Best Hydration Packets Ranked: The Great, the Good and the OK
- Whitney Alswede
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
When you’re grocery shopping, you can’t miss them: Colorful 5” and 6” boxes stand side by side, each one promising that if you just mix one of their powdered packets into 16.9 oz of water, you’ll rehydrate faster and refuel your body with vitamins and nutrients. If you ask your friends which ones they recommend, everyone has a different answer and can tell you exactly why theirs is the best. But at more than a dollar per packet, trying the various brands and flavors on the water aisle can easily turn into an expensive game of trial and error.
We at Texas Grocery Finds are always up for saving a dollar (or ten), so we’re here to help: We tried more than a dozen flavors from several brands available online and in grocery stores across Texas—and we have thoughts.
So, What Are Electrolytes?
“The simplest way to think about electrolytes is that they are essential minerals and that they provide many different things that the body needs,” said Sara Rosenkranz, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in a 2024 article by the American Heart Association News.
Specifically, we’re talking about sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate. Each one has a predetermined positive or negative electrical charge that creates electricity in the liquid it’s dissolved in. “They have a number of different, really important and critical functions," she said.
Our bodies naturally have electrolytes, but when we’re active in the Texas heat or when we work out, we lose precious minerals, especially sodium, potassium and magnesium, through sweating. Hydration packets are designed to help replenish those lost nutrients and rehydrate our bodies faster than plain water, ensuring optimal performance.
Mix, Sip, Discuss
The Pitch
“Experience faster hydration than water alone. Sip on the taste of freshly picked ripe strawberries topped with decadent notes of whipped cream. It's 3x the electrolytes of the leading sports drink and made for refreshing, on-the-go hydration.”
The Label
Calories: 50 | Chloride: 0% |
Sodium: 520 mg | Vitamin B-12: 5.79 mcg |
Potassium: 370 mg | Vitamin B-6: 1.93 mg |
Calcium: 0 mg | Sugars: 11 g |
Magnesium: 0% |
Our Verdict
We kicked off our experiment with perhaps the most common hydration packet available: Liquid IV Strawberry. It’s sweet, and it would probably be too sweet for some (including us). If you like strawberry-flavored candy, though, this may be one you consider picking up. Costco has been known to give samples of Liquid IV before, so keep your eyes peeled and grab a sample before you commit.
The Pitch
“Superior hydration than water alone, without any sugar. Delicate and floral, this luscious stone fruit flavor delights taste buds with notes of pear and pineapple. It's 3x the electrolytes of the leading sports drink and made for refreshing, on-the-go hydration.”
The Label
Calories: 15 | Chloride: 0% |
Sodium: 510 mg | Vitamin B-12: 5.79 mcg |
Potassium: 380 mg | Vitamin B-6: 1.93 mg |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 0 g |
Magnesium: 0% |
Our Verdict
Liquid IV’s Sugar-Free White Peach wasn’t a home run for us. Emily compared it to peach candy, which isn’t a bad thing, just not something she’d pick up regularly. We did like that it was sugar-free, making it a better option for children than sugar-laden juices.
The Pitch
“Eases nausea, hangxiety and fatigue and [includes] 3x electrolytes of leading competitor.”
The Label
Calories: 10 | Chloride: 1.685 mg |
Sodium: 1,120 mg | Vitamin B-12: 12 mcg |
Potassium: 350 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 0 mg | Sugars: 0 |
Magnesium: 50 mg |
Our Verdict
Waterboy’s Strawberry Lemonade packs a punch! With every sip, you’ll taste the sourness of the lemonade and the saltiness of the sodium. We both commented on how much flavor there is in this one, especially compared to the other packets we tried and how it completely transforms plain water. The addition of B-12 vitamins to help with energy levels is a nice touch and sets it apart from competitors on the market.
The Pitch
“Daily Hydration is a powerful, sugar-free hydration powder designed for everyday use. Packed with electrolytes and formulated for optimal absorption, it’s your secret weapon to staying hydrated, energized, and focused—all day, every day.”
The Label
Calories: 0 | Chloride: 830 mg |
Sodium: 550 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 |
Potassium: 140 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 30 mg | Sugars: 0 |
Magnesium: 20 mg |
Our Verdict
Waterboy’s Cucumber Citrus pleasantly surprised us. It could have gone either way, but the citrus hits you more so than the cucumber, and it just has a good flavor. We liked it and would give it a 6.5 on a scale of 1-10. As an added bonus, the lower sodium count makes it a great go-to drink for when you haven’t worked up a sweat but still need to rehydrate.
The Pitch
“Stay hydrated with the electrolytes, glucose and natural fruit flavors in the Hydrating Electrolyte Mix from Cure Hydration—so you can operate at 100 percent.”
The Label
Calories: 25 | Chloride: 0 |
Sodium: 240 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 |
Potassium: 315 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 4 g |
Magnesium: 0 |
Our Verdict
Cure’s Strawberry Kiwi hydration packet is good, plain and simple. The plant-based drink has a light, fresh flavor that tastes like summer and is perfect for the entire family. We love that it doesn’t have any additional sugars and artificial sweeteners. This is one we will definitely add to our pantries.
The Pitch
“Stur is made from real, delicious fruit extracts, sweetened with uniquely steeped Stevia, and colored using tiny amounts of fruit and vegetable juice. Stur does not use any artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.”
The Label (per ½ tsp/1 Squeeze)
Calories: 0 | Chloride: 4% DV |
Sodium: 60 mg | Vitamin B-12: 10% DV |
Potassium: 2% DV | Vitamin B-6: 10% DV |
Calcium: 0 g | Sugars: 0 g |
Magnesium: 0 g |
Our Verdict
Stur Passion Vibe may be at the top of our list. We’ve exchanged texts raving about it, and we’re on a mission to try more flavors. It really is that good. Plus, it’s sugar-free, has natural fruit flavors that you can taste and is reasonably priced. You can get 18 servings/squeezes out of one bottle of Stur, which Target is selling for $3.49, or 19 cents per serving. One squeeze was enough for us, but you could do half a squeeze and stretch the bottle further or mix in a couple. Either way, Stur is more affordable than its competitors and has a similar nutritional profile with a more appealing taste.
The Pitch
“Quenches your thirst with a mouth-watering fusion of incredibly tart and slightly salty with a mixed berry flavor that is irresistibly addictive.”
The Label
Calories: 10 | Chloride: 0 |
Sodium: 500 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 |
Potassium: 380 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 0 |
Magnesium: 0 |
Our Verdict
When a drink tastes like it has sugar in it but it doesn’t, it’s a winner. This one was near the top of our favorites list. Emily gave 310 Hydrate in Wildberry a strong 10/10 and said she would drink it a lot, and I thought it tasted like a soda. It would be good for kids after sports and while you’re sick, traveling or just breaking a sweat in the heat. The brand offers five more flavors of hydration sticks that you can bet we’ll check out.
The Pitch
“Perfect for Athletes, Prime was developed to fill the void where taste meets function; with bold, thirst-quenching all-natural flavors to help you hydrate, Prime is the perfect boost for every endeavor; our flavors are bold, refreshing and delicious—a perfect addition to your beverage rotation.”
The Label
Calories: 25 | Chloride: 0 |
Sodium: 40 mg | Vitamin B-12: 4.8 mcg |
Potassium: 700 mg | Vitamin B-6: 3.4 mg |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 2 g |
Magnesium: 124 mg |
Our Verdict
Prime Ice Pop is one of the most popular hydration sticks out there—you see it at Walmart, Target, HEB, etc. If it’s everywhere, it must be good, right? Maybe. Prime says it has blueberry, cherry and lime flavoring. “It’s not giving me ice pop—more lime,” Emily said. I liked the flavor initially, but I couldn’t drink a full 16.9-oz bottle of it. It’s OK, not great and not bad. It’s still worth a try, if only because it is so popular and easy to find.
The Pitch
“Prime's mission is to create fantastic beverages that can fuel any lifestyle; with bold, thirst-quenching flavors to help you refresh, replenish, and refuel, Prime is the perfect boost for every endeavor.”
The Label
Calories: 20 | Chloride: 0 |
Sodium: 40 mg | Vitamin B-12: 4.8 mcg |
Potassium: 700 mg | Vitamin B-6: 3.4 mg |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 2 g |
Magnesium: 124 mg |
Our Verdict
If you normally reach for a lemonade on a hot summer day, Prime’s Lemonade hydration stick is a good, healthy substitute. We liked how the lemonade flavor really hits you, but there is a sweetness to it that some may find a little too much. Prime includes coconut water in the packet, but we didn’t notice any tinge of it.
The Pitch
“Discover the delicious taste of almond in our convenient Bolero Almond Sticks. Enjoy this refined taste experience wherever you want. Easy to carry and simple to prepare.”
The Label
Note: Since this is a European product, even the best nutritional information we could find was incomplete.
Sodium: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Our Verdict
Bolero is interesting: It’s a European company making inroads in the United States, with its more than 70 flavors of gluten-free, sugar-free, non-GMO and vegan-friendly fruit drink mixes. Right now, you can only purchase their “sachets” on BoleroUSA.net, Amazon and Walmart.com. We tried the almond flavor, and it tasted and smelled just like you would expect almond extract to taste. We weren’t its biggest fans, but some people will like this. If you’re a fan of almond and add it to your sodas or baked goods, Bolero may be a good option for you, if you’re willing to wait a few days to have it delivered.
The Pitch
“Bursting with lemon-lime, Citrus Salt is as refreshing as it is energizing. Our first and most popular flavor, it’s a salty staple for LMNT newcomers and OGs alike.”
The Label
Calories: 10 | Chloride: 0 g |
Sodium: 1,000 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 g |
Potassium: 200 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 g |
Calcium: 0 g | Sugars: 0 g |
Magnesium: 60 mg |
Our Verdict
LMNT is popular among hikers, athletes, bikers, and just very active people in general due to its high sodium content. You can replenish your electrolytes quickly and without adding weight to your pack. Unfortunately, you can taste the salt. Other flavors might not highlight the sodium as much as Citrus Salt, so we’ll give it another chance in the future, but for this taste test, LMNT ranked near the bottom of our list.
The Pitch
“Our precise formula activates a hydration shortcut, delivering essential electrolytes with less sugar than leading sports drinks. Tasty hydration that's easy to drink and mix.”
The Label
Calories: 35 | Chloride: 0 |
Sodium: 330 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 |
Potassium: 180 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 7 g |
Magnesium: 0 |
Our Verdict
DripDrop hydration packets are widely available in grocery stores, and it’s a safe, reliable option, especially if you’re just dipping your toes into electrolyte drinks. For the taste test, we tried the Cherry packet, but to be honest, we’re longtime fans and enjoy all of the flavors. The cherry flavor isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, but it tastes like cherry—perfect. We could easily drink an entire bottle of the hydration packet without any qualms.
The Pitch
“Put yourself ‘in the pink’ with a flavor that’s both joyful and refreshing. Sweet and tart like real pink lemonade, but with no sugar, pulp, or artificial colors, this electrolyte mix will help power you through even the toughest of days.”
The Label
Calories: 0 | Chloride: 78 mg |
Sodium: 55 mg | Vitamin B-12: 0 |
Potassium: 250 mg | Vitamin B-6: 0 |
Calcium: 0 | Sugars: 0 |
Magnesium: 100 mg |
Our Verdict
Ultima’s Pink Lemonade is good, really good. The taste is refreshing, and it has a variety of electrolytes, is sugar-free and uses natural flavoring makes it a favorite, adding to its appeal. It’s also economical, coming in at about $1 per packet/serving. You can save, though, by purchasing a 90-serving canister for $44.99, bringing it down to about 50 cents each.
