For the past couple of weeks we’ve been trying out the range of energy products from Kinetica. While the company may be new to us (we’d certainly never heard of them before a box of samples arrived on our desk) they’ve actually been around for 30 years, and certainly know a thing or two about energy products.
Kinetica use 100 per cent natural ingredients to make a range that includes whey protein, recovery supplements and energy gels, all manufactured at the company’s base in Ireland in what is reportedly Europe’s largest cheese facility.
Fear not, the products don’t have a whiff of Stilton about them. Quite the opposite in fact. Their own ‘flavour lab’ ensures the products are more than palatable. We abuse our taste buds on a regular basis to test the latest energy products on your behalf (it’s a tough job), and we can safely say that the Kinetica products rank up there with the tastiest.
Kinetica Tri Carb Sticks – £25.99 for box of 24
First up, we tried the company’s Tri Carb Sticks. Don’t let the name put you off, they’re not aimed specifically at triathletes, instead the tube-shaped packaging makes them ideal for carrying in your hydration pack, and when you need to top the bladder up, dispensing the powder is a cinch.
Each 35g sachet is designed to replenish energy levels during a race or enduro. It does this with an isotonic drink, once mixed with water, and is packed with loads of really healthy sound ingredients. Fenugreek fibre and bitter melon extract to help regulate blood sugar levels, green tea, bilberry extract and alpha lipoic acid act as antioxidants and there’s B vitamins too.
They’re called Tri Carb because they’ve packed each 35g sachet with 33g of three different types of carbohydrates; Maltodextrin, Fructose and Glucose, so you get a better delivery of energy when you’re flagging on a long ride. There’s plenty of research that shows how effectively the body absorbs the three different carbohydrate during exercise, as opposed to each in isolation. Maltodextrin gives the body a quick burst of energy while Fructose offers a slower, more sustained release.
The flavours are satisfying, with the green apple a particular highlight. They use natural flavourings too so there’s no nasty additives. Berry flavour is also available.
Kinetica’s 100% Recovery – £29.99 for a 1kg tub
The next product we tried, upon returning home after that all-day romp around the hills, was Kinetica’s 100% Recovery. As with most recovery products, the company recommends you take it within 20 minutes of exercise, which most of the time for us is in the car on the way home. The contents of the sachet easily mix into a smooth and lump-free consistency in a water bottle, which is a great start. The Blackcurrant we tried was thoroughly agreeable, tasting much like a typical blackcurrant squash, a pleasant change from the typical strange tastes of other recovery products we’ve had the horror of testing.
Containing whey protein isolate combined with dextrose and maltodextrin, the mix of protein and carbohydrate is intended to feed quickly to tired muscles after hard exercise, leaving you ready and recovered for your next ride sooner. Additional ingredients, L Carnitine and L Tartrate are claimed to help convert fat to energy and L Arginine helps increase blood flow to the muscles for rapid recovery. We tried Blackcurrant but Orange/Mango is also available, and the 1kg tubs work out at £29.99.
Based on our brief sample of the Kinetica energy products, we’re impressed. Their most appealing quality is that, of the products tasted, they didn’t invoke a gag reflex when tested, making them a worthy alternative to the more established brands in the mountain bike marketplace.
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