About Hydrant
Hydrant’s Rapid Hydration Mix is a powdered blend of electrolytes and sugar that comes in individual packets. You can mix it into water first thing in the morning, before or after workouts, or on the go. The concept behind Hydrant is optimizing hydration to help you feel better and perform at a higher level.
Hydration
Water’s primary function is maintaining your body’s equilibrium. Pretty crucial, right? Water also transports nutrients into cells while removing waste products from them.
Beyond H2O, electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and potassium are essential for proper hydration. Electrolytes are minerals that become electrically charged when dissolved in fluid. Sodium and chloride stabilize fluid levels around your cells, enabling proper cellular function. Potassium performs similar duties while also preventing blood pressure spikes caused by excessive sodium. Since your body consists entirely of cells, optimal hydration is vital for effective operation.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when fluid loss exceeds intake. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness and confusion. Hydration even influences stress management and social behavior. Consider your hydration level like a health bar in a video game—even mild dehydration can impair concentration, mood, energy and aerobic capacity. Dehydration also hampers performance during resistance training and slows recovery afterward.
What are some Causes of Dehydration?
- Sleep – Morning brings mild dehydration if you didn’t drink water overnight.
- Exercise – Increased sweat production causes water loss and dehydration.
- Drinking – Alcohol leads to dehydration. If you drink before a workout, rehydrating with water and salt afterward is smart.
- Getting Sick – Fever, vomiting and diarrhea all trigger dehydration, which is why doctors recommend consuming plenty of fluids when ill.
Hydrant Ingredients
- 260mg of sodium (from sodium citrate)
- Salt
- 200mg of potassium (from potassium citrate)
- 34mg of magnesium (from magnesium glucose)
- 1.5mg of zinc (from zinc gluconate)
- 6g of sugar (from cane sugar)
- Juice powder
- Citric acid
Claims vs. Reality
Hydrant claims its competition is “slow and ineffective when it comes to hydration” and that competitors use “way too much sugar, taste too sweet or are filled with artificial ingredients.”
Hydrant also claims its “electrolyte balance mirrors your body’s own when you are at your best.” Additionally, they state that Hydrant contains one-third the sugar of regular sports drinks and that a small amount of sugar accelerates electrolyte and water absorption, enabling faster and more efficient rehydration.
While magnesium and zinc are important minerals, minimal amounts are lost through sweat, and the World Health Organization excludes them from its oral rehydration formula. Nevertheless, both minerals offer numerous benefits and deficiencies are common, so their inclusion isn’t necessarily problematic.
Hydrant also claims that mild dehydration causes fatigue and brain fog and that 75% of the population is dehydrated. Although numerous websites cite this 75% figure, the Food and Nutrition Board states, “The vast majority of healthy people meet their daily hydration needs by letting thirst be their guide.” While mild dehydration likely affects mood, concentration and energy, there’s no clear evidence that electrolyte supplementation restores optimal mental and physical performance better than simply drinking water and eating food for mild dehydration cases.
Although sugar can enhance hydration, most people obtain sufficient amounts through their diet. Therefore, even small quantities aren’t necessary unless you’re:
- Hydrating during intense exercise for more than an hour
- Hydrating during moderate exercise for more than an hour and a half, or
- Severely dehydrated
Where to Buy + Cost
You can buy Hydrant from their website for $35 for a 30-pack, which equals $1.17 per packet. They also offer a subscription option at $30 monthly for a 30-pack.
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How does Hydrant Stack Up with its Competition?
While Hydrant uses natural ingredients, plenty of competition exists in the market.
Hydant vs. Gatorade
Gatorade’s regular electrolyte powder contains 21 grams of sugar per serving, but their Lower Sugar/Low Calorie G2 Thirst Quencher powder has 7 grams. Hydrant competes with this version and other products featuring minimal sugar plus natural ingredients. Gatorade G2 contains 150mg of sodium and 50mg of potassium per serving with artificial flavoring, cornstarch, sucralose and artificial coloring. Gatorade’s bulk G2 canister costs 40 cents per serving. Individual servings on Amazon in a 64-pack cost 68 cents each. Gatorade even offers G ESSNTL organic powder available only in bulk canisters at 43 cents per serving. It contains 21g of sugar, 160mg of sodium and 50mg of potassium per serving.
Hydrant is a superior option compared to Gatorade G2 if you’re willing to pay more for natural ingredients. G ESSNTL better serves athletes due to its high sugar content.
Hydrant vs. Skratch Labs’ Exercise Hydration Mix
Labdoor’s top-ranked electrolyte powder offers numerous flavors. Their lemon and lime mix contains 380mg of sodium (from sodium citrate), 39mg of potassium (from potassium citrate), 39mg of magnesium (from magnesium lactate), 44mg of calcium (from calcium citrate), 19g of sugar, citrus oils and dextrose.
Skratch contains significantly more sodium, no chloride (they derive sodium from sodium citrate like Hydrant, but Hydrant also includes salt, presumably sodium chloride), considerably less potassium, much more sugar, similar magnesium levels, no zinc and some calcium.
Zinc is a beneficial addition for exercise recovery but unnecessary for rehydration supplementation. Calcium is an important electrolyte, though less critical than sodium, chloride and potassium for hydration purposes.
Dextrose is a corn-derived sugar. It can treat dehydration, serve as a sweetener and, post-workout, restore glycogen faster while improving muscle repair. Although dextrose is technically unnatural and excessive amounts can cause side effects, moderate consumption should prove beneficial for hydration and exercise recovery, assuming you monitor overall sugar intake.
Another distinction: Skratch uses magnesium lactate versus Hydrant’s magnesium glucose. Lactate offers the added benefit of preserving blood sugar and glycogen stores during intense workouts. Skratch wins here.
Skratch sells bulk powder with 60 servings, which Hydrant currently doesn’t offer. The bulk powder costs 82 cents per serving. Skratch also sells individual packets: $35 for a 20-pack ($1.75 each). Skratch’s Anytime mix costs $23 for 20 packets ($1.15 each). It features identical ingredients with significantly less sodium, slightly more potassium, much less sugar, more calcium and less magnesium.
Overall, Hydrant has the advantage in price and content for convenient individual servings.
Nuun Hydration Tablets (Sport)
Nuun Sport is another popular electrolyte supplement that comes in tablet form and dissolves in water. It costs 54 cents per serving when purchased in bulk on Amazon. Nuun contains 300mg of sodium (as sodium bicarbonate and carbonate), 150mg of potassium (as potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride), 40mg of chloride, 25mg of magnesium (as magnesium oxide), 13mg of calcium (as calcium carbonate) and 1g of sugar. It also contains dextrose.
Nuun provides significantly more sodium, no zinc, poorly absorbed magnesium oxide and minimal sugar. Hydrant has a slight ingredient advantage, but Nuun offers better overall value considering cost.
Vega Sport Hydrator
Vega’s individual packets cost $1 each in their 30-pack and contain 230mg of sodium (from sodium chloride), 115mg of potassium (from potassium chloride), 20mg of magnesium (from magnesium chloride), 50mg of calcium (from marine algae calcium), 60g of vitamin C (from acerola cherry extract) and no sugar. It’s all natural and Vega’s bulk powder costs 60 cents per serving.
Hydrant maintains an edge for convenient individual packets since Vega’s contains significantly less potassium. Vega lacks zinc and sugar but includes vitamin C. Its bulk powder costs nearly half of Hydrant’s price.
More Natural and Homemade Options
You can create your own electrolyte drink with mineral water, a pinch of sea salt, a honey drizzle and lemon juice splash. Coconut water and watermelon juice are excellent alternatives, both rich in potassium. You could even fill a glass halfway with water, add orange juice for potassium and sugar, then include a pinch of sea salt.
Remember that food contains electrolytes too. When you drink water and consume electrolyte-rich foods, you’re rehydrating. Cottage cheese provides high sodium, many vegetables like celery offer chloride, and bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, leafy greens and beans are all potassium-rich.
Benefits of Hydrant
One major benefit of Hydrant is its portability. You can take these convenient packets anywhere without worrying about keeping bottled electrolyte drinks cold. This proves invaluable during summer, trips or when you’re out without fridge access. It’s also handy to keep on hand when you get sick.
Individual packets stay fresher than bulk powder, though they’re obviously less economical and environmentally friendly.
Who is Hydrant Best For?
Hydrant works best for people like construction workers, landscapers and others working outside in heat all day. It’s also ideal for people who don’t drink enough water because they dislike its taste. Additionally, Hydrant suits athletes and others exercising for extended periods and/or in heat. It’s also beneficial for people who sweat heavily during exercise.
Some people claim electrolyte supplementation can reduce exercise-related muscle cramps, but this only applies in a small percentage of cases.
While you can take Hydrant in the morning (whether hungover or not), this isn’t the most natural or cost-effective approach. Making your own rehydrating drink or buying bulk powder would be better.
Side Effects
While Hydrant is safe and generally well-tolerated, some people report stomach discomfort with similar electrolyte powders. If you experience digestive issues with Hydrant, try another brand or make your own natural electrolyte drink.
Reviews
Hydrant’s Amazon reviews are mostly positive. Several people mentioned it helped with hangovers. A few others accused Hydrant of generating fake reviews due to poor taste and ineffectiveness. Some people said it improves concentration. One woman reported it helps her stay alert and hydrated during business trips.
Taste
Lime, grapefruit and blood orange are appealing flavors, and at least one should suit most people’s preferences. I appreciate that Hydrant doesn’t overwhelm you with options while still providing variety. According to Amazon reviews, several people said Hydrant makes drinking water easier. One person found it too salty while another said it wasn‘t too sweet. Another reviewer called the grapefruit flavor terrible.
Bottom Line
Proper hydration is crucial for mental health, exercise performance and recovery. However, you probably don’t need electrolyte supplementation if you’re drinking adequate water and eating a balanced diet. Most people don’t need Hydrant. Its claims about reducing fatigue and similar benefits are unsubstantiated in most cases.
Hydrant is worth trying for people who work or exercise in heat for extended periods. If you’re looking to optimize hydration at home or in the office, more cost-effective and natural options exist.
You don’t need Hydrant for normal exercise amounts. If you’re an athlete, taking Hydrant can enhance performance and recovery.
Hydrant features a clean electrolyte profile. Many competitors include additional minerals, vitamins, herbs and even artificial ingredients. The extra components might not be problematic, depending on your specific needs.
Investing in a product like Hydrant is primarily for convenience or when rapid rehydration is necessary (during and after long, intense workouts in heat, for example).
