Nduranz Review: Our Gels, Drinks and Recovery Favourites

The Nduranz gels have become my favourites from this test. I like their softer flavour, my stomach has handled them well, and Lime and Orange are the two I’d choose again. But there are differences between what works for me during a long run and what Louise wants while racing a 10K flat out.

Disclosure: Nduranz supplied the products for testing at no cost. There was no paid or affiliate agreement. The opinions and conclusions here are our own.

How we used the Nduranz range

I reached out to Nduranz because I wanted to try more than a single gel. They sent a selection covering gels, drinks and post-run shakes, which gave us a chance to work the products into our normal training.

Most of my testing happened during half-marathon training, including longer runs and sessions around half-marathon and marathon effort. Sarah used products alongside her steady runs. Louise joined as a guest tester and used the gels during 10K races. She’s a competitive runner over 3K to 10K and regularly finishes in the top three at races.

We didn’t count every serving. The products were used repeatedly: gels or drinks alongside longer and harder runs, Regen after my intensive sessions, and Whey after easier runs. This is our experience of using them, rather than a controlled test of whether they made us faster or improved recovery.

One Drink 45 bag was punctured during delivery. I told Nduranz and didn’t use that bag. The rest of the selection appeared to arrive in good condition.

Unpacking the test products when they arrived.

NRGY Gel 45: the part I’d most happily buy again

I tried Orange, Lime and Tropical. Orange and Lime are my favourites. Tropical isn’t as much to my taste, although that doesn’t change my overall opinion of the gels.

Compared with the regular and Ultra gels I normally combine from 6d, I find the Nduranz flavours softer and more pleasant. They don’t taste as strong to me, which I appreciate when I’m taking another gel partway through a long run.

The consistency reminds me of the Etixx isotonic gels I’ve used. I liked those flavours too, but they didn’t agree with my stomach. So far, the Nduranz gels have given me the taste and texture I enjoy without that problem.

That personal difference is why these have moved to the top of my own list.

One of my longer outings was 24 km in about two hours. I took two gels and drank a 750 ml bottle of water. On a separate 21 km tempo run, completed in 1:39, I took a gel at the start, another after 7 km and a third after 14 km. I didn’t report stomach trouble on either run.

I also took one gel after warming up for a five-mile time trial, before starting the effort. For more on planning what to carry, see our long-run nutrition guide.

A bigger gel isn’t equally convenient for everyone

Each Gel 45 contains 45 g of carbohydrates in a 75 g sachet, according to Nduranz’s product information. There’s a fair amount to get through.

That hasn’t bothered me much during my longer training runs. Louise found the quantity less convenient during an all-out 10K. Her issue was taking in that much gel at maximum race effort, rather than a reported stomach problem.

I also noticed that completely emptying the sachet takes some work. Opening it hasn’t been a problem, and I haven’t had trouble spilling it. But simply sucking on the packet doesn’t get everything out as easily as I’d like. I roll it up from the bottom while taking the gel, which works for me.

I’m comfortable doing that at my longer-run effort, but it’s an extra bit of handling when you’re working hard.

Our running gel guide gives a broader view of the different formats.

The caffeine gels: Mango gets my vote

I tried the Mango and Cherry caffeine gels, and Mango is my favourite of the two. I felt a noticeable caffeine kick when using them.

Mango would be my choice when I want the caffeine version. Our race-day nutrition timing guide looks at fitting nutrition around the session itself.

Drink 45 and Drink 90: flavours I wanted to keep drinking

Drink 45 Orange was a pleasant surprise. Its flavour is subtle, which suits me better than the Etixx sports drink I’ve used several times. I don’t want every sip during a run to taste strong.

Drink 90 in Peach Raspberry also tasted good to me, and I didn’t have stomach trouble with it during the sessions I described.

I also used a litre of drink, mixed according to the instructions, on a 23 km run with some faster running.

I liked both flavours and found them comfortable to drink during running. I haven’t picked a clear favourite between them yet.

Zero Drink: pleasant without tasting overly salty

We had Berry and Pink Grapefruit Zero Drink tablets and mixed them according to the instructions. I liked the taste and didn’t find the drinks excessively salty.

They’re a different option from Drink 45 or Drink 90. Zero is an electrolyte tablet, rather than the carbohydrate drink I used for fueling those longer sessions. I wouldn’t count a bottle of Zero as a replacement for the gels or energy drink in a run’s food plan.

The taste was a positive for me, but I haven’t chosen a clear winner between Berry and Pink Grapefruit.

Regen and Whey: Sarah liked the chocolate more than I did

This is where personal preference really showed up.

The Regen we received was Chocolate. I’m not much of a chocolate-drink person, and it didn’t become a flavour I looked forward to. I still prefer the Raspberry Kiwi Etixx recovery drink I’ve used.

Sarah felt differently. She finds that Etixx flavour artificial and genuinely liked the Regen chocolate taste. Neither of us reported problems with tolerating Regen.

The Chocolate Whey brought out the same difference. I’d rather have a vanilla flavour, while Sarah liked the chocolate. I found it easy to digest, and both Regen and Whey mixed very easily with water.

In my routine, Regen went after the harder sessions and Whey after an easier steady run. The convenience and easy mixing were useful.

Our marathon recovery routine guide gives some wider context. For these shakes, I’d start with whether you actually enjoy the flavour enough to keep using them.

You can also see our favourite running nutrition for the personal picks and options we have selected for different runners.

My verdict

The gels are the standout for me. Lime and Orange are the flavours I’d return to, with Mango my pick among the caffeine options. I like the softer taste, and they’ve been comfortable on my stomach during the running I’ve described.

The main drawback is getting the sachet completely empty. Rolling it up works, but it’s an extra bit of handling. Louise’s experience also keeps the recommendation specific: a big gel that suits my longer training isn’t necessarily what she wants during a flat-out 10K.

Both energy drinks left a positive impression, particularly the subtle Orange Drink 45. The shakes are more divided. Sarah enjoyed the chocolate; I’d choose another flavour if buying for myself. Easy mixing and good tolerance don’t make us agree on taste, and they don’t need to.

I’d happily buy the gels again. I wouldn’t buy the entire range simply because one part of it suited me. The best choices from this package were personal, which is exactly what we wanted to find out by sharing it across several runners.

FAQ

Did the Nduranz gels cause stomach problems during our test?

None were reported in the sessions described here. That’s our experience, not a guarantee for another runner. Louise’s criticism concerned the amount to take in during a hard 10K, rather than confirmed digestive trouble.

Which Nduranz gel flavours did Jos prefer?

Lime and Orange among the regular Gel 45 flavours, and Mango among the caffeine gels. Tropical was less to his taste.

Were the gel packets easy to open while running?

Opening and spilling weren’t problems for Jos. Completely emptying them was harder; he rolled the sachet up from the bottom while taking the gel.

Do Regen and Whey mix well with water?

Yes, they mixed very easily in our use. Sarah liked both chocolate flavours. Jos tolerated them well but prefers other flavours.

Is Gel 45 equally practical for long runs and fast 10K races?

Our testers had different experiences. Jos was comfortable with the portion during longer training. Louise found it a lot to take in while racing a 10K at maximum effort.