Skratch Labs just leveled up its hydration lineup with some updates and fueling guides. If you thought their Sport Drink Mix was already solid, the new additions of Unsweetened Hydration Sport Drink Mix, Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix (though not totally new), and the new Electrolyte Booster give athletes more control than ever over how, when, and what to drink.
Here’s how they stack up, when to use each, and how to tailor hydration to your body.
Skratch Labs – What’s New?
Hydration Sport Drink Mix is Skratch’s baseline: electrolytes plus simple carbs. It’s designed to replace what you lose in sweat, while giving light energy so you don’t bonk out. Mix one scoop per 12-16 oz of water (350-500 ml) and sip during workouts or rides. It strikes a balance: fluid, flavor from real fruit, and what most moderate riders will need when sweating but not racing flat-out for a long duration (less than 60 minutes).
Unsweetened Hydration Sport Drink Mix is ideal for those moments when you want the benefits of electrolytes without the added sugar. Same electrolyte profile as the regular hydration mix (~400 mg sodium per serving, plus potassium, calcium, magnesium), but zero added sugar or sweeteners. Ideal for short rides, recovery, or hot training days, or when you fuel separately (e.g., gels, bars). It’s the lean version of hydration, keeping flavor light and reducing the impact of taste fatigue.
Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix is a different beast. It’s fuel first. More calories per serving, denser in carbohydrate, but still with electrolytes. The idea: long races or ultra efforts where you need serious energy, but maybe less fluid volume. Skratch calls this “a big hammer with less fluid.” Great on colder days or long races when gels or food aren’t quite enough, or when carrying extra fuel is burdensome. But be careful: too much in the bottle can upset your stomach if you’re not used to it. This is a fuel that takes a bit to get used to, and dialing in – but more on that later.
NEW- Electrolyte Booster allows you to adjust your sodium level independently, without adding sugar or flavor. If you’re sweating heavily, running in the heat, or know you lose a lot of salt (taste, cramping, salty gear, etc.), you can add ½-1 scoop (400 mg sodium per scoop) to your base drink. No flavor change, just more salt.
How to Use the Mix That Matches Your Sweat Type
Here’s where it gets personal. Matching your mix to your sweat type, heat, and effort can make a huge difference in performance and comfort. It’s not a new concept, but more and more companies are adopting it now. Here’s a rough guide as we would use the Skratch Lap mixes:
- Light sweat / cool temps / short rides (<60 min)
- Choose the Unsweetened Mix or opt for a light serving of Hydration Sport Drink Mix.
- Skip the Electrolyte Booster unless you already know you’re a salty sweater.
- Moderate sweating / moderate effort / mixed terrain
- Hydration Sport Drink Mix is your go-to baseline.
- Add the Electrolyte Booster if it’s hot, humid, or if you know you lose a lot of sodium.
- Very hot conditions, high sweat rate, or long durations (2+ hours)
- Reach for the Super High-Carb Mix for fuel + electrolytes.
- Pair it with extra water or a second bottle to balance hydration.
- Add the Electrolyte Booster as needed.
- Important: test this setup in training—don’t surprise your gut (or butt) on race day.
How to Know Your Sweat Rate
A simple way to check your sweat rate is with a pre- and post-ride weigh-in. Weigh yourself before your ride, then again immediately afterward, ideally in minimal or dry clothing. Every kilogram (2.2 lbs) of bodyweight lost equals roughly one liter of fluid lost. Add back the amount you drank during the ride, and you’ve got your total sweat rate per hour under those conditions. For example, if you drop 1 kg in an hour and drink 500 mL, your sweat rate is approximately 1.5 L/h. Repeating this test in different weather conditions or at varying training intensities helps you dial in hydration more precisely.
Yes – you can get a sweat study done, and they are excellent for fueling guidance. However, they typically cost around $200 and take approximately 45 minutes. If you’re serious about long-distance (or any) racing, especially in the heat, I recommend one. It’s a great way to pinpoint what you’re losing and how to replenish – less guessing – less stress on the body.
Putting It All Together For Race Day
Let’s say you have a 3-hour ride in hot, humid conditions, pushing tempo and sweating buckets. What’s your ideal mix?
- Use Super High-Carb in one bottle to cover energy + some electrolytes.
- Use a second bottle with Hydration Sport Drink Mix (or Unsweetened + Booster) for fluid + extra salt.
- Adjust based on taste and feel—if you’re getting sloshy or crampy, consider reducing the sweetness or adding more sodium via the Booster.
On cooler rides or recovery days, skip the big carb mix and use Unsweetened Spice or Hydration Sport lightly, possibly without Booster.
How Can This Make Me Faster?
The first question in a bike racer’s brain, well, first it’s usually “what does this cost” followed up by “will this make me faster”. Unequivocally – yes. Dialing in hydration can absolutely make you faster. When you replace exactly what you lose in sweat, fluid, electrolytes, and fuel, you keep your muscles firing and your brain sharp for a deeper, more enjoyable ride. Even mild dehydration (as little as 2% bodyweight loss) can sap power output, slow reaction time, and make climbs feel like they’re twice as long. By tailoring Skratch’s mixes to your sweat rate, you avoid cramps, preserve glycogen, and delay fatigue—meaning when the final climb or sprint hits, you’ve still got snap in the legs instead of dragging empty bottles and heavy legs to the line.
Skratch has always built these mixes not just for performance, but for gut comfort and real use. These new options let you dial in what your body actually needs: fuel, sugar, salt, or none of those if you don’t. That flexibility, especially for athletes engaging in various types of training (such as interval training, long endurance, and heat training), makes a significant difference.
Check out the line at SkratchLabs.com
