CHARGEL ENERGY GEL DRINK REVIEW

August 20, 2025

For riders looking to perform as best as possible on the trails, good nutrition is essential. It can be so easy to overlook, but fueling well before and during a ride is important if you’re a mountain biker looking to put down a good effort.

Chargel aims to provide a unique caffeine-free Energy Gel Drink that delivers key carbohydrates and vitamins in a refreshing and satiating package. We received a pack to put to the test and enjoyed the experience, but would we buy them?

ABOUT CHARGEL

Chargel is an energy gel designed to give athletes the energy required to support their sporting efforts. It features a blend of carbohydrates and vitamins to deliver what Chargel considers to be optimal fuelling. Chargel is caffeine-free; gluten free and doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners. It’s all plant-based and free of the 9 major allergens.

The 180g Chargel packet contains 180 calories. It comes in a resealable pack with a built in spout, and can be stored and consumed at ambient temperature or cold. Chargel recommends serving cold to ensure best enjoyment, and says their “unique gel refreshes like a drink and satisfies like a snack”.

Chargel is available in a choice of three flavors: Apple, White Grape, Strawberry. A pack of six retails for $20.94 ($3.49 ea). First-time customers can order the Trial kit, containing one of each of the three flavors for $15 with free shipping and a $5 discount currently available.

THE DIRT

Is it a drink? Is it a gel? I’m not exactly sure, but it’s a culinary experience for sure. And a fairly pleasant one at that.

I’m not going to pretend like I’m the most in-tune with my body, or that I’m particularly sensitive to my nutrition. I err on the side of over-fuelled and rarely push my physical limits to breaking point. As such, I’m not going to try and give some performance-related testimony about how Chargel has dramatically boosted my FTP or let me smash any records.

What I can say for sure is that pulling a cold Chargel out of the van fridge in the middle of a tough day riding eBikes in the heat of Utah was very pleasant. Even if I spent the whole time wondering if I needed to chew, the flavour and experience consuming the 180 calories in the Chargel was great, especially in the White Grape flavor. It went down easy, sat well in my belly as we set off to crush another climb, and had none of the gel-related icky feelings that some energy gels are known for.

One of the things I’ll always consider when choosing my trail snacks is their value. How much does it cost to get that couple hundred calories in my system, and is the price worth the taste or healthiness that the more expensive snacks can provide? Often I’ll find myself gnawing on a low-quality sawdust-like granola bar from a multipack and dreaming of a juicy Clif bar. So would I consider putting my hand in my pocket to fork out $3.50 dollars on a single Chargel? Well, given that it has the dual purpose of fuelling and (slightly) hydrating, perhaps the value is there when you compare it to a bar and a Powerade. As such, I don’t think the value is too horrible – I can think of worse ways to spend my money.

That said, I’ve ran out of Chargel now and there’s none in my basket, so perhaps it didn’t quite land with me well enough to justify it. For athletes more in-tune with their performance systems and with larger energy product budgets, I can’t recommend against Chargel as a product to meet your needs. Some may struggle with the relative bulk that the 180g Chargel pack carries, which won’t make it sit in a pocket nicely during a ride. That said, it’s considerably more enjoyable cold than warm, so you’ll probably want to store it in a fridge until consumption, anyway.

Seeking third-party validation, Drew received a Chargel in return for posing for a couple of action shots. His review consisted of a high-pitched “Mmm”, which I’m going to take as a positive impression. I mean, just look at that face.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Chargel is quite a unique energy product offering, delivering clean carbs and vitamins with a unique refreshing texture and some enjoyable flavors. If you’re looking for a purposeful energy product to fuel your rides, Chargel may be a good option for you. But we’re unlikely to buy another pack.

Price: $20.94 / box of 6 ($3.49 ea)
Website: Chargel.com

ABOUT THE WOLF

Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.

Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston

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