The Chew Report

The problem with gels isn't always the formula; sometimes it's the format. Chews let you fuel without the squeeze-and-chug, and the category has gotten crowded fast. Here's what most athletes don't realize: every brand is doing it differently enough that finding your perfect one requires an actual taste test.

The Chew Report is the only pack that covers the full spectrum of chewable energy in a single test run, every major approach to the category, side by side.

The Full Chew Spectrum, One Test Run From Honey Stinger's organic honey-based chews to SANTAMADRE's Spanish jelly bar, this pack spans the entire chew category, different carb sources, textures, and philosophies that would take months to test if you bought them separately.

Real Variety, Not Just Different Flavors You're testing genuinely different products here. Skratch Labs and Veloforte use real fruit juice. Honey Stinger adds caffeine. SaltStick loads in electrolytes alongside the carbs. Amacx and SANTAMADRE are European pro cycling brands most U.S. athletes have never had in their kit.

Every Brand Earned Its Spot From Noogs' sour-candy-style chews that somehow still taste good at mile 20, to GU's proven Rainbow Fruit packet, nothing in this pack is filler. Each one represents a legitimate take on what a chew should be.

Every product in this pack runs on fast carbohydrates, the fuel your muscles need during sustained effort. Honey Stinger uses organic honey, blending two types of sugar for rapid absorption and easy digestion. Skratch Labs and Veloforte use real fruit juice bases that tend to sit better on sensitive stomachs. SaltStick layers in the minerals that keep your muscles firing alongside every gram of carbs, and the caffeinated Honey Stinger adds 32mg of caffeine to sharpen focus without a crash.

Pick One Per Session: Use one product per training session so you can accurately track how each sits in your stomach and how your energy holds at pace.

Timing: Take your chosen chew at the 30–45 minute mark to keep your carbohydrate stores topped up — most packets deliver 20–25g of carbs per serving.

Pro Tip: Test the caffeinated Honey Stinger on shorter, harder efforts and save Skratch or Veloforte for long days. Your preferences will tell you everything about your gut and your pacing strategy.

Amacx fuels European professional cycling teams, Veloforte is a staple in UK endurance racing, and Honey Stinger has been the go-to chew for elite trail runners and triathletes for years.

Stop settling for whichever chew you happened to try first. This is the full chew category in one training week — find your winner.

Flavors may vary.