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Hi to all, this year I made a promise to myself to hike 500 miles. I need to keep hiking in summer to keep up with the promise. I am now looking around to see which electrolytes are the best. So far, I have used coconut water. Interested in your suggestions/preferences. Thanq in advance.

Given that i hate all things that contain chemicals, artificial colors and extreme amounts of sugar, i have found (as mentioned before) that coconut water hydrates as good or better than all other non-natural options but if you don't like it a banana and peanut butter smoothy with a can or two of coconut water is amazingly good. During summer season i do make myself a concoction of fresh watermelon, banana and mango blended together into juice....nothing has worked better than this for me.

@VolcanoCLMBR
I agree with you. When I get home I just use an IV and I am good to go.

VolcanoCLMBR wrote:Given that i hate all things that contain chemicals

that means that you hate everything except pure energy ;)

I think @BobP swears by pickle juice. Sounds gross to me, but to each their own.

@chumley
After BobP posted the pickle juice comment, I looked into it It seems to be a common practice with endurance athletes and a home remedy for muscle cramps. They even have pickles juice popsicles

Bradshaws wrote:@chumley
After BobP posted the pickle juice comment, I looked into it It seems to be a common practice with endurance athletes and a home remedy for muscle cramps. They even have pickles juice popsicles

Do they have bread-and-butter flavor? Cuz I don't like dill! ;)

Bradshaws wrote:@chumley
After BobP posted the pickle juice comment, I looked into it It seems to be a common practice with endurance athletes and a home remedy for muscle cramps. They even have pickles juice popsicles

I just read about an ultra-runner who's known for drinking pickle juice and bourbon during events. Personally I will just stick to the bourbon.

As far as electrolytes go, I've been really happy using Nuun tabs. Fairly easy to find, they sell them at Sprouts.

If it works, I stick with it.

When I was in HS, I played football and the only time I wasn't on the field was halftime. By the end of the game, my calves would cramp like a wait more like a rock. Doctors gave me all kinds of tests thinking it was related to my heart condition. Then it was various salt pills,quinine pills,tonic water, and probably other stuff I can't remember. In college, I ran anywhere from 5-19 miles everyday for cross country. Beer,pasta and pickle juice and never had problems except I lost 35 pounds and needed to quit running so much to put weight back on. I go thru a jar of pickles and the juice about every week to ten days. My wife thinks its really gross.

I know I've heard about your pickle pounding, but have always been curious?
-> What kind of doseage do you use? Are we talking TBs, Oz, Cups, pints?
-> All hikes, just hikes of X miles or X elevation?
-> When do you eat / drink the Pickles / Juice (Before, During, After?) I've never seen you drink your pickle concoction.
-> Do you mix it with anything else?
-> Does type of pickle make a difference?

@Widowmaker

why wait till you get home?

http://hikearizona.com/photo=398224

@The Eagle
I usually eat 1 or 2 1/4 spears and drink directly from the jar probably about just a few oz's every day... no more or less any given day...I usually don't take them with me on trips but have on occassion . Its the CaCl2 that probably helps most.

From the internet so it has to be true...It is commonly used as an electrolyte in sports drinks and other beverages, including bottled water. The extremely salty taste of calcium chloride is used to flavor pickles while not increasing the food's sodium content

An easy way to take it with you in your pack

And no, I've never eaten a Banana upside down...I personally don't like hanging upside down to eat anything, it's hard to swallow....

@Bradshaws
Sorrrry. That's just wrong... ut:

New2hyk wrote: So far, I have used coconut water.

If you like Coconut water, that's great - just be aware that it does not contain the "perfect blend of electrolytes", that some brands claim. It has roughly twice as much Potassium as Sodium, whereas sweat is just the opposite ( 3 to five times as much Sodium as Potassium). Most electrolyte replacement drinks on the market do a much better job at matching what is actually lost during exercise.

Brawndo has electrolytes it's what plants and hikers crave.

BEEBEE wrote:Brawndo has electrolytes it's what plants and hikers crave.

Oh yeah -

Pvt. Joe Bowers: What *are* these electrolytes? Do you even know?

Secretary of State: They're... what they use to make Brawndo!

Pvt. Joe Bowers: But *why* do they use them to make Brawndo?

Secretary of Defense: [raises hand after a pause] Because Brawndo's got electrolytes.

Sports Drinks vs. Coconut Water: A Comparison of Electrolytes, Carbohydrate and Price
*Na=sodium, K=potassium

"To achieve optimal results when it comes to restoring depleted sodium stores, the American College of Sports Medicine encourages exercise enthusiasts to consume 500 to 700 milligrams of sodium for every 32 ounces of fluids consumed during or after physical activity. In most cases, the amount of fluid needed will vary, depending on sweat losses. The American Council on Exercise reports that individuals should drink at least 32 ounces of fluid for each pound of sweat lost during a workout."

Barrett wrote:Gatorade/G2 @ $1.29/20oz bottle

When I was still drank Gatorade or G2 I only bought the 32 oz bottles when they were a dollar or less... Fry's regularly has them on sale 10 for $10 and the current ad has it for $.79 each if you buy 8 and have a Fry's card.

I've tried a few versions of coconut over the last couple years and I like them quite a bit. It doesn't have the impact of something like Vitalyte (my favorite recovery drink), but it sure beats plain water.