There are few sights more disheartening during a bike ride than spotting empty gel wrappers scattered along the roadside or clogging up gutters. Most cyclists know better than to litter, but doing the right thing often means cramming a tacky foil packet into a jersey pocket or stuffing it down the leg of your shorts—hardly an elegant solution.
Enter DualFuel, whose innovative bottle and refillable gel container might finally put an end to this dilemma.
Priced at £24.99 for the 750ml version and £23.99 for the 500ml, DualFuel bottles feature a clever dual-chamber cap operated by a flip switch. The first position lets you drink from the water compartment as usual. Flip it again, and you access a screw-in 120ml reservoir that holds the equivalent of two standard energy gels. When filled with DualFuel’s proprietary gel powder mix, that translates to roughly 90 grams of carbohydrates.
**Out on the Road**
The ability to alternate between hydration and nutrition from a single bottle eliminates the awkward ritual of digging through pockets and tearing packets open with your teeth while trying not to spill anything. Being able to fuel up without ending up with sticky hands or a gunked-up jersey is genuinely game-changing.
While DualFuel’s gel mix may not come in my preferred flavors, the convenience of a mess-free system combined with its pleasantly neutral taste has won me over.
The gel formula uses a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio and provides 30 grams of carbs per serving. A 1kg bag costs £24.99 and yields approximately 30 servings, bringing the cost down to about 78p each. By contrast, my go-to Torq 1:1 gels run £2.65 apiece—a substantial difference.
I’ve also experimented with transferring a couple of standard gels into the pouch before heading out, and that approach works just as well.
**Bento Box-Style Gel Carrier**
DualFuel also makes a wearable pouch aimed at runners. Tucked inside the £15.99 pack is a quick-release bracket that’s compatible with bento box (top tube) mounts. It also includes twin neoprene straps, allowing attachment to bikes that lack mounting points.
This nozzle-equipped pouch, built specifically for gels, has become a favorite of mine. It carries 150ml—equivalent to two gel packets—though a larger 220ml version is also available, and you can consume it gradually as you ride.
So whether you’re bothered by the waste your rides generate or simply prefer to meter out your gel intake little by little, the DualFuel system is worth considering.
