02/06/2025
Strip away the marketing, the fugayzi, the fugazi, and even the science, and you’re left with the hard numbers. How much does each training, race, or long ride actually cost you to fuel?
Yes, proper fuelling is about the scientific reasoning and formulation, but it is also about practicality, and yes, economics. In the end, it often comes down to a simple question: what do you actually get for every euro (or dollar) you spend? And we’re not talking about cost per unit. That number means nothing on its own. We’re talking about value per euro. And there’s a big difference.
To ensure an honest comparison, we standardised our calculations based on two essential adjustments:
We compared: carbs per euro, sodium per euro, price per gram of carb, price per mg of sodium, and % extra value per euro spent.
We'll dive deeper into what your money actually buys by comparing the most popular or relevant performance nutrition brands. All values are compared against:
Important: some brands do not include sodium. When sodium is missing or minimal, it must be supplemented separately - an extra product, cost, and complication. This not only increases the total cost, but also makes fuelling more difficult: you’ll need an extra water bottle, you’ll carry more weight, and your fuel plan becomes less predictable. Sodium is not optional - it’s critical for hydration and performance, especially in longer or hotter endurance events.
Maurten is widely used as race-day fuel and is known for its hydrogel technology. But does that justify the price tag? According to the numbers, Victus 02 During: Drink provides 30,8% more carbs per euro and 88,6% more sodium per euro. The difference becomes even more apparent when comparing gels. 02 During: Gel delivers 111,6% more carbs per euro and nearly 2000% more sodium, simply because Maurten’s gel contains barely any sodium.
Science in Sport (SiS) has long been a staple in the endurance world, offering a broad range of accessible fuelling options. But how do they compare when you break it down to nutrients per euro? According to the numbers, Victus 02 During: Drink delivers 42,7% fewer carbs per euro than SiS Beta Fuel, but infinitely more sodium, since Beta Fuel contains none.
The SiS GO Isotonic Gel is widely used and appears affordable initially, but the numbers say otherwise: Victus 02 During: Gel delivers 61,1% more carbs per euro and over 6600% more sodium. It’s also worth noting that SiS GO relies solely on maltodextrin, which limits how much your body can absorb per hour. That’s a constraint, especially in longer events, where dual-carb blends like Victus offer more flexibility and better absorption.
Neversecond has built a reputation for its science-based approach to performance nutrition. Victus shares the same evidence-based philosophy, but takes it a step further by delivering more value per euro. According to the data, Victus 02 During: Drink provides 22,7% more carbs and 40,2% more sodium per euro. The difference becomes even clearer when comparing gels: 02 During: Gel delivers 95,7% more carbs and 123,7% more sodium per euro than Neversecond’s C30 gel. Both are built on science, but when you break it down to cost per nutrient, the numbers speak for themselves.
226ERS has built a strong presence in the endurance world, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, thanks in no small part to high-profile sponsorships. But once you look beyond the branding and bib numbers, the metrics tell a different story.
Victus 02 During: drink gives you 22,3% more carbohydrates per euro and 85% more sodium per euro. Even when it comes to gels, often considered a closer race, 02 During: Gel still edges ahead with 3% more carbs and 57% more sodium per euro. So yes, 226ERS might look good on a jersey, but when it comes to actual value, Victus gets the job done for less.
6D tells a science-based story through their broad array of sponsorships, especially within the Belgian endurance scene. But when we compare not just claims or faces, but actual value per euro, clear differences emerge. Victus 02 During: drink delivers 132% more carbs and 33% more sodium per euro. The gels tell a similar story: 02 During: Gel provides 23% more carbs and 110% more sodium per euro.
Both 6D and Victus put science first, but there are many differences. And when it comes to nutrient density per euro, the numbers clearly show that.
GU, the OG - widely available, instantly recognisable, and trusted by enthusiasts for decades. You might assume that legacy and scale would translate to better value. But when you look at the data, the opposite is true. Victus 02 During: drink provides 52% more carbs and 114% more sodium per euro. The gels show the same pattern: 02 During: Gel offers 21% more carbs and 260% more sodium per euro.
Skratch Labs leans into its "clean hydration" image. But when you strip away the marketing and compare actual nutritional content and value per euro, the metrics are cleaner. Victus 02 During: drink provides 60% more carbs per euro and 221% more sodium per euro. That’s not just a minor edge; that’s a full category shift in efficiency. And since Skratch doesn’t offer a gel, there’s not much more to compare.
Veloforte positions itself in natural ingredients and a brand story rooted in taste and texture. That works well if you're shopping for experience. But when consistency is an important factor of your performance, and you're counting grams of carbs and milligrams of sodium, things shift quickly. When comparing the drinks, Victus 02 During: drink delivers 179% more carbs per euro and 34% more sodium per euro. The gap widens with gels: 103% more carbs and 210% more sodium per euro. Premium and performance can go hand in hand, but it’s not the rule.
An Italian superpower in the world of endurance nutrition. Enervit is widely available and trusted by many. But how does its pricing and nutritional density stack up in a direct comparison? When comparing the drinks, Victus 02 During: drink provides 0,67% fewer carbs per euro, but 95% more sodium per euro. So, unless you’re planning to supplement with extra salt tabs, the real cost adds up quickly. When it comes to gels, the picture is clearer: 02 During: Gel offers 6,5% more carbs and 60% more sodium per euro. Slight differences on paper, big impact in practice.
Powerbar helped define the sports nutrition category. They've been fuelling endurance athletes since before most competitors even existed. But in a world that’s moved on to data, transparency, and precision, how does the original hold up?
When we compare the drinks, Victus 02 During: drink delivers 13% fewer carbs per euro, but 68% more sodium per euro. Note here: Powerbar’s Fuel Sports Drink 90 is built on a 1:0,8 ratio, which has value when you are aiming for 140+ grams of carbs per hour. If you're aiming for less than that, the 2:1 or 2:1:1.5 ratio is more efficient. When we compare the gels, Victus provides 34% more carbs and 43% more sodium per euro. Which one to choose depends on your fuel and hydration strategy, and how many carbs you aim for per hour.
Styrkr offers dual-carb formulations like most new brands and positions itself clearly within the outdoor-adventurer space. With a more lifestyle-oriented focus and less of a science approach, comparing the two brands is hard. But when comparing nutritional density per euro, the differences are evident. First, the drinks: Victus 02 During: drink delivers 15% more carbohydrates and 859% more sodium per euro. For the gels, the gap is even more evident. Victus 02 During: Gel provides 17% more carbs and significantly more sodium, as the GEL50 does not include any sodium. For ultra-endurance athletes aiming to fuel and hydrate with precision, this distinction matters a lot.
Precision Fuel & Hydration positions itself somewhere between performance and practicality, known for its modular approach to fuelling and hydration. But how does that translate in terms of value per gram or milligram? When comparing drink mixes, Victus 02 During: drink provides 33% more carbohydrates per euro, while containing 39% less sodium per euro - a trade-off, depending on your sodium strategy. For gels, the difference is even clearer. Victus 02 During: Gel delivers over 57% more carbs per euro, and significantly more sodium, since Precision’s PF 30 gel contains none.
Tailwind prides itself on its gut-friendly formulation, especially within the trail and ultra community. But when it comes to actual nutritional value per euro and precision fuelling, and less about “snacking on the bike”, the difference is clear. Victus 02 During: drink delivers 118% more carbs and 34% more sodium per euro compared to Tailwind’s Endurance Drink. That means you’d need nearly twice as much Tailwind to match the same fuelling output, making it less efficient, heavier to carry, and harder to plan around during longer or more intense sessions. Since Tailwind has no gels, we can’t compare them. Minimising the risk of GI issues isn't magic or some exclusive trait. It's a matter of knowing how certain systems work and utilising that in training.
Amacx positions itself as the go-to Dutch brand for endurance athletes, with a strong local following, a wide range of flavours, and solid visibility through team sponsorships. But once you look past the wrappers and into the numbers, the story shifts.
When we compare the drinks, Victus 02 During: drink offers nearly double the carbs per euro (+99,8%) and 23% more sodium compared to Amacx’s On The Go Drink. With the gels, that difference becomes even more pronounced. 02 During: Gel delivers 99,8% more carbs and 128,4% more sodium per euro than Amacx’s Turbo Gel. If you're comparing what ends up in your bottle or stomach rather than on a jersey, the conclusion is straightforward.
Like we said, this comparison is not about moving you away from your favourite brand. There are numerous reasons why you wouldn't want to switch. But most brands have an oversimplified approach to fuelling: “just €2,50 per gel.” But that number alone means nothing if you don’t know what’s inside or are not fully aware of how much of them you need to take per hour/race/training. This comparison is to provide a better understanding of the cost of fuelling.
Because price alone ignores the essentials: how much fuel and sodium you actually need. If your drink mix is low in sodium, you’ll need salt tablets. If your gels are low in carbs, you’ll need to pack more. That’s extra weight, more bottles, more decision-making, and more room for error when it matters most.
It also creates a misguided logic: that training on one product and racing on another is somehow smart or justified. It’s not. If consistency matters in training, it matters even more on race day. Smarter fuelling means seeing the full picture: nutrients, cost, convenience, performance - the whole interplay of it all. And that’s exactly why we built Victus: to strip the noise and simplify the process.
Science, clarity and consistency.
