Drink mixes for hot weather

[HkNewman]

While water is great, wondering if there are any powdered drink mixes out there for hot weather for a change in flavor? Plusses if they are sugar-free.

[Gary Dunckel]

I like the Crystal Light mixes. Lots of flavors, sugar free.

[John Devitt]

+1 with Gary, however I enjoy the starbucks via carmel coffee during the cool summer mornings in the mountains.
regards,
John

[Chris S]

I like the Propel Fitness Water packets diluted to half strenght. Not sure what's in them though.

[Laurie Ann March]

I sometimes make sun tea (using jasmine or fruit teas) or add powdered strawberries made from freeze-dried fruit to lemonade. Most often I just drink water.

I also found a cold brew ice tea product that works well… http://www.wildernesscooking.com/blog/?p=137

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

http://www.kraftbrands.com/crystallight/Pages/default.aspx#/pure-flavors
Wal-Mart also makes a version of it, nearly identical.

They use natural dayes and are flavored with sugar and Stevia so are light but not artificial tasting.

[Paul McLaughlin]

I use rehydration mixes, like Electro-mix and Ola Loa Sport. Vitamins, minerals, a little bit of flavor, no sugar.

[BlackHatGuy]

Nuun tablets are very good!

[Anonymous]

I don't like to miss any opportunity to get some calories into my system, so I use an energy drink called EFS. It supplies the full spectrum of electrolytes in significant quantities plus a mixture of simple and complex carbs along with a small amount of protein. A few grams of glucose/maltodextrin when I'm exercising hard is not going to make a diabetic out of me is my philosophy

[Robert Cowman]

NUUN

[Laurie Ann March]

I am a diabetic and I actually need to have the extra glucose when exercising or my blood glucose drops dangerously low. It isn't unusual for me to have to pop quite a few jelly beans while hiking… I'd be interested in the EFS. Going to go look it up.

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Usually it is more a 'saving of weight' thing why people go for sugar free. It also doesn't get as funky in bladders as sugar mixes do in heat…..

[HkNewman]

Been away from the US for awhile, so I'd forgotten about Propel, CrystalLight, Camelback electrolytes, NUUN, etc… and I'm guessing a number of supermarkets tuck them away so everyone goes for the bottled beverages. Tried doing sun tea in a Nalgene once but the tea bag disintegrated by lunch, so I had to strain the tea leaves.

While not opposed to a little sugar, it can really gum up a hydration bladder, so I eat it it in the form of candy.

[Eugene Smith]

Of the expensive variety, like others listed:

NUUUUUUUN

Camelback Elixir tablets can be had for less than Nuun if you look around, good product.

Hammer Nutrition makes a product called Endurolytes Fizz, it's their electrolyte tablet similar to the above products…. excellent supplement. I've used them in the past for 100F runs after work, help ward off cramps, excessive salt loss, all that stuff associated with being active in the desert during April-Oct. Highly recommended.

However, the liquid gold of trail drinks for adding spice to your Aquamira tainted water is Kool-Aid Tropical Punch in the single serve powder packs (makes 2quarts… really sweet… or 1L just right), those are cheap cheap and there is a Sugar-Free version. Just watch your clothing, this stuff stains everything. Those can be acquired anywhere.

[. .]

My favorite are the Trace Minerals Research Electrolyte Stamina drink mixes:

Like Emergen-C, but better ingredientes, imho (+stevia / no maltodextrin)

[John S.]

I like Tang.

[Anonymous]

"Going to go look it up."

Hi Laurie,

Look for it under a company named First Endurance.

Tom

[Laurie Ann March]

Thanks Tom… much appreciated.

[HkNewman]

Brought a bottle of Tang on a winter trip long time ago (1984 – yikes), packed in an external pack pocket. Forgot to secure it and it went splat all over the ice. So my buddies passed this Tang explosion on ice, all shaking their heads. Haven't bought Tang since.

[HkNewman]

Eugene,

Camelbak Elixir was what I was looking for. Sugar-free, has a kind of fizz to it, … that's what I used to mtb with. Water in one hydration bladder, Elixir in the other. Thanks for jogging the memory banks, though some of these other brands will see use as well.

[Kevin Babione]

I drink a lot while hiking normally, and even more in hot weather. Two weekends ago while hiking a chunk of the Mid State Trail in PA I was drinking around eight liters a day.

I really like the Camelbak Elixir in my hydration bladder but beware: The orange elixir has caffeine in it! That may be good for those of you who want a little extra kick. I've tried the berry flavored as well, but my favorite (and the only one left in my inventory) is the lemon-lime.

[Marc Kokosky]

I can't believe no one has mentioned Hawaiian Punch! I get the one serving packs at my local Walmart… 10 for $1 and sugar free. They are awesome and definitely take me back to childhood.

I also like the Nuun if I want an eletrolyte replacement.

For iced coffee… Starbucks makes an instant iced coffee pack that is already pre-sweetened that is pretty good too.

[Sumi Wada]

Arnold Palmer (ice tea + lemonade)
Ocean Spray powdered drinks
Tang

I prefer plain old water when I'm actually hiking. The flavored stuff doesn't do much for quenching thirst for me. I like a little Tang or OS juice for breakfast and an Arnold when I get to camp.

[Rick Dreher]

I'm with you, the green Elixir is just about right. I also like emergencyC. Can't adequately describe how disappointed I was when I tried NUUN. Nasty stuff. YMMV.

p.s. I only mix this sort of thing in bottles–too hard to get completely out of reservoirs and hoses.

Cheers,

Rick

[HkNewman]

@Rick,

IIRC the Elixir is designed to come out of hydration bladders relatively easily since there's no sugar.

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