6 Sports Nutrition Brands You've Never Heard of But Should Try

Written by
Michael Nystrom
Let's face it. The same old gels, bars and electrolyte drinks can get seriously mundane and boring if you're using them day after day. While they definitely work—these big brands have the data and research to back them—sometimes you just gotta mix things up a bit.

Enter six lesser-known hydration, fueling and recovery brands that are making a serious mark on the cycling scene. They're known for their quality and dependability, and they just plain taste good, too.

So pick your jaw off the keyboard, wipe the drool from your chin and read on to learn more about these six sports nutrition brands you've likely never heard of but should definitely try.
Osmo Nutrition
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If they're good enough for three-time UCI Road World Champion and overall badass Peter Sagan, we're willing to bet Osmo Nutrition's line of products will work for you as well. Men and women perform differently, and Osmo has developed specialized gender-specific hydration and recovery mixes to account for our physiological differences. Unlike many larger brands, their products are made with all-natural ingredients, like real organic fruit. Boost and maintain your power by staying properly hydrated and recovering with Osmo's complete line of products.
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Science in Sport
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We don't have to tell you that cycling has had a tumultuous history with banned substances. Recent scandals placed blame on tainted nutrition, and Science in Sport has taken every step to alleviate that concern. It's the only brand to hold both a Informed Sport Site Certification and a Informed Sport Product Certification. Its entire supply chain is strictly controlled and tested against the 2018 World Anti-Doping Agency list. Technicalities aside, its isotonic gels are perhaps our favorite on this list—for both taste and performance—and that's saying a lot.
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Run Gum
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Founded by Olympic athletes Nick Symmonds and Sam Lapray, Run Gum is exactly what it sounds like—chewing gum for running (and cycling). In an effort to reduce the amount of liquid required in sports drinks and gels, they developed a caffeinated gum that's both zero calories and easy on the stomach. Better yet, it's tasty. We personally preferred the cinnamon flavor, with the fruit flavor coming in a close second. If you need a little mid-effort jolt, Run Gum is the easiest solution.
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Hammer Nutrition
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Hammer Nutrition has been producing quality, USA-made products for over 30 years, and it's no surprise it's well-respected on the cycling and triathlon scene. From gels to bars to salt tablets, it truly covers the entire spectrum in regards to sports nutrition and recovery. Popular amongst cyclists, its HEED sports drink was formulated with complex carbohydrates and essential nutrients for long-lasting energy that doesn't eventually make you crash like other products.
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Picky Bars
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Founded by professional triathlete Jesse Thomas and professional runner Lauren Fleshman (who just so happen to be married), Picky Bars was created to do away with the boring, flavorless energy bars you normally find at big box retailers. Their bars combine the performance component with the real food component required for demanding endurance efforts for the ultimate in chewy goodness. With names like "Ah, Fudge Nuts!" and "Cookie Doughpness," how can you go wrong?
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GQ-6
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Of course you can take each product individually as needed, but the GQ-6 line is designed as a stack—with perfectly optimized pre-workouts, hydration, endurance and recovery solutions. Its entire product line is gluten-free, contains no artificial sweeteners or flavors and has no added colors. AEGIS Certified and WADA and USADA compliant, you can be sure you're getting a pure, reliable product time and time again. We personally appreciated the RĒKÜVR NITE TIME sleep aid after especially hard efforts.
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