Discover our new energy gels designed for ultra-trail running!

Our energy gels are the best for ultra-trail running. Why? Because they were developed with our professional athletes at UTMB and Western States!

In case you wondered, yes, you should consume energy gels during an ultra-trail race, but not just any gels. Nutrition is the key to achieve success during an ultra-trail, that is why we developped with our pro athletes an Ultra Energy™ Gel perfectly tailored to the specifics of ultra-distance running.

How? Spoiler alert, we actually listened to the advice of our pro athletes ; brought carbohydrates, combined simple and complex sugars and relied on responsible ingredients while creating a semi-liquid texture with delicate flavors to embody it all.  

The benefits? Smooth energy and digestive comfort throughout your run, without hypoglycemia, stomach pain, or nausea! 

Discover our Ultra Energy™ Gel,  two years long achievement with our pro ultra-trailers at Näak Lab. Try out those natural and tasty bombs of energy Mathieu Blanchard, Marianne Hogan or Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon used during their performance at the UTMB and Western States.

WHY DID WE DEVELOP AN ENERGY GEL RANGE? 

Our new Ultra Energy™ Gel come from a simple observation: there are many energy gels on the market, but none that truly meet the specific needs of ultra-trailers.

Grégoire Guyot, the director and head chef at Näak Lab, explains: « We've condensed the science of Ultra Energy™ Gel into a gel format, to provide long-lasting energy for trail and ultra-trail runners. Indeed, most traditional energy gels contain only carbohydrates, specifically simple sugars. » 

This traditional composition can lead to intestinal issues as well as blood sugar spikes, the rebound of which manifests as energy crashes. You’ve probably heard it before: ‘Energy gels are not recommended for ultra-trail running as they cause hypoglycemia and stomach issues.’ That’s false! The truth is that the energy gels in question weren’t suitable.

Grégoire Guyot bounces back: « Our idea is to remedy this by developing the first energy gel tailored for ultra-trail running! This Ultra Energy™ Gel offers a more complete nutrition specifically tailored for long-distance races! »  

« Our new Ultra Energy™ Gel come from a simple observation: there are many energy gels on the market, but none that truly meet the specific needs of ultra-trailers. »

HOW IS THE COMPOSITION OF OUR ENERGY GELS TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR ULTRA-TRAIL RUNNING?

What makes our energy gel unique on the market and specifically adapted to ultra-trailers is above all its composition:

1/  The key lies in the combination of simple and complex sugars that our energy gels provide. Indeed, out of the 27g of carbohydrates in our Ultra Energy™ Gel:

• 14 g come from simple & fast sugars (7 g fructose & 7 g glucose) sourced from maple syrup. 

• 13 g comes from longer & more complex carbohydrates (11 g maltodextrin & 2 g sunflower).

This is essential to maintain a constant glycemic intake, without energy crashes or digestive issues.

2/  Our energy gels contain the essential carbohydrates, the body's favored fuel: 27g per gel, the highest average on the market. Carbohydrates but not only! Carbohydrates are important in ultra-trail running, but they're not the only effective source of energy. Fat and protein also play a crucial role. That's why, at Näak, we prefer to talk in terms of calories rather than just carbohydrates.

• The 9g of lipids in each of our gels help to stabilize blood sugar levels, ensuring the gradual and continuous energy that ultra-distance runners seek.

• The 2g of natural proteins—including 235 mg of BCAAs provided by pea proteins and sunflower seeds—help reduce muscle fatigue during exercise. 

3/  Finally, the 420 mg of electrolytes in our energy gels—a mix of micronutrients including potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium—help replenish mineral losses and prevent cramping risks.

 « The key lies in the combination of simple and complex sugars that our energy gels provide. »

« In ultra trail, fat and protein also play a crucial role. That's why, at Näak, we prefer to talk in terms of calories rather than just carbohydrates. »

WHAT MAKES OUR ENERGY GELS THE BEST ON THE MARKET FOR ULTRA-TRAILERS?

Composition was one of the key points we worked on with Mathieu Blanchard, Marianne Hogan or Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon during this 2-year process. But it wasn't the only one: four elements make our Ultra Energy™ Gel those natural and tasty bombs of energy, perfectly tailored to ultra-trail running:

1/  Their semi-liquid texture, for better absorption and assimilation. Thanks to this texture, our energy gels are neither gelatinous nor sticky.

2/  The presence of caffeine provides an extra boost to keep you awake at night on an ultra-trail, or after several hours of running.

3/  Their delicate taste. With their Salted Maple or Chocolate flavors, our energy gels are not neutral, but created to be subtle enough to avoid the feeling of nausea that can occur over the miles.

4/  Their eco-responsible dimension, as they are made with recycled maple syrup. Made with 37% recycled ingredients, our new energy gels are the most responsible on the market*.

« With their Salted Maple or Chocolate flavors, our energy gels are not neutral, but created to be subtle enough to avoid the feeling of nausea that can occur over the miles. »

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ENERGY GELS IN ULTRA-TRAIL WITH ADAM PETERMAN & ARTHUR JOYEUX-BOUILLON

One of the keys of Näak Science is to integrate our Näak Pro Team in our product development process. Their quest for performance is at the heart of our innovation approach and gives us a competitive edge. We designed these energy gels because our professional athletes asked for them to make podiums at UTMB, Western States, and all the biggest ultra-trails on the planet.

We asked three questions to Arthur Joyeux Bouillon, twice Top 10 finisher at UTMB, member of the Näak Pro Team, and fully involved in the development of our energy gel for the past 2 years – and to Adam Peterman, new athlete to join the Näak Pro Team, and counting on our Gels to help winning the Western States in 2024 after his victory in 2022 and a blank 2023 due to a fatigue fracture.

What role do you play in the development of Näak products? Why do you think it's important to include professional athletes in the innovation process?

Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: I joined the Näak Team two years ago, motivated by the opportunity to co-create sports nutrition products that fit me perfectly through the Näak Lab. The energy gels are a great example: I ran my first UTMB (7th place, in 2022) with the first version of the prototype. I immediately felt its potential. Two years later, we have a highly refined gel that I am proud of! My involvement has been total. I find it very relevant for Näak to listen to its Pro Team because professional athletes often push the boundaries of product development, seeking marginal gains and pushing products to their limits.

Adam Peterman: I joined recently, but I was instantly seduced by Näak's commitment to integrate us into the innovation process. They understand how crucial nutrition is for us and want to put us in the best position to perform. I appreciate when they ask us, "What are the ideal products you would like to see added to the range?" And I love even more imagining that the products I dream of will be able to exist thanks to the Näak Lab!

« I ran my first UTMB (7th place, in 2022) with the first version of the prototype. I immediately felt its potential. »

« The products I dream of will be able to exist thanks to the Näak Lab. »

What are the criteria that make a good energy gel for ultra-trail running?

Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: I see 4 non-negotiable criteria for creating a complete ultra-trail energy gel. First, the weight-calorie ratio: the product must provide maximum calories while being as light as possible. Next, it's about finding the right taste and texture: a gel that you know you can consume over several hours without ever feeling nauseous. This involves flavors: the Salted Maple which I will never tire of, and the Chocolate which provides the benefits of caffeine without the intestinal discomfort of coffee. The combination of sugars used, between fast and complex sugars, is also crucial for facilitating assimilation and providing sustained energy without hypoglycemia. Finally, the naturalness of the ingredients used is very important to me: Näak has banned processed products and, for example, opts for upcycled maple syrup as a 'sweetener'. I think that's great!

Adam Peterman: For me, a good ultra-trail gel is an energy gel that is easy to digest, gentle on the stomach, with a tasty flavor that your brain still craves after several hours of running. It should also deliver the right combination of nutrients, meaning not just carbohydrates but also fats, proteins, and electrolytes!

« The weight-calorie ratio: the product must provide maximum calories while being as light as possible. »

« It's about finding the right taste and texture: a gel that you know you can consume over several hours without ever feeling nauseous. »

«  The naturalness of the ingredients used is very important to me! »

« For me, a good ultra-trail gel is an energy gel that deliver the right combination of nutrients, meaning not just carbohydrates but also fats, proteins, and electrolytes! »

How do you integrate these energy gels into your nutrition plans for an ultra-trail race?

Adam Peterman: My perfect combo for ultra-trail running, whether in a race or during training, is one flask of Drink Mix and one Ultra Energy™ Gel per hour! This provides 450 calories and 80 g of carbohydrates per hour. It's a fairly simple and intuitive nutrition plan that I've tried to apply during training on my long runs for gut training, and that I will attempt to follow in my next goal, the Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB.  

Arthur Joyeux-Bouillon: Näak Ultra Energy™ Gel is the centerpiece of my nutrition plan for the second half of an ultra-trail race. In the first half, I prioritize Energy Bars along with Drink Mix as long as I can chew and digest solid food. Then, I switch to semi-liquid options around the mid-point of the race. During UTMB, starting roughly from Courmayeur, I switched to Drink Mix and Ultra Energy™ Gel, aiming for around 400 calories per hour. I've never experienced energy crashes or stomach issues using this approach—it has always worked well for me!

« My perfect combo for ultra-trail running, whether in a race or during training, is one flask of Drink Mix and one Ultra Energy™ Gel per hour! »

« Näak Ultra Energy™ Gel is the centerpiece of my nutrition plan for the second half of an ultra-trail race. » 

« During UTMB, starting roughly from Courmayeur, I switched to Drink Mix and Ultra Energy™ Gel, aiming for around 400 calories per hour. »

*Under Quebec law, a maple tree used to make syrup cannot be cut down. So for every 50 gels sold, we save 1 tree. So the 400,000 Näak gels planned for 2024 will save 8,000 trees.