Isotonic Sports Drink Powder

Peakfuel Isotonic Sports Drink Powder turns a bidon of water into fuel for the long stuff: a 250 ml serve carries 12.8 g of carbohydrate from glucose and sucrose, 150 mg of sodium and smaller amounts of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Mixed at one scoop per 250 ml it is a 5% carbohydrate drink, and a 520 g pouch makes 9 litres. It is made in New Zealand, in Lemon or Orange.

What it is and when to use it

An isotonic sports drink powder for exercise that runs past the hour: a Sunday bunch ride into the hinterland, a long trail run, a half Ironman, a hot day paddling. Sip it through the session rather than saving it for the end. Peakfuel's recommendation is 500 to 900 ml per hour of exercise, so a 750 ml bottle each hour sits in the middle of that range.

Taste and texture

Peakfuel built this drink to be drunk at the strength it is mixed, not watered down because it is too sweet. Drink it full strength and you get every gram of carbohydrate and milligram of electrolyte on the label, hour after hour. Lemon is flavoured with natural lemon flavour; Orange adds a little beetroot juice powder for colour. Both are gluten free, dairy free and vegan friendly, with no preservatives.

Caffeine, sodium and what varies

• Per 250 ml serve (13.5 g): 221 kJ, 12.8 g carbohydrate (all sugars: about two thirds sucrose, one third glucose), 150 mg sodium, 75 mg potassium, 16 mg magnesium, 13 mg calcium.
• Per pouch: 38 serves.
• Caffeine: none in either flavour's ingredient list.
• Between flavours: the carbohydrate, sodium and other electrolytes per serve are the same in Lemon and Orange.

How to take it

Add one level scoop to every 250 ml of water in your bottle, shake well and drink it within 12 hours of mixing. A 750 ml bidon takes three scoops.

Who should not

Peakfuel sets a maximum of 7 serves a day and warns that going over the maximum daily use may cause harm. Stick to the scoop and the recommended amount per hour.

Looking after it

Reseal the pouch after every use and keep it somewhere cool and dry. There are no anti-clumping agents, so in a humid Queensland summer keep it in an airtight container or the fridge, and if it does clump, a good shake of the pouch breaks it up.