The Best Electrolyte Powders (original) (raw)

The Very Best Electrolyte Powders and Mixes

Use these to refuel after a sweaty day (or to cure a hangover).

Photo: Hugo Yu/

New! You can now save this product for later.

Best electrolyte powder overall
Best electrolyte tablet overall
Best for athletes
Best-tasting powders
Best mix for heavy sweaters
Best for sensitive stomachs
Best with natural ingredients
Best for travel

For anyone who exercises and/or sweats a lot, it’s important to not just hydrate by drinking water regularly but to replenish your electrolytes, too. In my experience as a lifelong distance runner, drinking only water often causes me to feel awful during a run, from throbbing headaches to losing steam or cramping just a few miles in. And I’m not alone: My colleague (and Strategist resident fitness expert) Jeremy Rellosa told me that as he was getting back into distance running a few years go, he would go on long runs, hydrating with only water and no electrolytes in an attempt to feel tough — but in reality, he felt awful. It makes sense. When we consulted with dietitians for this story, we learned that running — or any strenuous activity — causes you to lose a ton of electrolytes, so refueling them properly is vital. “The main types of electrolytes that we lose through sweat are sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium,” says registered dietitian Kristy Baumann, and of those, sodium is the most prevalent. These electrolytes and others are essential to keeping our bodies working properly, and an imbalance can not only make us feel terrible but can sometimes have serious consequences for our health.

Not everyone needs to be tearing open packets of electrolyte powders all day, however. “I’m always going to encourage people just to have a variety of foods in their diet and a balanced diet because that’s the primary source of where we will be getting our electrolytes,” says registered dietitian Kaleigh Tjoelker. It’s the days when we do find ourselves sweating more that we may need a little extra help. “Somebody running outside in the heat and humidity for less than an hour could definitely benefit from an electrolyte drink during their run,” says Baumann.

In fact, you lose so many electrolytes in long bouts of exercise that you might not be able to refuel them all during your workout — that would require an impractical amount of electrolyte intake. “It’s just not going to happen,” says Maddie Alm, a registered dietitian and professional runner. “So the goal is to try to minimize losses to the point where they’re not impacting performance, then make sure we’re really replenishing those electrolytes post-run.”

For your longer or more intense workouts, you’ll also want to look for electrolyte supplements with carbohydrates. “Bonking” — a term athletes often use — “is when you use up all of your carbohydrate stores in your muscles,” says Tjoelker. Once we use up those stores, we hit the wall. “In general, if your workout is longer than an hour and 15 minutes — depending on duration and intensity — you need to take carbs in,” says Andrea Myers, a doctor of physical therapy and avid runner and cyclist. (It depends on each person, Myers says, but the general goal for endurance athletes is 60 to 100 grams of carbs per hour during exercise.) You may also want to pay attention to nutrition labeling on sports drinks if you’re not exercising so intensely, as you might not need (or want) the added sugars or carbohydrates that many of them have.

When you do need more electrolytes, we’ve got you covered. We collected a few of my favorites here and spoke to six experts — a mix of registered dietitians, nutritionists, and coaches — about the various mixes, powders, and tablets that they use themselves and recommend for exercises and daily hydration. I also combed our archives to find the electrolyte powders that we’ve tested and reviewed and included them in this list.

Updated on April 21, 2026
These electrolyte mixtures are still our favorites and have been updated with the latest availability and pricing. I’ve added the Tailwind Nutrition Endurance Fuel as our best electrolyte powder with caffeine for athletes.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder**| Sodium content:** 330 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 9 grams per serving

My competitive-running days have led me to regularly incorporate electrolyte packets into my current training and daily hydration routine. Over the past year or two, I’ve used these DripDrop packets to refuel after hard runs or weight-lifting sessions, and I’ve also used them to replenish electrolytes when I’m not exercising (especially if I’m experiencing some brain fog during my workday). Rellosa is a fan, too. He told me that he likes that the powder has a moderate amount of sodium (330 milligrams) and carbs (nine grams), which balance well with the bulk of his daily carbohydrate intake from regular meals. One packet of DripDrop is similar to a Nuuntablet (more on those below) in terms oftheirrespective ingredient breakdowns, but if you’re feeling particularly parched or impatient after a tough workout, you won’t have to wait for a tablet to dissolve. Just pour the powder into eight ounces of water, mix it up in a bottle, and start sipping. The packets are easy to travel with, too — I keep a few stashed in my purse or car so I can hydrate on the go, whether heading to a Pilates class, sitting at the airport, or running on my favorite trails.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 300 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 5 grams per serving

The DripDrop packets above work out to be 1.25perserving,butQuince’sEverydayHydrationelectrolytesarejust1.25 per serving, but Quince’s Everyday Hydration electrolytes are just 1.25perserving,butQuince’sEverydayHydrationelectrolytesarejust0.67 per serving and offer similar nutritional facts. When I tested a range of Quince wellness supplements, the Everyday Hydration powder was a standout. One packet contains 300 milligrams of sodium (DripDrop’s includes 330 milligrams), plus 250 milligrams of potassium, 100 milligrams of magnesium, and two milligrams of zinc, which helps your body maintain its electrolyte balance and support cellular processes. It dissolved super-easily into my water bottle with ice (I just mix it around with my straw), and it kept me feeling hydrated all day as I worked from home. The citrus flavor was my favorite, with the raspberry being a close second.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Tablet | Sodium content: 300 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 4 grams per serving

If you’re not doing intense exercise and don’t need the extra carbohydrates that you’d find in other mixes intended for athletes, consider these flavored tablets from Nuun. We’ve written about these hydration tablets before, noting how you can pop one into a water bottle on a hike or just sip throughout the workday when you’re feeling sluggish. One tablet has four grams of carbs and 330 milligrams of sodium. Unlike the powders here, which dissolve readily with a little stirring or shaking, the tablet takes a few minutes to fully dissolve, and it turns water effervescent. They’re also portable and come in a tube that prevents the tablets from getting crushed. Former Strategist senior writer and marathoner Karen Iorio Adelson likes that they aren’t loaded with sugar, unlike overly sweet sports drinks. Plus, Adelson uses them to help cure hangovers. Tjoelker recommends these tablets to the athletes she works with, many of whom play tennis. “They might be eating a banana during their match to get their carbs, and then they can have something like a Nuun tablet to get the electrolytes without the added sugar,” Tjoelker says.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 380 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 20 grams per serving

This powdered-drink mix from Skratch is a solid option for your longest, most intense workouts because of its added carbohydrate content. It also comes recommended by three experts we spoke to, all of whom use it for hydrating during exercise, including cycling, running, and playing tennis. Myers says it’s her go-to mix for most workouts because of its medium amount of electrolytes and carbohydrates: a single serving has 380 milligrams of sodium and 20 grams of carbs. “I’ve used Skratch for years and it just gives me zero gut issues,” she adds. “I’ve used several of their flavors, but I tend to buy the lemon lime just because it has the mildest taste for me.” Baumann likes that this Skratch mixture has carbs, which she says are crucial for your muscles during long bouts of exercise. She uses this mix for runs that are around 90 minutes or so. Tjoelker likes its high sodium content and that it comes in a single bag: “It gives you a little bit more control on how much exactly you want to add to your water.”

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 300 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 28 grams per serving

Another option for more intense workouts is Momentous Fuel, which is an electrolyte mix with the highest amount of carbohydrates on this list. Compared to the Skratch above, it has eight more grams of carbs per serving and 80 fewer milligrams of sodium. “I like mixing this powder into my handheld bottle on long runs — that way I can still get a decent amount of carb intake without having to carry extra gels,” Rellosa says. When it comes to taste, the Cherry Berry flavor tastes tart and sweet, so if you prefer saltier options, another mix might be a better choice for you (like the Mortal Hydration or Only Hydration picks below).

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 310 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 25 grams per serving

Last summer, I started using Tailwind Nutrition’s Endurance Fuel, which has 35 milligrams of caffeine per serving. The brand recommends that you use two scoops (or one packet), which is the equivalent of two servings and puts my caffeine intake closer to a small cup of coffee at 70 milligrams. It has the slight bitter taste of caffeine, but I like that I can add the mix to my water bottle and actually replace my morning coffee, which often gives me discomfort on an empty stomach. Tailwind Nutrition’s flavors are not overly sugary (the powders are sweetened with cane sugar) and blend easily into water. Similar to the Skratch and Momentous above, the Tailwind Nutrition powder contains over 20 grams of carbohydrates to provide energy while you’re working out, in addition to electrolytes — sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium — for hydration. It uses a combination of dextrose (glucose) and sucrose as the primary fuel sources — both simple carbs that are easily digestible for rapid energy. I’ve used it on intense runs to stay fueled and when I’m heading out on a longer ride (like two to three hours) on my road bike.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Liquid | Sodium content: 125 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 0 grams per serving

This simple concentrated electrolyte liquid is great for adding to drinks — especially if you like to run or bike with a water bottle. “I put a half-teaspoon of it in a liter of water, and it basically gives me all four electrolytes in my water. There’s no calories, no flavor, just the electrolytes,” Myers says. “It makes your water taste slightly salty. But I like that it’s very inexpensive per serving.” One half-teaspoon serving has 125 milligrams of sodium. If you want pure electrolytes and plan on refueling your carbs through other food sources like bars or gels, this add-in is an excellent option.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 1000 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: Less than one gram per serving

The best thing about these Trace ZeroLyte packs is how much sodium (1,000 milligrams) and potassium (500 milligrams) are offered in each serving. “ZeroLyte was my main powder of choice for my most recent marathon-training block, and with the summer heat, I definitely needed the additional sodium,” says Rellosa.(Compare that to a powder like DripDrop or a Nuun tablet, which contain 330 and 300 milligrams of sodium per serving, respectively.) It comes in basic fruit flavors, but there are saltier versions of each flavor as well. Plus they’re about half the size of a regular electrolyte-powder packet, so Rellosa says they are easy to stick in his running-shorts pockets or the zippered pocket of a handheld bottle.

Trace’s ZeroLyte powder may clump a little at first, but it mixes in well after a few shakes.Photo: Jeremy Rellosa

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 450 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 10 grams per serving

“Out of all the electrolyte mixes I’ve tried, Mortal Hydration’s powders have the best-tasting flavors,” Rellosa says.While most of the powders on this list come in the usual lemon-lime and citrus mixes, Mortal Hydration’s mango, margarita, and berry flavors are refreshingly sweet, slightly savory, and more complex than generic fruity notes. Each flavor also comes in a saltier version (my favorite is salty mango), which has 920 milligrams of sodium per serving.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 550 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 4 grams per serving

Only Hydration is another line that has unexpected flavors, including Asian pear, white peach, and lychee. Rellosa says his favorite is the yuzu citrus mix, which isn’t overly sweet and tastes surprisingly fresh (as opposed to the more artificial notes of other powders), like a glass of yuzu juice. Plus, compared to other mixes in this list, it has about 100 milligrams more sodium per serving, which makes this a great option if you sweat a lot.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 1000 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 2 grams per serving

These packets are great for drinking throughout the day, or for replenishing electrolytes after light to moderate exercise. But because there’s 1,000 milligrams of sodium in such a small packet, I think it’s a great option for heavy sweaters who want to stay hydrated throughout the entire day — and sometimes even half a packet will do. My partner, who’s a professional athlete, introduced me to LMNT, and we always keep them in our pantry. I like to drink one packet about 30 minutes before a HIIT workout or a hard run. One packet of LMNT has over three times the amount of sodiumin a single Nuun tablet, so it’s ideal for times when I’m feeling dehydrated after lots of sweating.Baumann also likes these. “This is a great option for before or after a run, especially if you’re a heavy sweater or if you’ve been running in the heat,” she says. Each stick pack contains 200 milligrams of potassium to help enable muscle contraction and maintain fluid balance as well as 60 milligrams of magnesium, which can aid in energy production and restful sleep.

These packets have only two grams of carbohydrates in them, which is on the lower end of the spectrum but makes them keto-friendly.The brand also recommends this electrolyte mix for folks who are consuming a whole-foods diet or going low-carb and maybe aren’t reaching their daily sodium intake at mealtimes. I also appreciate that these are a zero-sugar mix and are free of artificial flavors and colors.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 5 milligrams per serving, 463 milligrams of potassium | Carbohydrate content: 11 grams per serving

Coconut waters naturally have lots of potassium — a key electrolyte — but it’s rare to find potassium-heavy mixes in formats other than cans or boxed beverages. Maria Wong, co-founder of running group Queens Distance Runners, drinks this coconut-water mixture to refuel after runs and likes that it’s easy on her stomach. “The coconut waters you see at Walgreens or CVS have too much sugar in them for me,” Wong says. This powder mixture is more subtle-tasting than the others listed here, and one serving delivers less sodium (five milligrams) and carbohydrates (11 grams), but it has 463 milligrams of potassium, which might be helpful if you tend to get muscle cramps.

As a fellow runner, I decided to test Laird and was impressed with the “clean” mix, which is created from natural, plant-based sources rather than being lab-made. It only contains two ingredients: freeze-dried coconut water and seaweed-derived calcium (or Aquamin, the trademarked name for the multi-mineral complex of calcium and other trace minerals). Because the powder is without any added sugar or salt, Laird lacks a strong flavor and is without any offensive artificialness. The original flavor is unlike any other electrolyte mix I’ve tested since it’s so light and has a very minimal coconut-y taste. I’ve started to enjoy drinking it during the daytime to boost plain water, but it dissolves quickly making it easy to gulp down after a hard workout. It also never bothered my stomach, even when I drank it while exercising, such as during an intense bike ride or at a heated Pilates class.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 270 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 0 grams per serving

If you’re looking for a powder made with natural ingredients, this pleasant-tasting mix from Moon Juice might fit the bill. Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens started taking more electrolytes when she began breastfeeding, which involves chugging lots of water. “I tried Nuun and LMNT and realized a couple of things — I like a little flavor, but I don’t want anything too artificial-tasting, and I didn’t like tossing out all these plastic tubes and single-use packets,” she says. Kitchens likes that this powder from Moon Juice comes in a glass jar, dissolves quickly, uses Himalayan pink salt, has a “very light but realistic” watermelon taste, and contains key electrolytes. “It’s so good, somehow I end up gulping down an entire 32 oz. Ball jar in one go,” Kitchens says. One serving has 270 milligrams of sodium, 130 milligrams of potassium, and 65 milligrams of magnesium — a well-rounded option that’s especially good if you don’t like the typical citrusy flavors of other powders.

Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.

Yes

New! You can now save this product for later.

Format: Powder | Sodium content: 530 milligrams per serving | Carbohydrate content: 5 grams per serving

Sometimes we can forget to drink water during the day, and an electrolyte powder can help us refuel when we haven’t properly hydrated throughout a busy workday or travel day. For on-the-go hydration, Tjoelker recommends these powder sticks from Liquid I.V. “I consider it more of a moderate option — it has a smaller amount of carbohydrates than a traditional sports drink, like say a Gatorade or a Powerade, but it does have just enough carbohydrates to kind of give you a little bit of boost. Those carbohydrates can actually help our body absorb some of those electrolytes and stay hydrated a little bit better compared to some of the other options that don’t have any carbohydrates in them,” she says. One packet has 510 milligrams of sodium, 380 milligrams of potassium, and 12 grams of carbs — which is ideal to sip on throughout the whole day, as opposed to powders meant to be used before or during exercise, like Skratch or elete. The small packets are also great for travel, which is why several celebrities, like Matt Rogers, Alyson Stoner, and Carson Kressley, can’t live without Liquid I.V.

Electrolyte mixes come in three main forms: powders, tablets, and liquid. Powders usually come in packets or larger bags. Tablets tend to be effervescent pucks that you can drop into your water bottle, and liquid electrolytes generally come in a small bottle and are concentrated (you usually only need a few drops to mix in).

Sodium content is the primary ingredient I’m looking for when picking out an electrolyte mix since it’s one of the main things I’m losing through sweat. If I’m working out, I’ll want higher sodium content per serving, around 300 milligrams or higher. If I’m just trying to refuel throughout the day, or if I’m traveling, I need less than that. This could vary for you, depending on how much you’re sweating and how much salt is in your diet.

Athletes need to replenish their lost electrolytes, but if they’re working out for an extended period of time (like endurance athletes), they’ll need to refuel with carbohydrates as well. If you’re not doing strenuous activity, you likely won’t need an electrolyte mix with carbohydrates.

• Maddie Alm, registered dietitian and professional runner
• Kristy Baumann, registered dietitian
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor
• Andrea Myers, doctor of physical therapy and board-certified orthopedic specialist
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist associate editor
• Kaleigh Tjoelker, registered dietitian
• Maria Wong, co-founder of running group Queens Distance Runners

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

The Best Electrolyte Powders Your product is saved! You’ll receive emails when your saved products go on sale. Manage preferences.