If you’re someone who exercises regularly, you’re almost certain to have heard about the importance of electrolytes.
Electrolytes are essential salts and minerals that help to regulate the body’s hydration levels and activate various bodily functions.
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Maintaining your body’s electrolyte levels is vital for performance and recovery for athletes and amateur sportspeople, as the body can lose a great deal of minerals during an intense workout.
If you’ve ever gone for a long run and come home dripping in sweat, only to find yourself with a headache an hour later, it’s highly possible that a loss of electrolytes could be one of the causes.
Even where exercise isn’t a factor, symptoms such as feeling tired on a hot day or having a bad hangover are likely the result of dehydration and loss of natural salts in the body.
The body naturally produces electrolytes from the food you eat, but there are lots of products on the market to give yourself an extra boost.
We’ve tried a range of electrolyte powders and tablets to see which ones delivered on taste and provided a boost of energy post-workout or when we were feeling a bit drained.
How we tested electrolyte powders and tablets
Firstly, we checked the information about what each product contained, as many electrolytes we tested included additional ingredients to improve your health and wellbeing.
All the products we tested were powders or tablets and needed to be dissolved in at least a pint of water; however, a few needed further dilution based on the instructions.
We considered how well the products dissolved, how easy it was to drink, the taste and how the drink made us feel afterwards.
The electrolytes were tested after workouts and on rest days to evaluate how the product was affecting us.
Best electrolytes at a glance
- Best overall: Phizz Daily Energy Electrolytes, £7.99 – Buy Here
- Best budget: SiS Hydro Electrolyte tablets, £7.60 – Buy Here
- Best for flavour: Humantra Zero Sugar Electrolyte Drink, £28 – Buy Here
- Best for matcha lovers: MISSION Hydrate Powder, £19 – Buy Here
- Best premium: Cadence Core 500 Sachets, £34.99 – Buy Here
- Best to prevent bloating: WillPowders Watermelon ElectroTide, £35 – Buy Here
Best electrolyte powders and tablets, tried and tested
PHIZZ Daily Energy Electrolytes
PHIZZ Daily Energy Electrolytes (Cherry) – £7.99 for 20 tablets
- Pros: Include caffeine, seven electrolytes per serving, 16 vitamins included, taste great
- Cons: Sometimes don’t fully mix in water, taste a bit salty towards the end of drink, some artificial ingredients
- Rating: 4.5/5
PHIZZ’s Daily Energy Electrolytes hit all the right spots.
It leaves you feeling hydrated and gives a really noticeable boost of energy; it also tastes great.
I got into the habit of making myself a PHIZZ drink every afternoon after lunch, and not only did it stave off the dreaded post-meal energy slump, but it also left me feeling hydrated.
I’d recommend the product just based on the effects, but the bonus is that the tablets actually make for a really enjoyable, tasty drink.
My one complaint is that the end of the drink, especially if you drink slowly, can taste a bit salty due to unmixed sediment gathering at the bottom, but it’s not a deal breaker.
For those looking to avoid additives and UPFs, PHIZZ may not be for you, since the ingredients list on each tube reads a bit like my Year 10 chemistry homework, but again, not a deal breaker for me.
Review by Maxim Hancock
SiS Hydro Electrolyte Tablets
SiS Hydro Electrolyte Tablets, £7.60 for 20 tablets
- Pros: Cheaper than many others, pleasing taste, contains added B vitamins
- Cons: Contains artificial sweeteners
- Rating: 4.5/5
Full disclosure, I have to admit I had tried Science in Sport’s electrolyte tablets before undertaking this review.
They’re probably the most visible and easily available electrolytes as they are stocked in Tesco and Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
They also come in at a budget-friendly £7.60 for 20 tablets when you buy online from Holland and Barrett.
Although the packaging is a bit more no-frills than other options on this list, I find that the product dissolves very well in a pint of water.
They are available in lemon, berry and cola flavours, with the cola having added caffeine for an extra boost.
I enjoyed the lemon flavour I tried for this review, however, it does include artificial sweeteners, so if you’re looking to avoid those, this won’t be the one for you.
All in all, a very good affordable option.
Humantra Zero Sugar Electrolyte Drink
Humantra Zero Sugar Electrolyte Drink, £28 for 20 sachets
- Pros: Great tasting berry pomegranate flavour, zero sugar
- Cons: One of the more expensive options on this list
- Rating: 4.5 / 5
Humantra claim the ingredients of their electrolyte drink can offer four times the hydration of water alone.
The product comes in a sachet that you need to pour into water and mix thoroughly, and it’s recommended you drink one in the morning to “set you up for the day ahead”.
The berry pomegranate flavour I tried was my favourite of all the electrolyte drinks I tested for this article.
On that basis alone, it gets a big tick and would be one of the products I’d be most likely to return to if I keep taking electrolytes.
The product includes vitamins C and B12, and similar to others on this list, uses Himalayan sea salt to provide electrolytes.
Other flavours available include elderberry, Himalayan lime and lychee.
All of the flavours are sugar-free, so you don’t need to worry about spiking your blood glucose.
MISSION Hydrate Powder
MISSION Hydrate Powder, £19 for 30 sachets
- Pros: Great for those who like matcha and those who prefer a warm drink, uses natural ingredients
- Cons: If you don’t enjoy the matcha flavour this won’t be for you
- Rating: 4/5
MISSION are a natural energy drinks company with a focus on creating teas, drinks and supplements that provide slow release energy.
Their Hydrate Powder product is described as a matcha and yerba mate blend, with the electrolyte element provided from a natural source, Himalayan pink salts.
The drink comes as powder in a sachet and can be either dissolved in cold water or mixed with your choice of hot milk. This is the only drink in our list that is suggested to be consumed warm.
When mixed with water, it has a slight pond-water appearance, but it dissolves really well without any clumps.
The matcha is the dominant taste in the drink, so if you don’t like matcha, this one likely won’t win you over. For matcha fans, it could well be a winner.
I felt it gave me a good boost the morning I drank it.
If you’re looking for something to top up your electrolytes and energy, and that can be consumed as a warm milky drink that could replace your morning coffee, this one is certainly worth a try.
Cadence Core 500 Sachets
Cadence Core 500 Sachets, £34.99 for 30 sachets
- Pros: Great taste, offers top levels of hydration, mixes instantly without clumps
- Cons: Expensive
- Rating: 4.5/5
Having only launched in 2024, Cadence is one of the latest brands to join the electrolyte market.
Inspired by the rhythm of daily discipline, this premium hydration brand offers pre-mixed cans and soluble sachets designed for performance, recovery, and day-to-day hydration.
I got my hands on 30 of the brand’s ‘Core 500’ sachets in the Melonberry flavour, which is priced at £34.99 for 30.
It’s fair to say Cadence has positioned itself among the elite of the electrolyte world.
Given the price point, I was expecting great things from this particular product, and frankly, I wasn’t disappointed.
Unlike other powders that leave you with floating clumps, Cadence dissolves instantly without sinking to the bottom of the glass.
With a heavy mention of salt within the branding, I was admittedly dreading my first taste of these sachets, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The Melonberry flavour was extremely tasty and very easy to drink, even first thing in the morning.
It wasn’t until I reached the end of each glass that I noticed the salty undertone, but even then, it wasn’t anything too overbearing.
Since trying this product, Cadence has become the first thing I reach for in the morning, and despite its hefty price tag, I’ll likely continue to purchase.
Review by Jack Strong
WillPowders Watermelon ElectroTide
WillPowders Watermelon ElectroTide, £35 for 28 sachets
- Pros: Good flavour selection, diuretic to reduce the risk of bloating
- Cons: Vigorous stirring needed
- Rating: 4/5
WillPowders’ watermelon-flavoured ElectroTide powder certainly sounded like a refreshing prospect.
In addition to improving hydration and salt levels, it also contains dandelion root extract and horsetail tea extract.
The extracts have diuretic qualities that reduce the risk of bloating and help the body flush out toxins.
I tested this one post-run in a pint of cold water taken from my filter jug in the fridge.
The powder took a while to dissolve, and there were initially some clumps, but it did mix in after some vigorous stirring.
I found that the watermelon flavouring was mild and pleasing, and the drink didn’t taste overly salty, which can be true of some electrolyte drinks.
The flavour is a definite plus point of this product, but it also comes in citrus and cherry flavours if you want some variety.
Spacegoods Hydro Dust electrolyte and mushroom super blend
Spacegoods Hydro Dust electrolyte and mushroom super blend, £39
- Pros: Invigorating watermelon flavour, contains Vitamin C and B6 as well as potassium and sodium
- Cons: Contains sweetener, sticky
- Rating: 4 / 5
At £39 for 30 servings, the Spacegoods Hydro Dust powder is on the expensive end of the scale of all the electrolyte products we tested.
However, it does contain all of your daily recommended intake of vitamins B1, B6 and C as well as reishi mushrooms, so you can save money on multi-vitamins if you commit to a daily serving of Hydro Dust.
With 300mg of sodium per serving, there is a slightly salty aftertaste following a hit of watermelon, but not enough to be overpowering.
I rather enjoyed a glass of this mid-afternoon and felt that it perked me up during the post-lunch slump without any need for caffeine, thanks to all the lovely B vitamins.
The Reishi mushrooms are a source of bioactive compounds, which are believed to contribute to immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.
I can’t say that I noticed any anti-inflammatory or immune-boosting effects from the mushrooms during the trial, but it lifted my spirits knowing that I was drinking something that might be beneficial to my overall health.
If you subscribe to a monthly delivery of Spacegoods Hydro Dust, you’ll save 25% on the cost of an individual bag, meaning that you’ll pay £29 a month instead of £39.
Given that a coffee costs around £3.50 and this powder gives me just as much of a boost, I’d say that was pretty good value.
Review by Zoe Nicol
HIGH5 ZERO Electrolyte Tablets
HIGH5 ZERO Electrolyte Tablets (Tropical), 20 tablets for £5.50
- Pros: Cheap compared to others, tastes a bit like a fruit and barley squash
- Cons: Contains artificial sweeteners
- Rating: 4/5
HIGH5’s range of electrolyte tablets is named ZERO to highlight that they have zero sugar and zero calories.
It’s recommended to be taken after exercise, and at the time of writing, it is the cheapest option on this list at £5.50 for a tube of 20 tablets at Boots.
The tablets dissolve quite thoroughly, without clumps, and the tropical flavour I tried resembled the colour and mild flavour of a tropical fruit and barley squash.
I suspect the fact that I quite enjoyed the taste was due to the sweetener (sucralose) added.
If you don’t have any issues with such additives, it’s definitely very drinkable, and there are several other flavours available too.
In addition to the electrolytes, it also contains added vitamin C.
It only narrowly misses out as the ‘best budget option’ compared to the Science in Sport product, also featured in our list.
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (Tropical Punch), 15 sachets for £19
- Pros: Dissolves into water really well, contains multiple B vitamins
- Cons: I found the taste a bit artificial
- Rating: 3.5/5
According to Liquid I.V., 80% of people in the UK don’t drink enough water.
The Hydration Multiplier product aims to improve the situation by helping people to better hydrate themselves, one 500ml drink at a time.
The drink comes in sachets, and a big plus point is that the powder really dissolves well into a large glass of water, without any clumps.
For me, the taste of this product is where it falls down a little. The tropical flavour I tried had quite an artificial pineapple flavour, which I didn’t love.
But I do think the product helped me rehydrate after a lunchtime run, so it served its purpose in that sense.
Hunter & Gather Restore Electrolytes
Hunter & Gather Restore Electrolytes, £34.99 for 30 sachets
- Pros: No sugars or artificial sweeteners, contains magnesium for muscle function
- Cons: Taste is on the salty side
- Rating: 3/5
Hunter & Gather’s electrolyte offering is available in multipacks with a mixture of unflavoured, mixed berry and lemon and lime flavours.
There’s also a “taste-o-meter” on the pack explaining that you can adjust the amount of water you dilute the sachets into depending on how strong you want your drink.
When I followed the instructions to mix for a balanced flavour, I found this too salty for my taste. But after diluting it further, it was quite drinkable.
In any case, this did mean I was taking on board more water too.
In terms of the ingredients, if you’re looking to avoid sugar and artificial sweeteners, you can be sure there are none here.
The Restore Electrolytes also have added magnesium, which helps with muscle function.
Best electrolytes FAQs
What are electrolytes?
Electrolytes are essential minerals which enable the healthy functioning of the human body.
They are responsible for maintaining the correct balance of fluids in the body and contribute to correct muscle and nerve function, so are highly important for exercise.
Some examples of electrolytes that the body needs are sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium.
Why might your body lose electrolytes?
Your body can lose electrolytes through sweating heavily, for example, during intense exercise or in intense heat.
Essential minerals and salts can be present in sweat droplets that the body expels.
This is why many athletes choose to replenish these using supplements or drinks.
You may also be low on electrolytes after a night of heavy drinking, as consuming alcohol in excess causes the body to become dehydrated.
What happens when your body is low on electrolytes?
Running low on electrolytes can manifest as different symptoms – you may feel nauseous, or your muscles may feel weak or start to cramp.
Another symptom associated with low electrolyte levels, and dehydration more generally, is a bad headache.
This is why it’s so important to take on board fluids and eat foods containing natural minerals when you undertake intense exercise.
What drinks have electrolytes in them?
Many drinks contain electrolytes your body needs, as well as the supplements in this article.
For example, ordinary dairy milk contains electrolytes, as does fruit, so having a smoothie or fruit juice is one way of helping your body get what it needs.
If you’re looking for a low-calorie option, coconut water is great, or choose something that combines minerals and glucose, like Lucozade or an energy drink.
How often can I take electrolytes?
Consuming one electrolyte drink daily is unlikely to cause problems for the majority of people.
An exception to this could be if you have kidney problems, as you may end up with more electrolytes than your body needs, upsetting the balance.
Consult a doctor if you are concerned about this.
Generally, you will see the benefits of electrolyte drinks most when the body has lost fluids, for example, after intense exercise, during a hangover or after a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea.
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