HikeArizona.COM

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.

Outdoor Lover wrote: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....

I came to the forums because I wasn't sure if the "Pole Question" was asking if it was I or the banana was upside down. Me = No, Banana = Yes ... there just easier to peel.

stopped at the circle K on brown and power yesterday for a slurpee after hiking 5024
no lemonade, but i did find an interesting product offering:
vitamin water as a fountain drink option
44 oz. of lemonade vitamin water zero for 79 cents did the trick
in an environmentally unfriendly polar pop cup...but that's another topic
hope this will become available valley wide

@trekkin gecko
After 5024 I just hit The Wilderness Brewing Company. I always feel great when I leave there.

Costco has a bag of Liquid IV right now—30 packets for $28 or $29, so I grabbed one. All are passion fruit flavor. The ingredient list looks good, not really any artificial junk added (flavors, colors, sweeteners, etc) which I thought was a plus. I tried the first packet on Friday, and while the fruity flavor was quite good, I thought it was very salty, so I was a little disappointed. I tried the second packet after hiking on Sunday, and it did not seem to be salty at all, and it got rid of the post-hike, slightly dehydrated, headache I had. My opinion of the drink was greatly improved after the second packet. I used the same amount of water both times, so I’m not sure why there was such a taste difference to me, but I’m hoping that first packet was a fluke. One possibility was I tried the first one at the same time I was eating a bunch of chocolate, so maybe that affected the flavor. Assuming no other weird taste issues with the rest of the bag, I’ll buy more because I think they are more effective than the Nuun tablets I’ve been using.

@LindaAnn
Thanks for the info I will try them. I found it hard to find electrolytes that don't have more vitamins than electrolytes. Not looking for vitamin supplements.

@markthurman53 Looking at the ingredient list, these do have vitamins.

@LindaAnn
I used to use Nuun tablets, but I got tired of having to carry half liter bottles of water on a hike. Now I take SaltStick capsules, which I like much better: https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electr ... ikearizona

@DixieFlyer I just put a bottle of those in my Amazon cart, thanks!

@DixieFlyer
Looked those up and that looks like what I'm looking for too. Thanks.

Costco also has a 30 count box of Zip Fizz for 21.99. 3 Flavors in one box or 2 flavors in another box. Liking these because they are a powder so easy to carry and they have 0 Sugar and low Carbs.

Electrolytes? Hell I don't even like light beer!!!!

@outdoor_lover
A friend of mine just informed me that his new hiking electriclight is Tropicana Haze Deli Flower, which I believe is not available at Costco.

I started carrying a few SaltStick Fastchews on hikes. They have a few different flavors. Just electrolytes, no vitamins.

I still drink Liquid IV before or after a hike though.

Thought there was enough electrolytes in algae infused spring water.

@LindaAnn
What's the texture like on those? Gummies/tums/skittles/something else?

LindaAnn wrote:I still drink Liquid IV before or after a hike though.

It's good to know that a real person likes Liquid IV. It gets good reviews online, but I don't know anyone who uses it. I would drink Brawndo, but it's hard to find.

@big_load
I second it being good and effective. Just a bit on the pricey side for what it is, so I tend to save it for backpacking vs day hiking.

@big_load I drink Liquid IV literally everyday and have for a few years now. The lemon lime flavor is my favorite, but moat of the others are pretty good too. They just added a golden cherry flavor I also like a lot. I get it auto-delivered every two months, so I’m not really sure what it costs anymore, but it’s cheaper than a gatorade or body armor. I drink body armor too, although my kids drink it more often—I think my son drinks at least a bottle or two a day.

@xsproutx Basically the same texture (and pretty much the same taste) as a chewable vitamin C tablet. Solid tablet, but kind of a gritty powder as you chew it. My kids like them since it is almost exactly like chewing a vitamin C.

After years with Gatorade, in my bid to get away from the sugar in so many drinks, a few years ago I started using Hi-Lyte Zero Calorie Electrolyte Concentrate and found it to work very well for me.
While suggested use is 12 drops/8 oz, I go with 12 drops/28 oz to my water/Kroger Orange Tangerine Vitamin mix... just enough for a pleasant taste.

Why 28 ounces?
I use old Powerade (yech!) bottles 1/3 filled and in the freezer so when needed I take them out and fill them.
While I could do that with any other bottles when hiking, I use the Powerade bottles because in a "Botl Soc" they fit perfectly in a holder on the top rail of my mountain bike... quick and easy access.
And... if I thoroughly wet the Botl Soc before the ride, even in 100°+ temps I have a cold/cool drink.
(For the longer rides In the summer I add a second bottle holder under the lower front rail with a 3/4 frozen bottle)