Hammer Gel vs. hydro gels

What is a hydro gel, and why did it become such a trend?

The idea behind “hydro gel” is dead simple: take a gel, dilute it with more water, make it very easy to swallow, and promise that you won’t need separate sips while running. In reality, that usually means the packet contains plenty of fructose and glucose in a fluid texture, acidified and gelled (for example with gellan gum). It feels convenient, and at high intensity many find it “friendlier,” because a thinner solution leaves the stomach faster. But there’s a side effect people talk about less: when a packet like this “arrives,” your stomach suddenly receives a big dose of simple sugars. That rapid influx can trigger blood-sugar spikes, impose an osmotic burden on the stomach contents, and behind the comfort you may quickly find bloating, a “sloshing” sensation, nausea, or an unexpected drop in pace. More water by itself isn’t smart hydration: with hydro gels, energy and fluid come tied together, so you can’t regulate how much of each you actually need. In cool weather it’s easy to take in too much fluid with them, while in heat you’ll need extra water anyway—so the “just rip and go” magic is lost.

What does Hammer Gel do differently?

Hammer Gel is maltodextrin-based—a complex carbohydrate that can deliver energy more evenly and predictably than fructose–glucose cocktails. You notice the difference right in your mouth: salivary amylase starts breaking down maltodextrin with the very first contact. If you don’t immediately gulp it down but let it sit in your mouth for a few seconds, pre-digestion is already underway. That can provide a quick sense of energy while placing less sudden stress on your stomach. Hammer’s philosophy matches this: fuel, fluid, and electrolytes are handled separately. The gel provides energy, you drink water on its own according to temperature and sweat rate, and you replace electrolytes in a targeted way. This lets you fine-tune all three independently instead of forcing your stomach to cope with a fixed, all-in-one “cocktail.”

Why is it a problem when simple sugars take center stage?

Fructose and glucose are fast—blood sugar “pops” up quickly and can drop just as fast. In short efforts that might be acceptable, but in endurance the goal is steady energy delivery and a calm gut. In hydro gels, the dilute simple sugars hit the stomach in moments, creating a sudden osmotic load. This “sugar shock” is bad not only for comfort but for performance: the up-and-down swings break rhythm, sap focus, and increase the risk of GI issues. By contrast, maltodextrin allows for a more gradual glucose release, and because breakdown begins in the mouth, there’s less chance of a single big “sugar bomb” slamming into the stomach.

“But hydro gels go down easier for me.” — what does Hammer say to that?

The experience is understandable: a thin, tangy, gelled liquid does slide down easily. The question is what you pay for it. If energy and water always arrive together, you lose control. In cool conditions you end up drinking unnecessary fluid along with your calories; in heat you still need extra water—so the “convenience” backfires. At Hammer, comfort doesn’t come from watering down the gel but from getting concentration and timing right. The trick is simple: “activate” Hammer Gel in your mouth for a few seconds, take a sip of water, and adjust your hourly fluid intake to the weather. Your body appreciates this because we’re not mixing everything together; gastric emptying stays in its sweet spot.

Why doesn’t Hammer make a hydro gel?

Because it conflicts with the systems-level approach physiology calls for. If we put lots of water into the gel, we’d tie energy to hydration and instantly lose fine-tuning. Out in the real world (especially on long events with changing conditions) that’s a disadvantage: you either take in too much fluid with your energy, or too little—both of which worsen gut comfort and absorption. Also, hydro-gel textures typically require processing aids; Hammer’s aim is a simple, clean formula—no added refined sugar, no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or preservatives. We don’t believe in “lab tricks,” but in a controllable triangle of energy–fluid–electrolytes.

What does all this look like in practice, when it matters?

Roughly 30 minutes before the start, take one serving of Fully Charged and one serving of Endurolytes or Endurolytes Extreme so the first minutes feel steady in energy, blood flow, and electrolyte balance. On course, most athletes do well with 120–160 calories per hour; with higher body mass or intensity—particularly above 85 kg—160–240 calories per hour is realistic. Adjust fluid to weather and sweat rate; instead of drifting toward half to nearly a full liter, stay in the safe 500–800 ml per hour range and do not exceed 850 ml. Dial in electrolytes with the Endurolytes family; you’ll need more in heat and with “salty” sweat, less in cool conditions. Beyond three hours, Perpetuem can take over as your primary fuel source, while water and electrolytes remain separate—keeping energy continuous and digestion even.

The science of “chewing” your gel — a small trick with a big payoff

One underrated advantage of Hammer Gel is that maltodextrin doesn’t impatiently “wait” for the stomach: salivary amylase begins breaking it down in the mouth. If you don’t send the packet down in a single shot but give it a few seconds of “foreplay” in your mouth, then sip water, energy arrives faster and more “civilized.” This method shines when you’re at high heart rate, the stomach is sluggish, and every sip matters. In sport speak: less drama, more watts.

What remains once you strip away the hype?

Hydro gels are convenient, but the price is usually a surge of fructose and glucose hitting your stomach at once—predictably raising the odds of sugar swings and GI discomfort. Hammer Gel counters with complex carbs, mouth-start pre-digestion, and separately managed water–electrolyte strategy, yielding steadier energy, greater freedom to adjust, and a happier gut. If you’re thinking long-term, this isn’t a subtle difference—it sets the rhythm of your entire run or ride. Put differently: you do the running, not your blood sugar. And if you’ve still got a smile at the aid station, you’ll understand why Hammer doesn’t make a hydro gel.