What's in it
What's actually in Maurten?
Maurten is the Swedish brand that put hydrogel on the endurance map. The idea: carry the carbs in an alginate and pectin matrix that sets into a soft gel in the stomach, which the company says makes high carb intake easier on the gut. It got popular the honest way, with elite marathoners using it, and the price followed.
So a lot of people end up here asking the same thing: what is actually inside, and is the gel doing something a normal mix can't? Short version, it is glucose and fructose in published amounts, plus the gel matrix.
On the label
Straight from the published labels, checked June 2026. Verify on the current label, brands reformulate.
Maurten Gel 100
gel40 g sachet
Maurten Gel 160
gel65 g sachet
Maurten Drink Mix 320
drink-mix80 g sachet (≈500 ml)
It is glucose and fructose, at a published 1:0.8
Maurten's line runs on two simple sugars delivered in the hydrogel. The gels publish a 1:0.8 glucose:fructose ratio (Maurten writes it as "0.8:1 fructose:glucose", the same thing with glucose as the larger part). That 1:0.8 is the split Hearris et al. (2022) found suits intakes above 90 g/h, so the gels are built for high-rate fueling even though one Gel 100 is only 25 g of carbs. What the ratio means.
The Drink Mix 320 is the exception worth knowing: Maurten publishes the 1:0.8 for its gels but states no ratio for the drink, so it's listed as undisclosed rather than a guess.
What the hydrogel does, and doesn't, change
The alginate and pectin matrix changes the texture and the brand's GI story. It does not change the fact that you are absorbing glucose and fructose like any other dual-source fuel. Whether the hydrogel itself beats a plain 1:0.8 mix is still debated in the research, so treat the matrix as a "might help my gut" feature, not a settled one. GI tolerance is also trainable (gut training).
Sodium runs low in the gels
The gels carry roughly 20 to 30 mg of sodium, which is low if you are counting on gels for electrolytes. The Drink Mix 320 is higher at about 200 mg, which makes sense for a bottle you sip over an hour. Either way, plan your sodium separately.
Make your own Maurten
The carb profile is easy to copy because the ratio is published. To match the gels, aim for 1:0.8 glucose:fructose: use maltodextrin or dextrose for the glucose side and pure fructose for the fructose side, then add a pinch of salt for the sodium the gels run short on.
What you can't buy in a bag is the alginate hydrogel matrix, and the evidence it outperforms a normal mix is mixed. If your gut already handles dual-source carbs at your target rate, a plain mix delivers the same glucose and fructose. Put in your target and the calculator solves the grams and the bottle concentration.
Frequently asked
What is in a Maurten gel?
Glucose and fructose, carried in an alginate and pectin hydrogel. Gel 100 has 25 g of carbs in a 40 g sachet; Gel 160 has 40 g in a 65 g sachet. Both publish a 1:0.8 glucose:fructose ratio and run low on sodium (about 20 to 30 mg).
What is Maurten's glucose:fructose ratio?
For the gels it is a published 1:0.8 glucose:fructose (Maurten phrases it "0.8:1 fructose:glucose"). That suits intakes above 90 g/h per Hearris et al. (2022). The Drink Mix 320 does not publish a ratio.
Is the hydrogel worth it?
The dual-carb science is solid, but whether the hydrogel matrix beats a plain 1:0.8 mix is still debated. If your gut already tolerates dual-source carbs at your target rate, you may not need it.
Can you make your own Maurten?
You can match the carb profile: 1:0.8 glucose:fructose from maltodextrin or dextrose plus fructose, with a little salt. You can't replicate the patented hydrogel at home, and the evidence it adds much over a normal mix is mixed.
Figures checked June 2026 against each brand's published label; always verify on the current label, as manufacturers reformulate. This is an independent, informational breakdown. carbsperhour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Maurten or any brand named here, and nothing on this page is medical or nutritional advice. Maurten and other product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.