During-effort fuel · drink mix · reviewed 28 Aug 2026
GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix 61
The liquid version of GU's amino-acid-driven Roctane line, carrying the same undisclosed ratio and 1900 mg amino-acid blend as the Roctane gel, but at 3.8 cents a gram of carbohydrate, about a quarter of what the gel costs per gram.
Score breakdown
Each dimension below is scored 0 to 100 against a fixed scale, not against the rest of the catalog, so adding a product never moves this number. The overall score is the average of the dimensions this product declares data for. How the scales are set →
Comparison
5 of 17 drink mixes heldPrices per single sachet at the cheapest box size we track. Best in green, worst in red, across the gels shown.
| Measure | GU Energy Labs GU Roctane Energy Drink Mix | Tailwind Nutrition Tailwind Endurance Fuel | Skratch Labs Skratch Labs Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix | Maurten Maurten Drink Mix 320 | Science in Sport SiS Beta Fuel 80 Drink Mix |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall scoreAn average of the various variables measured. | 61 | 48 | 50 | 65 | 66 | |
| CarbohydrateHow much fuel one scoop carries. | 59 g | 25 g | 50 g | 80 g | 80 g | |
| Glucose : fructoseGoverns how fast you absorb it. More fructose, higher ceiling. | n/d | n/d | n/d | n/d | 1 : 0.8 | |
| SodiumAgainst 400 to 1000 mg an hour typically lost in sweat. | 320 mg | 310 mg | 200 mg | 245 mg | 4 mg | |
| ProvenanceWhether that ratio is read off the panel, computed from it, or inferred. | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Stated | |
| Price per scoopWhat one costs. Not comparable across scoop sizes. | $2.25 | $1.03 | $2.62 | $3.64 | $3.87 | |
| Cost per gramThe only price that compares across scoop sizes. | 3.8 cents | 4.1 cents | 5.2 cents | 4.5 cents | 4.8 cents | |
| Scoops for 90 g/hrHow many you open an hour to hold a 90 g/hr target. | 1.5 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Verdict
what it does · what it costsWhat it does well
- 3.8 cents a gram of carbohydrate, cheaper than Tailwind's 4.1 cents and roughly a quarter of the Roctane gel's 14.3 cents.
- 320 mg of sodium per two-scoop serving, more than Tailwind's 310 mg.
- 1900 mg of the same Roctane amino-acid blend (taurine, BCAAs, beta-alanine) as the gel, now in drink form.
What it costs you
- No glucose:fructose ratio stated or computable, the same gap as the Roctane gel.
- Amino-acid dosing at these levels lacks strong single-race ergogenic evidence, the same caveat noted for the gel.
- In the 10-pack of single 65 g packets, cost rises to about $4.00 a serving, 78% more than buying the 24-serving canister.
Where to buy
Prices and links as last checked. The price next to the name above is per unit at the cheapest box size we track; a single-unit price below may run higher.
Who this is for
the numbers, appliedThe field tells you what it is. This is who should act on it.
Worth the money if
- You already use and like the Roctane gel's amino profile and want it in drink form.
- You want a low cost per gram of carbohydrate with real sodium built in.
Look elsewhere if
- You want a stated, verifiable glucose:fructose ratio.
- You only want single-serve packets, where the per-serving price nearly doubles.