I'm inclined to think angle of tear or grip strength are simpler solutions. Grip work doesnt need to be fancy, just consistent. Never had Maurten gels (bars are good). BPN, SIS and Honey Stinger all have thinner consistencies.
I used to do triathlons. I wasn't great, but I made a few championship races. I was (and still am) rather fond of Clif bars. I found them impossible to open while riding a bike, so I started using Power Bars instead. I wrote Clif a letter and they completely changed their packaging. I encourage you to write to the Martians or whoever runs that company.
Definitely the martians, they've slowly been undermining earthlings with sports bars and gels.
I used to do triathlons. I wasn't great, but I made a few championship races. I was (and still am) rather fond of Clif bars. I found them impossible to open while riding a bike, so I started using Power Bars instead. I wrote Clif a letter and they completely changed their packaging. I encourage you to write to the Martians or whoever runs that company.
Definitely the martians, they've slowly been undermining earthlings with sports bars and gels.
Yep. They want us to be nice and healthy, but not too lean because that makes us a bit gamey.
I'm inclined to think angle of tear or grip strength are simpler solutions. Grip work doesnt need to be fancy, just consistent. Never had Maurten gels (bars are good). BPN, SIS and Honey Stinger all have thinner consistencies.
I do think part of it is grip strength because I know other runners who have the same issue with them and they're all women. The men who I know who use them never have a problem. I definitely have weak grip strength in colder/wet weather while running because of poor circulation in my hands during those times.
I like the plain (honey) flavor Honey Stingers, so maybe I will go back to those, but they are still sweet and sticky. The best way I can describe the Maurten flavor (or lack thereof) and consistency is that I don't feel like I immediately need water to wash them down.
I like Maurten gels and have been taking them for a while, however, there have been multiple times I can't get the packs open, including during my last 2 races. I even try pre-tearing them just enough so they aren't fully open, but enough that there should be more for me to grip and tear away. I can get them open just fine if both the pack and my hands are dry, but not if I'm sweaty, and especially not if it's also raining.
When I try, the whole corner rips off, but none of the part holding the actual gel opens. I've never had this issue with any other brand of gel, but again, I like Maurten better because it goes down so much more easily, doesn't have much of a taste, and isn't sticky. I've realized the difference in packaging is that Maurten gels have some sort of lining under the foil.
The final straw for me was during my half on Sunday. I planned to take 2 gels (around miles 4.5 and 9). I even brought 3 in case I couldn't get one open. They were all pre-torn. I grabbed the first one and the corner ripped off/couldn't get it open. The same thing happened with the next 2.
I then removed one of the safety pins from my race bib and used it to stab the pack multiple times until I could get some of the gel out. I did the same with the second gel. I was doing this all while trying to race, so ended up stabbing my hands a few times in the process. Not fun.
tl;dr: Does anyone have a trick to getting Maurten gels open with sweaty hands or is there an alternative brand similar to Maurten consistency that are easier to open?
You might try SIS gels, which you can find at The Feed or perhaps at your local store. They have a little easier to open tab, and they're even more "gel-like" than Maurten. I compare SIS to boogers, sorry, but that's about the consistency; I don't even need to wash them down with water.
I occasionally have a little trouble opening Maurten, but not like you describe. SIS has a discrete little tab and you just have to make sure you tear straight across.
Stick a tiny pair of scissors in your pocket next time.
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