Author: Jacek Szymanowski (M.Sc.Eng. Biotechnology, Sports Nutritionist)
Electrolyte powders provide convenient ways to replenish lost electrolytes and fluids during exercise where sweat losses are bigger than the fluid replenishment rate.
With so many options available that use generalized marketing strategies, choosing the best sugar free electrolyte powder can often be hard. The situations warranting the consumption of a zero sugar electrolyte drink are highly individually variable, with the help of a professional often needed.
We’ve reviewed the best sugar free electrolyte powders and explained what to look at when making a suitable choice for your sporting event or exercise bout.
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the Hydrate by Transparent Labs.
In this list, we’ll be covering the best electrolyte drinks for leg cramps available. Our top pick is Hydrate by Transparent Labs, but check out our full list to decide which supplement is right for you!
Top 5 Best Electrolyte Powders with No Sugar Reviewed
- Transparent Labs Hydrate Electrolyte Formula - Top-Pick
- Bare Performance Nutrition Electrolytes Hydration Mix - Best Third-party Tested Option
- Promix Electrolyte Drink Mix - Best Value for Money
- LMNT Zero-sugar Electrolytes - Best Unflavored Option
- Jacked Factory Hydrasurge - Best Low-sodium Option
1. Transparent Labs Hydrate Electrolyte Formula — Top-pick
- Form: Powder
- Flavors: Tropical Punch, Peach Mango,
- Key Ingredients: 500mg Sodium, 250mg Potassium, 84mg calcium, 50g Magnesium, 500mg Coconut Water, 1g Taurine
- Additional Ingredients: 1g Citric Acid, 880mg Malic Acid, 375mg Natural Flavors, 200mg Stevia Extract
- Serving Size: 7.9g
- Price per Serving: $0.75
- Company Founded: 2015
- Recommended By Athletes: Hathor Bjornsson, Paul Skylar, Pau Andrade
Transparent Labs aims to produce science-based nutritional products to improve health and performance. They focus on using high-quality ingredients at clinically relevant doses, with transparent labeling on all of their products.
The Transparent Labs Hydrate contains an excellent electrolyte formulation, with 500mg of sodium that provides a good mix between electrolyte composition and drink palatability. This hourly fluid consumption rate is both practical and much better to reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal stress when exercising and consuming electrolyte drinks. Bear in mind however that there is a huge individual variability to this. People lose different amounts of sodium and fluid performing the same activity which needs to be considered when developing an individual hydration plan. Other electrolytes in each serving include 250mg potassium, 84mg calcium, and 50 mg magnesium.
Photo by @transparentlabs
Considering the overall formula and low price per serving, the Transparent Labs Hydrate powder can be the best choice for long-duration sporting events and ultra-endurance activities to replenish sweat losses, especially in hot and humid conditions.
Transparent Labs always aims to produce product formulations using high-quality ingredients with transparent labeling. Their Hydrate mix is naturally sweetened and contains no artificial colors or flavors. It also contains a unique mix of 500mg coconut water, 1g taurine, and an adaptogen mix.
The powder does contain tree nuts which is something to consider when purchasing if you suffer from a nut allergy. Apart from that the Hydrate formula from Transparent Labs provides the perfect ingredient combination. It’s our best electrolyte powder with no sugar pick.
Pros:
Well-suited for long-duration sporting events in hot/humid conditions
Good electrolyte formula
50 servings per tub
NSF Certified for Sport
Available as a tub or sachets
Subscribe and save option
Cons:
Several complaints about palatability
No unflavored version
2. Bare Performance Nutrition Electrolytes Hydration Mix — Best Third-party Tested Option
- Form: Powder
- Flavors: Salted Watermelon, Strawberry, Lemon Lime
- Key Ingredients: 500mg Sodium, 2mg Vitamin B6, 480mg Chloride, 165mg Potassium, 20mg Magnesium, 110mg Calcium
- Additional Ingredients: Malic Acid, Natural Flavors, Pink Himalayan Salt
- Serving Size: 6g
- Price per Serving: $0.89
- Company Founded: 2012
- Recommended By Athletes: Anikha Greer, Mattie Rogers, Laura Horvath
The Bare Performance Nutrition Electrolyte Mix came a close second, losing half a point on first place for nutrition label transparency. This is hardly surprising as Transparent Labs are well-known for providing every last detail on their product labels.
Photo by @bpnsupps
Despite this, the BPN Electrolyte miss is closely matched in terms of electrolyte composition. It contains the right amount of sodium per serving at 500mg making it well-suited for athletes training or competing for longer durations >2 hours, especially in hot and humid conditions where sweat losses tend to be much higher. Other electrolytes present in each 5.8-gram serving include chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
The BPN Electrolytes get the award for the best third-party tested electrolyte mix without sugar. The Informed Sport brand is thought to be one of the most rigorous supplement testing bodies meaning their NSF Certified for Sport logo commands the most respect in the supplement world. BPN offers the electrolyte mix in convenient ‘go packets’ or as a 50-serving tub in three flavor choices.
Pros:
Well-suited for long-duration sporting events in hot/humid conditions
Good electrolyte formula
50 servings per tub
NSF Certified for Sport
Available as a tub or sachets
Cons:
Several complaints about palatability
No unflavored version
3. Promix Electrolyte Drink Mix— Best Value for Money Option
- Form: Powder (Sticks or Jar)
- Flavors: Grapefruit, Lemon Lime
- Key Ingredients: 1g Sodium, 100mg Vitamin C, 60mg Magnesium, 200mg Potassium
- Additional Ingredients: Himalayan Pink Salt, Citric Acid, Black Carrot Juice
- Serving Size: 5.18g
- Price per Serving: $1.23 (Jar), $1.40 (Sticks)
- Company Founded: 2011
- Recommended By Athletes: Odell Beckham Jr, Dj Sackmann, Matt Zelaya
Promix was created to produce products with high-quality ingredients, scientific backing, and safe formulations. The brand focuses on supplements containing pure ingredients in good amounts.
The Promix Electrolyte drink mix comes as convenient hydration packets or a 30-serving jar that offer excellent value for money. One serving contains 1 gram of sodium which is way one of the biggest amounts per serving out of our top five choices. This means that the packets can be sometimes split into two portions depending on your individual hydration needs which can possibly split the cost per serving in half.
Keep in mind that the whole packet/ normal servings may need to be consumed in specific conditions such as high heat and humidity where sweat losses are extremely high. This should be considered with a sports nutritionist who will help to develop an individualized hydration plan according to the specific event or sport.
At just $0.60 for each jar half serving and $0.70 for half a packet (500mg sodium), the Promix Electrolytes received the award for the best value low sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Photo by @lesss.getfit
Promix offers two flavor choices, with the brand indicating the sweetness level before purchasing. The grapefruit flavor gives you a light flavor with no sweetness. Promix did lose half a point for flavor/taste, with some reviews claiming the flavor is quite strange and hard to get used to at first.
Each serving contains no artificial ingredients, fillers, gluten, and soy. Promix also uses 94% North American ingredients, with effort made to source ingredients produced sustainably.
Pros:
High sodium concentration suitable for ultra-endurance events
Available as convenient packets or jar powder
Well-reviewed with users reporting a great taste
No allergens and vegan friendly
Cons:
High sodium in each serving may be a little much for some people
No unflavored version
4. LMNT Zero-sugar Electrolytes — Best Unflavored Option
- Form: Powder Sachets
- Flavors: Chocolate Salt, Grapefruit Salt, Citrus Salt, Lemon Habanero, Mago Chilli, Orange, Orange Salt, Raspberry, Watermelon, Raw Unflavored
- Key Ingredients: 1g Sodium, 200mg Potassium, 60mg Magnesium
- Serving Size: 3.5g
- Price per Serving: $1.50
- Company Founded: 2010
- Recommended By Athletes: Tia-clair Toomey, Bradley Beal, Brett Favre
Photo by @simpleketovore
Pros:
Well-suited for long-duration sporting events in hot/humid conditions
No additional ingredients
Wide range of flavor choices including unflavored
Comes in convenient pouches
Cons:
Only 30 serving packets available
High sodium content may be less palatable
5. Jacked Factory Hydrasurge — Best Low Sodium Option
- Form: Powder
- Flavors: Watermelon, Strawberry Punch, Fruit Kiwi
- Key Ingredients: 125mg Sodium (as Pink Himalayan Salt), 500mg Coconut Water, Powder, 1g Taurine, 25mg Magnesium, 35mg Phosphorus, 84mg Calcium, 50mg Potassium
- Additional Ingredients: 135mg Stevia Leaf Extract, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors
- Serving Size: 4.5g
- Price per Serving: $0.50
- Company Founded: 2015
- Recommended By Athletes: Bhuwan Chauhan, Morgan MacDonald, Maddy Barry
Jacked Factory looks to challenge the supplement industry status quo by producing products with high-quality ingredients in efficacious doses at affordable price points.
Out of our top five choices, the Hydrasurge powder from Jacked Factory contains the least amount of sodium at 125mg per serving. This makes it one of the healthiest electrolyte powders for athletes and gym goers who mostly want to increase the palatability of their plain water during exercise.
Photo by @k.warborg
With a sodium content this low, Hydrasurge wouldn’t be suitable for the replenishment of electrolytes in long-duration exercises or events, especially in hot and humid conditions.
Other noticeable electrolytes include 84mg calcium, 50mg potassium, 35mg phosphorus, and 25mg magnesium. Hydrasurge comes in three flavor choices and is very affordable at $0.50 per serving. It’s a good electrolyte drink without artificial sweeteners that's designed mainly for recreational use.
Pros:
Good for recreational use to improve drink palatability
60 servings per tub
Subscribe and save option
Very affordable price point
Cons:
Not suitable for long-duration sporting events
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Do All Electrolyte Powders Have Sugar?
As you may have guessed by this point in the article, not all electrolyte powders contain sugar. Some contain added sugars and carbohydrates for exercise performance while others contain no sugar and are mainly used for the targeted replacement of electrolytes lost during long-duration exercise bouts and/or hot and humid conditions. Others may be used to improve the palatability of liquids.
The products reviewed above represent five of the best sugar-free electrolyte powders designed for different exercise uses.
What Types of Electrolyte Supplements Are There?
Several types of electrolyte supplements exist which vary in the concentration of different electrolytes and added carbohydrates/ sugar. This changes the most suitable use which makes it important to have a good understanding of the different types and the drink compositions.
1. Electrolyte-based Supplements
Electrolyte supplements are available with and without sugar. For the basis of this particular article, we discussed those without sugar. These are designed for the targeted replacement of electrolytes (mainly sodium and potassium) lost during long-duration events and/or hot and humid conditions when profuse sweating is experienced. Other situations where they may be warranted include experiencing ‘salty sweat’/ white spots on your clothes when exercising.
The products reviewed above are good examples of electrolyte powders without sugar with a range of suitable exercise uses based on their composition.
2. Traditional Sports Drinks
These (still without sugar 🙂 ) are designed for events/sessions that require the simultaneous provision of electrolytes, sometimes carbohydrates (not all carbohydrates are sugars), and fluid. They tend to have a lower electrolyte concentration compared to electrolyte-based supplements.
3. Low Sugar Sports Drinks
These are general sports drinks usually containing very little calories mainly designed to provide fluid and some electrolytes. Again, the concentration tends to be lower. They are used as palatable fluids during normal exercise events where profound sweating and electrolyte loss aren't experienced. Most common sports drinks labeled as zero sugar or zero calories contain artificial sweeteners to compensate for the lack of sugar.
How to Choose the Best Electrolyte Powder with No Sugar?
Before choosing the best sugar free electrolyte drink, it's important to understand the risks of hyponatremia and the contributing factors. Universal guidelines are extremely hard to develop due to the huge individual variability in sweat losses between athletes and environmental condition differences as well.
If you are an endurance athlete Hydration strategies before, during, and after exercise should be developed at least under the guidance of an experienced sports nutritionist. Once you have the correct guidance, the main factors below can then be considered when choosing a suitable electrolyte powder.
1. Electrolyte Powders vs Sports Drink Powders
Unfortunately, the average gym enthusiast might not understand the key differences between sugar free electrolyte packets and sports drink powders. Many brands and manufacturers use general recommendations and marketing without providing specific guidelines which makes it difficult to know which one is most suitable for individual situations.
Sports drink powders are often formulated with a large amount of carbohydrates in each serving and contain electrolytes but in smaller concentrations. These allow for a certain level of rehydration by replacing lost fluid and electrolytes but also refuel a significant amount of carbohydrates, which may help to maintain or improve performance in long-duration events. Electrolyte powders contain a much higher concentration of electrolytes but with less or even no carbohydrates.
Traditional sports drink powders should be used for exercise that requires the simultaneous provision of carbohydrates, fluid, and electrolytes. Unsweetened electrolyte powders should be used for targeted replacement of lost fluid and electrolytes with large sweat losses, like during certain sporting events and/or long-duration events. When choosing an electrolyte powder, you can make your own drink by adding specific amounts and forms of carbohydrates based on your needs.
2. Pay attention to Added Sugar on the Nutrition Label
Some electrolyte powders contain added sugars to provide energy and improve drink palatability. Pay close attention to the nutrition label so you understand the composition of different ingredients. If you don’t know what to do, you can always work with a dietician and sports nutritionist to help you decide if the consumption of added sugars is needed before choosing an appropriate powder.
3. Consider the Amount of Sodium per Serving
Sodium is the main electrolyte and mineral lost through sweat, so particular focus should be placed on the amount of sodium in each serving. This allows you to choose the necessary sodium concentration when mixing with a liquid to consume at various points throughout the exercise period.
As we’ve explained above, different exercise types may require different concentrations of sodium to the volume of liquid. Before the start of an ultra-endurance event or long-duration sports match where large sweat losses are expected, hyperhydration may be considered when sweat losses might not be practically replaced. This warrants a liquid solution containing a higher concentration of sodium, but shouldn't be done on your own.
Other sporting events or exercise periods, where adequate fluids can be taken in, may only require the consumption of a liquid containing a much lower sodium concentration. With this, consider the amount of sodium in the electrolyte powder and work with an experienced professional to develop an individualized hydration strategy suitable for the particular sporting event and your needs.
Recreational gym goers and sporting enthusiasts should pay attention to the recommended daily salt/ sodium intake for adults.
What Situations Warrant the Use of an Electrolyte Powder?
Electrolytes perform several bodily functions including maintaining fluid balance and hydration. They also help with the transmission of electrical impulses which involves muscle contraction.
Electrolytes are lost as sweat during prolonged physical activity, making the use of an electrolyte-containing supplement possibly needed in some situations. Particular focus should be placed on sodium and a condition called hyponatremia.
As sweat loss continues during exercise, athletes and average gym goers drink water to prevent dehydration. Too much fluid intake exceeding sweat (sodium) loss leads to a particularly dangerous condition known as exercise-induced hyponatremia.
During prolonged physical exertion lasting 4-6 hours, hyponatremia may be observed. This makes the addition of an electrolyte mix possibly needed to replace the lost electrolytes. Excessive water intake without correct sodium concentration is the main cause of exercise-induced hyponatremia which is something to monitor.
With this being said, the consumption of electrolytes may be needed during:
- Exercise and sports events lasting >2 hours in hot/humid environments and/or when profound sweating is experienced
- Ultra-endurance events >4 hours including triathlons, ultra-marathons, and cross-country skiing
- Sporting events where swear losses tend to be higher such as American football. This may be due to the combination of protective clothing and environmental conditions
FAQ
What is the best electrolyte mix with no sugar?
Our top pick electrolyte mix with no sugar has to be the Transparent Labs Hydrate Electrolyte formula. It contains a good amount of sodium that can help to replenish that lost in sweat whilst still being fairly palatable. It also contains other key electrolytes in decent amounts including 250mg of potassium.
Is there an electrolyte drink without sugar?
Most electrolyte drinks contain sugar due to their common ingredient compositions. This makes electrolyte drinks without sugar hard to find but possible with some brands catering to no-sugar alternatives - like the ones in our article 🙂.
Are there any electrolyte powders without added sweeteners?
Out of our top five choices we’ve reviewed above, the Promix electrolyte drink mix and the unflavored version of the LMNT zero-sugar electrolyte powder contain no added sweeteners. There are more options out there with none included but in our opinion, these are two of the best.
Can I drink electrolyte water every day?
It’s fine if you still stay within the RDA of the ingredients. It all depends on your mineral daily intake with whole foods. When it’s “normal” then taking the above recommendations into account, it makes the most sense to drink an electrolyte solution only around the periods when you are performing long-duration, high-intensity exercise or shorter-duration exercise in hot and/or humid conditions. If you’re an average gym user, the consumption of an electrolyte powder is likely useless beyond helping to make a drink more palatable.
Conclusion
Sugar-free electrolyte supplements should be used during prolonged exercise sessions or training bouts lasting for >2 hours where profuse sweating is experienced. A particular focus should be during hot and/or humid conditions where adequate consumption of hypertonic fluids allows hydration status to be maintained. An individual hydration strategy should be developed with the help of a professional, taking individual and environmental factors into account.
The Transparent Labs Hydrate Electrolyte formula is our top-pick electrolyte powder with no sugar. It provides a well-formulated electrolyte mix and offers great value for money. It’s well-suited to long-duration, endurance-type events where sweat losses tend to be much higher than normal.
Do you perform exercise for long periods? Have you tried an electrolyte solution before and what effect did it have on your performance? Let's discuss your experiences below.
References:
- Sawka MN, Burke LM, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci Sports Exerc, no. 39 (2) (2007):377-390. doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e31802ca597
- Shrimanker I, Bhattarai S. Electrolytes. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: Electrolytes - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Evans GH, James LJ, Shirreffs SM, Maughan RJ. Optimizing the restoration and maintenance of fluid balance after exercise-induced dehydration. J Appl Physiol, no. 122(4) (2017):945-951. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00745.2016
- Duffield R, McCall A, Coutts AJ, Peiffer JJ. Hydration, sweat and thermoregulatory responses to professional football training in the heat. J Sports Sci, no. 30(10) (2012):957-965. doi:10.1080/02640414.2012.689432
- Baker LB, De Chavez PJD, Ungaro CT, et al. Exercise intensity effects on total sweat electrolyte losses and regional vs. whole-body sweat [Na+], [Cl-], and [K+]. Eur J Appl Physiol, no. 119(2) (2019):361-375. doi:10.1007/s00421-018-4048-z
- Knechtle B, Chlíbková D, Papadopoulou S, Mantzorou M, Rosemann T, Nikolaidis PT. Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Performance–Aspects of Sex, Race Location, Ambient Temperature, Sports Discipline, and Length of Performance: A Narrative Review. Medicina; no. 55(9) (2019):537. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55090537
- Smith JW, Bello ML, Price FG. A Case-Series Observation of Sweat Rate Variability in Endurance-Trained Athletes. Nutrients, no. 13(6) (2021):1807. doi:10.3390/nu13061807
- Godek SF, Bartolozzi AR, Godek JJ. Sweat rate and fluid turnover in American football players compared with runners in a hot and humid environment. Br J Sports Med, no. 39(4) (2005):205-211. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.011767
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This article was written by our qualified author and proofread by an expert with proven experience. When writing the article we've used our expertise and data from authoritative, scientific, and evidence-based sources. The list of references is provided at the end of the article.
Our team of authors and experts includes professional athletes (Olympians, winners of European and World titles), PhDs in Sports Science, certified coaches, sports nutritionists, CSCSs, physiotherapists, and others. Read more about the team here, and more about how we test here.
This article was written by our qualified author and proofread by an expert with proven experience. When writing the article we've used our expertise and data from authoritative, scientific, and evidence-based sources. The list of references is provided at the end of the article.
Our team of authors and experts includes professional athletes (Olympians, winners of European and World titles), PhDs in Sports Science, certified coaches, sports nutritionists, CSCSs, physiotherapists, and others. Read more about the team here, and more about how we test here.