Neversecond C30 Gel vs e-Gel Energy Gel Comparison
e-Gel vs Neversecond
HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON
vs
Neversecond C30 Energy Gel is one of the closest comparisons to e-Gel, but in summary you get more for less with e-Gel. Neversecond provides 30g of carbs and 200mg of sodium per pack which is a solid foundation. e-Gel provides 25% more carb calories, a higher ratio of complex carbs, more electrolytes, plus amino acids and antioxidants not found in Neversecond. Despite providing more of what endurance athletes need, e-Gel costs significantly less per gel pack.
calories
e-Gel
150
Neversecond
120
Each pack of e-Gel provides 25% more energy than a Neversecond C30 gel. Over the course of a multi-hour race, that’s fewer packets to manage and more energy per intake.
total carbs
e-Gel
37g
Neversecond
30g
Carbs are the primary fuel your muscles use during exercise and the main reason you use an energy gel. With e-Gel you get more carbs for less money, that’s a good thing!
complex carbs
e-Gel
30g
82% of total
Neversecond
20g
67% of total
Both e-Gel and Neversecond use complex carbs — a solid foundation. But e-Gel delivers 50% more complex carbs per pack and a high ratio (read below why this is important).
why complex carbs matter
Energy gels are absorbed via osmosis — the process where fluid crosses a membrane. For the gel to be absorbed, it has to be diluted with water until it reaches the same concentration as your cellular fluids (isotonic). You drink water with your gel to make this happen.
Here’s the key: the concentration of a fluid depends largely on the number of particles, not their size. Complex carbs like maltodextrin have much larger molecules than simple sugars — essentially multiple glucose molecules bonded together. Because it’s the particle count that matters, a fluid with complex carbs can transport nearly twice as much energy at the point of absorption compared to one with simple sugars.
Both e-Gel and Neversecond use maltodextrin, so both benefit from this principle. Where e-Gel sets itself apart is the ratio: 82% complex carbs with only 7g of sugar, compared to Neversecond’s 67% complex with 10g of sugar.
cost benefit
Neversecond costs significantly more per pack than e-Gel — and delivers less nutrition in every pack. When you compare total performance nutrition per dollar (calories, complex carbs, electrolytes, amino acids, antioxidants), e-Gel provides substantially more value.
carb sources
e-Gel
maltodextrin
fructose
Neversecond
maltodextrin
fructose
Both e-Gel and Neversecond use maltodextrin as the primary carb and fructose as the secondary, enabling dual-pathway absorption. The difference is in the amounts and ratios — e-Gel delivers more total carbs and a higher percentage of complex carbs.
why both carb types mater
Your body absorbs glucose and fructose through two different transporters in the gut. Glucose (and maltodextrin, which breaks down into glucose) uses the SGLT1 transporter, while fructose uses the GLUT5 transporter. By including both carb types, a gel can push total carbohydrate absorption beyond the ~60g/hour limit of glucose alone — potentially up to 90g/hour or more.
Both e-Gel and Neversecond get this right.
sodium
e-Gel
230mg
Neversecond
200mg
Both e-Gel and Neversecond include meaningful sodium — credit to Neversecond for being one of the few competitors that takes electrolytes in the gel seriously.
why electrolytes belong in the gel
Electrolytes are critical to maintain hydration and to avoid cramping and injuries. Many gel companies leave electrolytes out entirely — Styrkr, Precision Fuel’s PF 30, and Enervit’s C2:1PRO all have zero sodium. These companies sell separate electrolyte supplements, which means more products to buy and more to figure out during a race.
There’s a good reason to put electrolytes in the gel rather than in a sports drink: energy gels have to be taken with water to be properly absorbed via osmosis. If you use a sports drink with your gel, the combined solution in your gut becomes too concentrated (hypertonic), slowing absorption and potentially causing stomach discomfort. With e-Gel, you just use water — the electrolytes are already in the gel, calibrated to deliver 500mg of sodium and 200mg of potassium per liter of absorbed fluid, meeting the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommendations.
Neversecond includes 200mg of sodium, which is better than most competitors. But their electrolyte profile stops there — zero potassium. e-Gel’s 230mg sodium plus 85mg potassium is designed as a complete electrolyte system, not just a single ingredient.
potassium
e-Gel
85mg
Neversecond
0mg
Potassium works alongside sodium to maintain hydration and prevent cramping. Despite including solid sodium, Neversecond provides zero potassium. e-Gel provides 85mg per pack.
potassium discussion
Potassium is the other electrolyte that’s critical to replace during training and competition. While sodium gets most of the attention, potassium plays a key role in muscle contraction and fluid balance. Losing too much without replacement can contribute to cramping, fatigue, and decreased performance.
The two electrolytes work together — sodium drives fluid absorption, potassium supports muscle function and cellular hydration. e-Gel’s 85mg per pack is designed to meet the ACSM’s recommendation for potassium replacement during athletic activity, proportional to the water that carries the gel into your system.
amino acids
e-Gel
histidine, leucine,
valine, isoleucine
Neversecond
none
e-Gel provides four important amino acids that help reduce lactic acid buildup, reduce soreness, maintain muscle protein, and aid in quicker recovery. Neversecond C30 does not contain any amino acids.
amino acid discussion
During prolonged exercise, your body begins breaking down muscle protein for energy — a process called catabolism. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, valine, and isoleucine help counteract this by providing an alternative fuel source and signaling your body to preserve muscle tissue.
Histidine plays a different role: it’s a precursor to carnosine, which acts as a buffer against the acid buildup in muscles that contributes to fatigue and that burning sensation during hard efforts. Together, these four amino acids support performance during the effort and faster recovery afterward.
Most energy gels — Neversecond included — don’t include amino acids. It’s one more area where e-Gel goes beyond just delivering calories.
antioxidants
e-Gel
vitamin C
vitamin E
Neversecond
none
Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness, and aid in recovery. Neversecond C30 gel does not provide any antioxidants.
antioxidant discussion
Intense exercise increases the production of free radicals — unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to inflammation and soreness. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that help neutralize these free radicals, protecting tissue and supporting the recovery process.
During a long race or hard training session using e-Gel, you’re building up meaningful antioxidant protection throughout the effort. It’s another way e-Gel is designed as complete athletic fuel — not just a source of calories.
caffeine
e-Gel
optional
Neversecond
optional
Both Neversecond and e-Gel provide a large variety of caffeinated and uncaffienated flavors. e-Gel’s caffeinated product is e-gel Turbo and Neversecond C30+ is their caffeinated line.
caffeine discussion
Caffeine is one of the most well-researched performance enhancers in sports science. It reduces perceived effort, improves focus, and can delay fatigue — particularly valuable in the later stages of a long race when mental sharpness matters most.
Having the option is key. Most athletes don’t want caffeine on every intake, and many prefer to save it for strategic moments late in a race. Both e-Gel and Neversecond let you choose when to use caffeine — a better approach than gels that put caffeine in every pack.
citrates
e-Gel
✓
included
Neversecond
✓
included
Both e-Gel and Neversecond include citrates, which assist in the carbohydrate-to-energy conversion process and help buffer lactic acid buildup. Many competing gels don’t include citrates at all, so this is one area where both products deliver.
flavors
e-Gel
9
Neversecond
9
The key to avoiding flavor fatigue is to rotate between flavors, and both e-Gel and Neversecond provide a wide variety. This is a far better solution than gels that only provide an unflavored version which doesn’t solve the fatigue problem at all.
100 world record fueled by e-Gel
Ashley Paulson set the women’s 100-mile world record (12:19:34) fueling with 300+ calories per hour of e-Gel and e-Fuel for over 12 hours — with zero gut issues. When trying a new gel you want to know if it will be easy on the stomach and if it will actually give you the energy you need to perform your best. While every athlete is different, what actually achieved using e-Gel is pretty strong evidence that it will work for you!