This year we included a nalgene full of sugar-free powdered drink mix, similar to  "Country-Time Lemonade". Really made a nice addition to the trip. Add an apropraite measuring spoon to the bottle. Not much added weight, we overdo anyway, but was a welcome addition. "Try it, you'll like it"

I've tried the sugar free stuff (kool aid version) and it was awful, no offense. The flavoring in those is a nice added bonus, but for me, I'll keep my sugars in my powdered drink mixes.

Last year I discovered the single serving packets of drink mix.  Worked great!  Stick a couple in the fanny pack during the day trip and can use any time.  Also, don't have to worry about water getting in the mix and causing a mess.  

It seems like every drink mix has them now.  It is also a bit lighter, because you can plan exactly how many you will need.

I think the sugar free mixes are great.  A really tiny pack makes  1/2 gallon of drink.  The different flavors add some variety to what you eat.  Westwood

The Propel singles are pretty good.  Has electrolytes if you need them (whatever they are) - 2 packs per nalgene

Even the sugar free versions offered by wallly-world aren't bad.  I picked up some lemonade packets the other day when I couldn't find the Crystal Lite brand (which I typically prefer).

Crystal Lite "Classic Orange" makes an acceptable breakfast drink...mixed as PJ suggests...2 per nalgene.  If you want to make a "personal sized" drink, I find the 16 oz. disposable water bottles to be the perfect size.  And, you can cut the bottle in half and use the top portion as a funnel in a pinch.  (I often bring a pre-cut section for capturing cooking oil on my trips.  Its light weight and disposable, but bring a plastic bag for storage after use if you plan on re-using it  Save the cap to avoid drips.)

However, I still prefer the "Cold Brew" Lipton tea bags for my evening "iced" tea with dinner.  Two bags per nalgene with an adequate wait period typically produces an acceptable drink.

dd

PhantomJug wrote on Jun 28^th, 2008 at 1:49pm:

The Propel singles are pretty good.  Has electrolytes if you need them (whatever they are) - 2 packs per nalgene

 Good choice, we need them alright and especially during hard physical activity.
 I bet a lot of paddlers who " hit the wall" after a few days of hard paddling and portaging are not hydrating properly  and maintaining a proper electrolyte balance?

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Crystal Light has a bunch of different flavors in the sugar--free singles now.  The old 2-quart tubs were nice, but the singles are the greatest thing since sliced bread for flavored drinks while camping.  No heavy sugar to lug around either.

What I like best is being able to mix and match since you need 2 singles per quart nalgene.  Raspberry Lemonade and Iced Tea is a good combo, for one.

Cryustal Light also has a version that's similar to Propel in that it has electrolytes (good) but no sugar which you really shouldn't need for energy if you are eating properly.

Ironically, the more convenient these drink mixes have gotten, the less I'm using them.  Since I quit treating my water with the tablets except for when the quality seems questionable, the water tastes too good to mess up with flavors most of the time.  I'm down to 1 quart a day of flavored stuff and the rest is straight water.

I don't think I'd like single serving packaging very much. I do what exdiver does on a smaller scale I guess. The packaging would just be extra garbage for me to deal with. I don't even use single serving hot cocoa, especially because of the foil...

I still actually like Kool-aid so I use the presweetened type repackaged w/ a small, ~2oz plastic bottle w/ a screw-on squirter cap. I can get maybe 10 packs or 20 quarts in the bottle, it's light and packs small enough to keep anywhere. I even take a spare on longer trips. If it's really hot, I'll add some complimentary flavored yet oh so HEAVY Gator-Aid (kept in a zip-loc in the day food bag due to volume) simply for the electrolyte boost. It's nice for varieties' sake too. I just squirt or pour either in till it suites my thirst at the time. I'm not fond of plain water at all!

Did I tell ya 'bout the time...
My wife and I were beginning a portage. Our juice bottles are snap top, quart bottles kept in often wet, insulating cozies. Anyway, I took a drink and stuck it back in the day food pack that was already on my wife's back and she was on her way. Seems I closed the cozy but, ummm, forgot to actually snap the bottle shut. That particular pack isn't waterproof at all.  :o

She said that once she figured it was cherry Kool-aid and not watered down blood trickling down her back, she actually didn't mind it so much. ...felt good on a hot day I guess. Lucky for me it was a hot summer day. She forgave me. I doubt I ever will.

I agree with Snow_Dog.  We have been bringing the CL packets for a few years now - mix up quick, taste great when blending flavors - Ice tea + Lemonade is great - Two packets is perfect for a Nalgene.  But DB is right my only complaint is trash.  You have to be careful to make sure you do not lose the tops of those little packets.

Costco has the bulk multi-flavor pack for $11.99

I like the single serving 5 calorie tubes for around the house and office, but still take Gatorade in the bush (kills three birds with one stone, for me). My method is simple - repack Gatorade into single-serving plastic cigar tubes (the kind with push-in caps). I get the perfectly-sized plastic tubes at Axman before they are touched by a cigar.

BTW, most dollar stores have 8-packs of the low-calorie tubes (for a dollar, of course). The Hawiian Punch varieties are my favorites.

-aj

I drink alot of Gatorade during my marathon training. I took powdered versions with me on my recent Q trip. Certainly not low calorie, but that's the whole idea. When exerting yourself (paddling/portaging/eating in the Q) replenishing sodium, vitamins and calories is important.

I like the orange flavor the best. Not bad with vodka, either.

Cheers

db wrote on Jun 30^th, 2008 at 7:22am:

I still actually like Kool-aid so I use the presweetened type repackaged w/ a small, ~2oz plastic bottle w/ a screw-on squirter cap.

Kool-aid is available in the same single serve packets that Crystal Lite is available in. You can also get various instant ice-teas (like Lipton) and, as mentioned above, sports drinks in the single serve packets. Target seems to have a good variety of single serve drink brands.

Of course, this doesn't solve the waste problem. But, at least for those who enjoy kool-aid there is an option.

I usually take the crystal light tubs for 2 quarts, and dump them into a small squirt bottle.  This eliminates the extra GARBAGE, and is STILL pretty easy to measure into a nalgene bottle.  The bonus is if you only have 1/2 a nalgene or a smaller nalgene bottle, you can measure EXACTLY how much you want.

Also, if you like it a little weaker, or stronger.......Just as EASY.

Later,

Geo