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Overall, The standard C30 gels, was good product. Not great, But I would even say very good.
To you understand the baseline of my testings: My preferred gels are UCAN Edge mocha with caffeine and pineapple. My backup gels are Hammer, In an occasional slope side syrup for when I have those sugar crashes. You can check out my reviews from January 2023, where I went through about 10 different gels. The only gel I really do not like is Maurten, as I find it way too sweet and too large in volume. For me the Neverscond gels were on the sweet side, but not nearly as sweet as Maurten.
I did seven tests overall for eight gels. One test just to see how my stomach would handle it, Just in case we had a bathroom disaster. One long run with two caffeinated gels, and the rest were mixed between indoor and outdoor tests.
Now I'm testing in cold weather New England area, doing my Boston Marathon training. The gels are all much easier to consume when warmer. Specifically, In my orange test, It was 20° outside, And I held the gel in my hand until I was ready to test it at the 3 mi mark of my 6 mi run. I mix testing between indoor and outdoor running, and consistently found the gel is easier to consume if it was warm.
Overall, this is not a quick release gel, but with some planning, this seems like a great gel for the ultra running crowd. A slow release gel that can cut down the numbers of gels you need to carry. Less gels is also a cost savings make it a great value.
The size of the package is just about ideal. It fits well in to just about any loop. Easy to carry in you hand, or pocket.
The easy tear design needs a little QC. One out of eight of the gels when I pulled the tear tab, It did not Open the gel. Luckily this was a before I left the house and I could just grab the scissors. I've had similar experience with my UCAN Edge, So my one comment with this one is the Neversecond packaging is too good if you have a tear disaster. It is really difficult to open if the tab does not work.
On the plus side, Not something I tested, But I'm confident should I have been clumsy and fell on my gels I do not expect them to explode. (This has happened to me with GU brand)
Taste and texture is a tough one. Seven flavors, Barry came in both caffeinated and non-caffeinated. All five of the non-caffeinated gels, In my opinion were a little bit sweet. (See above comparisons)
When the temperatures are below 45°, It becomes thick like a standard gel. I bring this up, as being a thick liquid is one of the selling points vs a traditional gel.When it is room temperature, or better warmed in your pocket, It is a thick like liquid that does not require water to consume. The volume, takes me about 4 attempts to totally consume. Takes a little practice, by the end of the sample pack I had it figured out.
Caffeinated gels are another issue. Two of the three caffeinated gels were not uniformly smooth. The only uniformly smooth one was the expresso. We did have sub freezing temperatures, and my box was outside for at least two hours. I'm unsure if freezing and unfreezing had and effect on the consistency.
Caveat: Cola flavor, upset my stomach. Not a fan at all. Passion fruit, the last flavor I tested, did not agree with me as well.
Most of my tests were unremarkable. Not bad, but similar to other gels. Tested 20 min prior, right before, and middle of a 5 mile run, with nothing really significant to report. However, my last two tests have different results.
Test number six: a 9 mile tempo run. Berry Plus caffeine and Espresso Plus caffeine. Barry Plus caffeine tear disaster: I went to open it up and it did not open. Had to get scissors. This is the second one with caffeine I've tested. It is also lumpy like the first caffeine. I took it 15 minutes before I planned to run. Took the espresso in about mile 25 minute mark, where I normally take a race gel, within a quarter mile cramped up but it wasn't a debilitating cramp and it dissipated before I completed a mile. Stuck with me for about 5 minutes. I ran at a threshold pace without noticing, and my Garmin told me I was unproductive. Of a 9 mi run I did feel a little boost about 5 mi after taking the second gel. Flavor of the espresso much better, and it was the only of the caffeinated gels that was not lumpy. Bottom line, this is NOT and instant energy gel, but a slow release. Espresso Caffeinated gels is, to me, the standalone winner of the sample pack.
Last Test, #7: passion fruit. A little too sweet for my liking, But compared to Maurten, way better. I took it at mile two of a 7 Mile run. Cramped up a little bit at mile 3, but passed in less than a minute. (Much better this time, from the previous day's test.) I was able to take without water which is great. Felt a little burst of energy for my last mile finishing it tempo pace for a last mile of strides. Although about an hour after taking it a sudden emergency bathroom break was required. Unsure if related.
Neversecond provided these gels at no charge, but no additional incentives were received.
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