TORQ Energy Gel vs HIGH5 Energy Gel: the quick answer
- TORQ: 45g gel, 28g of carbs on the nutrition panel, maltodextrin and fructose at 2:1.
- HIGH5: 40g gel, 23g of carbs, glucose syrup and maltodextrin, no fructose listed.
- HIGH5 is cheaper: £1.69 per 30g of carbs against £2.36 for TORQ (20 pack and box of 15, checked 20 October 2026).
- TORQ's fructose makes it the better fit above about 60g an hour. HIGH5 suits lower targets.
| Product | Format | Carbs per serving | Pack and price | Per serving | Per 30g of carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIGH5 Energy Gel | Gel | 23g | 20 pack, £25.99 | £1.30 | £1.69 |
| TORQ Energy Gel | Gel | 28g | box of 15, £33.00 | £2.20 | £2.36 |
What is the TORQ Energy Gel?
TORQ's gel has 28g of carbohydrate per 45g sachet on its nutrition panel (some of its product copy says 30g, so we have used the panel figure). The carbohydrate is maltodextrin and fructose in a 2:1 ratio. A build-your-own box of 15 is £33.00, or £2.20 a gel, and singles are £2.20 to £2.40. Cola, Caramel Latte, Forest Fruits and Banoffee come with caffeine.
What is the HIGH5 Energy Gel?
HIGH5's Energy Gel has 23g of carbohydrate per 40g gel, from glucose syrup and maltodextrin. A 20 pack is £25.99, about £1.30 a gel, the cheapest price per gel in our check. (The 20 pack showed out of stock on HIGH5's site when we checked.) There is a caffeinated version with 30mg of caffeine, £28.99 for 20.
Which is better for running?
For a half marathon or a long run at 30 to 60g an hour, HIGH5 does the job at a lower price. For a marathon at 60g an hour or more, TORQ's fructose and slightly bigger serving help. A 4 hour marathon from the 30 minute mark is about 210g of carbs: 10 HIGH5 gels or 8 TORQ gels.
Which is better for cycling?
Long rides usually call for higher hourly targets, and that favours TORQ. HIGH5 still works well for shorter rides, club runs and turbo sessions, where 30 to 60g an hour is plenty.
How many for a marathon?
| Race and finish time | Carbs needed | HIGH5 Energy Gel | TORQ Energy Gel | FTP Tart Cherry Energy Pastilles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half marathon, 1:45 | 75g | 4 gels, £5.20 | 3 gels, £6.60 | 3 servings (6 pastilles), £4.30 |
| Marathon, 3:00 | 150g | 7 gels, £9.10 | 6 gels, £13.20 | 5 servings (10 pastilles), £7.17 |
| Marathon, 4:00 | 210g | 10 gels, £12.99 | 8 gels, £17.60 | 7 servings (14 pastilles), £10.03 |
| Marathon, 5:00 | 270g | 12 gels, £15.59 | 10 gels, £22.00 | 9 servings (18 pastilles), £12.90 |
Caffeine: very different doses
HIGH5's caffeine gel has 30mg, a light dose. TORQ makes several caffeinated flavours but we could not confirm the amount from its pages, so check the label. Whatever you use, try caffeine in training first and count it across the day.
The cheaper way to get 30g of carbs
Full disclosure: we make energy pastilles, so read this part knowing that. Two FTP pastilles give you 30g of carbohydrate (34g serving, sugar, which is 50% glucose and 50% fructose). That is the same carb hit as a 30g gel, and you can take one pastille at a time if you prefer smaller, more frequent feeds.
- Tart Cherry Energy Pastilles 1kg: about 30 servings, £1.43 per 30g of carbs.
- Mixed Fruit Energy Pastilles 1kg: about 30 servings, £1.50 per 30g.
- The Rotation Pack (1kg of each flavour): about 60 servings, £1.13 per 30g.
4.8 stars from 500+ reviews, and Awarded Best Energy Chew in the Runner's World Sports Nutrition Awards 2026. If you would rather test them on a long run first, the Taster Pack is £5.49 for two servings.
Our verdict
HIGH5 is the cheaper gel and fine for sessions where you are taking 60g an hour or less. TORQ costs more per 30g of carbs but adds fructose, which matters once you go above 60g an hour. Both are well inside the UK range (see our energy gel price comparison), and both cost less per 30g of carbs than either Maurten gel.
Questions people ask
How many carbs are in a TORQ gel?
28g of carbohydrate per 45g gel on TORQ's nutrition panel.
How many carbs are in a HIGH5 Energy Gel?
23g of carbohydrate per 40g gel.
Does HIGH5 Energy Gel contain fructose?
Not according to its ingredients, which list glucose syrup and maltodextrin.
How we worked out these numbers
Prices were checked on 20 October 2026. They are full one-off prices for the multipack named, not subscription or member prices. Carbs per serving come from each brand's product page. Price per 30g of carbs = pack price, divided by servings in the pack, divided by carbs per serving, times 30. Race-day counts assume 60g of carbs an hour from the 30 minute mark and are rounded up to whole servings. Prices change, so check before you buy. HIGH5's 20 pack showed out of stock on the day.
- HIGH5 Energy Gel: 20 pack, £25.99
- TORQ Energy Gel: box of 15, £33.00
