OTE Sports Nutrition Review

OTE Sports Nutrition Review For Ultra Runners

Recently, OTE Sports sent me a selection of their nutrition range to test out, so I’ve been working my way through the products to see how they perform specifically for ultra running. From high-carb mixes to hydration tabs, I wanted to see if they could hold up during the long miles and keep the engine running without causing GI distress.

Here is my breakdown of some of the OTE lineup and how it fared on the trails.

OTE Super Energy Gels

The "Super" in the name refers to the carbohydrate content, and for ultra runners, these are a serious bit of kit. While standard energy gels often hover around the 20-25g mark, the OTE Super Gels pack an impressive 40g of carbs.

This is excellent for ultra marathon or long-distance running. It allows you to hit that golden hourly carb intake target much more easily without having to stuff your vest pockets like a hamster. Anything over 30g of carbs per gel is a sweet spot for endurance, so these really deliver.

Flavours and Texture: They come in a solid range of flavours including Berry, Cherry, Tropical, and Citrus. If you need a kick, the Citrus version also contains 75mg of caffeine. While all the flavours are decent, my personal favourites were the Tropical and Citrus.

They're naturally flavoured with fruit juice concentrate, which seems to help with the gut. During my testing, I experienced zero GI issues which is always a win. Texture-wise, they have a slightly more liquid consistency compared to traditional gels. This will definitely appeal to runners who struggle with thick, paste-like energy products. They go down easily without needing to wash them down with water immediately.

Price: You can pick up a pack of 3 gels for £7.05, working out to roughly £2.35 each. This puts them right in line with similar high-carb competitors like the Styrkr Gel50 or the SiS Beta Fuel range.

OTE Super Gel

OTE Super Enery Gel - £2.35 each

OTE Energy Chews

I’ll be honest, I’m a big fan of these. Sometimes, when you are six hours into a run, the texture of a gel is the last thing you want.

The OTE Energy Chews contain roughly 23g of carbs. While that is nearly half the payload of the Super Gels, their form factor makes up for it. They are incredibly compact, making them easy to cram into the smaller spare pockets dotted around your running vest.

Taste and Practicality: They come in Apple and Strawberry flavours. Both taste great, and the texture is very similar to jelly cubes, satisfying to chew but easy to break down.

The standout feature for me, however, is the packaging. They are incredibly easy to open and consume whilst running, and they make significantly less mess than gels. For an ultra marathon race, I would definitely recommend working some of these into your nutrition plan alongside your gels. It adds variety to your palate and stops ‘flavour fatigue’ from setting in.

Price: A pack of 4 costs £8, making them £2 each. Considering the convenience, that seems pretty reasonable.

OTE Energy Chews

OTE Mixed Energy Chew 4 Pack - £8

OTE Hydro Tabs

Hydration is just as critical as fuelling. I tend to use hydration and electrolyte tablets quite a lot on my long training runs, especially during the summer months, so I’ve tried a fair few brands over the years.

For a long time, my go-to was the standard SiS Hydro tabs. However, after trying the OTE Hydro Tabs, I’d happily make the switch. They do exactly what it says on the tin: providing an easy way to replace lost salts, electrolytes, and vitamins while you run to help mitigate cramping.

Flavour: They taste good, which helps encourage you to drink more. My favourites are the Lemon and Pineapple varieties. They dissolve well and don't leave that chalky aftertaste.

Price: They're £8 for a tube of 20. This is very similar pricing to the SiS tabs (which usually sit around £7.50 when not on offer), so it’s a competitive option.

OTE Hydro Tabs

OTE Hydro Tabs - £8

OTE Super Carbs Energy Drink Mix

If you prefer to drink your calories rather than eat them, this is the product to look at. The OTE Super Carbs Energy Drink mix packs a whopping 80g of carbs plus electrolytes into a single 500ml serving.

This is a fantastic strategy for getting additional carbs into your system while ticking the hydration box at the same time. It’s particularly useful in the later stages of a race when chewing becomes a chore.

The Taste: The flavours are good and not overly sweet like some other high-carb drink mixes which is nice.

Price: £3.30 per sachet.

OTE Super Carbs Drink Mix

OTE Super Carbs Energy Drink Mix - £3.30 per sachet

The Verdict: Are OTE Sports Nutrition Products Good For Ultra Running?

Overall, I’m very impressed with the OTE Sport Nutrition range. The variety of products they offer is extensive, and their "Super" (high-carb) range is ideal for ultra running where efficient fuelling is the name of the game.

Price-wise, I’d say they are pretty middle-of-the-road for high-end endurance nutrition. You could probably find cheaper alternatives if you looked, but there are definitely much more expensive options out there, too.

To help reduce the cost further, they offer bundles such as the 'Marathon Race Day Bundle'. This includes a good selection of their "Super" high-carb range (plus a bottle and recovery bar) and saves you 22% compared to buying them individually, definitely worth a look if you want to stock up.

Most importantly, the flavours are decent, and I experienced no gut issues during testing. If you are looking to shake up your nutrition strategy, I highly recommend giving OTE a go.

OTE Marathon Race Day Bundle

Marathon Race Day Bundle - £30 (22% saving)

A final word of advice: Just remember to experiment with new nutrition on your training runs first. "Nothing new on race day" is a rule worth sticking to!