While hiking on a hot day or up a steep grade mountain,you are losing your electrolytes. You can lose electrolytes rapidly just by sweating and urinating out on the trails.
Sometimes water is just not enough to replenish those lost electrolytes. Listed below are the electrolyte replacements that work great for us. We always pack some form of replacement below no matter the hike.
What’s an Electrolyte?
Electrolytes are essential minerals with the major and most important being Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Phosphate, and Magnesium.
Losing these electrolytes can cause severe dehydration, muscle cramping, dizziness, mental confusion. One early onset and very common symptom is swollen and tight fingers, that is especially visible when trying to make a fist. These symptoms mean that you should stop, take a break, and replenish those electrolytes.
Liquid IV
Liquid IV is my go to replacement. For me they work the fastest and have the best tasting flavors. Each packet offers loads of electrolytes. Liquid IVs are also individually packaged making them easy to pack and carry. It’s also super easy to rip open and dump into your water bottle. While they can be a little pricey, they are the most effective.
Nuun
While not a powder, the Nuun Tablets are about the size of a quarter. This can be a bit tricky if you are like most backpackers and carry a Smart or Life water bottle. You will have to break the tablets in half to fit them into those bottles.
These little tablets are fantastic and very popular amongst runners. They offer lots of flavors and some have a hint of caffeine for that needed energy boost. It should be noted that Nuun Tablets are effervescent for fast dissolution and can cause pressure if you have a tight lid on your bottle.
After a you add the tablets to your water, have your lid open until it dissolves to avoid internal pressure.
Pedialyte Sport Powder
Similar to the Liquid IV packs, the Pedialytes are packed with just as many electrolytes. You might associate Pedialyte with babies, but they are just as good for adults, specially the Pedialyte Sport Powder. The only draw back is the limited range of flavors currently offered, but they are a great option if have limited brand selections.
Salt Sticks
Like most, powders just don’t taste very good. Sometimes even I have been turned off by the taste of the powder electrolytes. That’s when these super convenient Salt Sticks come in handy. You just pop one in your mouth, start chewing, let the tablet dissolve in your mouth, and finish it off with a little sip of water. Another advantage is that they come in many different flavors and quantities.
While there are plenty of electrolyte replacements out there, these are our favorites for hiking due to size, weight, and convenience. In our experience, they have worked the best.
To learn more tricks about staying hydrated while hiking visit our post blow.
