Water first
Short easy sessions still favor water
If the session is under an hour, water usually covers it.
Food before and after often matters more than a drink upgrade.
Do not turn every light day into a supplement decision.
Most athletes do not need the most aggressive product. They need the drink that matches the actual session.
Short easy sessions still favor water
If the session is under an hour, water usually covers it.
Food before and after often matters more than a drink upgrade.
Do not turn every light day into a supplement decision.
Use carb + sodium for long or intense work
Gatorade-style drinks help when the athlete needs fuel and fluid together.
This matters most in long meets, hard interval sets, and hot weather.
They are often the easiest option for teens to tolerate.
High-sodium mixes work when carbs come from food
LMNT or similar products fit salty sweaters and long hot days.
They are not automatic upgrades for every athlete.
Use them when sodium is the missing piece, not because the label looks advanced.
Coconut water and trendy drinks are not universal solutions
Many have too little sodium for hard training losses.
Some are too low in carbs to help a late-session fade.
Read the use case before you read the marketing.