Product of the week: Enervit Enervitene Sport Competition cheer pack

The new offering from Enervit is probably best described by what it’s not: it isn’t a gel, a hydration tool and or an energy drink, yet it has some of the qualities of each of these.

The 60-millilitre screw-capped pouch packs 28,05 grams of carbs, of which 16,05 grams is maltodextrins and 12 grams is fructose (what Enervit calls their C.OX formula). Maltodextrin is a high-GI carb, so the kick comes quick and hits hard.

Texture-wise, it’s a liquid rather than a gel. It goes down very smoothly, especially when you’ve been out in a race situation for longer than three hours and the last thing you feel like is chewing on a gel.

The threaded plastic cap reminded me a bit of Red Bull Energy Shots (remember those?).  It’s easy enough to open on the bike (grips nicely between your teeth) but I recommend breaking the seal before you head out and closing it finger tight. What I like about this application is that you can take small sips or big gulps and close it to save some for later.

Although doing that with this product is not necessarily a good idea. The mix of high-GI carbs and caffeine (25-milligrams a pack) means it’s best to hit this in the last hour of your race or workout (if it’s longer than three hours) or to take it before an intense interval or gym session.

I used it in the last hour of my regular three-hour loop (which has a nasty climb at the end) and on a 4×6 interval session and felt strong on both. I’ve always preached the gospel of caffeine and am partial to sweet stuff (and this is sweet in a kiddies’ party cooldrink kind of way), which is why this worked for me. Compared to competitors it’s pricey at R38 a sachet (from the Enervit online story), but for my buck and for the fact that you’ll be taking one (two at the most) it’s well worth the buzz.

More info on Enervit products and their nutrition strategies and dose recommendations here.