Energy gels and power bars

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Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked.
If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.

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Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel
light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg
ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg
super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg
extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg

Energy gels and power bars

Postby gbagua » Wed 04 Jan, 2017 4:40 pm

Hey guys,

Where to buy the "energy gels" used by endurance athletes in their racing events? I want to buy a whole pack for my next w/end trip and need to shed as much weight as I can while fitting everything in a 30L daypack.

About power bars, which brand(s) would you recommend as the one with high energy content and are easy to eat and digest.

Ta.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Thatoutdoorsyguy » Wed 04 Jan, 2017 4:51 pm

Cycling stores stock a good selection of energy gels mate.


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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby CasualNerd » Wed 04 Jan, 2017 5:49 pm

My personal opinion would be to take a few packets of gummy bears rather than paying for expensive glucose sachets, unless you specifically want the ones with added caffeine etc. Snickers bars are high energy and easy to digest :)
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby RonK » Wed 04 Jan, 2017 6:02 pm

Here. Winners Sports Nutrition

Cadel's Mountain Mix bars are my favorite. Not too sweet. Highly recommended.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby wayno » Fri 06 Jan, 2017 10:35 am

buy a normal mueslie or chocolate bar and if you want the nutrients as well its hceaper to tke a muli vitamin tablet and get some electrolyte tablets or pwder or juste add salt...
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Walk_fat boy_walk » Fri 06 Jan, 2017 1:17 pm

Not sure why this and the Sodium Tablet thread are in the UL forum?
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby wayno » Fri 06 Jan, 2017 1:20 pm

Walk_fat boy_walk wrote:Not sure why this and the Sodium Tablet thread are in the UL forum?


It's obvious. sodium isnt a Heavy metal :mrgreen:
Last edited by wayno on Fri 06 Jan, 2017 3:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby slparker » Fri 06 Jan, 2017 3:10 pm

wayno wrote:
Walk_fat boy_walk wrote:Not sure why this and the Sodium Tablet thread are in the UL forum?


It's obvious. sodium isnt a Heavy metal :evil:


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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Chezza » Sun 08 Jan, 2017 8:03 pm

He might be trying to fastpack a route, and therefore needs to shed food weight and needs a source of carbs and electrolytes on the go. Fastpacking is certainly UL.

To the OP,

I believe Hammer Nutrition products are popular in ultra circles. More of a focus on a mix of carbohydrate chain lengths, but a lot less sugar, and the most complete electrolyte blends I've seen. Most of the energy gel products out there were born in endurance but not ultra racing, where nutrition demands are slightly different.

https://www.hammernutrition.com.au

You don't want gels - they're too heavy for what they offer. You want drink mixes and dry edible stuff.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby gbagua » Mon 09 Jan, 2017 8:33 am

Chezza wrote:He might be trying to fastpack a route, and therefore needs to shed food weight and needs.


Got it. Travel as light as a feather, long gone are the days carrying food cans, fruit, dried fruit and the like...too heavy, too messy and it all gets spoiled as things get easily squashed in rough terrain, rain and increased temperature.

Thanks for the link, I'll buy some of those bars.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Chezza » Mon 09 Jan, 2017 10:14 pm

Have you heard of freeze dried and dehydrated food?
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby GPSGuided » Mon 09 Jan, 2017 10:28 pm

They are available on supermarket shelves e.g. Coles. Taste is an issue and must be tried out before you take them to an event. Should wash down with water or their concentration may cause issues for you.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby wayno » Tue 10 Jan, 2017 6:54 am

sold in Aus too
balanced nutrition in a bar. although they dont state how much potassium is in them

https://www.osm.nz/

https://www.osm.nz/product/cranberry-osm-6-bite-pack-3/
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Drummo62 » Tue 10 Jan, 2017 8:05 am

After years of trying to juggle gels, bars, tablets and real food during 100 mile races I have switched to this. http://www.tailwindnutrition.com.au/ I have no affiliation - just found it works. Easier to monitor caloric intake etc and (for me) no stomach or cramping issues. When hiking I usually take enough powder to mix up one bottle per day to help boost the intake of electrolytes particular if I am doing longer days.
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby Supertramp » Tue 14 Feb, 2017 7:57 pm

I two of these before (can't remember which size) and watched how long they sustained me for.
It lasted a few hours before I started to feel hungry again, they were good and in fact didn't really need any water to eat or wash them down with, they were great and I will be using them again.

http://www.survivalsuppliesaustralia.co ... n-food.php
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Re: Energy gels and power bars

Postby vanNek » Tue 14 Feb, 2017 8:53 pm

Drummo62 wrote:After years of trying to juggle gels, bars, tablets and real food during 100 mile races I have switched to this. http://www.tailwindnutrition.com.au/ I have no affiliation - just found it works. Easier to monitor caloric intake etc and (for me) no stomach or cramping issues. When hiking I usually take enough powder to mix up one bottle per day to help boost the intake of electrolytes particular if I am doing longer days.


+1 for tailwind a few adventure
Racers that i know use it!


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