Neversecond C30 Energy Gel vs Maurten Gel 100
·By Croix
Educational, not medical advice. Recipes and dosages are starting points — individual tolerance varies. Consult a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before changing your nutrition strategy. Full disclaimer.
At a glance
| Neversecond C30 Energy Gel | Maurten Gel 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Carbs per serving | 30 g | 25 g |
| Glucose : Fructose | 2:1 | 1:0.8 |
| Sodium per serving | 200 mg | 20 mg |
| Calories | 120 kcal | 100 kcal |
| Format | Gel | Gel |
| Carb sources | Maltodextrin, Fructose | Glucose, Fructose |
| Retail price per serving | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| Cost per gram of carb (retail) | ~$0.117/g | ~$0.140/g |
| DIY cost per serving | ~$0.34 | ~$0.23 |
| DIY savings vs retail | ~90% | ~93% |
What is this comparison about?
Neversecond C30 and Maurten Gel 100 are the most-cited gels in the dual-transporter category. Both target the 60–90 g/hr fueling rate at 25–30 g of carbs per gel (you take ~2–3 gels/hr). Both use the 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio that O'Brien and Rowlands identified as practically optimal.
Where they diverge: Neversecond is the most research-transparent brand on the market — co-founded by Asker Jeukendrup, the most-cited scientist in modern carbohydrate-fueling research, and openly publishes formulation rationale. Maurten leans on the alginate-pectin hydrogel chemistry as its differentiator.
What do they have in common?
- 1:0.8 glucose-to-fructose ratio (the dual-transporter optimum)
- Maltodextrin + fructose as the carb sources
- Gel format, ~30 g per serving
- Designed for 60–90 g/hr fueling targets at 2–3 gels per hour
- Used widely across pro cycling, Ironman, and elite trail running
Where do they differ?
| Trait | Neversecond C30 Energy Gel | Maurten Gel 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Carb per gel | 30 g (the 'C30' name) | 25 g |
| Encapsulation | No hydrogel chemistry. Straightforward maltodextrin + fructose gel matrix. | Alginate + pectin hydrogel — same chemistry as Maurten's drink mixes. Sutehall et al. 2020 reports faster at-rest gastric emptying for this format vs a matched non-hydrogel control. |
| Sodium per gel | ~50–80 mg | ~100 mg |
| Brand provenance | Co-founded by Asker Jeukendrup (Loughborough University, former Gatorade Sports Science Institute). Marketing leans on research citations. | Founded around the alginate-pectin hydrogel. Marketing leans on pro-cycling sponsorships and the encapsulation chemistry. |
| Independent matched-dose evidence on the format | Standard non-hydrogel gel — used as the de facto control in matched-dose hydrogel studies. | The matched-dose comparison literature reviewed in Podlogar & Wallis 2022 has not reliably shown the hydrogel format outperforming matched non-hydrogel controls. |
| Retail price per gel | ~$2.75 (Neversecond) | ~$3.20 (Maurten Gel 100) |
Which one should I actually buy?
Verdict: Neversecond C30 Energy Gel
On the matched-dose evidence, Neversecond C30 is the more defensible choice at current retail prices. It uses the same 1:0.8 ratio chemistry that powers Maurten Gel 100, costs less per gel, and is built around openly-published formulation rationale rather than proprietary encapsulation chemistry that hasn't reproduced its claimed advantage in independent trials.
If you have a strong taste preference for Maurten or are deeply embedded in a Maurten-sponsored program, the price gap is small enough that brand loyalty is a defensible reason to stay. But the physiological case for the hydrogel premium at the gel form factor is weaker than at the drink form factor — gels are already hyper-concentrated and drink most of their water from your stomach reserves, so the hydrogel's 'reduce gastric distress at high concentrations' argument is less load-bearing.
Both replicate cleanly in a kitchen for ~50 cents per gel — bulk maltodextrin + fructose + a touch of pectin (for texture, not the alginate-hydrogel chemistry) plus a small sodium dose.
Pick Neversecond C30 Energy Gelif…
- You want the most research-transparent gel brand at a 1:0.8 ratio.
- You appreciate Jeukendrup's research lineage and want to support a brand that publishes its rationale.
- You want the lower per-gel cost in the dual-transporter category.
Pick Maurten Gel 100if…
- You're already on Maurten's drink mix and want format consistency for race day.
- You like the Maurten flavor / mouthfeel and have decided the small premium is worth it for you.
- You're racing under a Maurten-sponsored program where availability and brand alignment matter.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Or skip both and DIY
Both gels replicate at the kitchen scale for roughly 50 cents per 25–30 g serving, versus $2.75–$3.20 retail. The DIY Neversecond C30 teardown documents the exact gram quantities and the texture-modifier you'd need (a small pectin or xanthan dose) to land a gel-format consistency at home.
The ingredients involved
- Maltodextrin · The glucose-polymer workhorse in almost every high-carb sports drink — same energy as dextrose, far lower osmolality, nearly tasteless.
- Fructose · The GLUT5-transported sugar that lets you push past the 60 g/hr glucose ceiling — pair with maltodextrin at ~1:0.8 for the modern dual-transporter formula.
- Table Salt (Sodium Chloride) · The cheapest, most-bioavailable sodium source in your kitchen — pennies per gram and chemically identical to what's in any electrolyte tab.
- Sodium Alginate · The seaweed-derived gelling agent in Maurten's hydrogel — fascinating chemistry, contested performance benefit.
- Pectin · The fruit-derived gelling agent that pairs with sodium alginate in Maurten-style hydrogels — the second half of the encapsulation chemistry.