Why Expert-Backed Nutrition Matters
Nutrition is the single biggest variable that separates a great race from a DNF. Every elite ultrarunner will tell you: you can train your legs all year, but if you get your fueling wrong on race day, none of it matters. The problem is that nutrition advice in trail running is wildly personal, and what works for one athlete can wreck another's stomach at mile 40.
That's what makes the recommendations on Rendezvu different from a generic product review. These aren't one-off opinions from a single tester. They come from athletes who have fielded thousands of nutrition questions from the runners they coach, pace, and advise. When Kim Conley of Next Best Run puts a fuel product in her curated list, that recommendation is shaped not just by her own Olympic-level experience, but by years of watching what works (and what fails) across a wide spectrum of runners. The same goes for athletes like Cody Poskin, who fueled through a 400K desert crossing, or Megan Eckert, who needed her nutrition to hold up across a six-day, 600+ mile effort.
The seven products below are the most recommended nutrition items across the Rendezvu platform. Every pick traces back to a named expert who stakes their reputation on the recommendation. When you purchase through their Rendezvu page, you're supporting the athlete whose advice helped you find the right fuel.
Drink Mixes: The Foundation of Long-Distance Fueling
Most Recommended Overall$0
The high-carb fueling revolution has fundamentally changed how trail runners approach race nutrition. Instead of relying solely on gels and solid food, more athletes are getting the bulk of their calories and electrolytes through liquid fuel. It simplifies logistics, reduces GI distress, and keeps hydration and energy delivery in sync.
Three drink mixes dominate the expert lists on Rendezvu, each serving a slightly different role in the fueling hierarchy. What's notable is how much consensus there is among athletes at every level: the same brands keep appearing whether you're looking at a Legend's list or an enthusiast who just ran their first 100-miler.
Next Best Run — From their 'Fueling' list
Tyler Sarkisian — From his 'Tokyo Marathon' list
Spencer Imbach — From his 'Long Run' listNext Best Run — From their 'Fueling' list
Laurel Walker — From her 'Trail Running' list
Cody Poskin — From his 'Ultramarathon' listGels: Portable Energy for When Every Second Counts
Best Gel for Digestibility$0
Even in the age of liquid fueling, gels remain a staple in nearly every trail runner's race kit. They're compact, fast to consume, and easy to carry in a vest pocket for those moments when you need quick energy without stopping to mix a drink. The experts on Rendezvu lean toward a new generation of gels that prioritize high carb counts, clean ingredient profiles, and stomach-friendly formulations over the sugary single-serve packets that defined the category for decades.
What's striking across these expert lists is the shift toward Precision Hydration and Maurten products, brands that have invested heavily in digestibility science. Several experts carry multiple gel brands on race day, using each for a different purpose: one for steady fueling, another for a high-sodium boost when conditions get hot.
Next Best Run — From their 'Fueling' list alongside other key nutrition picksTyler Sarkisian — From his 'Tokyo Marathon' list
Anna Gibson — Anna includes both the Gel 160 and Drink Mix 320 in her daily drivers, signaling Maurten as a cornerstone of her fueling system
Lauren Jones — From Lauren's list; she is 6th All-Time North American for 24hrs with 154 milesTyler Sarkisian — From his 'Tokyo Marathon' listNext Best Run — From their 'Fueling' listElectrolytes: The Invisible Performance Edge
Best Pre/Post-Run Electrolyte$0
Most runners focus their nutrition planning on calories and carbs, but the experts on Rendezvu make it clear that sodium management is just as critical, especially for trail and ultra distances where you're sweating for hours in variable conditions. The electrolyte products that appear on these curated lists serve a specific purpose: they deliver high concentrations of sodium without adding unwanted carbs, so athletes can stack them on top of their calorie sources.
Kim Conley of Next Best Run, who has coached and advised countless runners through hot-weather racing blocks, is particularly deliberate about her electrolyte strategy. Her approach of combining a dedicated electrolyte product with a carb-heavy drink mix is a pattern that several other experts on the platform mirror independently, suggesting it's a proven protocol rather than a personal quirk.
Next Best Run — From their 'Fueling' listBuilding Your Own Fueling Protocol
The common thread across every expert list on Rendezvu is intentionality. None of these athletes just grab whatever's at the aid station. They test products in training, dial in their carb-per-hour targets, and build layered systems: a base drink mix for steady calories, gels for quick top-ups, and a dedicated electrolyte source to manage sodium independently of their calorie intake.
If you're building a fueling protocol from scratch, the data from these expert lists points toward a practical starting framework. Begin with a carb-rich drink mix like Tailwind or Skratch Super High-Carb as your calorie baseline. Layer in one or two gels per hour (Maurten for gentle absorption, Victus for a high-carb punch, or PF 30 for sustained delivery). Then add an electrolyte booster like LMNT around your runs, especially in hot conditions.
Every product featured here links directly to the expert's Rendezvu page. When you purchase through their link, the athlete earns from your purchase, which means the advice that helped you fuel smarter also supports the runner who shared it. That's the model: real experts, real recommendations, and a direct line between their knowledge and your next PR.
Rendezvu hosts earn a commission when you purchase through their recommendations. Every product featured is one they personally use and stand behind.
