Torq energy gel review summary: At 45 g per pack, Torq delivers 113-114 g calories and 28-30 g of carbohydrates, of which about 11 g are from sugars. It also contains all five electrolytes. The gels are very sweet and on the thicker side of the texture spectrum.
Torq was founded as a fitness consultancy and coaching company in 1995 and only later developed its popular sports nutrition lineup to provide a more comprehensive service. The Torq Gel portfolio includes thirteen options, with unique flavors such as Lemon Drizzle, Black Cherry Yoghurt, Rhubarb & Custard, etc.
I’ve recently tested two flavors – Cherry Bakewell and Orange & Banana. Below is Runivore’s Torq energy gel review.
What are Torq energy gels? Marketing claims
“Torq Gel is a naturally flavored high-potency hypertonic energy gel, containing no artificial sweeteners or colors, with a silky smooth melt-in-the-mouth texture,” said the company.
Two other product highlights are:
- 2:1 maltodextrin-to-fructose ratio, which the company dubbed “multiple transportable carbohydrates.” Quite a few brands also based their gels on the same 2-to-1 ratio to provide two fuel delivery pathways.
- Contains five key electrolytes – sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, and calcium.
What are the ingredients and nutrition facts of Torq energy gels?
At 45 g per pack, Torq Gels deliver 113-114 g calories and 28-30 g of carbohydrates, of which about 11 g are from sugars. As mentioned in the previous segment, the energy gel contains all five electrolytes – 49 mg of sodium, 99 mg of chloride, 24 mg of potassium, 6 mg of calcium, and 1 mg of magnesium.
Source: company website.
The ingredient list is one of the simplest I’ve reviewed, mainly just glucose, fructose, and electrolytes – nutrients that can be used as fuel and helps with hydration. No exotic ingredients that may or may not make a difference or words you can’t even pronounce.
Source: company website.
What are the taste and consistency of Torq energy gels?
I tested the Cherry Bakewell and Orange & Banana flavors. Both were very sweet and on the heavier side of the texture spectrum.
I’m not a fan of thick gels, to begin with. On top of that, I had primarily used more watery products like SiS Go Isotonic and gels with a milder sweetness, such as Maurten Gel 100, for the past several months, so Torq’s flavor was a bit of a shock.
While Torq is certainly energy-packed, it’s not the type of flavor and texture I can eat more than 2-3 packs.
How’s the packaging of Torq energy gels?
Torq is packed in a 14.5 cm x 4 cm sachet. It’s long but narrow enough to fit in most fuel-carrying gears, such as running belts and hydration packs. The top of the packaging has a “litter-free tip,” but the design is too flimsy. I accidentally ripped off the tip both times, which was annoying.
Do Torq energy gels work?
I consumed two Torq energy gels on a fartlek (15 x 2 min + 1 min on off and maintained a float effort for recovery). I tagged on about 20 minutes each for warm-up and cool-down, so the entire run was around 90 minutes.
I had a gel about 10 minutes into the warm-up and the second one after the sixth rep of the fartlek. I only drank a cup of coffee for breakfast.
Below are some takeaways:
- By any standard or taste preference, most people would consider Torq energy gels quite sweet. If you’re a runner that prefers to stick with one brand for an entire race, I wouldn’t recommend making Torq the entirety of your fueling plan. For example, I usually eat 6-7 gels for a marathon, and I can’t imagine eating that many packs of Torq gels.
- The flavors are unique. So it’s not a bad idea to include 1-2 packs to give your taste buds a change of pace.
- Since it contains 30 g of carbohydrates in a reasonably compact package (most energy gels are around 20-25 g), it’s an excellent option to have on hand if you want to bring fewer gel packs and still maintain the amount of your carbohydrate intake.
- Torq will work well for you if you’re a fan of sweeter and thicker options. Though the gels didn’t suit my taste, they sustained my energy levels without causing stomach issues.
- Despite highlighting its electrolyte content in marketing materials, the amounts are low. Like many other gels, Torq is hypertonic, so they are designed for energy delivery and not hydration. Be sure to have water or additional hydration products on longer runs and in high temperatures.
