MULTIDAYRUNNING
Gear GuideUpdated May 12, 2026

6 Best Ultra Nutrition Products (2026)

The best nutrition products for ultramarathons — drink mixes, gels, real food options, and electrolytes tested for gut tolerance and sustained energy during 24+ hour events.

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TL;DR

Tailwind Endurance Fuel is our top pick for primary calories — clean taste, easy on the stomach, and provides calories + electrolytes in one product. For gels: Maurten Gel 100 (best gut tolerance). For real food: Spring Energy (actual food in gel form). Always use dual-transport carbohydrate formulations (glucose + fructose) for absorption rates up to 90g/hour.

Quick Picks

ProductBest ForKey FeatureRatingPrice
Tailwind Endurance FuelPrimary calorie sourceAll-in-one calories + electrolytes4.8/5$28/30 servings
Maurten Gel 100Gel with best gut toleranceHydrogel encapsulation4.7/5$3.50/gel
Spring Energy Awesome SauceReal food preferenceActual food in gel form4.5/5$4/pouch
Precision Fuel & Hydration PH 1500High sodium needs1,500mg sodium/liter4.6/5$22/12 tabs
Skratch Labs Super High-CarbMaximum carb intake400 kcal per serving4.4/5$38/8 servings
LMNT ElectrolytesElectrolyte supplement1,000mg sodium, zero sugar4.5/5$45/30 packets

How We Evaluated

We evaluated nutrition products for ultramarathon fueling across four criteria: gut tolerance during 8+ hours of exercise, caloric density per serving, taste/palatability after 12+ hours, and ingredient quality.

#1 — Tailwind Endurance Fuel

Best primary calorie source:Tailwind is the closest thing to a "set it and forget it" nutrition plan. Mix it in your bottles and sip — you get calories, electrolytes, and hydration in one product.

Tailwind has become the default choice at 24-hour and multiday events because it solves the biggest problem in ultra nutrition: gut distress. The formula uses simple sugars (dextrose + sucrose) that empty from the stomach quickly, and the electrolyte blend matches typical sweat rates. Many runners use Tailwind as their sole calorie source for the first 12–16 hours, adding solid food only when they crave variety.

#2 — Maurten Gel 100

Best gel for gut tolerance:Maurten's hydrogel encapsulation technology lets carbohydrates pass through the stomach without triggering the osmotic response that causes nausea with traditional gels.

If you've ever had a gel make you nauseous at hour 8, Maurten is the answer. The hydrogel technology is real — the gel encapsulates carbohydrates in a pH-sensitive hydrogel that passes through the stomach intact and releases in the intestine. It's more expensive than traditional gels, but the gut tolerance is worth it for events where GI distress is race-ending. Learn more about what ultrarunners eat during races.

How to Build Your Nutrition Plan

Primary calories: Tailwind or Skratch in bottles (200–250 kcal/hour).
Supplemental energy: Maurten gels every 45–60 min for quick carbs.
Real food: Spring Energy pouches when you need variety.
Electrolytes: PH 1500 or LMNT for sodium supplementation.
Practice everything during training — see our gut training protocol.

Sources

  1. Jeukendrup, A.E. (2017) — "Training the gut for athletes." Sports Medicine, 47(S1), 101–110.
  2. Costa, R.J.S. et al. (2019) — "Gut-training in endurance athletes." MSSE, 51(10), 2029–2039.

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