D-o-n-t-f-o-r-g-e-t-t-o-d-r-i-n-k-y-o-u-r-o-v-a-l-t-i-n-e
D-o-n-t-f-o-r-g-e-t-t-o-d-r-i-n-k-y-o-u-r-o-v-a-l-t-i-n-e
Plain water. But I am still laughing at a couple posts that said the mix was too sweet unless diluted. I was going to explain how to solve the issue but decided that it would be an effort in futility.
Lonehiker (MRT '22)
Wait, I think I see....or maybe not. I'll try to explain: I don't like sweet beverages, on or off trail. The only way to make flavor packets like the ones I mentioned palatable to me is to dilute the hell out of them. Since, as I mentioned, I only want a few sips of the diluted beverage its not really worth mixing them up. I would either have a bunch of opened powder packets in my food bag or way more beverage than I want to drink, so I don't bother. It's not a hassle to carry. I carried that stuff for several hundred miles but found I didn't really want it. I like to drink nice cool mountain water. I don't add anything to my coffee or tea.
Mobilis in Mobili
I like a little flavor in my water
Water while hiking, plain Kool-aid with about 20 percent of the recommended sugar added for breaks during the day and dinner and a shot or 2 of bourbon in the evening. While in town chocolate mike and beer.
I also get a 32oz. Gatorade to take out of town. Use the gatorade bottle in addition to my water bladder for water until the next town.
Pootz 07
I think everyone knows the solution to the problem. They just don't want to bother with it since plain water is good enough.
It's another of those things that come down to personal taste. I drink black coffee and wouldn't consider adding cream, sugar, or flavor to it. Some people think that's disgusting and can't understand how I can drink it that way. I just like it that way. I used to manage a coffee shop and couldn't believe the amounts of sugar, cream, flavor syrup and other stuff folks wanted in their coffee. Ugh, not for me!
Adding flavor and other compounds to water can be great for those that like it. It can also be a good way to replenish electrolytes as noted by a lot of posters in this thread.
Mobilis in Mobili
Don't forget I'm also a cyber bully, anti HYOH proponent, pro vegetarian but not anti meat activist, part of the UL goon squad, gold shield carrying member of the environmental police, part of an insider click at National Parks, "highlander", "Whole Paycheck" trail food "enthusiast", and part of the staunch pro NPS/GSMNP caucus!
I bought some energy drink mix at Walmart, dont remember the name except it had a big X on it, very tasty and did help get me up the hills.
I bought some Mio and walmart brand liquid electrolyte mix at a walmart once when I was on way to the trailhead, and couldnt find my ziplock with drink mix in it.
The Mio was fine, the walmart brand tasted OK, but the color went away after a few hours. It turned to debris swimming around in the bottom . wont be buying that again..ever.
I might carry some gatorade out of town but its usually because I want the bottle, but other than that I drink plain water because like you said its not worth filtering a quart of water just to clean out the bottle...filtering water is the chore I hate the most on the trail and I'm not looking for ways to do more of it. Other kinds of beverages are like town food, I fill up on them when I'm in town.