I recently began using liquid nutrition as a one-stop shop on the bike. I’ve used Skratch Labs’s new Superfuel mix. It works really well, but damn… it’s expensive.
Any other alternatives worth trying? Tailwind? Infinit Go Far? Others?
Gatorade endurance its worth trying if only because it’s what’s on course in Ironman events, at least in the US. That’s why I started using it and while it’s also relatively expensive (not too bad if you buy it on Amazon and get the cheaper flavors), I’ve never had an issue with it. Makes planning nutrition for races much easier if you rely on the aid stations.
What’s your setup, generally? All liquid? Do you supplement with solid foods?
What do you do for the run?
I go for 4 bottles of Gatorade endurance, two that I start with on my bike and two that I take at the 15 and 30 mile aid stations. I’ll also consume two packets of Gatorade endurance carb chews. If it’s going to be extra sweaty, I’ll supplement with some Base salt or extra electrolyte mixture in my two bottles. I’ll usually carry a carb chew packet with me out of T2 but don’t usually end up eating more than 1 or two of the chews, if at all. I take Red bull if available and water at every run aid station. So most of the runs I don’t have anything other than liquid while running. A 70.3 run is short enough that as long as I set myself up well during the bike, I’ll be good on the run.
I’ve become a big fan of Tailwind. 1 scoop = 100 calories. So super easy to mix up what you need.
It’s the one that I can drink the longest without getting grossed out by the flavor or any weird aftertaste.
Best bet is to just order a bunch of sample packs of various brands and experiment.
Bulk maltodextrin mixed with your choice of sports powder. Insanely cheap and works! I mix one bottle for all my calories for 70.3 then water between the arms every aid station.
I use First Endurance’s EFS Pro paired with their Liquid Shot. They just overhauled their EFS Pro and offer it in two flavors. The fruit punch flavor is pretty good. A huge improvement to their previous flavors. Two scoops in a standard bottle will get you 220 calories I believe. And it is loaded with goodies to keep me from cramping. It is just a matter of trying various products. First Endurance offers a 100% money back guarantee if that helps.
- Jason
This is my go-to: https://www.cranksports.com/efuel/
.
I use First Endurance’s EFS Pro paired with their Liquid Shot. They just overhauled their EFS Pro and offer it in two flavors. The fruit punch flavor is pretty good. A huge improvement to their previous flavors. Two scoops in a standard bottle will get you 220 calories I believe. And it is loaded with goodies to keep me from cramping. It is just a matter of trying various products. First Endurance offers a 100% money back guarantee if that helps.
- Jason
The recent overhaul is on the original EFS not EFS pro. However, they did confirm to me that a new EFS pro is coming in the next few weeks.
To the op, another vote for efs pro. Been using first endurance products since 2014. Has worked flawlessly for me in many 70.3’s and a couple 140.6’s. I also use gu roctane gels. I do all liquid nutrition.
2X on this. Keep it simple and bring along another source of something a little slower acting energy wise. UCAN?
And EFS has worked well for me. I usually shoot for 2 x24oz bottles w 2 scoops each, and then i try to eat 1/2 a pkg of clif shot bloks each hour and water as needed. I can’t tolerate Gatorade Endurance.
70.3 liquids:
wake up - 5hr energy
shower - Redbull sugar free
1hr before swim - coconut water, espresso
30min before swim - Nitraflex preworkout, coconut water
Bike - 2 x 24oz regular Gatorade to start, then Gatorade Endurance 1x every bike aid station
Run - Gatorade, Water, Coke, Redbull on stops
If the forecast is hot in my next 70.3, I’m considering wearing a Camelbak. I am high maintenance. I’m pretty heavy and require a lot of liquids.
Bulk maltodextrin mixed with your choice of sports powder. Insanely cheap and works! I mix one bottle for all my calories for 70.3 then water between the arms every aid station.
I also use bulk maltro mixed into my gatorades
Try the Infinit 5 hr challenge. You can make a custom mix and try it out without a significant cost to start. I have 2 different custom Infinit mixes I made. One for Olympic distance and one for Half+ distance. If you plan to take any liquid nutrition for the run though make sure it does not have any protein. It will foam really bad when you shake it.
Another upside if you like the Infinit is there is a team discount. 
im a fan of infinit. i use a lower calorie mix for training days as well as full cal mix for race days.
this year when i finally get to race next month ill be switching over to gels for the run just to see how that works versus having to tote a flask of concentrated hydration with me, but only for the sake of less stuff to tote, not because i have any problems with their product.
Bulk maltodextrin mixed with your choice of sports powder. Insanely cheap and works! I mix one bottle for all my calories for 70.3 then water between the arms every aid station.
I also use bulk maltro mixed into my gatorades
x3
Per bottle
60g Maltodextrin (I used CarboGain, but if you’re willing to buy 50lbs of the stuff, the bulk homebrew supply could be cheaper).
15g white sugar
1 Hammer electrolyte fizz tab (for the flavor and salts)
Each bottle comes out to be ~300 calories and costs about $0.60. 2 bottles per 70.3 (one BTA and one BTS). Supplement with water if you want more to drink. Switch to gels for the run.
I’ve heard people doing maltodextrin, apple or grape juice, and table salt as well.
The only downside is that maltodextrin is a b*tch to dissolve in water and it clumps really badly. I’ve taken to putting some marbles into my bottles to use as shaker balls to break it up. I’m not sure if that’s a problem with the name-brand maltodextrin sports drinks or not, but I’m willing to deal with the annoyance due to the cost differences.
p.s. Just looked at how much Infinit costs. Good god that stuff is expensive to get the same number of calories ($2.16 msrp vs $0.6).
Try the Infinit 5 hr challenge. You can make a custom mix and try it out without a significant cost to start. I have 2 different custom Infinit mixes I made. One for Olympic distance and one for Half+ distance. If you plan to take any liquid nutrition for the run though make sure it does not have any protein. It will foam really bad when you shake it.
Another upside if you like the Infinit is there is a team discount.
^^
This. I have used all kinds of different types and combinations of on bike nutrition. I got my custom Infinit blend in January and it was a game changer. No bonk, no headaches, no hunger. I have mixed bottles for two hour rides up to a four hour rides in one bottle and the taste is just fine.
40 grams maltodextrin, 20 grams of fructose mixed into a regular water bottle (750ml).
This gives you 240 calories with good ratio for osmosis and absorption.
Its a bit sweet, but nothing like commercial sports drinks, so very easy to consume.
Buy it on amazon, its a fraction of the cost of anything else.
Here are good references:
https://alancouzens.com/blog/hot_nutrition.html
https://www.codybeals.com/2013/06/endurance-eats-homebrew-sport-drink/
Hey one of those blender bottles with the metal ball inside. That works for me. I also mix the night before and use slightly warmer water. Seems to dissolve better into warmer water.
I recently began using liquid nutrition as a one-stop shop on the bike. I’ve used Skratch Labs’s new Superfuel mix. It works really well, but damn… it’s expensive.
Any other alternatives worth trying? Tailwind? Infinit Go Far? Others?
I keep it simple
I squeeze cliff gels into water bottle with some water.