Maurten vs SiS Beta Fuel — Which is Better?

Two of the most popular high-carb fueling systems compared head to head. Ingredients, GI comfort, carb density, price and who each is best for.

Maurten and Science in Sport (SiS) Beta Fuel are the two most talked-about high-performance fueling systems in endurance sport. Both are used by professional athletes. Both are backed by science. And both cost significantly more than budget alternatives.

So which one is actually better — and for whom?

The core difference

The fundamental difference between Maurten and SiS Beta Fuel comes down to delivery mechanism and carbohydrate ratio.

Maurten uses a hydrogel system — sodium alginate reacts with stomach acid to form a gel around the carbohydrates, which Maurten says helps them pass through the stomach with less gut stress. Independent studies have found mixed results so far, but many athletes with sensitive stomachs rely on it.

SiS Beta Fuel uses a 1:0.8 maltodextrin to fructose ratio — refined from the older 2:1 standard. Research suggests a ratio closer to 1:1 can improve carbohydrate absorption and comfort at high intakes, supporting up to 90g of carbs per hour.

Both approaches are scientifically valid. They're solving the same problem — getting more carbs in faster with less gut trouble — from different angles.

Carbohydrate density

This is where SiS Beta Fuel has a clear advantage.

For athletes pushing 80-90g carbs per hour, SiS delivers more per unit. You need 3-4 Maurten gels per hour versus 2-3 SiS Beta Fuel gels. Fewer items to carry, fewer moments to fumble with packaging mid-race.

The drink mixes are level: SiS Beta Fuel drink and Maurten Drink Mix 320 both provide 80g of carbs per serving.

GI comfort

Both are built for gut comfort, from different angles: Maurten through its hydrogel, SiS through its 1:0.8 carb ratio. Customers rate them equally — both gels score 4.8 out of 5 on The Feed, from over 1,400 reviews for Maurten Gel 100 and nearly 1,300 for Beta Fuel.

Gut tolerance is highly individual, so the only reliable test is trying each in training at race intensity before you commit to one on race day.

Ingredient cleanliness

Maurten wins here. Gel 100 has six ingredients — water, glucose, fructose, calcium carbonate, gluconic acid and sodium alginate — with no flavorings, colors, preservatives or sweeteners.

SiS Beta Fuel adds flavorings, gums (gellan and xanthan) and preservatives (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate). These are common, approved ingredients, but some athletes prefer to avoid them.

Price

Both are expensive. SiS Beta Fuel is slightly more affordable per gram of carbohydrate delivered.

SiS delivers about 1.8 times the carbs per dollar. For athletes doing high-volume training and racing, this adds up significantly over a season.

Who should use each

Choose Maurten if:

Choose SiS Beta Fuel if:

The verdict

There's no universal winner. For athletes with cast-iron stomachs who want maximum carb density and value, SiS Beta Fuel is the better choice. For athletes who've struggled with GI issues or want the cleanest possible label, Maurten is worth the premium.

A sensible middle ground is to use both — Maurten for racing and key sessions, SiS Beta Fuel for high-volume training where cost matters.

Use the Pello Planner to get a personalized recommendation based on your specific event and goals.