Running asks a lot from your body. The miles, the effort, the wear and tear—it adds up. So the things we put back in should feel like they’re helping, not just checking a box along the way.
We have been waiting to try Pao Labs for a few months now after first seeing them at TRE. It’s hard to make a gel feel new—or honestly, even interesting—but Pao Labs and their “energy jellies” manage to stand out pretty quickly.
Pao Labs is an Asian American–founded company built around a simple idea: fueling should taste as good as it performs. Running already puts your body through enough—what you’re consuming mid-run shouldn’t feel clinical or like a chore.
To get there, the founders brought in a scientist friend with a n MIT background and a PhD from Harvard University in bioengineering. From there, they started experimenting—not just with ingredients, but with texture and flavor profiles that pull from real Asian influences like yuzu, lychee oolong, and strawberry matcha.
And honestly, the flavors deliver.
These are not your typical “if you think about it hard enough, it kind of tastes like…” gel flavors. What they have made are distinct, unique, and actually enjoyable. That alone makes a difference—fueling stops feeling like an obligation and starts feeling like something you don’t mind (and maybe even look forward to).
Texture-wise, these lean more “jelly” than traditional gel—and that’s a good thing (for at least some of us – everyone is different taste and texture wise). I actually described them to my wife as “plasma-y). I found them to be smoother, a little more substantial, and don’t have that sticky, teeth-coating feel that some gels leave behind. They go down easy without feeling watered down.
The biggest drawback so far has been the packaging—specifically opening it. Some of the packets have been tougher to tear than expected, and that can be frustrating mid-run. If you’re in a workout or trying to hold a steady pace, the last thing you want is to fight your fuel just to get it open. It’s manageable during a walk break or easy section, but less ideal when you’re locked into a fast pace.
That said, it feels like a fixable issue—and one that doesn’t take away from what Pao Labs is doing well.
Overall, Pao Labs energy jellies bring something genuinely different to the table. Better flavor, improved texture, and a more enjoyable fueling experience. If they can dial in the packaging, this is a product that could easily become a go-to option for a lot of runners.
