler

Does it pass the middle school test? I gave one to Matthew to find out. "Its super sweet. It tastes like a honey stick. I really love it!"

Overview

The gels are pretty tasty, so if you cant stomach most gels, these are for you. They are not the best in terms of performance though, so I think of them as more of a treat. 3/5

Product Review: Pro Bar Superfruit Slam

I am writing about the Pro Bar Superfruit Slam. The perfect replacement for lunch or breakfast when you just don't have time.

Nutrition

The bar has 350 calories, so you probably shouldn't snack on this all the time. With 15 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber, you will be pretty full after eating one of these. Slightly less than half of the carbs are from sugar, so you will be able to power through your day. It is a great bar to have the morning of your race day.

Appearance taste and texture

The bar looks just how you would expect. A large mass of fruits nuts and seeds. It is about the size of my first four fingers pressed together, like when you high five someone. It is pretty soft, but holds its shape in a backpack or purse. There are large chucks of fruit, most likely dates, that are much softer than the rest of the bar. It is surprising when you bite into one of these, and I'm not sure if I like it. If you love fruit leather, you will love these chunks.

Performance

I don't think that "Performance" is really the right word, being that this is not really competition food. It will keep you full for a long while, so if you need a boost before your afternoon workout, eating this 2-3 hours before will surely get you through.

Cost

The bars are not to expensive, when you think about how it can replace a meal. A case of 12 bars is $40.00, and a bar all by itself will run you around $2.75.

Matthew the middle schooler

Does it pass the middle school test? I gave one to Matthew to find out. "It is okay, but I don't like cashews 2/5"

Overview

The bars are a great substitute to fast food. I would not recommend you eat them every day, just because it costs a lot. But if you are faced with the option of a McDonald's hamburger and a Taco Bell burrito, this is an easy way to make it through.

Product Review: Bonk Breaker Energy Chews Tangerine

I am writing about the Bonk Breaker energy chews. They are a solid product for all of your weekend long runs.

Nutrition

The Chews contain 90 calories per serving, with there being two servings in each packet. There are eight chews total, allowing for a very customize-able nutrition plan. Each serving has 24 grams of carbohydrate.

Appearance taste and texture

The package of the chews is quite tough to open. It is not that easy when you are just sitting down. I would suggest that you open the packet before you leave by cutting a slit in it first. The chews themselves are nice, not sticky, and taste just like mandarin oranges!

Performance

The performance is quite nice. While they are not as strong quickly absorbed as gels, I feel you can last longer because they take longer to digest. They also taste much better, so you will be motivated to eat them.

Cost

They are pretty expensive. It costs around $2.50 for a single packet. A case of 16 will run you about $35. But when you factor in that you are getting two servings per packet, its not so bad.

Matthew the middle schooler

Does it pass the middle school test? I gave one to Matthew to find out. "It tastes AWESOME! Can I have some more? 5/5"

Overview

The chews are the perfect fuel for your Saturday morning long runs. I would not suggest you use them for your races, just because they require a little more water to digest, being chews and all.