What is the best electrolyte for long hikes?
Leda Block
2025-06-09 17:58:36
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Electrolytes, essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and chloride, play a vital role in this process. As you sweat during your trek, you lose these electrolytes, which can lead to muscle cramps, heat stress, fatigue, and decreased endurance if not replenished. In an hour-long hike, you could lose 220mg of sodium, 63mg of potassium, 8mg of magnesium, and 16mg of calcium – significant amounts of essential electrolytes. Replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat according to your body's specific profile, which can be determined through a sweat test, can help you stay energized and hydrated on the trail. While individual electrolyte needs vary, the Institute of Medicine recommends consuming less than 2000mg of sodium, 4700mg of potassium, 330-350mg of magnesium, and 800mg of calcium daily.
Rosa Gislason
2025-05-27 07:36:12
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Electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, are essential for basic physiological functions.
They regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and help rebuild damaged tissue.
When hiking in high temperatures, the body loses these crucial minerals through sweat at an accelerated rate.
Drinking water alone cannot replenish them, potentially leading to dehydration, muscle cramps, fatigue, and even more severe conditions like heatstroke or hyponatremia.
Electrolyte supplements are designed to solve this problem.
When mixed with water, they provide a balanced blend of these essential minerals, mimicking the body's natural electrolyte profile.
I’ll be going with Nuun this time.
I really want the electrolyte supplement for the electrolytes, not as a source of energy.
Having the tablet in a single sealed tube also means not having to hunt for little packets somewhere in my pack.
Nuun tablets are lighter from the start and the difference grows with the number of doses.
Nuun has additional electrolytes like calcium, magnesium, and chloride.
The price of Nuun is less than half of Liquid IV.
Alverta Olson
2025-05-27 04:44:53
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If hiking in temperate conditions for more than an hour, you may need some electrolyte replacement if you typically sweat heavily. Electrolyte drinks replace the minerals lost by perfuse sweating in an active person, such as an athlete or someone who has been ill and is not drinking or is losing fluids through GI symptoms. These drinks contain salt, sugar, and the minerals sodium, potassium, and magnesium in varying degrees in each formulation. Products range from somewhat high calories to zero calories. Drinks with calories have added carbohydrates and mean you don't have to stop as often to eat. While electrolyte drinks are easy and portable, you can also replace lost salts through salty foods and snacks.
In the video, examples of the different types of electrolyte drinks and when to use them are given, including Drip Drop, Skratch Lab, Tailwind, Voost, Nuun.
Read also
- What is the best way to prevent dehydration on an outdoor trip?
- What are the guidelines for hydration in the UK?
- How much water should you drink if you work outside all day?
- What hydrates your body the fastest?
- What is the best fluid to prevent dehydration?
- Should you drink electrolytes before or during hiking?
- How much water should I drink a day if I'm working out?
- What is the hydration rule?
- How far in advance should you drink electrolytes?