Quick Verdict

• Best for: Runners who prefer very sweet energy products and want a high-carb gel
• Standout: Smooth texture that's easy to consume on the move
• Biggest Strength: Delivers the energy you'd expect from a modern endurance gel

Overall: It fuelled the run effectively, but the overly sweet taste, messy packaging, and mild stomach discomfort meant this one wasn't a winner for me

First Impressions & Use Case

STYRKR is one of those brands that's difficult to avoid at the moment.

The advertising seems to be everywhere, and with so much attention around the product, I went into this test with fairly high expectations.

For this review, I tried the Mixed Berry version during a long and demanding hill training session around a local area known as Hills and Hollows — an old Iron Age open mine that's every bit as rough and undulating as the name suggests.

If there's a place to test a gel under sustained effort, this was it.

Performance on the Run

Let's start with the positive.

The gel did exactly what an energy gel is supposed to do.

My energy levels remained stable throughout the session, and I didn't experience any noticeable energy crashes after taking it.

From a fuelling perspective, it worked.

The problem is that energy delivery alone isn't enough to make a great gel.

For me, the experience of actually taking it left quite a lot to be desired.

The texture was very smooth and easy to swallow, which initially felt promising. However, almost immediately afterwards it left my mouth feeling sticky and coated.

For the next ten minutes or so, I found myself repeatedly swilling my mouth and spitting to try and get rid of the lingering sensation.

It wasn't unbearable, but it certainly wasn't pleasant.

Around twenty minutes after taking the gel, I also noticed some mild stomach discomfort.

Now, I should stress that nutrition is highly individual.

What causes issues for one runner may be absolutely fine for another.

But based on my own experience, my stomach definitely felt a little unsettled afterwards.

What Works Well

The biggest positive is the texture.

Some gels can feel thick, claggy, or difficult to get down while running hard.

STYRKR doesn't suffer from that problem.

The smooth consistency makes it very easy to consume, even during a tough session when breathing is elevated and you're trying to take on fuel quickly.

It also delivered the energy I expected.

There were no major fluctuations in energy levels, and I was able to continue the session without any concerns about running out of fuel.

Functionally, it does the job.

What Could Be Better

Unfortunately, this is where most of my feedback sits.

The Mixed Berry flavour was simply far too sweet for my liking.

The best way I can describe it is that artificial, almost chemical sweetness that some people will remember from old-school cherryade drinks.

If you know that flavour profile, you'll know exactly what I mean.

It felt more like drinking a laboratory experiment than eating something I'd actually want during a run.

The mouthfeel afterwards didn't help either.

The sticky coating it left behind lingered much longer than I'd have liked and became a distraction during the session.

Packaging was another disappointment.

When I tore open the packet, the tear went off course and created a large, uneven opening.

The result?

Gel spilled out immediately, creating a sticky mess before I'd even started consuming it.

When you're moving, breathing hard, and trying to fuel efficiently, packaging matters more than many brands realise.

This felt like an avoidable flaw.

How They Compare

Compared with some of the other gels I've recently tested, STYRKR feels like a product that's generated a lot of excitement and marketing attention.

Unfortunately, my personal experience didn't quite live up to the hype.

The energy delivery was perfectly adequate, but that's really the minimum requirement for any energy gel.

Where gels start to separate themselves is in areas such as:

• Taste
• Ease of consumption
• Digestion
• Mouthfeel
• Packaging design

For me, STYRKR fell short in several of those areas.

Who This Is For

Ideal for:

• Athletes who enjoy very sweet flavours
• Runners looking for a high-carb energy source
• Those who prioritise texture over taste

Less suited for:

• Runners sensitive to overly sweet products
• Athletes prone to stomach issues
• Anyone who dislikes artificial-tasting flavours
• Runners looking for a clean finish with no lingering mouthfeel

Verdict: Would I Use It Again?

No.

While the gel delivered the energy it promised, that alone isn't enough for me to choose it again.

The overly sweet flavour, sticky mouthfeel, packaging issues, and mild stomach discomfort combined to make the overall experience disappointing.

Perhaps my expectations were raised by the amount of advertising and positive buzz surrounding the brand, but I came away feeling underwhelmed.

Did it fuel the run?

Yes.

Would I buy it again?

That's a firm no from me.