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"

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.

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

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


 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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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. 

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 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

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

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.