Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix Review

Whether you’re racing, tackling a mountainous sportive or are pounding the pedals in a gym spin class, staying hydrated is a must if you want to perform at your best. Skratch Labs are an American company which has been founded by Allen Lim, a sports physiologist who has worked with some of the worlds top professional athletes and teams.

The Exercise Hydration Mix range is designed to replace both fluids and electrolytes, a bold claim which I was keen to see if it would live up to over a few weeks of big miles.

I had the full range of flavours to try in both single serving form and the 454 gram bag. Getting ready for a long weekend ride I started off trying the lemon and lime mix. This was in the 454 gram bag. 

From the outset I liked the resealable design. This meant the bag was easy to open and kept the powder fresh inside. Unlike plastic containers, the bag does not take up as much room in your kitchen cupboard and makes taking the mix to a race or away with you when travelling a simple mess free task. The single serving option is also a neat addition to the range as it is perfect for one day events when you don't want to spend time measuring powder out or on the move when you want to refuel and mix up a fresh drink half way through your ride.

The second feature I liked was the inclusion of a scoop. The clear instructions on the back of the bag made it easy to determine how many scoops were required. This means making up your bottles is a simple and quick procedure.

Drink prepared I was ready to hit the road. Ten minutes in and time to take a swig and see what the mix tasted like. Straight away I was impressed with the refreshing taste and natural aftertaste. The mix is made from all natural ingredients, with no artificial colours and preservatives and this was definitely apparent in the taste. 

Last hour of a four hour ride and this is usually the time when the stomach becomes a little fragile and does not appreciate sweet drinks or energy food as much. Thankfully the Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix sat well in my stomach and was just as easy to consume in the fourth hour as it was in the first. Most importantly after 120, hard kilometres in the hills, my legs felt good and the mix had provided me with enough energy to keep me riding strongly throughout my ride.

Over the next few rides I tried all the different flavours, from the fruity raspberry to the exotic pineapple. My favourite has got to be the lemon and lime, although the warm apple and cinnamon mix did warm me up nicely on a few of the chillier Sunday morning rides. 

The matcha and lemon flavour was a particularly nice option for those looking for that extra boost. Containing natural caffeine, this is a great choice for racing or partaking in high intensity workouts.

In conclusion the Skratch Labs Hydration Mix offers a fresh, natural alternative to the traditional energy drink. The subtle fruity taste and wide range of flavours available make this the perfect choice for both amateur and elite riders.