STYRKR CEL50 Energy Chew Review

Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chews For Ultra Marathons

Nailing your race nutrition is often the hardest part of tackling any long-distance event. We’ve all been in that dark place where you’re 30 miles deep into an ultra marathon, your stomach is doing somersaults and the thought of slurping down another warm, energy gel is enough to make you consider handing in your tracker. Recently, the sports nutrition market has seen a massive surge in alternative fuelling options, and the team at STYRKR have stepped up to the plate with their new CEL50 Energy Chews. They sent over a couple of boxes of the Citrus and the Wild Berry flavours for us to test out on the trails and here’s the breakdown.

Styrkr CEL50 Specs

One of the standout features of the STYRKR CEL50 is how the macros are delivered. Each pack delivers a massive 50g of carbohydrates, but rather than dealing with one giant lump of sugar, it’s split into five individual 10g blocks.

This allows for precise, flexible dosing control, what STYRKR calls ‘modular dosing’. If you’re pushing up a steep climb and just need a quick 10g or 20g hit, you can easily pop one or two blocks without having to commit to a whole gel or figure out what to do with an open, sticky wrapper in your running vest.

Nutrition

Styrkr CEL50 Texture and Taste Test

I’ll admit, for years I’ve relied on a trusty bag of Jelly Babies or Haribo to mix things up between energy gels. They do the job, but when you’re breathing heavily on a technical trail, trying to chew a stubborn gummy bear can feel like a choking hazard waiting to happen.

I’m a big fan of the CEL50’s soft, pectin-set texture. Because they're vegan and gluten-free, they don’t have that bouncy, rubbery chewiness of gelatin-based sweets. Instead, they break down so much quicker in the mouth with very little chewing required. It’s a massive win for me, as it drastically reduces the chance of getting one lodged down your throat mid-run.

The Gut Test

Nutrition is highly personal, but I’m pleased to report that I had zero stomach or gut issues while testing the CEL50 chews. They sat perfectly well, even during high-intensity efforts.

Of course, the golden rule of ultra running still applies: never try anything new on race day. It’s always best to test out any new nutrition, chews included, on your long training runs well in advance of your target event to ensure your digestive system plays ball.

Styrkr CEL50 Sodium Contents

Alongside the 50g of carbs, each pack includes a respectable 267mg of sodium. Having this all-in-one package is incredibly handy compared to other standard energy chews on the market, as it helps top up your salt levels to stave off cramping.

However, it is something you need to keep in mind. If you're already getting your electrolytes and sodium through other means (like salt tablets or hydration mixes), you don’t want to overdo it and exceed your optimal sodium intake mid-race. It’s all about balance!

Energy Gels vs Energy Chews

Personally, I’m not a massive fan of energy gels, but I fully recognise them as a necessary evil to deliver much-needed carbs to your body rapidly. Because chews require digestion, they offer a slightly slower energy release.

That being said, chews are infinitely more pleasant to consume and would always be my preferred choice for overall enjoyment. For ultra marathons, I think the best option is a hybrid strategy, using a combination of both gels and chews. Alternating between the rapid hit of a STYRKR GEL50 and the slower drip-feed of a CEL50 chew is a solid way to prevent flavour and texture fatigue, while still hitting your hourly carb target.

Styrkr CEL50 Value for Money

Let’s talk price. A box of 18 CEL50 chews sets you back £49.99 (roughly £2.78 per pack). In comparison, a box of 12 STYRKR GEL50 energy gels costs £29.99 (£2.50 per gel).

While the prices are fairly similar for the 50g of carbs you get, the gels do work out slightly cheaper, which is definitely worth considering if you’re fuelling your training blocks on a strict budget.

However, in my opinion, that extra 28p per serving for the chews is warranted. For those extra few pence, you get the benefits of zero sticky mess on your hands, a much nicer experience on the palate and the ability to be flexible and modular with the amount of carbs you consume at any given time.

Final Verdict: Are Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chews Good For Ultramarathons?

In my opinion, STYRKR has knocked it out of the park with the CEL50 energy chews. The soft, easy-to-break-down texture, combined with the modular 10g blocks and added sodium, make them a great choice for ultra runners and endurance athletes alike.

The only slight sticking point is the cost. As racing ultra marathons requires you to consume a massive amount of carbs, and at roughly £2.78 per pack, fuelling a 50 or 100 mile race can quickly add up. If STYRKR could work on bringing the price down just a touch in the future, it really would be the icing on the cake.

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a way to break up the monotony of liquid nutrition and gels without risking your gut or your teeth, the CEL50 are worth testing out.

Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chew

Styrkr CEL50 Energy Chew - £2.78 per pack