Sports drinks

[desert spirit]

Do you like these?

Normally, I find Gatorade et al to be absolutely disgusting and not fit for human consumption. However, if I've just come in from running or hiking in the desert and the temp is about 9,000 degrees fahrenheit and I'm drenched in sweat, then Gatorade is salvation sent from heaven and I can easily chug an entire quart bottle of it. Talk about context-sensitive.

How do you like 'em?

[te_wa]

gookinade. ultra-fuel. propel.
gatorade sucks. sugar water is all it is.

[Dschur]

The only thing with gatorade is to drink one to four.... For every ounce, bottle, cup whatever make sure you drink 4 of water. This is what is taught to the wildland firefighters in all their training classes. People think they are a substitute for water but aren't.

[dysfunction]

the only time I can stomach gatorade is when I'm dehydrated.. even then I'd rather mix it 1:2 or 2:3 and still find it way too sweet and still supplement it with water. I do have to admit though that the camelbak tablets are not unpleasant and a whole lot easier to carry and deal with... if you're talking sports drinks

[te_wa]

or NUUN, but those are pricey

[Jeffshadows]

There are some good recipes out on the marathon runner websites for making your own powders that will be better than Gatorade.

[fairweather8588]

Love gatorade, love powerade, dont drink em that often though

[dysfunction]

I've been wondering about Hammer Endurolytes, it'd be easier to carry..

[writelots]

I like gookinade, but can't stomach it when I'm not hot/tired/hiking (now it's called hydrolite? or some such nonscense). Gatorade makes me sick regardless.

Best sports drink in the world: ice cold water from a clear mountain stream out of the tube of my camelbak. Clears away all of the world's worries...only works until I get back into my car, though, then the effects begin to immediately wear off...

Of course, maybe we should listen to Te-Wa. Look what the drinks did for him...

[BobP]

I had bad leg cramps in high school(from getting overheated playing football) and the Dr. gave me quinine pills. I heard the FDA banned them for some reason. Another thing he told me to do was drink pickle juice(gross but I did it and still do sometimes ).. that was before all these fancy sports drinks. Gatorade and Tang were around but they made me sick,

Now I have 2 bannanas a day and drink lots of water. When I hike, I drink lots of water and use different mixes. I usually mix per instructions than drink half refill with water and repeat.

[BobP]

Of course, maybe we should listen to Te-Wa. Look what the drinks did for him...

AWESOME

[joebartels]

I like Gatorade in slim moderation after several hours of difficult terrain.

[Al_HikesAZ]

Define Sports Drinks?

For athletic performance I need electrolyte replacement and some energy. I hate Gatorade, it has all the wrong stuff and BAD OSMOLALITY!!! Osmolality is the measure of concentration of a fluid. Depending on the concentration, an ingested fluid can be either hypertonic (more concentrated than your body fluids), isotonic (equal in concentration to your body fluids) or hypotonic (less concentrated than your body fluids).
I'm currently using ELETE Electrolyte Add-in from EleteWater. You can get an electrolyte comparison at EleteWater.com. A little goes a long way so it's great for backpacking in the Grand Canyon. Hammer Nutrition's HEED and Perpetuem are great with GOOD Osmolality so you don't build up that puke feeling in the gut. Look at what the Ultrarunners and Extreme mountain bikers use. There is a new one I want to check out. I have a sample at home but I don't remember what it is. Supposed to be better than HEED. Cytomax is ok. I haven't tried Crank e-fuel yet.

For most sports, good Tequila is the best sports drink.

[big_load]

Gookinade for me, especially the lemonade flavor. Under the right circumstances, it's like coming back from the dead. I don't mind Gatorade as much sme others, but I mix it half strength. Glaceau Smart Water is surprisingly good for something that's embarassingly trendy and overpriced.

[imike]

depends whether the goal is fluid replacement or energy replacement... Gatorade diluted can do a pretty good job on fluid replacement, as can just about anything with a small amount of sugar and some salts... too much sugar and it will not move out of the stomach fast enough. If the job at hand last long enough to justify energy replacement it becomes tricky. If the output level is really high, it can really be hard to keep the calories coming in fast enough to support that upper end level of activity. In the end it is all about what works for you... and it is a really good idea to check it out completely before you head out on a really important, challenging day. Bummer to see the energy dive from dehydration or bonking. I use powdered gatorade in very dilute form just because of its convenience...

[Ckzona]

I like Powerade more then gatorade. I don't seem to like either when I am hydrated but when i am dehydrated i can chug down a 32 oz easy

[oceanwithin]

coconut water!! it's the water from inside young coconuts (not to be confused with coconut milk). it has similar electrolyte/potassium-replenishing qualities as gatorade, etc. without the sugar. it doesn't have much taste - not really coconutty as you would expect. you can buy it at whole foods, sprouts, etc (even at bashas!) but it is kind of pricey. yum!

[Al_HikesAZ]

Final word - Pedialyte. #1 Pediatrician Recommended Brand for rehydration from diarrhea or vomiting. Great for hiking use too.

[joebartels]

coconut water!!

I've tried it, ick! Then again I was expecting it to taste like coconut, so perhaps I'll revisit it as a "sports" drink.

[PaleoRob]

If you want exactly the right mix of electrolytes that comes out in your own sweat, here's a secret to consider. Drink a glass of water, and then lick the sweat off of your arms.
All this which is the best is kinda pointless, in my opinion. There are certainly products that are junk, no doubt, but I think most anything not too sugary with electrolytes that doesn't taste like butt is going to get the job done. I use powdered Gatoraid, Poweraide, or generic store brand, whichever happens to be cheapest, and they all seem to do a decent job.
I have noticed that Crystal Lite: Hydration doesn't do as good of job as any of the above mentioned ones that I have tried, however...