Water isn’t just refreshing — it’s essential to keep our bodies running smoothly, especially when on the trail. Staying hydrated helps regulate body temperature, supports digestion, and keeps muscles working at their best.
But if there's one thing that I've noticed, it's that hikers routinely struggle with their water intake - including myself. It's easy to get distracted by the mission ahead and before you know it you've gone three hours without drinking water.
When we sweat, we lose water but we also lose valuable micronutrients and electrolytes. As we exhibit even mild dehydration we start to feel tired, regulating body temperature becomes more difficult (it's about the time we start peeling off layers), and eventually we feel thirsty.
But thirst is the last panic signal our body sends to try to force us to start drinking water. By the time we feel thirsty, it's too late - we're already dehydrated and our body is in struggle town.
One way to combat this is to make water taste better. Instead of taking heavy pre-made overly processed sports drinks, take sachets to add flavour and additional nutrients to your water instead. Not only will water become something you look forward to, but achieving your required fluid intake will be a breeze.
I've rounded up an assortment of electrolytes, protein supplements, greens powders, and even powdered multivitamin sachets that can add variety to your water and help you stay hydrated.
Water doesn't have to be that boring substance you struggle through in between delicious snacks. Other beverages are great, and I love plain water as much as the next guy, but I drink more without even thinking about it when it tastes delicious.
Jump Ahead to the Section That Interests You:
Best Products to Improve the Flavour of Drinking Water
Voost Vitamin C Effervescent Tablets
RRP: $10.99 (20 x serves)
Directions: Dissolve in 200ml water
Dietary considerations: No added dairy, lactose, soy, or yeast/gluten, vegan & vegetarian-friendly
Flavours available: Blood orange, Elderberry
Increasing your water intake both on and off the trail doesn't get much easier than with Voost effervescent tablets. Simply pop a tablet into your water bottle or cup of tap water at the start of the day.
On longer multi-day hikes I rarely take many fruits as they're just too heavy fresh thanks to their high moisture content. Taking a daily Voost is a simple way to ensure I'm meeting my vitamin C requirements.
Voost has a large range of effervescent tablets with different purposes. Try their strawberry-flavoured collagen tablets to support skin health while hiking (skin often suffers from lack of care on the trail!), a Voost Energy to help give you an extra bit of pep in your step, or a Voost Multivitamin to ensure you’re getting all the basics for overall health and wellbeing during your adventure.
As Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, whatever your body doesn't use will be expelled in your urine. I mention this because light yellow urine is what should come out when you're well hydrated, but when you take Vitamin C, it can cause your urine to be darker. Make sure you keep track of your actual fluid intake rather than relying on visual cues.
Sodium: 255mg (only 218mg sodium in the elderberry flavour)
Vitamin C: 1000mg
What do they taste like?
Voost are refreshing. Not too artificial. When added to water they create a nice sweet fizz, which is great for variety on adventures. Whenever I'm craving something sweet and bubbly like lemonade, I'll often reach for a Voost as a healthy substitute.
The flavour is more intense than the electrolytes on this list while still being recognisable as water-based. It's blood orange, with none of the bitterness. It's the closest thing to a healthy soft drink I've tasted.
Holy H20 Hydrogenizer Bottle
RRP: $260 (But it's 50% for $129.99 right now)
Weight: 348g
Material: High boron double-glazed glass
Alternatives: 1.5L Tough Triton BPA-free plastic bottle
Flavour: Flavourless but organic FLAVR water drops (available in lemon, vanilla lime, orange, or wildberry) are suitable to add to hydrogenized water 15% off discount code: 'THEHIKERSN39208' – shop here!
Hydrogen-infused water has been rapidly gaining traction as the next best thing in water for the past year or so. It's claimed that a concentration of 1.2-1.4 parts per million (PPM) is enough to produce positive anti-inflammatory health benefits.
Other perks include boosted energy, better skin and joint health, increased hydration, and better athletic performance. Sounds like a wonder drug right?
Currently, hydrogen water is sitting in that annoying scientific grey area where just as much research exists to validate it, as invalidate it. While scientific experiments with hydrogen water are ongoing, it doesn't mean there isn't something to gain here. We know it won't cause harm, and it may cause huge benefits - a combination I find exciting. Naturally, I grabbed one of the HolyH20 Hydrogenizer Bottles to test it out.
I was initially sceptical about the idea of actually noticing any benefits. I figured any improvement would likely be a placebo, but I'll admit - I haven't felt so energized from a single glass of water in a long time. I've been using it instead of sparkling water for two months to help me drink more water throughout the day and I don't plan on stopping.
What to expect?
It's not like carbonated water so if you're expecting bubbles you'll be sorely disappointed. It tastes the same as regular water. But, I find my concentration is better and I feel more energetic. Placebo? Maybe – but I'm still feeling it!
How does it work?
You charge up the bottle (it's good for about 20 uses), fill it with water, then tap the button for the three-minute hydrogenation process. There's a bunch of blue light and groovy bubbles to watch. The hydrogen is most potent when consumed immediately after brewing, but if you keep the lid on, you can consume it over the next six hours and still reap the benefits.
Wait much longer and the hydrogen escapes so you'll need to a hydrogenizer on your hike. That's where the BPA-free plastic 349g, 1.5L Tough Tritan Bottle would be the best option. No way I'm taking a glass bottle hiking.
If you enjoy testing out new innovations and like your water to taste like water, this could be a great option to boost your next hike. Thousands of people are out there right now raving about it, and while I'm still not 100% convinced I'm not imagining it, there's every chance it's helping a lot so I'm going to keep using it and stay updated as new research emerges.
Want to try? Pop in 'THEHIKERSN39208' for 15% off your bottle! I'm pretty keen to snap up the Tough Tritan too. Let me know in the comments if you grab one and what you think!
Blue Dinosaur Protein Water Tropical Flavour
RRP: $48.95 (10 x sachets)
Serving size: 30g
Dietary considerations: Gluten-free
Flavours available: Tropical, Lemon Lime Best application for use: Recovery after your hike is finished for the day.
When considering adding flavour to the water you drink on a hike, a great strategy is to consider an option that will help you in more ways than one. Not only does the Protein Water from Blue Dinosaur make drinking water more interesting, but it provides somewhat of a triple crown of nutritional value: 23.9g of protein, added vitamin C, and electrolytes.
The protein used is a blend of NZ Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate and Bovine Collagen which provides a complete BCAA profile. This will help prevent muscle degradation and – along with the added Vitamin C – maximise muscle growth and repair after intense physical activity.
Included electrolytes – sodium, potassium, magnesium, & calcium – work together to keep you hydrated for optimal nerve and muscle function.
As a bonus, it's gluten-free and has no artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, or sugar alcohols.
Energy: 104 calories
Carbohydrates: 1.5g (0.1g sugar)
Protein: 23.9G
Sodium: 48.6g
Potassium: 131mg
Magnesium: 31mg
Calcium: 43mg
Vitamin C: 40mg
What does it taste like?
Tropical – This both smelt and tasted naturally fruity, with a clear smell of oranges. The mix is smooth but slightly cloudy, even after leaving it to settle. It doesn't taste grainy though so I wasn't too bothered. It has a hint of sweetness, but nothing artificial.
It gave me cordial vibes but it was nice not to be hit with an onslaught of sugar.
Lemon Lime – This has a delicious fresh lemon scent, and tastes like lime. It's exactly what I'd expect from a glass of water with a slice of each fruit in it. It's a lighter more subtle flavour than the tropical and tasted clean and natural with every sip. It was ever so slightly sweet but the sweeter of the two was definitely the tropical flavour.
Visit the Blue Dinosaur website to grab some for your next hike.
SILA x Waterdrop Electrolyte Drink Cubes
RRP: From $19 (12 x 4.2g cubes)
Directions: Drop your cube into 400-600ml of still or sparkling water
Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, caffeine-free, sugar-free (ideal for people with diabetes)
Flavour: Grapefruit, Watermelon, Lemon
Made in Germany and developed by tennis champion Novak Djokovic, the SILA x Waterdrop Electrolyte Drink Cubes are designed to support high performance, replenish electrolytes, and aid recovery all in one handy dandy zero-sugar dissolvable cube.
As with many electrolyte supplements, these aren't about energy. They have zero proteins, fats, or carbohydrates. And no artificial preservatives - win.
With natural plant and fruit extracts, these convenient little cubes are a great solution for when you finish your hike knowing that you haven't had much water. Without hydrating properly and replenishing electrolytes at the end of your hike, there's a greater risk of cramping muscles and dehydration.
If you get dehydrated, be wary of drinking too fast or drinking too much water in a last-ditch effort to drink enough for the day before it's over. Your body can only absorb so much water per minute so small regular sips are the best way to go. Too many fluids can be a problem so boosting your water with supplements like this that help you get the most of it is an efficient strategy.
Energy: 4 calories
Sodium: 100mg
Potassium: 131mg
Magnesium: 62mg
Calcium: 132mg
Vitamin C: 20mg
What do they taste like?
Watermelon – The cube takes a few minutes to dissolve so I recommend dropping it in and then setting up your tent or switching from boots to sandals while you wait. The aroma is bang on perfect fresh watermelon. With my eyes closed I could have had a slice under my nose instead.
The flavour is significantly diluted compared to the aroma, but with electrolytes that tends to be preferred so you can easily drink it all. I did find myself craving a little more punch though and there is an obvious salty undertone. Consistency-wise this doesn't fully dissolve – plenty of grains remain suspended though it's smooth to drink. Would happily drink this again.
Visit the Waterdrop website to try these on your next hike and stay tuned for a more detailed flavour comparison in an upcoming article.
Aqualyte Fluid & Electrolyte Supplement
RRP: $18 (10 x 25g sachet sample pack) or $64 (50 x 25g mixed sachet pack)
Directions: Add to 600ml water and dissolve
Flavours: Lemon-lime, Orange, Berry
This is a hypotonic fluid and electrolyte replacement drink which will be absorbed by your body much quicker than plain tap water or isotonic drinks.
What's the difference between hypotonic and isotonic? Hypotonic fluids have a lower concentration of solutes like salts than blood does. Isotonic fluids have a similar concentration to blood – this isn't bad, it just means they absorb more slowly into the body.
As a hypotonic fluid, Aqualyte supplements are recommended to prevent dehydration, though they're useful afterwards too. This is an important distinction. For the full benefit, you should aim to drink this before you start to experience fluid loss through sweat.
Energy: 36.7 calories
Carbohydrates: 9.3g (8.5g sucrose, 0.8g glucose)
Sodium: 70mg
Potassium: 30mg
How much water you need to drink throughout the day varies slightly based on your exertion level and a few other factors like weather, but replenishing electrolytes helps you stay hydrated for longer and delays the onset of fatigue. It's not magic – you still need to drink enough to satisfy your required daily water intake – but it's so affordable and helpful it's kind of a no-brainer.
If you do notice the effects of dehydration setting in, Aqualyte will help hydrate you much faster than plain water or other isotonic electrolyte alternatives. When assessing the quality of electrolytes you want to aim for high clarity, full dissolvability, and flavours that are moreish.
I've had a lot of electrolytes over the years and I was blown away by the quality of Aqualyte. If you've been loyal to Hydrolyte (there are other options guys) prepare to defect once you try these.
It's exceptionally rare for me to say, but I can't fault them. The mix is crystal clear, and completely dissolved, and I could drink it all day. It also gives you a hit of carbohydrates along with the electrolytes to put some pep in your step straight away.
Stock your hiking kit with extra hydrating flavour by visiting the Aqualyte website.
What do they taste like?
Berry - The strong and delightfully appealing berry aroma had me convinced I was in for a flavour onslaught, but this tastes mild, like weak 40% cordial. This mightn't initially sound appealing but when you're on the trail it makes it extremely easy to drink without getting sick of the flavour. But weirdly, because it smells so good right before you drink, it's kind of like you do get the enjoyment of berries without the 'ugh no more' so commonly associated with other sickly sweet electrolyte mixes.
Orange – In contrast to the berry, this one had almost no smell, and next to no discernible taste. If the berry was like 40% cordial, this one was more like 10%. It was so close to zero flavour I performed a blind taste test with my partner. He identified the orange but it was a slim margin of difference. If you want electrolytes without feeling like you're drinking something salty or sugary, this flavour is what you should run for.
Lemon-Lime – This one had a distinctly tangy and refreshing odour, conjuring immediate margarita vibes. While the flavour was tantalising mild again, this one was uniquely refreshing and somehow tasted colder – probably due to past associations with cool drinks that share the same flavour. Interesting little trick there! This was my favourite of the three.
Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel Drink Mix
RRP: $94 for 50 serves, $72 for 30 serves, or $6 for 2 sachets
Serving size: 53g (2 scoops of the bulk pack or 1 sachet)
Directions: Mix with 590-710ml water
Dietary considerations: Dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan
Flavours available: Lemon, Mandarin, Raspberry, Tropical, Naked (flavourless), Dauwaltermelon, Raspberry (caffeinated), Cola (caffeinated)
Adding Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel Drink Mix to help boost your water intake is a slam dunk when you look at the benefits it has for the human body. The packaging comes with the slogan 'all you need really' and they're kind of right.
Forget soft drinks. Forget fruit juice. Sure, these drinks taste good, but they won't do anywhere near as much to help you function properly or stay hydrated.
If you've read ahead to the key nutrition information, you'll have noticed that the Endurance Fuel Mix hits you with 50g of sugar. I can hear you wondering how it's any different to those sugary drinks I was warning you about just a paragraph ago. Hold your indignation, there's a reason.
The added sugar in Tailwind Endurance Fuel provides you with immediate energy to support movement, and crucially giving you essential micronutrients – remember that's sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium – to prevent dehydration, at the same time. Your standard sugary drink only gives you sugar for energy to keep going, without any additional nutrients to support you. They're a speedway trip to dehydration if not used very strategically.
Energy: 200 calories
Carbohydrates: 50g (sugar 50g)
Sodium: 630mg
Potassium: 176mg
Magnesium: 28mg
Calcium: 52mg
How To Use It: On tough hikes pop 2-3 scoops (or 1 full sachet) into your 600-800ml drink bottle every hour. You should finish it before the 60 minutes is up. If the hike is less intense, 1 scoop per hour (or half to a third of the sachet) will be enough to help your ‘soul soar’ as founder Jeff describes it.
What does it taste like?
Raspberry – The aroma of the powder is deliciously strong raspberry, but once you've mixed it with water it becomes almost odourless. The consistency is silky smooth and it dissolves well with minimal sediment in the water. It's not going to blow you away with flavour but aside from Aqualyte, I haven't tasted such a delicious and well-balanced electrolyte in a long time.
Ideal for long tough hikes, marathon or trail running events, and cycling, Tailwind Nutrition exists to support both your performance and hydration with high quality supplements. Check them out here.
Offgrid Provisions Sandover Nutrient Rich Broth
RRP: $15.99 (7 x 20g sachets)
Dietary considerations: Gluten-free
Directions: Add to 500ml hot water and mix well
Flavour: Beef mushroom chilli
This nutrient-rich broth is the perfect addition to your hiking kit when you're headed out on a cold day. Weather can hugely impact how much water we drink - I rarely feel thirsty when it's cold. While you will need to take the extra step of boiling your drinking water before stirring this in, the additional effort is well worth it.
Offgrid is all about nutritious ingredients and, as usual, they've included a selection of high-quality, simple, and delicious ones. There are no nasties. No additives. Just pasture-fed beef bone broth powder, chilli, saltbush, garlic, mushroom, seaweed, and shio koji. If you don't know what the heck shio koji is, welcome. It's essentially a natural alternative to soy sauce and provides that difficult-to-describe umami flavour.
Warm up your body, and ward off dehydration by replacing your morning coffee with this nutrient-rich broth instead. It doesn't provide enough energy to replace the need for food, but as it requires a high water content of 500ml it will get you well on your way to meeting your daily water intake requirements before you even head out.
What does it taste like?
Ooft. This was delicious. It's hearty, savoury, and comfortingly warm. I've had some god-awful beef bone broths previously so this was the last product I tasted and yes, I put it off until the eleventh hour. Thankfully, I was more than pleasantly surprised. It's full-bodied, has beefy undertones and the perfect balance of umami without being salty. Despite being dissolved in 500ml of water it wasn't remotely watery, more akin to soup.
When I'm assessing flavour I normally rate out of 5. For this broth, I'd legitimately consider giving it a 6 out of 5, which is impossible, but – wow. If the temperatures are even rumoured to be cold on future hikes you can guarantee I'll have this with me from now on.
Grab some for yourself at Offgrid Provisions.
Greenback Plant-Based Chocolate Protein Powder
RRP: $32 (330g bag with 11 x servings)
Directions: Mix 30g into 250ml water
Dietary considerations: Plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free
Flavours: Chocolate, Vanilla
Drinking enough water won't be a problem once you've tasted the plant-based Chocolate Protein Powder from Greenback. Made from 20g pea protein it provides all 9 essential amino acids to support muscle strength and recovery on the trail. It's low in sugar so you'll avoid an energy crash, and free from preservatives, artificial colours and flavours.
Energy: 113 calories
Carbohydrates: 4.8g (sugar 1.9g)
Protein: 20.1g
Fat: 1.3g
Sodium: 265mg
Fibre: 0.7g
What does it taste like?
Vanilla – There is a strong sweet vanilla aroma. It reminded me immediately of the white icing on Coles's $5 vanilla mud cakes. The drink itself tasted like a creamy vanilla cake in liquid form. It was delicious. I could taste the sugar, but it wasn't sickly. I don't normally choose a vanilla flavour for protein, but I'd happily drink this. Consistency was perfect.
Chocolate – This one smelt like a creamy milk chocolate mousse. It was very well dissolved - not a single clump and not gritty. Very smooth. The flavour was milk chocolate and it had a full creamy texture. It wasn't overly watery and it didn't taste like it had sugar in it. It was slightly more watery than the vanilla but overall both flavours were very full-bodied.
Drink more water with Greenback by visiting their website and checking out their protein powder, protein water, shakers, and water bottles. Stay tuned for a deeper look at Greenback protein when I dig into protein powders in December.
Be Good Health – Good Day Multivitamin Sachet
RRP: $49.99 (30 x 5g sachets)
Directions: Mix with 500ml water
Dietary considerations: Vegan-friendly, not suitable if you're pregnant or breastfeeding
Flavour: Passionfruit
At less than $1.70 per serve, the Australian-made Good Day Multivitamin supplement is a delicious way to get your water intake up and ensure you're giving your body all the essential nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables that we frequently miss when multi-day hiking.
Be Good Health – the brand behind this supplement – has done an incredible job at presenting the 60+ benefits of their ingredients so, in the interest of this not becoming an ode to Good Day, you can check out the full explanation of each perk here.
For those who won't click beyond this article, the supplement includes: zinc, magnesium, curcuma longa (aka turmeric), rhodiola rosea (amazing plant), all the B vitamins, and vitamin C. Increasing your water intake has never been so good for your general health!
How to use?
This is suitable to add to tap water and drink every single day - not just out on the trail. Remember that vitamins B & C are both water soluble so anything your body doesn't need will be excreted in your urine - turning it a brighter colour.
Don't panic! This is totally fine, it just means that monitoring the colour of your urine to determine if you're drinking enough water isn't an option. Keep track of how much water you drink by monitoring how many times you refill your bottle throughout the day instead.
What does it taste like?
While the team at Be Good Health have described this supplement as tasting like 'angel piss', I'd describe it as the perfect alternative to fruit juice. It's sweet without being artificial and the passionfruit flavour is unique in a good way.
It's easy to shoot down with 500ml but the flavour is a lot more diluted. If you're chasing a punchy juicy vibe, try it with 300ml for a few sips before topping up to 500ml.
As a bonus, if you subscribe to Good Day they'll send you a free drink bottle which is crazily light and perfect for ultralight hiking. If, like me, you're drowning in bottles, it makes a good stocking stuffer for someone else at Christmas. Plus they've got 10% off for new customers.
Radix Nutrition Recovery Shake
RRP: From $74.90 (15 x 65g sachets) to $79.90 (1kg bag)
Directions: Add to 300ml of water or other drinks
Dietary considerations: Gluten-free, soy-free, GMO-free. Contains milk and tree nuts (almonds)
Flavour options: Berry & Banana, Cacoa & Banana, Spirulina & Strawberry
10% Discount code: 'HIKE10' – shop here!
The Radix Nutrition Recovery Shake provides the same energy as a light meal and is a great way for hikers who like to eat and drink on the go to get all the nutrients of food and more water in one product.
With 30g of whey protein DIAAS complex 1.61 (the world's most bioavailable protein) in each serve this health supplement is ideal for muscle growth and repair.
As well as exceptionally good protein, this is packed with natural antioxidants, superfood ingredients, and essential vitamins and minerals. Radix have a great explanation of benefits of each on their website.
Energy: 249 calories
Carbohydrates: 16.5g (sugar 12.3g)
Protein: 30.1g
Fat: 5.7g
Sodium: 219mg
Potassium: 570mg
Calcium: 291mg
What does it taste like?
Despite being mixed with water this one tastes like a creamy richly fruity smoothie you could have made in your own kitchen, probably thanks to the real fruit and no artificial anything used. It will give you the illusion of having had a thick shake and is distinctly fuller-bodied than the rest of the of the fluid supplements on this list.
It does require a significant amount of shaking in a blender bottle to get the powder dissolved. If you're struggling, add slightly more water than the 300ml. It's super thick, you won't even notice. The first time I made this I had quite a few chunks of unmixed powder which wasn't the best but I just hadn't shaken it enough. In a blender at home it's positively divine and smooth – especially if you add ice.
How To Mix It?
I've also got to take this opportunity to fangirl over their stainless steel shaker bottle – the powder is thick so you'll need a shaker or a shaker ball to add to your drink bottle so it mixes properly. One of those battery-operated blenders would be ideal.
I'm not sure when stainless shakers made it onto the scene but if you're still using plastic shakers... it's time to upgrade. My plastic shakers have done their time – I can't drink directly out of most of them because they've hoarded the ghost smells of every mix I've ever put in them and it's a putrid combo. This isn't remotely possible with stainless steel.
So even though it's chunky, and it weighs 500g, I'm very happy to have replaced my plastic shakers with the very schmick stainless number from Radix. Grab one for yourself and you'll never go back to plastic. It's $40, but enter my discount code 'HIKE10' and you'll save 10%.
Nature's Way Super Foods Green Boost Powder
RRP: $24.00 (100g bag with 10 x servings)
Directions: Dissolve 2tsp/10g into 200-300ml water
Dietary considerations: May contain gluten, soy, or milk
Flavour: Tropical
The multi-nutrient superfood powder by Nature's Way is another health supplement that you can add to plain water to get the benefits of fruits and vegetables without having actually eaten any.
It's packed with '81 vital ingredients', which admittedly feels a bit excessive. Water is vital - we'd die without it! - but most of us get by just fine without eating guava or dandelion root extract every day. I'm more inclined to view these as 81 nice to have ingredients instead, but semantics aside, they're a good thing.
Each serving provides you with essential vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, probiotics, nutrient herbs and protein. The packet assures us in quite large font that there's 'no grassy taste' which is common with greens supplements and frankly the last thing you want to taste when walking on grass all day long - so that's good.
This greens powder can be added to other beverages like juice or smoothies, so in theory you could add it to your recovery protein mix if you didn't like the taste. One thing I particularly like about this product is that it contains both prebiotics and probiotics to help your digestive system work properly and encourage regular bowel movements. This will be especially beneficial if you're relying on dehydrated meals out there.
So, what does it taste like?
I found it really tricky to pinpoint the exact flavour and have essentially concluded that while it doesn't taste like grass, I don't think the super-sweet ambiguous artificial mixed-lollies-esque experience is an improvement. This is compounded by the exceptionally grainy texture.
Despite using the recommended amount of water there was a quarter of a teaspoon of sediment on the bottom, I swirled it constantly between sips but it never fully dissolved.
There's no aftertaste (thankfully!) but the powdery grains coat the inside of your mouth and it's unpleasant. If you've used your main drink bottle you'll definitely need to wash out the inside before adding something else.
I really wanted to love this one but I couldn't stomach finishing one serving. Despite this, I still recommend using a greens supplement on the trail – it's just a matter of finding one that tastes palatable! If you want to try it for yourself you'll find it in the health food section at Woolworths.
Got a recommendation? Let's share in the comments!
Final Flavour For Water & Water Intake Thoughts
I'm sure you've reached this part of the article and your mind is bursting with heaps of other alternatives to add some sparkle to your water supply. And you're right - there are plenty of other options out there to prevent us from taking heavier pre-made drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other drinks like Red Bull or Gatorade on the trail to meet our fluid needs.
Why are these bad? Aside from being overly processed, full of unnecessary sugars, and often diuretic, they come in single-use plastic bottles that seem to end up in bushes instead of bins even more often than bottled water does. Reusable bottles people! These drinks do have their place in outdoor adventures, but I find them excessive for hikers, especially when there are more nutritious options available.
From herbal teas to tap water with a slice of lemon or lime, there are heaps of additional options to flavour your water, especially homemade ones if you have a dehydrator. This article was about providing you with the most convenient and lightweight options for the quickest way to increase your daily fluid intake.
Hopefully I've given you some ideas and inspired you to drink water more often!
What's your favourite method to ensure you drink plenty of water? Let me know in the comments.
FAQs
Do you have discount codes for any of these products?
Yep! For an easy way to drink more water and eat more food on your next hike, enter 'HIKE10' at the Radix Nutrition website checkout for 10% off. For 15% off the Holy H2o Hydrogenizer Bottle, enter 'THEHIKERSN39208' – shop here!
Does drinking more water reduce your body temperature when hiking?
Yep! The main way we keep ourselves cool is by sweating, and to sweat we need to be adequately hydrated. If we're dehydrated our body will reserve water we'd otherwise use for sweating for other primary functions and it's harder to cool down.
Being hydrated also increases our blood volume, encouraging frequent circulation. Good circulation enables your body to send warm blood to the surface, where heat can be lost to the environment.
Is fruit juice a good fluid to take hiking?
While juice contains water, it doesn't hydrate as efficiently as plain water. On a hot day, juice can leave you feeling more thirsty due to its sugar content, and lead to sugar crashes if you drink a lot at once. It's also heavier than taking a sachet or electrolyte.
On the flip side it's tasty and might encourage you to drink more. Just think about the weight vs nutritional benefits. As long as you drink enough fluids to be hydrated, that's the main thing.
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