TESTED: Geligmite savoury gel

Words and Photos: Mike Blewitt

Nothing beats gels for convenience, but race nutrition can leave your palette (and stomach) feeling like you’ve been enjoying the catering at a five-year-old’s birthday party.

Enter Geligmite, the world’s first savoury energy gel – completely owned, sourced and produced in Australia. And yes, that means it tastes a lot like Vegemite.

Nutritionally, Geligmite gels are quite similar to mass-produced sweet gels on the market, with one exception. While the 378kj and 21.4g of carbohydrate are standard when compared with sweet gels (the carbs are on the lower side), the 400mg of sodium is much higher – sweet gels typically contain 0 to 100mg. Sodium is hugely important for hydration and in warm weather we can lose between 600mg and 1500mg of it an hour. It might be interesting to check how much is in your electrolyte drink – it’s unlikely to be getting you across the line on a really hot day or long event, especially if you dilute your mix to match hot conditions.

There is little definitive proof that lack of sodium causes cramps, but those who have high sweat rates, race in hot conditions, or have very salty sweat are sure to appreciate 400mg of sodium in each Geligmite gel.

So what’s a savoury gel like? The taste is a lot like Vegemite but with an edge of mellowness that takes the hard corners off the saltiness, and with the texture of a sweet gel. Flavour relief is a great way to describe them. While my first tentative taste was a bit strange, the gels grew on me and they are fantastic for promoting hydration. I’ve been using Geligmite gels beyond product testing and through long, hot summer rides, and they’ve been a great addition to my riding nutrition.

Hits
– Great for hot days
– Encourages you to drink more

Misses
– Must be a Vegemite lover to appreciate the flavour!

RRP: $46.30 for a box (20 x 35g sachets)
From: geligmite.com