Health, fitness and the supplement aisle. An independent South African desk.
Hydration and endurance · Answer
Among South African gels with published carbohydrate amounts in October 2026, Biogen Elite Carb Gel is the best value at about R30 per 30 g of carbohydrate, while Maurten Gel 100 is the premium option at about R90. 32Gi, official gel supplier to the 2024 Comrades Marathon, does not publish carbs per gel on retailer pages. Test any gel in training.
It depends on whether you value price, gut tolerance or race-day availability. Gels exist to deliver carbohydrate: guidelines suggest up to 30 g an hour for 1–2 hours, up to 60 g an hour for 2–3 hours and up to 90 g an hour beyond 2.5 hours, using glucose plus fructose. See how many carbs per hour for a marathon or ultra.
October 2026; cost per 30 g of carbohydrate is our calculation where the carbohydrate amount is published (retailer pages or offshore listings):
| Gel | Carbs per gel | Price (retailer) | Per 30 g carbs | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Elite Carb Gel, 60 g | 45 g | R44.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | R30.00 | not stated |
| Biogen Liquid Energy Gel, 60 ml | 23 g | R26.99 (Biogen shop; out of stock when checked) | R35.20 | none |
| SiS GO Isotonic Gel, 60 ml | 22 g | R44.90 (Sportsmans Warehouse via PriceCheck) | R61.23 | none |
| Maurten Gel 100, 40 g | 25 g | R75 (R68–R69 per gel in a box of 12) | R90.00 (about R82 in a box) | none |
| Maurten Gel 100 CAF 100 | 25 g | R80–R85 | R96–R102 | 100 mg |
| 32Gi High Intensity Gel, 27 g | not published | R25–R35 (Dis-Chem, Checkers, EasyBike) | not calculable | not published |
| GU Energy Gel, 32 g | not verified | R33–R38 (Clicks via PriceCheck) | not calculable | varies by flavour |
| NamedSport Total Energy Strong, 40 ml | not verified | R56.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit) | not calculable | label warning cites 180 mg per 25 ml; per-sachet amount not stated |
The Maurten and SiS carbohydrate figures come from offshore retailer listings rather than South African pages.
For the cheapest options by number, see cheapest energy gel per 30 g of carbohydrate.
Gut distress is the main risk when you try new products on race day. People with diabetes need an individual plan, and those with fructose malabsorption should avoid fructose-heavy gels.
Under-18s, pregnant athletes and anyone with kidney, heart or blood-pressure problems or on regular medication should get individual fuelling advice.
| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Elite Carb Energy Gel, unflavoured (60 g) | 60 g sachet | R44.99 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | 1 | R44.99 | None listed |
| Biogen Liquid Energy Gel (60 ml, orange or strawberry) | 60 ml sachet | R26.99 (Biogen (own shop), 2026-10) | 1 | R26.99 | No artificial sweeteners listed |
| Maurten Gel 100 (40 g sachet) | 40 g sachet | R74–R75 (goneoutdoor / The Athlete's Foot via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 1 | R75.00 | None listed |
| Science in Sport (SiS) GO Isotonic Energy Gel (60 ml) | 60 ml sachet | R45–R49 (Sportsmans Warehouse via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 1 | R44.90 | None listed |
| 32Gi High Intensity Sports Gel (27 g) | 27 g sachet | R25–R35 (Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), 2026-10) | 1 | R34.99 | None listed (rice syrup, flavouring, salt, preservatives) |
| Nutritech Endurade Energy / Sport Gel (30 ml) | 30 ml sachet | R14.99 (Checkers (product page), 2026-10) | 1 | R14.99 | None listed |
Educational information, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor, pharmacist or registered dietitian before using supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, taking medication, or living with kidney, liver or heart disease. Prices were observed in October 2026 and are not offers.