COMPARISON · DIY FUEL CHEF
DIY Fuel vs Maurten, GU, SiS, Precision
Same maltodextrin and fructose, different price tags. Here is the brand-neutral feature comparison so you can decide where convenience matters and where it does not.
| Feature | DIY | Maurten 320 | GU Roctane | SiS Beta Fuel | PF&H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per 90g carbs DIY math: 60g malto ($0.24) + 30g fructose ($0.24) = ~$0.48 per 90g. Bulk Amazon prices, mid-2026. | ~$0.30 | ~$7.50 | ~$3.00 | ~$5.00 | ~$4.50 |
| Maltodextrin : Fructose ratio | You choose (2:1 or 1:0.8) | 0.8:1 (hydrogel) | 2:1 | 1:0.8 (Beta Fuel) | 1:0.8 (PF 30 Gel) |
| Sodium per 90g carbs | You choose any value | ~300mg (320 Drink Mix) | ~110-300mg | ~270mg | ~750mg (PF 30 high-sodium) |
| Artificial flavors | None (you control) | No (hydrogel encapsulation) | Yes (most flavors) | Yes | No (PF 30 Gel) |
| Caffeine option | Yes (anhydrous, pre-tested) | Maurten Gel 100 CAF | Roctane line | Beta Fuel + Caffeine | PF 30 Caffeine Gel |
| Customizable to gut training stage | |||||
| Customizable flavor | yes (citrus, pink lemonade, ginger, plain) | ||||
| Shelf life | 12+ months (sealed bag) | 24 months unopened | 24 months unopened | 24 months unopened | 24 months unopened |
| Prep time per bottle | 60-90 seconds | 0 seconds (pre-mixed) | 0 seconds | 60 seconds (mix) | 0 seconds |
| Race-day convenience | Pre-mix night before | High | High | Medium | High |
| Gut training data on packaging | No (you reference the tool) | Limited | Limited | Yes (Beta Fuel protocol) | Yes (PF&H app) |
| Requires kitchen scale | Yes (0.1g recommended) | partial (scoop) | |||
| WADA / NCAA legal | Yes (ingredients only) | Yes | Yes | Yes (Informed Sport) | Yes |
| Available outside US | Yes (bulk powder global) | Global | Global | Global | Mostly UK/EU/AUS |
| Free shipping (single serving) | n/a (you buy bulk) | Subscription only | Amazon Prime | Subscription only | Subscription only |
Prices and product details accurate as of 2026-05. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Brand-neutral assessment from an athlete-first perspective; no commercial partnership with any listed product.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
DIY Fuel: Common Questions
Is DIY fuel really as effective as Maurten or SiS Beta Fuel?
For the carbohydrate side, yes. Maltodextrin and fructose are the only two active ingredients doing the metabolic work in nearly every commercial fuel. The published carb-absorption ceilings (up to 90g/hr at 2:1, up to 120g/hr at 1:0.8) come from research using exactly those two molecules. The commercial premium pays for convenience, flavor masking, hydrogel encapsulation (Maurten), and brand. The biochemistry is the same.
What about Maurten's hydrogel? Does it actually do something?
Maurten uses calcium alginate plus pectin to form a hydrogel in stomach acid. The marketed mechanism is faster gastric emptying and less stomach pull during high intake. Independent studies have shown a small reduction in GI symptoms at very high carb intakes (>90g/hr) for some athletes, but no consistent performance benefit over a non-hydrogel 1:0.8 mix at the same carb rate. If your gut handles standard DIY at your target rate, you do not need the hydrogel.
Will I notice a taste difference between DIY and commercial?
Yes. Plain DIY tastes like sweet water - no flavor masking. The DIY Sports Drink Powder Mix calculator includes 4 dry-powder flavor profiles (Plain, Crisp Citrus lemon-lime, Pink Lemonade, Ginger-Lemon). All use shelf-stable powders (citric acid, natural flavor extract, freeze-dried strawberry powder, ginger root powder) - no fresh juices, no syrups, no special trip to the grocery store. Pre-mix a week into a mason jar and just scoop into your bottle. Sodium citrate is also dramatically less briny than table salt at high-sodium doses, so you can hit 800-1200mg/hr without the throat-burn that pure NaCl creates.
How long does a 5lb bag of maltodextrin last?
At 60g malto per hour and 8 hours of training per week, a 5lb (2.27kg) bag covers ~4.7 weeks. The free DIY Sports Drink Mix calculator tool computes this exactly for your training volume and target rate.
Is bulk maltodextrin food-grade?
Yes, when sourced from a reputable bulk supplements brand. Look for NSF or Informed Sport certification on the label, and confirm the product is labeled USP or food-grade. The Amazon affiliate links in the DIY Sports Drink Mix calculator tool route to vendors that meet these criteria.
What about precision sodium dosing? Can DIY really hit 1000+ mg/hr accurately?
Yes, with a 0.1g jeweler's scale. 1g of sodium citrate = ~270mg sodium. To hit 1000mg you weigh out 3.7g. That is well within the resolution of any $15 kitchen scale. The DIY Sports Drink Mix calculator calculator returns the exact gram weight for both NaCl and sodium citrate.
Does this work for ultramarathons over 10 hours?
Yes, and the cost gap widens. At 80g/hr for 12 hours, you would burn through ~$50 of Maurten 320 or ~$60 of SiS Beta Fuel per race day. DIY is ~$3 in raw powder. Across a season with 4-5 ultra races plus training, the savings hit thousands.
BUILD YOUR RECIPE
See Your Numbers In 30 Seconds.
Enter what you currently spend on commercial gels and your target carb intake. The DIY Fuel Chef returns your exact gram weights, annual savings, and a printable 4-page recipe card with QR code.
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