5 Drink Additives for Better Hydration

During summertime, it can be hard to stay hydrated. Especially when you’re spending all day out in the sun doing your favorite lake activities. Of course, a trusty glass of water can do the trick. But have you ever tried hydration-boosting drink mixes? Loaded with both flavor and vitamins, delicious powders from these brands will keep you healthy and happy for long days in the sun. Whether you’re lounging on the dock or hitting the trails, these hydrating drink additives will become your must-have for leaving the lakehouse.

Salud

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While sipping on Salud, you’re guaranteed to stay both hydrated and happy. These hydration + immunity drink additives were created by social media influencer Josh Leyva who wanted to help people quench thirst and increase hydration in a healthy way. Salud’s hallmark trait is their clean premium ingredients and authentic flavors. I have personally tried Salud, and I appreciate the wide variety of flavors from pineapple to mango to hibiscus (my favorite) that never fail to enhance the H20 experience.  Further, each drink mix is packed with electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals — including 100mg of elderberry and Wellmune to boost immune systems.

ZYN Daily Wellness Drink Mix

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ZYN prides itself on using clean, simple ingredients in its daily wellness drink mix. Just mix this 10-calorie, electrolyte powder with water to get amazing immunity and recovery results. Whether you want to improve your gut health, hydration, or bounce back after a tough workout, these powdered stick packs are perfect. ZYN’s product comes in four flavors — Strawberry Yuzu, Blackberry Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit Lemonade, and Mango Pomegranate — all of which are delicious summer flavors. It’s also great for anyone gluten-free or lactose intolerant since their products are totally free from gluten and dairy. Instead, you’ll get the healing benefits of curcumin and turmeric paired with stevia-sweetened flavor.

Ultima Replenisher

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Made with real fruit flavor extracts, this electrolyte powder from Ultima is the perfect, refreshing drink additive for a summer’s day at the lake. It comes in tasty flavors like raspberry, grape, lemonade, and orange. It’s also made from organic stevia rather than added sugar, making this drink an excellent zero-calorie option. After a long day of sweating at the lake, this Ultima powder will replenish your lost electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chloride. For ease of use, the powder comes in small stick packs that are easily packaged with exact servings.

Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier

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If you’re looking for double the electrolytes, this Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Electrolyte Powder might be your drink additive of choice. If you mix just one stick of this hydration powder into a cup of water, you’ll get three times the electrolytes of average sports drinks. How does it work? Cellular Transport Technology — a mixture of sodium, potassium, glucose,  and water that helps deliver water and nutrients into the bloodstream much faster than an average cup of water. On top of that, you’ll be getting premium ingredients like 100% of vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12. Plus, every time you buy a packet of these, the Liquid I.V. brand will donate a bag to charity.

Dr. Price’s Electrolyte Mix

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Last but not least, Dr. Price’s electrolyte mix is a refreshing, fruit-flavored hydration-enhancing drink of choice. With a blend of more than 72 trace minerals and electrolytes, it’s perfect for extra hydration during an active day on the lake. Like many of the other drink additives on this list, it’s made from stevia leaf extract for a natural sweetening option. In addition to the classic raspberry flavor, the powder is also available in lime, pineapple, mixed berry, and other options. 

We hope these drink additives help you stay hydrated on the lake!

The Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2021

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When embarking on a hiking adventure, having clean water is of the utmost importance. Between a lack of clean water on your trail and the dangers of stomach parasites, it’s not worth the risk. Luckily, there are plenty of water filters on the market that will keep you both hydrated and safe this summer. Check out some of our recommendations!

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System

Photo courtesy of REI

Best used on backpacking trips, the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter system includes two 32 fl.oz pouches, a cleaning coupling, and accessories for gravity and incline use. Its filter, made of hollow-fiber membrane, removes almost 100% of all bacteria including salmonella, cholera, and e.Coli. The durable packaging allows this water bottle to be used hundreds of times, equipping you for several hiking adventures over the course of the summer. Plus, this water filter won’t weigh you down. It’s only 3 fl oz. without water, making it lightweight and easy to transport on the trails.

Katadyn Steripen Ultra UV Water Purifier

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This backpacking water filter by Katadyn Steripen is small, portable, and gets the job done. This tiny device which fits into most containers can purify half a liter of cold or warm water in less than a minute. But its ability to purify bacteria that causes cholera, dysentery and typhoid is only one defining feature of this tool. Notably, it’s also excellent at filtering out harmful UV rays. Finally, this device is rechargeable from any USB power source. Simply connect the water purifier to a cable, and when it’s fully charged, it’ll be ready to treat up to 50 liters of water.

MRS Guardian Purifier

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This one’s for the folks who are doing some arduous hiking. If you’re confronted with some murkier water sources and need a heavy-duty solution, the MRS Guardian Purifier is a perfect choice. This backpacking water filter is the winter of BackPacker Magazine 2016’s editor’s choice award for a reason. Its advanced medical-grade fibers block viruses and physically remove viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and particulates. This level of purification is something that most hollow-fiber filters cannot achieve. It’s also perfect for cold-weather hikers, since it’s engineered to withstand freezing temperatures.

GravityWorks 4.0L Filter System

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Rated as one of the best high-capacity gravity filters, this filtration system from Platypus is effective and simple. Just fill one of the bags (labeled “dirty”) with water, place it above the empty bag, open the clamp, and give the rest to gravity. In just a few minutes, this system will produce about 4 liters of purified water. Using hollow fiber as its purifying mechanism, this backpacking water filter eliminates protozoa, bacteria, particulate, giardia, E. coli, salmonella, and more.

Grayl Water Purifier

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Regarded as one of the best backpacking water filters for traveling internationally, the Grayl water purifier is known for its speed and simplicity — not to mention that it gets the job done. Within only eight seconds, it can produce 24 ounces of clean drinking water. The best part is that it doesn’t matter where the water source is. If it’s a murky pond, an unfamiliar lake, or even an underground well, the Grayl device is designed to remove waterborne infections across the globe such as viruses, bacteria, pesticides, chemicals, and microplastics.  

From all of us at Lake Homes, we wish you the best on your hiking adventures this summer!