Clif SHOT Bloks vs e-Gel Energy Gel Comparison

Clif BLOKS Energy Chews are one of the leading “chew” products on the market, and many athletes prefer chews over energy gels because they would rather eat their nutrition instead of using gels. Unfortunately, while chew products are more like eating candy, they have many of the same nutritional characteristics as candy. Namely high sugar and not much else in terms of nutritional value. Unlike BLOKS, e-Gel is loaded with complex carbs instead of sugars for maximum and sustained energy uptake. e-Gel also provides complete electrolyte replacement to maintain hydration and avoid cramping and injuries. And e-Gel has a complete profile of amino acids and antioxidants to reduce tissue damage, lactic acid build up and soreness, and to speed recovery. None of these things are in Clif BLOKS. Read on for the complete comparison:

complex carbs

e-Gel

30 g

Clif BLOKS

12 g

e-Gel has more complex carbs than any other energy gel or energy chew product, including Clif BLOKS. This is critical because your body can uptake more energy when you use complex carbs instead of simple sugars.

How is this possible?

Read on (or watch this video)

The carbs/energy in an energy gel are transported into your cellular system through osmosis. If you recall learning about osmosis in science class, it’s the way a fluid crosses a membrane. In order for the fluid to cross, it has to be an equal or lower concentration than the fluid on the other side of the membrane. In this case you’re trying to get the gel across your cellular membrane so you can use the energy. Gels by themselves are extremely concentrated (hypertonic), that’s why you need to use water with gel so that you can lower the concentration until it becomes isotonic (the same concentration as your cellular fluids). When you do, the gel and water get absorbed – osmosis!!

What’s interesting is that the concentration of a fluid (also called the osmolality) is largely dependent on the NUMBER of particles in the fluid, and less dependent on the size of the particles. Complex carbs by definition have a larger molecular structure than simple sugars, basically they have more glucose molecules stuck together. But remember, it’s the number of particles, not the size that matters most. What that means is that at the point of absorption (isotonic), a fluid with complex carbs can transport nearly twice as much energy into the cellular system compared to one with simple sugars.

This isn’t something that we’ve invented here a Crank Sports, it’s proven science. Many energy gels (including e-Gel) use at least some maltodextrin for this reason. Maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate with an extremely large molecular structure. Where e-Gel sets itself apart from other products is that we use much more complex carb and less sugar. This allows you to get more energy when you use e-Gel compared to our competitors. Why do other companies use so much sugar? Simple, because it’s sweet and inexpensive, and sweet things sell. So if you want to sell a lot of something you make it sweet. But if you want to make the best PERFORMING product you use complex carbs.

carb sources

e-Gel

Maltodextrin
Fructose

Clif BLOKS

Tapioca Syrup
Cane Sugar
Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is the preferred complex carbohydrate for endurance athletes. Unfortunately, even though there is maltodextrin in Clif BLOKS, there is not much of it. Maltodextrin is the primary ingredient in e-Gel as well as our e-Fuel hydration drink product.

Fructose is e-Gel because it allows for additional energy uptake that you do not get from Clif BLOKS, read why

 

sugar

e-Gel

18%

Clif BLOKS

50%

By providing lower sugar and more complex carbs instead, e-Gel is able to provide significantly more total energy uptake. See our complex carb discussion for complete details.

sodium

e-Gel

230 mg

Clif BLOKS

50 mg

e-Gel is the only energy gel to provide complete electrolyte replacement in the gel – where it should be! The most important electrolyte that you need to replenish is sodium to help you maintain hydration and to avoid cramping and injuries.

e-Gel has nearly 5x the sodium compared to Clif BLOKS.

For a more detailed discussion of why it’s important to have this level of electrolytes in the gel instead of getting your electrolytes some other way:

read details

potassium

e-Gel

85 mg

Clif BLOKS

18 mg

Potassium is the other electrolyte that is important to replace during your training and competition, along with sodium. The level of potassium in e-Gel is designed to meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommendation for replacement during athletic activity.

Compared to Clif BLOKS, e-Gel has nearly 5x the potassium.

See the sodium discussion for additional details.

amino acids

e-Gel

Histidine, Leucine, Valine, Isoleucine

Clif BLOKS

no amino acids​

Amino acids help to reduce lactic acid build up, reduce soreness, maintain muscle protein and aid in quicker recovery.

Clif Bloks Energy Chews do not contain amino acids.

antioxidants

e-Gel

vitamin C 120%
vitamin E 120%​

Clif BLOKS

none

Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness and aid in the recovery process. 

Clif Bloks Energy Chews do not contain these antioxidants.

citrates

e-Gel

Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid

Clif BLOKS

Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid

Citrates assist in the carbohydrate to energy conversion process as well as slow the build up of lactic acid in your muscles.

carnauba wax

e-Gel

none

Clif BLOKS

yes

We ask the same question since that’s the same thing you wax your car with! The reality is that when you want to make something with a candy consistency you end up including ingredients that you would never use if your only objective was to make the best sports nutrition product.

It should go without saying, but e-Gel does NOT include carnauba wax.

ready to try e-Gel?

we guarantee you'll love it!​

facebook-customer-reviews

Keith Castleton

"Figuring out how to stay hydrated, not get upset stomach and prevent muscle cramps during long runs and races has been one of my biggest challenges. In the past my muscles would ache and twitch and cause me a lot of pain after long runs. I came across e-Gel energy gels this summer used them during the Top Of Utah Marathon, took 17 minutes off my previous marathon PR and easily qualified for Boston." ...
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Maricopa, Arizona
Sport: Running

Jeff Rommel

"I broke the golden rule and tried e-Gel for the first time on race day. I ran the Houston Marathon and it was a great experience - no stomach issues and no muscle cramping. Water in my bottle and an e-Gel every hour got me through the race. I'm not the fastest runner, but I set a PR!" ...
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Houston, Texas
Sport: Running

David Ball

"I've been using e-Gel for 2 years exclusively and will not go with anything else....I qualified for Boston with a 3:18:16 and felt great. One e-Gel 15 minutes before the race and one at miles 6, 12, 18, and 23 mile marks and then the last three miles were my fasted splits" ...
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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sport: Running, Triathlon

Shawn Smith

"At the USA Cycling Marathon Championships it was a 58 mile course and temps around 80-84. ... I raced to a 3rd place on only 2 bottles of e-Fuel and 2 e-Gels. No way around it. This product works and is fueling you can trust." ...
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Gainesville , Florida
Sport: Cycling

Vicki Griffin

"I am an Ironman distance, age grouper triathlete trying to qualify for Kona. Nutrition has always been a struggle... stomach issues, etc.... I used e-Fuel and e-Gel on my last 70.3, had no stomach issues, and won my age group." ...
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Leawood, Kansas
Sport: Triathlon

Kathy Murgas

"A friend recommended e-Gel years ago. I tried it, loved it, and 65 marathons (including 1 in each of the 50 states), I am still using it. I've changed the way I train, the shoes and wear, the clothes I wear, but never the gel I use." ...
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Dallas, Texas
Sport: Running & Cycling

NOTE: All Clif Bloks Energy Chew nutrition values shown are for Strawberry flavor as of April 2021, other flavors may vary. e-Gel nutrition values are the same for all flavors, read why

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