I have worked out for as long as I can remember – from strength training and HIIT to Pilates and boxing. As a health and wellness journalist, I had come across electrolytes, but it never crossed my mind that I actually needed them.
That changed when I was given some sample sachets at a wellness conference around three years ago. I felt the difference fairly quickly, especially on training days, and they soon replaced my usual afternoon coffee.
Intrigued by how quickly they transformed my energy and stamina, I spoke to GP and functional medicine expert Dr Nirusha Kumaran to understand how they work. "Electrolytes are essential minerals, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and phosphate," she explains. "Our bodies rely on them for basic cellular function, regulating everything from fluid balance and nerve signalling to muscle contraction and energy production."
These minerals are found naturally in fruit, vegetables, nuts, dairy and some protein sources, and most people who eat a varied diet will get enough.
But sweating, exercise, travel and alcohol all deplete electrolytes faster than food can replenish them. This matters because, as Dr Nirusha explains, "electrolytes help move water across cell membranes, and hydration isn't only a matter of the volume of water you drink, but of how efficiently that water reaches the cells. Drinking large amounts of plain water without replacing electrolytes can leave you feeling fatigued, dizzy, foggy-headed, or still thirsty despite sipping on plenty of fluids."
Best electrolytes at a glance
Best overall – Elete pocket bottle: £8.90, Eletewater.co.uk
Best budget buy – BodyBio e-lyte: £10.99, Bodybio.co.uk
Best ready-to-drink – Nonni sparkling electrolyte drink: £9.99, Drinknonni.com
Best for flavour – LMNT recharge electrolytes variety pack: £15.19, Healf.com
Best for supporting strength training – BodyHealth perfect amino electrolytes: £27.99, Healf.com
According to electrolyte brand Humantra's Hydration Report, 79 per cent of UK adults have suffered these exact symptoms of dehydration, proving that electrolytes aren't just for athletes. "Frequent flyers, people who spend a lot of time outdoors, those on low-carb diets, and women navigating perimenopause can all benefit,” adds Dr Nirusha.
So what should you look for when choosing electrolytes? "Find a formula that delivers optimal amounts of minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride without unnecessary additives," advises Dr Nirusha. "In general, the simpler the ingredient list, the better."
How I tested
I tested these electrolytes across a range of scenarios – from pre- and post-workout sessions (cardio and strength training) to outdoor workouts, long working days and a long-haul flight. I assessed each product on taste, dissolvability, ingredient quality, value for money and suitability for different uses. Each electrolyte product was tested over a minimum of three days.
Elete pocket bottle
★★★★★
Best: Electrolytes overall
What we love: Good value, 70+ naturally sourced trace minerals, and portable.
Take note: Less appealing to those who enjoy a flavoured electrolyte.
Made with concentrated inland sea water from Utah's Great Salt Lake, purified water and potassium chloride, this liquid formula is free from flavourings, calories and sweeteners. What I love most is the 25ml pocket-sized bottle that slips into any bag and clears airport security.
It's also very concentrated – one bottle makes up to 10 litres of electrolyte drink, making the cost per serving super value. In terms of dosing – there’s no guesswork; one lid full is enough for one litre of water, or halfway for 500ml. Because it's sourced from the Great Salt Lake, it is filled with over 70 ionic trace minerals alongside four electrolytes. It also carries Informed Sport certification, making it ideal for drug-tested athletes. Compared to Oshun (further down the list), which offers a similar unflavoured mineral-rich formula from the same source, this dropper bottle is slightly less elegant on the kitchen counter, but its portability makes up for it.
Buy now £8.90, Eletewater.co.uk
Humantra daily electrolyte sachets
★★★★★
Best: Electrolytes for a balanced taste
What we love: Suitable for intermittent fasting, with a wide flavour range.
Take note: Subtle taste – not for those who prefer something bolder.
Humantra has a cult following, with over a million customers worldwide and a 4.9-star rating from more than 5000 reviews. I can see why. These powder sachets come in boxes of 20 containing six electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride and phosphate, along with vitamins C and B12. There’s a choice of eight fruity flavours, including a new pineapple option.
The plant-based formula is free from artificial colours, and it is sweetened with stevia leaf extract. I tried these during and after workouts and found I wanted to drink more water as they are very easy to sip on. I was also able to use it on days when I was intermittent fasting. I noticed fewer mid-afternoon headaches and more sustained energy. The one drawback is the price – it's not the cheapest on this list, but you get a good discount with a subscription.
Buy now £28.00, Humantra.co.uk
KURK sport recovery electrolyte tablets
★★★★☆
Best: Electrolytes for sport recovery and mental alertness
What we love: Informed Sport certified – safe for competitive athletes, great for an afternoon energy boost without caffeine, 60-day money-back guarantee.
Take note: Needs to be ordered as a three-pack.
These effervescent tablets combine electrolytes with immune-supporting echinacea and anti-inflammatory curcumin, which is a potent compound designed to absorb more effectively than standard turmeric. With 334mg of sodium, 115mg of potassium and 123mg of chloride, it’s versatile enough for any part of the day. It works just as well for pre- or post-workout hydration as it does for a morning-after recovery or an afternoon mental refresh.
Dropping a tablet into my water during the afternoon slump gave me both focus and an energy boost. They are also Informed Sport certified, which is reassuring if you train competitively. At £49.99 for 60 servings, they are on the pricier side, but the combination of hydration, muscle recovery and immune support means they're doing several jobs at once. The subtle pineapple and herbal flavour is unique and a good option if you find other electrolytes too sweet or too salty.
Buy now £49.99, Kurk.life
Good Salt mode mix
★★★☆☆
Best: Targeted electrolyte formula
What we love: Three targeted blends for different needs, and there’s a trial format ideal for first-time buyers.
Take note: Contains sucralose, which could impact the balance of gut bacteria.
Good Salt's Mode Mix comes in three blends – Move, Focus and Chill – each designed for different times of the day and different needs. You can buy them together in a trial pack or in individual boxes of 26. I tried the Focus blend, which is formulated to help with mental performance. These were useful on long working days – the caffeine-free green tea extract and vitamin B12 kept my energy levels up.
With just 100mg of sodium per sachet, it's one of the lowest on this list, which makes it better suited to desk days and general wellness than post-workout recovery. However, of all the electrolytes I tested, this was the sweetest – the raspberry lemonade flavour is quite intense, which I put down to the use of sucralose rather than a more natural sweetener like stevia.
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that some research suggests may impact gut bacteria with regular use, so it's worth bearing in mind if you use electrolytes daily. I found I needed to dilute it with more than the recommended 500ml of water to make it palatable. The trial box with all three varieties is a good starting point if you're not sure which blend will suit you best.
Buy now £8.99, Itsgoodsalt.com
Nonni sparkling electrolyte drink
★★★★☆
Best: Ready-to-drink electrolyte
What we love: Tastes like a premium soft drink, ready to drink with no mixing required, refreshing, unusual flavour combinations, contains B vitamins and biotin, and a good alternative to alcohol.
Take note: Lower sodium makes it less suitable for post-workout recovery, can format less portable than sachets for travel.
I'm not usually a fizzy drink person, but this lightly sparkling electrolyte drink was delicious. Served in a can, it could easily pass for a soft drink – think San Pellegrino, but at just 20 calories, with sweetness coming from organic agave syrup rather than sugar and added hydration benefits. Available in two flavours – Sicilian lemon with garden mint and Pomelo grapefruit with pink Himalayan salt, it went down a treat at a recent barbecue, helping me avoid the dehydration that often creeps in during a day in the sun.
It’s also ideal for when you're on the go and can't be bothered to mix a sachet. The sodium content is lower (165mg) per can than others on the list, making it more of an everyday thirst-quencher. It’s also filled with vitamin B3, B6, B12 and biotin. Serious gym-goers or heavy sweaters may need an electrolyte with a higher sodium content after training. But for casual hydration during a meal, or as an alternative to alcohol, this is a great option.
Buy now £9.99, Drinknonni.com
Repowr daily electrolytes
★★★★★
Best: Electrolytes for customisation
What we love: Made with high-quality Kalahari Desert salt, this custom box allows you to choose your own flavour combination, and magnesium malate is highly bioavailable.
Take note: Higher salt content may be more than casual users need.
This was one of the first electrolyte brands I tried and probably one of the best tasting. I'm a fan of the build-your-own-box option – you pick your favourite flavour combinations from eight options, with 30 sachets per box. I opted for watermelon, lemon and lime, plus cucumber and mint, and loved all three. The latter works particularly well mixed into sparkling water for a refreshing drink.
Like LMNT, Humantra and Puresport, Repowr contains 1000mg of sodium per sachet. The raw, sun-dried Oryx Desert salt is harvested from ancient brine deposits in the Kalahari and certified microplastic-free. Alongside the sodium, the formula contains potassium and magnesium malate, a highly bioavailable form that some find easier on the stomach than magnesium citrate or oxide. It kept me going through a recent tennis session in the scorching 30-degree heat. Free from sugar and naturally sweetened with stevia, it won't break a fast and suits keto diets too. If you prefer nothing added, go for the unflavoured version.
Buy now £34.50, Getrepowr.co.uk
Oshun electrolytes
★★★★☆
Best: Electrolytes for the whole family
What we love: Ingredient purity, refillable bottle, 70+ trace minerals from a natural source, safe for the whole family, including children, travel-sized bottle also available (£6).
Take note: Higher price point than competitors, and unflavoured – which won't appeal to everyone.
On non-training days, I've been adding Oshun to my water every morning with a squeeze of lemon. I find flavoured drinks too sweet for daily use, and this unflavoured blend is one I could use daily. I used it throughout the recent heatwave and even added it to my children's water bottles for school – it's safe for kids and can also be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
This liquid electrolyte contains 70 trace minerals and four electrolytes, sourced from Utah's Great Salt Lake via solar evaporation. Some users report better skin quality, and one thing I noticed is that my lips seemed less dry when I was out in the sun. The refillable brown glass bottle feels premium, and you only need one or two pumps at a time – so it lasts well. If you want a clean formula that works for the whole family, look no further.
Buy now £35.00, Drinkoshun.co
BodyHealth perfect amino electrolytes
★★★★☆
Best: Electrolytes for supporting strength training
What we love: Addition of amino acids for muscle growth and recovery, available in both sachet and tub format, and suitable for keto, paleo, gluten- and dairy-free diets.
Take note: Less widely available than other products on this list, needs a good mix to prevent clumping.
I came across this doctor-developed brand at The HEALF Experience last year, and human biologist Gary Brecka also counts it among his favourites, so I was keen to try it. What sets it apart from other electrolytes on this list is the addition of essential amino acids – the building blocks of protein that the body uses for muscle growth and repair. The brand also includes nucleic acids alongside the amino acids, which it says helps the body synthesise protein more efficiently, and the electrolytes are better utilised too.
I used it during strength training sessions and noticed the difference both during and after. I had more sustained energy when lifting and experienced less post-workout soreness. It's also clean, with no sugars or artificial sweeteners; the subtle sweetness comes from monk fruit, stevia rebaudioside M (a premium, less bitter form than the more common rebaudioside A) and katemfe fruit. I preferred the tub over the sachets – it comes in 30, 60 or 120 serving sizes, giving you the flexibility to adjust the strength depending on how hard you've trained or the size of the bottle. One thing – you need to give it a good stir to avoid clumping.
Buy now £27.99, Healf.com
LMNT recharge electrolytes variety pack
★★★★★
Best: Electrolytes for flavour
What we love: Wide flavour range, one of the highest sodium contents – ideal for heavy sweaters, variety pack lets you try before committing.
Take note: High sodium content is not suitable for those on low-sodium diets.
LMNT was a real saviour for me one sunny day when I spent a little too long in the sauna. I felt dizzy and had a pounding headache, but after drinking this, I started to feel better. I have spotted these electrolytes at several wellness clinics and spas, which are pretty selective about what they stock. It’s one of my favourites in terms of taste; the watermelon flavour strikes a perfect balance between salty and sweet.
I did find that half a sachet was plenty for my 40oz Stanley cup to keep the saltiness from taking over. This variety pack comes with 12 sachets, which is a good way to sample the flavours. The formula contains one of the highest doses of sodium on this list at 1000mg per sachet. That might sound like a lot, but if you’re a heavy sweater, love a hot yoga class, follow a keto diet, or fast regularly, it may be needed. There are ten flavours to choose from, alongside an unflavoured version if you prefer to avoid the sweetness of stevia.
Buy now £15.19, Healf.com
BodyBio e-lyte
★★★★☆
Best: Budget buy electrolytes
What we love: Mirrors the body's natural electrolyte composition, and good value for money.
Take note: Mild saltiness takes getting used to.
BodyBio has been around since 1998 and has a loyal following in functional medicine circles. The liquid concentrate contains more potassium than sodium, with magnesium supporting muscle relaxation and nerve signalling in quantities that closely mirror the body's own electrolyte composition. Each capful contains 89mg sodium, 187mg potassium and 65mg magnesium. It's a good option for runners and endurance athletes, who tend to lose more potassium through sweat and are more prone to cramping.
I liked its ease of use – you just add a capful to 8oz of water or even milk. I also added it to soups, and it can be used in any foods you normally add salt to. It is unflavoured, with a hint of saltiness that may take getting used to if you're switching from sweeter formulas. I found this a great option on days when I wanted hydration without any sweeteners. Users consistently report fewer cramps and better sleep. At £10.99 for an 118ml bottle, it's also one of the best value products on this list.
Buy now £10.99, Healf.com
Puresport ultra electrolytes
★★★★☆
Best: Electrolytes for endurance athletes and runners
What we love: Well-balanced electrolyte blend for endurance and recovery, and 30 sachets per pack.
Take note: High sodium content – not suitable for those on low-sodium diets.
Founded by former professional rugby players, Puresport has earned a huge following among people who like to train hard, whether that's marathon runners or regular gym-goers. At 1000mg of sodium per sachet alongside magnesium citrate, calcium citrate and potassium, this is a serious formula designed to replace what's lost through sweat and keep muscles from cramping.
Both magnesium and calcium are in citrate form, considered one of the more bioavailable options. I'm not a runner, but I put these to the test during a brutal HIIT class and treadmill sprints, and both times they helped. I noticed a difference in my stamina – I could get through a set of burpees without stopping, and I felt less sore the next day. I tried the orange lemonade flavour, which was refreshingly citrusy without tasting synthetic, and with four flavours in total, there's plenty of choice.
Buy now £33.00, Puresport.co
What are the best electrolytes?
For a clean, unflavoured formula that's also portable, I was impressed with the Elete Pocket Bottle – it's easy to carry and great value at under £10. If you sweat a lot or like to experiment with different flavours, Repowr Daily Electrolytes offers a range of options with a satisfying taste. When you need a mental boost, KURK Electrolyte Tablet’s combination of electrolytes with curcumin and echinacea would be my pick.
Why trust us
Anjana is an award-winning freelance journalist who writes for the Shopping section, focusing on beauty, wellness, and parenting, from PEMF mats and vitamin gummies to the best vitamins for glowing skin. She has been contributing to the Standard since 2016. A fitness enthusiast who has worked out for as long as she can remember, she’s used electrolutes pre- and post- exercising for years.
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