Looking for sports energy drink options to try? If you’re a cyclist, runner, triathlete or other endurance athlete, you might be looking for new and existing sports energy drink ideas to consume on longer events so that you can stay hydrated and fueled.
Some athletes swear by a single brand and stick with it, while others are still searching for the right energy drink that provides enough calories and electrolytes and doesn’t cause gastrointestinal distress. We’ve compiled this list of energy drink brands so you can find the best energy drink to bring along on your next long ride, run or other endurance event.
This list is intended to be comprehensive, so if you are using a brand that isn’t included here, please leave a comment and let us know what we’ve missed so we can add it to the page. If there’s a product you have had a good experience with, leave a comment and tell us why you like it.
Accelerade
http://www.pacifichealthlabs.com
Accelerade is an endurance drink which also comes with added protein to prevent muscle breakdown.
AquaForce
http://www.aquaforcelife.com.au/
Australia based brand. Designed to energize and revitalize while maintaining the ideal electrolyte balance for optimum hydration.
Base Performance
https://www.baseperformance.com/
BASE Hydro combines three types of fast-acting and easily absorbed carbohydrates that maximize uptake and utilization while reducing gastrointestinal distress.
Bonk Breaker
https://bonkbreaker.com
Makes energy chews, and also energy bars and drinks.
Clif
https://www.clifbar.com
Known mostly for energy bars, Clif offers hydrating formulas based on an electrolyte blend. The drinks are available in 4 flavors.
Crank Sports
https://www.cranksports.com/
Crank Sports’ e-Fuel is low sugar and loaded with complex carbohydrates for sustained energy along with antioxidants and balanced electrolyte replacement. Gluten free and NO artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.
Cytomax
https://www.cytomax.com/
Cytomax Sports Performance Mix broke new ground in the world of sports nutrition when they introduced it in 1989. It has been fueling and hydrating elite athletes ever since.
Elete Electrolyte Add-In
https://elete.com
Provides four essential electrolytes to replace all the minerals lost in sweat. Not an energy drink as much as an electrolyte replacement product.
Eload Sports Nutrition
https://eloadsportnutrition.com/
Eload was co-founded in 2000 by two athletes, Dr. Douglas W. Stoddard, a leading Canadian sports medicine physician, and Sharon Ellis, a former international level 400m track athlete.
Endurelite
https://endurelite.com/
With 30g of carbohydrate per serving, a 10:1 carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio, electrolytes, amino acids, and natural ergogenic aids, SustainElite is a sports drink intended for endurance performance.
Enduro
https://endurobites.com
With a limited number of hydrating drinks, Enduro offers non-stimulant solutions to improve muscular endurance.
Enervit Sport
http://www.enervitsport.com
Spanish manufacturer. Makes energy bars, drinks, gels and other sports supplements.
Equip
https://www.equipfoods.com/
Equip offers the Purewod hydration drink. It contains creatine, amino acids and green tea extracts.
First Endurance
https://firstendurance.com
First Endurance offers a wide range of athletic performance products. Its energy drinks can be consumed both before or after physical exercise.
Floyd’s of Leadville
https://floydsofleadville.com
Floyd’s of Leadville Hydration Fuel offers 5mg of CBD, 30 grams of complex, non-GMO carbohydrates, and 3 grams of BCAA.
Fluid
http://livefluid.com/
Fluid offers energy drinks both before and after exercise. Sugar and protein levels are different for these two purposes in the drinks.
Gatorade
https://www.gatorade.com
Gatorade has a large number of hydration drinks on offer. They come with high electrolyte content.
GU Energy
https://guenergy.com
GU offers the popular Roctane ultra endurance series. It is based on amino acids, taurine and caffeine.
Hammer Nutrition
https://www.hammernutrition.com
Hammer Nutrition offers hydrating drinks for improved endurance. They can come with more than 50g of carbs per serving.
Healthy Skoop
https://healthyskoop.com
The manufacturer offers a range of endurance drinks which are based on organic foods such as beet.
Hotshot
http://www.teamhotshot.com/
Hotshot is recommended before or after exercise. It contains organic cane sugar and organic stevia. Not an energy drink as much as an anti-cramping solution.
Infinit Nutrition
https://www.infinitnutrition.us
Infinit hydrating products are recommended for improved endurance. They are high in carbs and sugars.
Klean
https://www.kleanathlete.com
Klean hydration offers energy-boosting drinks based on carbs, vitamins and minerals.
Liquid IV
https://www.liquid-iv.com/
Electrolyte hydration drink.
LYO
https://lyofood.com/
LYO food offers a range of organic products. They are rich in vitamins, and minerals. Red Vitamin Drink is the natural energy drink product they make.
Maurten
https://www.maurten.com/
Maurten offers specialized sports hydration solutions. They use matodextrin, fructose, pectin and sodium for improved endurance.
Nuun
https://nuunlife.com/
Nuun offers complex hydration solutions. They include electrolytes, vitamins, and immunity drinks.
Osmo Nutrition
https://osmonutrition.com/
Based on peer-reviewed science, the formula contains an optimized ratio of natural and functional ingredients like sucrose, glucose and electrolytes and is flavored with real fruit.
Perfect Keto
https://perfectketo.com/
Keto friendly products. Makes a zero sugar sports energy drink.
Powerade
https://www.powerade.com/
Coca Cola owned energy drink brand.
Precision Hydration
https://www.precisionhydration.com
Hydration packets and tablets for electrolytes, as well as gels and chews.
SFH
https://www.sfh.com
SFH offers a large number of hydrating products. Recommended consumption is before, during or after exercise.
SIS – Science in Sport
https://www.scienceinsport.com
SIS produces popular hydration drinks. The drinks are based on maltodextrin and fructose.
Skratch Labs
https://www.skratchlabs.com/
The sports drinks from Skratch Labs are made to replace electrolytes during exercise. They also contain vitamins and dextrose.
Spiz
http://www.spiz.net
Scientifically blended formulation of carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that is mixed with water. Designed to be a complete liquid food source developed to fuel during times of illness, stress, exercise and/or increased caloric need.
Sword
https://drinksword.com/
Sword offers unique energy-boosting products such as the Energy Tablets. The products contain caffeine.
Tailwind
https://www.tailwindnutrition.com/
Tailwind offers hydrating drinks with around 100 calories per serving. They are based on carbohydrates and sodium.
Trek’N Eat
https://www.trekneat.com
Trek’N Eat offers liquid food products. They are rich in vitamins and minerals.
UCAN
https://www.generationucan.com/
UCAN hydrating products are recommended for improved endurance. They use electrolytes to replace lost nutrients.
Ultema Replenisher
https://www.ultimareplenisher.com
Makes a variety of hydration and endurance energy drinks with natural color and flavors and no high fructose corn syrup.
Untapped
https://untapped.cc/
Untapped offers a small number of athletic hydration products. They contain carbs, potasium, sodium and vitamins.
Vegasport
https://myvega.com/
Makes a variety of vegan friendly protein, recovery and energy / hydration drinks.
Vite Nutrition
http://www.vitenutrition.com
Houston, Texas based endurance drink brand. Natural sports drink powder mix made with organic ingredients.
Vfuel
https://vfuel.com/
Vfuel manufactures energy drinks based on carbohydrates. The products are made with taurine for a boost of energy.
Voke
https://voketab.com/
Voke tabs come with guarana, acerola cherry, beet and green tea caffeine extracts.
Eload sports drink
i’ve used it now for over 15 yrs in the texas heat.
great taste (lemon) and no issues consuming it in 3-6 hour rides.
Infinit Nutrition offers an interesting option. You can create your own “formula” based on your desired calorie, protein, electrolyte and flavor level. It’s pretty cool to be able to customize a sports drink to your specific requirements. I’ve created multiple formulas over the years, as my body and needs have changed.
I’ve been using the Hammer hydration system (HEED drink mix + Endurolytes and Fizz tablets) for a number of years and it’s the best insurance against cramping I’ve found.
Powerade
Vite Nutrition – I’ve used their products exclusively for the last 9 months and have had better results dealing with Houston’s extremely humid heat than any other product I’ve tried over the last 301 years of road and MTB riding and racing. I no longer need to use cramp prevention/treatment products thanks to their pre-ride product, CHARGE, and on the bike product, HYDRATION.
About the company and history: http://www.vitenutrition.com/story
The shop: https://shop.vitenutrition.com/
Hammer and SIS are the only 2 I know of that don’t contain sugar. I’ve been a Hammer fan for a long time.
I only use High5 Zero tabs. They are zero calories and don’t have to super sweet taste that Nuun, Gu, etc. have. Also, The new flavors for this year are much less intense than before. These tabs are the only ones that have enough electrolytes to prevent cramps and headaches I used to have before using High5.
The only downside is finding them for a reasonable price. I order them in bulk from the UK at bike websites. They are usually over 50% cheaper and free shipping to the US.
On long rides, do you use that as your drink and get your calories from gels or bars, or do you bring real food?
Yes, I use it as my main drink and eat waffles, bananas, shot boks, and maple syrup for energy. High5 makes other drinks for calories, but I have to eat very bland stuff or I get sick. On organized rides, I’ll eat the fruit they provide too. I used to drink the extreme flavors that high5 makes with a ton of caffeine, but it’ll mess with you if you ingest too much. Now I just drink the regular flavors. they have some caffeine but not a ton.
I use Now Food’s “Carbo Gain,” which contains only maltodextrin. (A huge 8 pound jug — 80-100 servings — is only $20-$25.) If you want a simple/complex carb mix, just add table sugar. Simple — and cheap — solution!
For us Aussies: AquaForce – http://www.aquaforcelife.com.au/ , like it! Easy to drink and digest, none of that ‘fake chemical sweetener aftertaste’! 🙂
You forgot to include Vitalyte, formerly known as “Hydralyte” and “Gookinade”. It’s one of the original energy drink mixes and still one of the best.
Bewildering list. Someone needs to make a table listing all the components of each for easy comparison. Then you’d need to add the following other important factors: cost and taste.
Are a sportsman and want to increase stamina or performance then I will suggest you use Breinfuel’s Thrive Ice energy drink, It’s not a mixture of sugar and artificial flavor rather, it consists of natural food juices, that can boost your performance naturally and you can do consistently game. I’m also using it. It’s really better for us. For online order please visit: https://breinfuel.com/products/thrive-ice
The article has valuable content, which has helped me a lot in understanding. I think if anyone wants to become an expert in the blog niche, then he needs to read your content consistently.
https://drinkgt.com/
I’ve used Liquid IV for several years. It seems to work for me.
Thanks for posting this list which is a real eye opener. I’ve been using a Power Bar product I don’t see listed here which has provided good results.
Precision Hydration. Well tolerated electrolyte replacement drinks in various concentrations. Their sweat test and carb calculator are helpful guides to begin tuning individual needs. https://www.precisionhydration.com/us/en/products.
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