The Muir brand was founded after Ian McNally got tired of the popular health snacks available to endurance athletes. He, himself, was an ultra-distance hiker and needed something that was going to give him the nutrition and energy he needed to enjoy his adventures without burning out.

The idea for this product was fantasized while on the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. McNally knew there had to be something better out there. He was tired of eating nuts and dried fruit that was hard on his teeth. He said that snack bars were heavy in his stomach, dry, and all-around, not healthy.

Additionally, he felt that the energy gels that were currently being sold just didn't meet his nutrition needs. He thought that they were not good enough for his endurance activities. He also noted that they were too sweet and artificial tasting. He wanted something more natural, with easy to read ingredients. He was merely unsatisfied with what was available to him. He just knew he needed something better.

So, he did what anyone else would have done. He made his own. He wanted to make something that he could eat multiple different ways, whether in oatmeal, straight, or on a cracker. He wanted something simple that was tasty and dense in calories and nutrition.

And so the Muir brand and energy gels were born.

The MUIR Energy gel is perfect for those who are looking for a little energy boost while working out. It is typically reserved for athletes who are participating in endurance sports, whether marathon runners, bike riders, hikers, or gym-goers. If you are going to be participating in physical activities for extended periods of time, you want to make sure you can keep your energy up. That is what the slow-burning version of this product can help you with.

If you are heading out for a shorter adventure and want a fast-acting boost you can opt for the fast burning version of this product. This will give you a quick burst of energy to complete your journey without the need for an extended boost.

As with most other energy gels, you might want to follow up the consumption with a swig of water. This gel is a little thicker than most, so drinking water will help get it down while making it easier on your stomach.

There are a couple of things to consider which one of these that you should order. First, you need to decide which one is going to work best for your needs. They offer both fast-burning and slow-burning versions of this gel so you can use the one that you need.

The fast-burning versions use a lot of dried fruit and veggies, so they are loaded with simple sugars. They metabolize more quickly, and when combined with the brand's low electrolyte base, you will get a fast fuel source that is ideal for your shorter workouts.

On the other hand, if you want something to give you energy for longer, you will want to purchase the slow-burning formula. This one is made using nut butter and raw seeds for a healthy protein and fat that metabolizes slowly. Once you combine these ingredients with their base, you will get a sustained source of energy.

After you decide which version of the gel that you need, you can pick your favorite flavor(s). There are a couple of options that you can choose from so you can choose the one that you will love the best.

The fast-acting blends are available in blackberry thyme, blueberry bergamot, passion fruit banana, pineapple, red raspberry, or red raspberry mate.

The slow-acting blends have a wider variety of options. You can pick cacao and almond, cacao almond, cacao almond with peppermint, cashew lemon, vanilla, cashew vanilla mate flavor, tasty hazelnut and banana, sunflower, or sweet potato flavored with oregano.

Customers love the taste of the MUIR Energy gels. The all-natural and real food that is used in the making of the gel makes them taste delicious. It is always nice to eat something that is both tasty and nutritious. Thanks to the multitude of flavor options, there are bound to be something for you.

When you are eating the MUIR Energy gel, you will notice that the consistency isn't what you would expect. Yes, it is considered a gel but doesn't really offer the consistency of one.

This product is much thicker than you would expect, but they have a good reason for this. When you have a product that contains water, you are more of a risk of developing nasty bacteria and pathogens. When you see thinner gels, they are using water, but also a lot of added preservatives to eliminate the bacteria. This brand doesn't use synthetic ingredients or chemicals, so they take out as much of the water as possible. Because of this, you will notice that it is much more viscous. However, it is also denser in calories and nutrients, as well as more favorable.

Customers aren't too pleased with this thick consistency, but most understand why it is like that and can deal with the texture. However, some said that it just isn't suited well for them. Since it is thick and sticky, it can become difficult to eat while in the middle of a race, so they steer clear.

You will notice that the ingredients lists will differ depending on what it is that you are purchasing. This is to be expected since there are a variety of flavors.

All of their gels start with an electrolyte base so that you will find this in both the fast and slow-burning varieties.

You will find raw palm nectar in the base. This is ideal because it gives you sugar that releases slowly into your bloodstream. It has a low glycemic index at only 35, so you don't have to worry too much about your blood sugar spiking. Additionally, you will find 17 different amino acids in this nectar, which are the building blocks of protein. They are super important to muscle growth and tissue repair. It offers all nine of the essential amino acids plus eight of the non-essential ones.

Next, you will find blackstrap molasses. This ingredient is loaded with tons of essential vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, calcium, manganese, copper, potassium, iron, chromium, phosphorus, sodium, cobalt, vitamin b6, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, and riboflavin. This is fantastic as it doesn't have any fat and very few calories while still providing you with a decent amount of iron.

The final component of the base includes pink Himalayan salt. This ingredient is considered one of the purest and most mineral-dense salts that are available. Each crystal of salt contains over 80 minerals. The salt can help you create an electrolyte base, increase your overall water retention so you can stay hydrated, balances your pH, and so much more. It can also help prevent muscle cramps.

In the slow-burning bars, you will find ingredients such as raw almond butter, raw cacao powder, cashew butter, sunflower butter, sweet potatoes, and extra virgin olive oil.

The ingredients that you will find in the fast burning gels include bananas, blackberries, passion fruit, pineapple, and red raspberries.

Finally, the brand uses a variety of extracts and essential oils in their products that differ from each flavor. The two oils the brand uses are vanilla and yerba mate (for caffeine). The essential oils include lemon, oregano, and thyme.

Customers are less than pleased with the packaging of the MUIR Energy gel. The poor packaging is easily torn and ripped open. There have been a lot of reports of the gel packs popping open either in shipping or in their pocket/pack. This can cause a lot of frustration and make a huge mess. This doesn't happen all the time, but it is common enough that it should be noted.

Since the MUIR Energy gel is made out of so few and all-natural ingredients, there are a lot of great things about it that make the product appeal to a broader variety of customers.

The gel is gluten-free, vegan, paleo-friendly, organic, and non-GMO.

The one bad thing about it is that even if you choose one of the flavors that don't feature nuts, they are still processed in the same facility like the ones that do. This means that if you have a nut allergy, you should probably steer clear of these bars.

When it comes to your energy booster, you want to be in control of how you are energized. Some people might like consuming caffeine, whereas others want to stay away from it. The choice is yours when it comes to the MUIR Energy gel.

This product is available in both caffeinated and caffeine-free flavors so you can decide what you are consuming. If you do choose to go with the caffeine, then you can rest easy, knowing that it still comes from a natural source. They get their caffeine from yerba mate, so you get the caffeine you need without the side effects.

If you want caffeine, then you can pick from the red raspberry mate (fast burning), cacao almond mate, (slow), or cashew vanilla mate (slow). There aren't a lot of options, but at least there are some. All other flavors are caffeine-free.

When it comes time to buy this gel, you are going to notice the hefty price tag. Yes, it is more expensive than a lot of the competitors and might not be able to squeeze into your budget. This is especially true if you consume energy gels frequently. They can start to add up when you have to keep buying multiple boxes.

Keep in mind that even though it has a high cost, it is still well worth it. The all-natural ingredients and effectiveness make this one of the better and healthier options out there. If you are on a strict budget and can't swing it, there are acceptable and cheaper alternatives such as Clif Shot Energy Gel. However, if you can fit it into your budget and want to splurge a little, this one is recommended.

Whether you are an endurance athlete or workout in short bursts, the MUIR Energy gel has a product for you. You can pick from their two formula's so you have the right amount of energy that you need to get through your workout.

Customers love the great taste and wonderful flavors available. They are all-natural and use real food ingredients. There is nothing hidden and no junk. They might not have the best consistency, but they aren't terrible to get down.

Overall, consumers love this product. If you can swing it in your budget or want to splurge a little, a lot of people would recommend giving it a try.