Finding the best sports nutrition and hydration products.
It can be hard to find a good sports drink, energy shot or snack that gives you the energy you need without making you feel ill on race day. A lot of athletes make the mistake of trying something new on race day and can often find some products don’t work or even worse don't sit right and make them feel sick. We realise not everyone is the same but we’ve figured out through reviews as well as using the products ourselves, the top 5 most popular nutritional and hydration products.
Have a look at our top 5 recommendations (we recommend you try them during training before your event to see if they work for you).
Nuun Sports Hydration
As one of the most popular sports hydration products on the market Nunn Sports Hydration pride themselves on the benefits this product provides. Filling you with the electrolytes you need to keep going, this tasty drink only has 1 gram of sugar, 15 calories and no artificial flavouring. When comparing this to a standard sports drink which can contain up to 40 grams of sugar, this drink is no brainer for athletes watching their sugar intake.
With 10 tablets in each tube you use 1 tablet for every 500ml of water. Nuun Sports Hydration comes in a range of 13 different flavours with some of these containing caffeine if you need that extra kick of energy. Containing a balance of essential vitamins and minerals Nuun Sports Hydration are also soy-free, gluten-free, kosher, and vegan.
Price: $15
Servings: 10
Flavours: Cherry Limeade + Caffeine, Lemon Lime, Citrus Fruit, Tri Berry, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Orange, Fruit Punch, Wild Berry + Caffeine, Fresh Lime + Caffeine, Mango Orange + Caffeine, Watermelon Grape.
SOS Hydration
Having been formulated by scientists and used by professional athletes SOS Hydration has become a very popular electrolyte sports drink. This drink is perfect for before, during and after exercise to hydrate and restore electrolytes and minerals including Sodium Chloride, Potassium, Magnesium and Zinc. However, SOS Hydration is not just a sports drink, it has also been proven to help with hangovers, dehydration and recovery..
Price: $69.90
Servings: 50
Flavours: Lemon-Lime, Watermelon, Mango, Berry, Coconut.
CLIF Energy Gel
CLIF have designed these gels to be portable, easy to digest and most importantly tasty. Each CLIF energy gel contains carbohydrates and a little kick of caffeine, with some flavours having a little more than others. The caffeine along with the carbohydrates are made to give you that extra boost you need when training or racing. When doing long endurance CLIF recommends taking 1 gel 15 minutes prior to exercise and 1-2 gels every hour to maintain your energy and get you through your training or race.
Price: $4.50 – ON SALE $2.50
Servings: 1
Flavours: Double Expresso, Mocha, Razz, Chocolate, Citrus
CLIF Bar
CLIF bars have been fueling runners, cyclists and athletes alike since 1992. These energy bars contain a perfect combination of carbohydrates, protein and fibre to sustain your energy levels when you need it most. The nutrients in the bars ensure you don’t have a quick sugar spike and then crash but rather give you a sustained level of energy over longer periods of time. They recommend you eat it 1 - 3 hours before exercise, during long endurance hikes/rides, and even as a quick nutritional snack during your everyday activities.
Price: $4.00
Servings: 1
Flavours: Chocolate Chip, White Choc Macadamia, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Blueberry Crisp, Coconut Choc Chip, Cool Mint Chocolate, Sierra Trail Mix, Peanut Butter Banana, Chocolate Brownie.
Em’s Power Cookie - Power Bites
Em’s Power Cookies - Power Bites are an everyday favourite. While they’re designed to give you sustained energy for your training or long distance rides/hikes, they’re also just a delicious snack. Em’s Power Cookies is a proudly owned and operated New Zealand company by three times Coast to Coast World Multisport Longest Day champion, Emily Miazga. Created by an athlete for athletes, these Power Bites should be on your list if you’re looking for a delicious pre-workout snack.
Price: $13.90
Servings: 8
Flavours: Apricot Chocolate Attack, Chocolate Oat Explosion, Chocolate Cranberry Craze