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.

@Jim_H

I just carry a salt lick with me

You redeemed yourself from that seat warmer comment..lol

Jim_H wrote:a couple of licks, and I'm ready to go. Very....manly. ;)

Photos or you're a liar!

http://hikearizona.com/photo=383643

@chumley

You look eerily similar to this guy in that pic..

Man. I'm getting abused today. :-({|=

Well, even if I provided such "evidence", how would you know it was salt, and not taffy?

gummo wrote:. . .it's even in the Bible: Proverbs 5:15-20 "Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well." . . .

A cistern is a tank for holding rainwater. I don't see how that relates to urophagia. A cistern is not a septic tank
How do we get this thread back on topic now that it has gone careening wildly off the rails.

Grasshopper wrote:. . . it's always nice to know that our "Uncle Jack" is still out there monitoring

I monitor when I take a break from playing Pixel Trivia Solitaire

We'll what I am waiting for is a great IPA with electrolytes

I've finally weaned myself off Gatorade to a thin mixture of TrueLime Black Cherry/Limeade (or TrueLemon Lemon/Raspberry) which use Stevia as a sweetener. For the days I expect higher temps and/or more strenuous hikes I'll add Electro-Mix as well.

To make 64 oz I use only two (instead of the recommended four) TrueLime/TrueLemon packets and one Electro-Mix packet.

I get the TrueLemon/TrueLime at Fry's and although some Hi-Health and Sprouts stores carry the ElectroMix packets I buy a bunch at a time on-line. I've been doing this for quite some time now and it was worked great for both Tracey and I.

i don't bring any type of electrolyte mix on a hike - just water
afterwards, i find a lemonade slurpee followed by salt and vinegar potato chips does the trick
actually, a slurpee really doesn't quench the thirst, but it does refresh
for a replacement drink, i like the nuun tablets
i like vitamin water zero, but it's a little pricey

Well I buy water with electrolytes already in it for the summer months + 1 liter of city tap water encase I am really desperate. So I have not drank any city water in 6 years.

So Todd tells me he uses the Lance Armstrong drink. When I was doing all day trips, I would find that drinking only water would cause me to bonk after about 6 or so hours of sustained effort over moderate to difficult terrain. I have tried the Gu gel packets and can't say I like them. I don't really like the idea of a powder mixed with water because I'd like to keep my Camelbak as water only, due to bacteria growth if you keep sugary (electrolytic) drinks in there. I bookmarked a few of the posts but I didn't really see anything for some type of energy gels besides the gu packets.

nonot wrote: I have tried the Gu gel packets and can't say I like them. I didn't really see anything for some type of energy gels besides the gu packets.

I use and kind-of like the Gu gel packets which now come in multiple flavors to choose from. I began using them as an energy gel a few years ago when I was hiking regularly with HAZ- topohiker as they were one of his "go to" energy boosts for his long distance day hikes. I'm not sure if Ken still promotes these or not but would like to know what he now prefers to use?

@nonotElete Electrolytes can go in your Camelbak without any problem with bacteria. I do keep mine in a Hydroshock canteen on the side of my pack. I like to slam my electrolytes.

Gu is a high sugar supplement. If I am dragging and I am within about 45 minutes of the trailhead, I will suck down a Gu with lots of water. The sugar high is followed by a carb crash.

Some folks like Accelerade on a hike. It has electrolytes and some protein. It started with the mountain bike community and spread to the hiking community. Protein is better over a long stretch than carbs. Some people can't tolerate it. (osmolality)

At the end of a hike I like to have a cooler with a protein shake in it for muscle recovery. These old muscles ain't what they used to be so I need the recovery so I don't pay the price the next day. Then I like to find a pub with some Herradura. Then the next morning some M&Ms (Motrin & Move Free) and some Excedrin (aspirin and caffeine). Better life through chemistry.

I hope and pray that someday all of you get to know what it feels like to be an 80 year old man. ;)

CannondaleKid wrote:TrueLemon Lemon/Raspberry

I've been using this stuff too for a little flavor (usually just at home, though). I find it at Safeway.

nonot wrote:So Todd tells me he uses the Lance Armstrong drink.

I am a big fan of FRS products, although they aren't electrolytes, they're a source of energy (quercetin) that for me seems to be very steady and long lasting (or maybe its just all in my head, who knows). And since his doping scandal, FRS has severed all ties with Lance, who was their spokesman for a while.

I probably get most of my electrolytes from food. I always start a big hiking day with a banana, then lots of nuts (especially almonds) and dried fruit (apricots and raisins are excellent) throughout the day for potassium, magnesium, etc. Sodium is easy, eating lots of salty snack foods all day. I'll usually take some powdered tea or sports drink along too and mix it at about half strength, mainly because the flavoring makes it easier to keep drinking enough.

nonot wrote:So Todd tells me he uses the Lance Armstrong drink.

EPO & Steroids?

nonot wrote:I don't really like the idea of a powder mixed with water because I'd like to keep my Camelbak as water only, due to bacteria growth if you keep sugary (electrolytic) drinks in there.

That's one of the reasons I stopped using Gatorade but with the TrueLemon/TrueLime (Stevia instead of sugar) I no longer have that issue. In fact I just got back from a week in Utah and I never emptied or cleaned my CamelBak the whole time. Now if I had done that with Gatorade there would be black slime in the bladder and drinking tube... not that I ever got sick from drinking with the slime in the bladder.

CannondaleKid wrote:For the days I expect higher temps and/or more strenuous hikes I'll add Electro-Mix as well.

I love this stuff, because it's not sweetened too terribly much (stevia) - most are painfully sweet to me. Made by the same company as Emergen-C.
I don't drink or take it along during hiking, though. Half a liter before, half a liter after if it's a very hot day or a really heavy load.

But, really, salty snacks throughout the hike seems to work best for me.

Have tried and used several products but one thing that is important to me is that I HAVE to like the taste. The ability of you to want to continually drink whatever you choose needs to be part of your decision.

@Sun Ray I agree completely! And now because I like the mix I'm using I find I'm drinking more and staying fully hydrated.