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Best Running Gels for Marathon Training: What Worked (and Didn’t) for Me

When I trained for my first half marathon, my fueling strategy was simple: water. That was it.

I remember hearing runners talk about taking gels during runs and honestly having no idea what they meant. I was able to run 10, 11, even 12 miles with only water, so I figured I would be fine, and technically, I was...

But after every Saturday long run, my legs were completely exhausted. Heavy, sore, and slow to recover. At the time, I didn’t realize that the missing piece was proper mid-run fueling.

How I Learned the Importance of Fueling During Long Runs

When I started training for my first full marathon, I kept hearing the same advice:
If you want strong legs and steady energy through 26.2 miles, you need to fuel with carbs during your runs.

That’s when I finally started experimenting with running gels.

Once I began taking gels during long runs, I immediately noticed the benefits:

  • More consistent energy

  • Stronger legs late in runs

  • Faster recovery after long miles

Fueling during runs became non-negotiable! Gels are necessary!

Pro Tip for Marathon Training: Test Running Gels Early

Everyone’s stomach is different. During training, you should test:

  • Different gel brands

  • Flavors and textures

  • Caffeinated vs non-caffeinated gels

  • Timing (how often to fuel during a run)

Below are my honest reviews of the best running gels I’ve tried, plus a few that didn’t work as well for me.

Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions and your preferences may be different!

Best Running Gels for Marathon Training (My Honest Reviews)

Huma Gels (Best Overall Running Gel According to Me!)

Huma gels are my absolute favorite running gel! They’re made with real, natural ingredients and are very easy on the stomach. The texture is smooth and not overly thick, and I don’t need water to get them down. I actually look forward to taking these on long runs because I find the flavors good and the texture does not freak me out!!

Favorite flavors:

  • Blueberry

  • Strawberry

  • Lemonade

Huma gels are available with:

  • Electrolytes

  • Caffeine or no caffeine

You can find them on Amazon, The Feed, or at most Fleet Feet stores.

Huma Gel Nutrition Summary:

  • 24g carbs

  • Smooth consistency

  • Easy digestion

  • Wide flavor selection

Click Here for Huma Gel 12 Pack!

BPN Go Gels (My Runner-Up)

BPN Go Gels have a similar texture to Huma: smooth, easy to digest, and gentle on the stomach. I prefer the berry flavors. I will throw one or 2 of these into my long runs with my Huma gels just to switch up the flavors a little bit when running. 

Overall, very similar to Huma I just find the Huma flavors to be better for me.

I typically order these online through Amazon or The Feed.

BPN Go Gel Summary:

  • 24g carbs

  • Smooth consistency

  • Easy on the stomach

Click Here for BPN Go Gel 10 Pack!

Honey Stinger Gels

Honey Stinger gels have a thicker, honey-like consistency and are made with natural ingredients. I’ve only tried the Fruit Smoothie flavor, which was decent. I would recommend when having these to wash them down with water as they are thicker.

One big advantage is their small size, making them easy to carry multiple gels during long runs. They’re also easy to open mid-run.

Honey Stinger Gel Summary:

  • 24g carbs

  • Thicker consistency

  • Compact packaging

Click Here for Honey Stinger Gel 12 Pack

SiS (Science in Sport) Gels

I used SiS gels while training for the NYC Marathon because they were provided on the course.

These gels are watery and easy to swallow, but I found them to be very sticky if you got any on your hands. Opening them mid-run with sweaty hands was difficult. I could never get them open even when using my teeth, so I started pre-cutting them before runs (this got messy hence they I know how sticky they are but I couldn't open them otherwise!!!!).

They’re also larger and bulkier in size compared to other gels. I could only fit 2 or 3 comfortably in my running belt.

SiS Gel Summary:

  • 22g carbs (40g high-carb versions available!)

  • Watery texture

  • Sticky packaging

  • Bulkier size

Click Here for SiS Gel 6 Pack

GU Energy Gels

GU gels are widely available and easy to carry due to their small size/packaging, but they’re my least favorite due to their very thick consistency. I always needed water to get them down and often had to stop during my run to take them. Honestly, I would only use a Gu gel if I could not find another gel anywhere else.

That said, they’re sold almost everywhere so easy to find and have a wide range of flavors.

GU Gel Summary:

  • 22g carbs

  • Very thick consistency

  • Easy to find

  • Easy to open and carry

Click Here for Gu Gels

Maurten Gels

Maurten gels surprised me with how thick they were. I expected a more watery texture but it comes out like a jelly block. The flavor reminds me of marshmallows, kind of sweet, and seems to be the only flavor they have.

They’re commonly available at Fleet Feet and online, but they are more expensive than most gels. They are also small in size so easy to carry a bunch.

Maurten Gel Summary:

  • 25g carbs

  • Thick consistency

  • More expensive compared to other gels

Click Here for Maurten Gels

Styrkr High-Carb Gels

I used Styrkr high-carb gels during my 2025 Kiawah Marathon.

Each gel contains 50g of carbs, which allowed me to take fewer gels overall. This helped when I felt too full from consuming multiple standard gels.

They are thick and bulky, and my stomach needed a few runs to adjust. While I never had issues mid-run, I definitely felt the effects once I got home and was running to the bathroom.

Styrkr Gel Summary:

  • 50g carbs

  • Thick consistency

  • Reduces total number of gels needed

  • Bulky packaging

How Fueling With Gels Changed My Running

I ran my first half marathon on water alone, but learning how to fuel properly transformed my training.

Fueling with running gels:

  • Improves endurance and energy

  • Keeps legs strong late in long runs

  • Helps recovery after hard efforts

  • Makes marathon training sustainable

There is no single “best” running gel, only the one that works best for your body! The key is to test early, practice often, and trust what feels right.



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