The 20 Most Hydrating Sports Drinks for Your Next Workout

You know how some people chug Pedialyte to help with a hangover? Well, this OG drink was designed to replace fluids when you’re sick but has the same principle that applies whenever you’re dehydrated—like after an intense workout.

This sports drink is packed with five key electrolytes you lose when you sweat: sodium (to avoid muscle cramping), chloride (for fluid balance), potassium (for muscle and nerve function), magnesium (for muscle health), and phosphate (for muscle repair). (It also comes in powder form if you want to mix it in with your post-workout H2O.)

More: Why You Should Be Drinking Alkaline Water

Consuming protein soon after a workout has been shown to maximize your body’s ability to recover. These chocolate shakes contain 26 grams of protein with all nine essential amino acids, plus calcium and vitamin D-3 (and they taste like dessert, which certainly helps). 

The 246 calories and 28 grams of carbs will help you refuel post-workout, and they’re also lactose- and gluten-free if other protein shakes don’t tend to agree with you.

Skratch’s hydration mixes were developed for a pro cycling team, and these single-serving packs are super easy to carry with you on the bike or run, making them the best ​​sports drink option on the go. 

Despite 380 milligrams of sodium to replenish all those electrolytes, you sweat out and 19 grams of sugar to give your muscles the fuel they need. Plus, it has a light taste (kind of like a diluted Gatorade) that won’t bomb out in your gut during the rest of your run or ride. 

You know how Eliud Kipchoge stays fueled while running two-hour marathons? With Maurten. It’s packed with 40 grams of carbs — nearly half of what your body can make use of in an hour.

It also uses hydrogel technology to turn it from a liquid into a jelly-ish substance once it’s in the stomach, which helps your body better absorb the water, salt, and carbs without slowing you down (read: no bathroom emergencies on the run!).

Sure, a glass of milk in the a.m. does a body good, but morning exercisers might be better served by starting their morning off with an electrolyte powder flavored with real fruit juice.

At only 20 calories per serving, you’ll get sodium, potassium, and magnesium, plus zinc, which can help support your immune system. All you need to do is mix one packet with 8 to 16 ounces of cold water.

This totally organic hydration option is keto-, vegan-, and Paleo-friendly, as well as gluten-free. Its electrolytes come from natural sources, including coconut water for potassium and sea salt for sodium. 

And with only 5 grams of carbs (from that all-natural coconut water) for your body to break down and absorb, those essential minerals are able to get into your bloodstream ASAP.

Not only does this sports drink from BODYARMOR taste like an amazing fruity smoothie, but it also contains potassium-packed coconut water. You'll get vitamins A, C, and E — plus antioxidants — to keep your body replenished during a workout.

Best of all, there are only 20 calories per bottle, making it one of the best sports drinks to grab during or after a workout. 

This electrolyte drink mix is a no-brainer for keto, paleo, or low-carb dieters with zero sugar and artificial ingredients. Each packet includes 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium, plus all-natural flavors like orange salt, raspberry salt, and citrus salt.

Heads up, though: It might taste a little too salty for some.

The makers of Gatorade made this zero-calorie and sugar-free sports drink that's loaded with electrolytes, vitamin B, and antioxidant vitamins C and E. Propel Fitness Water replenishes the nutrients you lose during your workout without adding back the calories you burned. Try the variety pack to find your favorite flavor.

Ever wish you could just stick an IV in to feel restored post-workout? OK, this isn’t exactly the same thing, but Liquid I.V.’s electrolyte powder mix contains a specific ratio of potassium, sodium, and glucose for max hydration.

It also contains three times the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks, plus vitamins C, B-3, B-5, B-6, and B-12 — at half the sugar and calories of traditional sports drinks.

As the name suggests, one bottle of this sports drink from Powerade contains zero calories. It works hard to replenish four key electrolytes lost in sweat: sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. It also contains vitamins B-3, B-6, and B-12 to help your body metabolize energy from food.

Add these convenient sports drink tabs into your water and watch 'em fizz! Each tab has only 10 calories and the ability to replenish your electrolytes and any sodium you sweated out during your workout.

Choose from 11 different variety packs with flavors like watermelon, fruit punch, strawberry lemonade, grape, and tropical. You simply drop one tablet in water and let it fizz. Each tab has fewer than eight calories, no sugar or carbs, and electrolytes that your body needs after strenuous activities.

Pump up your protein count before, during, and after exercise with this easy-to-digest sports drink. One bottle provides the essential amino acids—meaning the ones your body can’t produce on its own—that play a role in muscle growth, plus 20 additional vitamins and minerals like vitamin D and calcium.

It’s also certified by NSF International, which means it’s free of banned substances and contaminants for competitive athletes. 

Although most sports medicine research is done on 18- to 22-year-old men, it's important to consider women's hormonal fluctuations alter their physiological responses to exercise, metabolism, recovery, and training.

This powder from OSMO was developed using research conducted on women. When you drink this during a workout, the combo of glucose, sucrose, and sodium replaces nutrients that are lost.

Instead of carrying around gels, bars, chews, and H2O, mix this all-natural powder into your water to cover all your energy needs in one go. Made from all-natural ingredients and organic flavors (it’s gluten-free and vegan), Tailwind’s fuel is designed to be absorbed quickly and easily, so you don’t experience any GI stress in the middle of your workout — a major win.

You can find CBD in everything these days, including sports drinks. This drink from retired NFL running back Terrell Davis has 20 milligrams of performance-spectrum hemp extract — or cannabidiol, the cannabis compound that has anti-inflammatory and pain relief benefits (not the psychoactive compound).

It’s made from 10% coconut water, which is naturally hydrating, plus potassium and other vitamins as well as electrolytes.

Most electrolyte drinks focus on sodium, which makes sense because you can see the salt you sweat out. But this one has a higher concentration of magnesium, another super important mineral. When you’re deficient in magnesium, it can cause fatigue and muscle cramps. 

Heads up, though: The taste is tart and salty, and the company recommends adding a splash of juice if the mineraly taste is too much.

You don’t have to wait until you’re in a truly SOS situation to take this. It’s rich in sodium, potassium, and magnesium to keep your electrolyte levels up throughout your workout and is a keto- and Paleo-friendly dietary supplement. 

But if you do find yourself needing emergency fuel, this powder dissolves 20 times faster than an electrolyte tablet so you can get those nutrients into your bloodstream fast.

Sweetened naturally with organic stevia leaf extract, this clean hydration powder should be a staple for plant-based eaters. It’s also gluten-free, caffeine-free, and keto- and paleo-friendly.

Even if you’re not following any of those diets, the six hydration-supporting electrolytes and trace minerals will help ward off mild fatigue and cramping.