Last updated on January 11th, 2024
A few months ago I was introduced to Endurance Tap, an all natural alternative to energy gels. After doing some research, I knew it was a product I wanted to try, since it aligns with my nutritional values.
As an Obstacle Course Racer, I rely on energy gels in my training and on race days but I’ve never really felt good about the ingredients in the gels I was consuming. Ingredients I purposely avoid in my day-to-day life are what make up most of the gels on the market.
In previous seasons, I was only using a handful of gels a year, so I didn’t let it bother me too much. But now I am starting to race more frequently, and I’m covering longer distances and need to use gels more often so I knew there had to be a better option out there.
And thanks to Endurance Tap, there is!
With just three ingredients, maple syrup, ginger and sea salt, each pouch of Endurance Tap delivers 100 calories of high quality nutrition for endurance athletes. And, they’re CANADIAN!
Maple syrup provides almost identical calories per gram and minerals for electrolytes as other gels on the market, but without all the junk. The sea salt provides 50mg of sodium, while ginger is a known digestive aid.
This nutritionist approves!
The awesome folks at Endurance Tap sent me a couple of samples in the mail to test out, so I wanted to write this review and share my experience with you!
I used one pouch for Mud Hero Toronto Ultra 10K, which also happened to be the first race I’ve done over 5K without a hydration pack. I knew the race would take me just under 2 hours, and that Endurance Tap would be a great source of quick fuel halfway through.
My first impression: OMG THIS TASTES SO GOOD! Seriously, who doesn’t love pure Canadian maple syrup, eh?
The texture is nothing like a gel and I didn’t need to drink water with it (perfect when you’re not carrying water!). It went down so easily and I wished I had 100 more packs of it. So delicious!
There was no yucky after taste or cotton mouth feeling. Maybe it was in my head, but I instantly felt more energized. There were also no gastrointestinal issues – a nod to the ginger! Other gels on the market are made with cheap, low quality ingredients like maltodextrin and brown rice syrup, which are thick and don’t sit well in a lot of athletes’ stomachs. A common complaint among race circles are the digestion issues with gels. Endurance Tap is the perfect alternative.
I had given my boyfriend, Colin, a pouch for the race too so I was looking forward to getting his thoughts when we met up at the finish line. Before I could even get the entire sentence out, he cut me off with “MMM Oh my God, it was delicious!” He too, noticed a quick change in his energy levels after consumption.
I still have one of my samples left, that I am saving for a longer training run before OCR World Championships and then I will definitely be stocking up on more before OCRWC!
If you’d like to purchase Endurance Tap, you can do so on their website or at specialty retailers.
