Whether you’re hiking your local south Californian hills or even the Mount Everest, you’re gonna need to have enough energy.
For the hike, you’re going to need physical energy and be mentally prepared to hike for a long duration. So a little energy boost would go a long way for your journey.
Energy drinks are always good options to give you some energy. Plus, they’re filled with ingredients that might benefit your exercise and cognitive performance, helping you to focus better during your hike to your destination.
So, in this article, I’ll be a deep-dive on energy drinks and hiking, from what you should look for to which brands check out all the boxes.
Let’s get started…
Page Contents
What To Look For In An Energy Drink?
You should always look for the ingredients and nutrients in an energy drink. But the most important ones you should look out for are:
- Caffeine
- Sugar Content
- Calories
- Price
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most important ingredient in energy drink, since it’s the ingredient that stimulates your brain and helps you with your focus and alertness.
According to this study, caffeine has been proven to increase your stamina, which is good news for you if you’re planning to have some caffeine during your hike.
However, even though caffeine increases your stamina and mental focus, it’s always better to consume it wisely. Too much caffeine can lead to adverse effects like nausea, headaches and jitters.
For reference, the FDA recommends a daily caffeine limit of 400 mg for adults. Any more than that and you might experience side effects such as:
- Dizziness
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Dehydration
Make sure your energy drink has a sensible amount of caffeine that doesn’t exceed the FDA recommended caffeine intake.
If you’re struggling with the caffeine amount in an energy drink, check the nutrition label as most energy drinks have their caffeine content mentioned there.
Sugar Content
While sugar is tasty and can supply you with a brief energy boost, an excessive consumption can lead to some serious health issues. Which is why you have to be cautious when selecting an energy drinks, as there are a lot of energy drinks that contain a high sugar amount.
There’s also a lot of brands that provide sugar-free options too. Sugar-free energy drinks are usually calorie-free and won’t lead to a sugar crash. Even if your energy drink doesn’t contain sugar, it can still give you a boost of energy.
However, if you are going to drink energy drinks that contain sugar, make sure that it doesn’t exceed the daily sugar intake, which is 24g for women and 36g for men.
Calories
Like caffeine and sugar, the calorie content in an energy drink play a crucial role too. Calories provide energy too. The more calories your food or energy drink has, the more energy it will give you.
If you consume more calories than you should, your body will store the extra calories as body fat, which will lead to weight gain.
Most energy drinks have their calorie content stated on their nutrition labels, and the amount of calories in an energy drink vary from brand to brand.
The recommended daily calorie intake for healthy adults are 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 calories for men. Keep in mind that the calorie amount depends on your physical activity, body metabolism, age, etc.
It’s safe to assume that you should go for an energy drink that’s low in calories if you’re on a diet, or don’t have a particularly active lifestyle to avoid eventual weight gain after some time.
Pricing
No one wants to spend too much money on a single can of energy drink.
The general idea is that if something is expensive, it’s of better quality. Similarly, if you think buying an expensive energy drink will give you a better energy boost, that’s not always the reality of it.
In some cases, a more budget-friendly brand would be more suitable to your taste, energy needs and preferences.
You can still purchase an affordable energy drink and get a good boost of energy, since it’s often not about the price of the energy drinks, but rather the ingredients and nutrients that go into the beverage.
If you pay attention enough, you’ll easily find plenty of great deals and discounts for energy drinks in bulk that’ll help you save a lot.
Is energy drink good for hiking?
Energy drinks are good for hiking. Energy drinks can provide a boost of energy and hydration during a hike, but it is important to use them with caution. Energy drinks contain caffeine and other stimulants that can increase alertness, focus, and physical performance.
However, the high caffeine content of energy drinks can also cause side effects such as jitters, anxiety, and dehydration, which can negatively impact your hiking experience. Additionally, energy drinks have high sugar content, which can lead to rapid spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, making you feel sluggish.
Which energy drink gives the most energy?
The amount of energy an energy drink provides depends on various factors such as caffeine content, ingredients, and serving size. Generally, energy drinks contain caffeine and other stimulants such as taurine, guarana, and ginseng, which can increase energy levels and alertness.
It is difficult to determine which energy drink provides the most energy, as the levels of caffeine and other ingredients can vary widely between brands and even between different varieties within the same brand. Bang for instance contains 300mg of caffeine, while Red Bull contains 80mg.
What is the best drink for long hikes?
The best drink for long hikes is water. Staying hydrated is crucial during extended physical activities like hiking, as it helps maintain body temperature, supports circulation, and prevents dehydration. Water is easily accessible, refreshing, and does not contain any additional calories or additives that might affect the body’s hydration balance.
While water is the primary and recommended drink for long hikes, some hikers may also choose to carry electrolyte-enhanced beverages or sports drinks to help replenish lost minerals and fluids during strenuous hikes, especially in hot or humid conditions.
Should I drink electrolytes while hiking?
Drinking electrolytes while hiking can be beneficial, especially during strenuous or prolonged hikes in hot or humid conditions. Electrolyte-enhanced beverages, sports drinks, or electrolyte tablets can help replenish lost minerals, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which are essential for maintaining proper hydration and muscle function.
However, the necessity of consuming electrolytes during a hike depends on factors like hike duration, intensity, climate, and individual hydration needs. If you are sweating heavily or experiencing muscle cramps, drinking electrolytes can be particularly helpful. Still, it’s crucial to use them in moderation and alongside regular water intake.
Is Caffeine Good For Hiking?
Caffeine is great for hiking as it can help increase your endurance and stamina, leading you to hike longer toward your destination.
As caffeine is a stimulant, it can help boost certain aspects of your exercise performance such as strength, endurance and stamina. With caffeine, you’ll be able to hike for an extended period of time before the symptoms of fatigue start setting in.
For better effect, it’s best to consume caffeine before heading out for the hike, instead of having some during the journey.
Best Energy Drinks for Hiking
| Energy Drink | Caffeine Content | Sugar | Calories |
| Red Bull | 80mg | 27g | 110 |
| Bang Energy | 300mg | 0g | 0 |
| G Fuel Energy Tub | 140mg | 0g | 25 |
| Ghost Legend Powder | 250 mg | 0g | 5 |
| Monster | 160mg | 54g | 210 |
| Celsius Energy | 200mg | 0g | 10 |
| 3D Energy | 200mg | 0g | 15 |
| Rockstar | 160mg | 63g | 250 |
| Aspire | 80mg | 0g | 0 |
| NOS | 80mg | 27 | 100 |
Here are few energy drinks I think would be the best fit for hiking that would give you a brilliant energy boost:
Red Bull
Red Bull is a great option for hiking.
With 80mg caffeine per can, it would be able to give you a nice boost of energy, which shouldn’t lead to many unwanted side effects.
Red Bull has a wide selection of flavors that might interest you. That said, Red Bull has 110 calories and 27g of sugar, which isn’t exactly what you want if you’re on a diet or cut down on calories.
If you prefer to do away with the sugar, you can go for Sugarfree Red Bull, which has the same caffeine content and benefits without the additional calories.
For more information on how to get the best prices for your Red Bull, check out my article on where to buy Red Bull.
Bang Energy
Widely reputed as a high performance beverage, Bang is definitely one of the healthiest energy drinks out there, with 300mg of caffeine along with a generous serving of amino acids and vitamins.
With all that caffeine, Bang would certainly provide you with an explosive boost of energy, helping you to last through your hike longer.
It’s not a good idea to chug on 300mg of caffeine all at once, so you might want to have sip on it slowly to get a stable boost that won’t overload your system.
If you want to know which Bang flavors hit the spot, check out the article I’ve written on the best Bang flavors, which you might find helpful.
G Fuel Powder
G Fuel is a good powdered energy drink option if you are looking for something convenient to bring along during your hike.
A single G Fuel Energy Tub contains 40 servings of G Fuel. Each serving of G Fuel has 150mg of caffeine and 25 calories along with plenty of beneficial ingredients like Vitamin E, which can surely boost your energy levels and mental performance for your hiking journey.
To make it easier for you, you can prepare your bottle of G Fuel Energy drink before going off for your hike so you can have it anytime you want.
For an in-depth look into whether G Fuel is a good energy drink or not, check out the article I’ve written.
Ghost Legend Powder
A single powdered container of Ghost Legend has 30 servings of Ghost Legend energy drink. In each serving of Ghost Legend, there is 250mg caffeine, 5 calories and some energy-boosting ingredients that would improve your physical endurance and stamina.
Plus, the caffeine within Ghost Legend is naturally-sourced, which makes it healthy and vegan-friendly. So, if you are a hiker and you are in a diet, this is a great powdered energy drink option for you.
Monster Energy Drink
A popular favorite among many, Monster Energy is packed with ingredients that can definitely give you an extra edge in stamina and focus while hiking.
Each 16 fl. oz can of Monster has 160mg of caffeine, 54g of sugar, and 210 calories, along with some vitamins and amino acids. A can of Monster can keep you going throughout the day, which is ideal when you’re spending most of your time hiking under the sun.
If you prefer to skip out on all that sugar, Monster has a sugar-free flavor, Monster Zero Ultra, which has the same caffeine content and benefits.
Interested to know how Monster can affect you nutritionally? Feel free to head over to the article I’ve written on the nutrition facts of Monster Energy for more information on that.
Celsius Energy
Celsius Energy is on the healthy energy drinks with its natural ingredients and nutrients.
A 12 fl. oz can of Celsius has 10 calories and 200mg of caffeine, along with a bunch of natural ingredients, vitamins as well as electrolytes. With its health-focused ingredients and nutrients, you’ll surely be provide with a great boost that would take you all the way to your destination.
If you want to find out how Celsius tastes and works, check out my review on Celsius Energy for my thoughts on the drink.
3D Energy
A 16 fl. oz can of 3D Energy has 200mg caffeine, 15 calories per serving, and several vitamins as well as amino acids. With all the caffeine, if you are not a regular coffee drinker or don’t have high caffeine tolerance, perhaps this drink wouldn’t be suitable for you.
3D Energy might be a pretty tasty beverage, but it’s definitely not the healthiest and most hydrating drink out there. Thus, I’d recommend having a can of 3D Energy before starting your hike, then switch to drinking water during your journey.
If you want to find out whether 3D Energy might lead you to any adverse effects, check out my article on whether 3D Energy is bad for you for a detailed discussion.
Rockstar Energy
Rockstar Energy has 160mg caffeine, 24g of sugar and 140 calories per 16 fl. oz can. It can still give you a nice boost of energy and help you with your focus. But with all the sugar in the energy drink, it might lead to a sugar crash after a tiring hike, so look out for that.
Aspire Energy
Aspire is one of the healthiest energy drinks out there in the market. Each 12 fl. oz can contain absolutely no sugar, calories, or any carbs at all, with only 80mg of natural caffeine made from green tea and the guarana seed extract. So, even if you don’t have caffeine frequently, Aspire would be a great option for you.
Aspire does help in burning calories, but the energy drink won’t help you lose weight unless you have a proper diet plan or you exercise regularly.
Want to know how Aspire tastes and whether it really works? Head over to my review of Aspire Energy for my thoughts and experience with the drink.
NOS Energy
NOS can be a pretty great energy drink, as a single 16 fl.oz can has 100 calories, 27g of sugar, and 80mg of caffeine.
This drink also has a good amount of vitamins like vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, so if you can handle the sugar, NOS is a good option for your next hike.
Curious to find out how NOS Energy can affect you nutritionally? Check out the article I’ve written on the nutrition facts of NOS Energy for an in-depth breakdown.
Final Thoughts
When you’re doing a rigorous activity like hiking, you definitely need plenty of energy to help you make your way to your destination without falling back easily.
Energy drinks can help provide you with a boost of energy for your hike, though whether a certain brand suits you or not depends on your caffeine tolerance, needs and personal tastes.
Furthermore, some energy drinks are filled with more sugar and caffeine than necessary, so make sure to choose your energy drink wisely to prevent unwanted adverse effects during the journey.
That said, energy drinks are only great options before you begin your hike. They’re not the most hydrating beverages around, so make sure to bring along drinks like water, electrolyte-based drinks or even juices to replenish your electrolyte balance and prevent dehydration along the way.