Gellar
Well-known member
I said what I said. I do like a few blueberry beers.
Hydration drinks?
- Thread starter Dave N
- Start date
PaulRevere
Well-known member
I saw 30 racks of busch peach on sale at people's market in darby on sale for 9.99.You can get a 30 pack of Bush Light peach for about $25
PaulRevere
Well-known member
We can store a couple racks in the garage for ya, @JohnCushmanI saw 30 racks of busch peach on sale at people's market in darby on sale for 9.99.
yakimanoob
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2021
- Messages
- 277
My 2¢:
Electrolyte drinks are very helpful in certain situations (like @wvhunter304's job, by the sound of it), but are MOSTLY unnecessary. That said, I often do necessary things, so do that makes you happy
.
Some basic concepts to keep in mind (from the wilderness medicine docs I work with on SAR):
Electrolyte drinks are very helpful in certain situations (like @wvhunter304's job, by the sound of it), but are MOSTLY unnecessary. That said, I often do necessary things, so do that makes you happy
. Some basic concepts to keep in mind (from the wilderness medicine docs I work with on SAR):
- The only helpful electrolytes are salt and sugar. Sugar-free / low-sodium "electrolyte" drinks are a gimmick. If you don't need more sugar and salt, drink water.
- Our bodies are designed to get electrolytes from food. We can "cheat" the process by drinking them, but generally speaking you should only focus on drinking electrolytes if you can't get enough by eating (more on this below).
- If you're dehydrated, meaning you haven't been drinking enough water to maintain your normal body volume, this means that you already have more electrolytes than you need and drinking an electrolyte drink will cause you to rehydrate more slowly than if you just drank water. You should just drink water in this case, not electrolyte drinks.
- This is, in my experience, the most common misunderstanding / misuse of electrolytes. They do not help you rehydrate.
- The ONLY time that healthy folks benefit from electrolyte drinks is when you're well-hydrated but not able to eat enough to replace the sugar your muscles are using and the salt you're sweating out. The only time I encounter this while hunting is during an intense pack-out. Otherwise, it's easier (and better for me, and cheaper) to simply snack and drink water.
- I also use electrolyte drinks when I'm climbing at high elevations and can't eat without being nauseous.
belshawelk
Well-known member
Bucked up.
Hammer37
New member
Have been a fan of LMNT
El Jason
Well-known member
I make my own LMNT blend per a recipe they provide. It’s helped me all but completely eliminate leg cramps in the night after a hard hunt.
Hammer37
New member
I’ll have to look that recipe up, would rather doctor up my own mix vs the packets with added flavoring, just went easy route with the boxes of packets. Thanks for the insight!
Care to share?
El Jason
Well-known member
I can take pictures of what I have when I get home. I got everything from Amazon, for less than $100. I think my calculated cost is around $0.10/serving. I have enough supplies for at least another hunting season.
100 g sea salt
16g potassium chloride (I use NoSalt)
30g Mg Malate
2 TBSP raspberry flavor
2 TBSP lime flavor
I don’t add any sugar. I use about a tablespoon per liter of water.
802flyfish
Well-known member
LMNT head quarters are in my town. Just don’t like the taste. Wilderness Athlete has some good flavors..
Hammer37
New member
TheReaper8899
New member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2021
- Messages
- 7
If I’m out scouting, hunting or just dirtbiking, nothing beats water. However with that being said while I’m working, the best thing I’ve started to do is add a Gatorade rapid rehydration or liquid IV to a tall bottle of smart water. I only drink half a bottle at a time before going and filling it back up. Typically by the end of the day the bottle is clear again ready for the next day.
Islander
Well-known member
Hydration drinks are one of the worst return on investment, non-necessary food items sold in America. Salt pills or a bit of salt in your water covers everything IF you eat a healthy diet.
That makes LMNT 625× more expensive per serving than salt water—mostly for taste, portability, and branding.
Let’s reexamine each bullet I gave before and cut through the marketing:
You do lose more sodium when insulin is low.
→ Fix: Add salt to water (e.g., 1–2 g sodium/day via salt). No need for LMNT unless you want convenience or flavor.
Sweat loss is mostly sodium; potassium and magnesium losses are much smaller.
→ Fix: Replace with salt water. Potassium isn’t significantly lost unless sweating is extreme and prolonged. Magnesium loss through sweat is negligible.
This is usually from low sodium or low fluid volume.
→ Fix: Salt water again. No need for potassium/magnesium in most acute cases.
If your diet lacks potassium or magnesium (e.g., low veg/fruit intake), maybe there’s a case for supplementing.
→ Fix: Correct your diet instead. You’d get more potassium from one avocado or sweet potato than from 10 packets of LMNT.
This is the only truly non-functional but valid reason: it’s easier, and it tastes better.
→ Fix: Optional—if you're traveling or just want something pre-measured and flavored.
| Product | Cost per Serving |
|---|---|
| LMNT | $1.50 |
| Salt water | $0.0024 (less than a penny) |
That makes LMNT 625× more expensive per serving than salt water—mostly for taste, portability, and branding.
If you're healthy and eat well, salt water is enough in almost all situations.
Let’s reexamine each bullet I gave before and cut through the marketing:
• Fasting or Keto
You do lose more sodium when insulin is low.
→ Fix: Add salt to water (e.g., 1–2 g sodium/day via salt). No need for LMNT unless you want convenience or flavor.
• Heavy Sweating
Sweat loss is mostly sodium; potassium and magnesium losses are much smaller.
→ Fix: Replace with salt water. Potassium isn’t significantly lost unless sweating is extreme and prolonged. Magnesium loss through sweat is negligible.
• Low Blood Pressure / Dizziness
This is usually from low sodium or low fluid volume.
→ Fix: Salt water again. No need for potassium/magnesium in most acute cases.
• Low Electrolyte Diet
If your diet lacks potassium or magnesium (e.g., low veg/fruit intake), maybe there’s a case for supplementing.
→ Fix: Correct your diet instead. You’d get more potassium from one avocado or sweet potato than from 10 packets of LMNT.
• Taste and Convenience
This is the only truly non-functional but valid reason: it’s easier, and it tastes better.
→ Fix: Optional—if you're traveling or just want something pre-measured and flavored.
@Islander is spot on about salt. I personally add salt to my water jug I take to work in the summer but having a little flavor is nice too. Redmond relyte is a pretty solid alternative for LMNT at about $0.50/serving.
I used to really like the wilderness athlete products but I quit using them because they use sucralose as a sweetener. Gatorade and its competitors are trash.
I used to really like the wilderness athlete products but I quit using them because they use sucralose as a sweetener. Gatorade and its competitors are trash.
