Sports drinking water provides hydration for athletes and active individuals to optimize performance. As exercise intensity increases, the loss of fluids and electrolytes through sweat can impair physical abilities. Sports waters contain balanced electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium to replace what’s lost through perspiration. By preventing dehydration that causes fatigue and muscle cramping, sports waters allow athletes to train and compete at their highest level for longer periods. With optimized mineral content and light flavors, sports drinking waters promote fast nutrient absorption. As the leading sports hydration brand, our sports waters are specially formulated with athletes in mind to deliver rapid hydration without being heavy on the stomach. Staying adequately hydrated gives you the competitive edge.
Our Top Picks For 2025
CORE Hydration Nutrient Enhanced Water
CORE Hydration is a nutrient-enhanced bottled water designed for active lifestyles. It contains added electrolytes and minerals and has a perfect 7.4 pH balance. CORE’s bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic.
CORE Hydration is a nutrient-enhanced water designed to hydrate your body while you stay active. It undergoes a 7-stage purification process before select electrolytes and minerals are added to create the perfect 7.4 pH balance. CORE believes balance starts from within, which is why they’ve created a hydration drink that works in harmony with your body.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Ultra-purified using a 7-stage filtration process and enhanced with electrolytes and minerals
- Perfect 7.4 pH balance works with your body’s natural pH
- Packaged in 100% recycled plastic bottles (excluding cap and label)
- Convenient sports cap for easy drinking while active
- Crisp, clean taste from a proprietary blend of electrolytes and minerals
- Award-winning hydration drink to help you stay balanced
With its crisp, clean taste and focus on both internal and external balance, CORE Hydration is designed to keep you properly hydrated during any active lifestyle.
Propel Zero Calorie Fitness Water Variety Pack
Propel is a zero-calorie fitness water designed to hydrate active lifestyles. It contains electrolytes, antioxidants, and vitamins with no sugar added. This variety pack includes peach, black cherry, and watermelon flavors.
Propel Zero Calorie Fitness Water is an electrolyte-enhanced water made for replenishing fluids lost during exercise. It undergoes a specialized filtration process before select vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes are added to create the optimal sports drink. Propel believes proper hydration starts from within, which is why they crafted a thirst-quenching fitness water to work in harmony with your body.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Zero calories and zero sugar for guilt-free hydration
- Essential electrolytes to replace what’s lost in sweat
- Added antioxidants Vitamins C and E
- Refreshing peach, black cherry, and watermelon flavors
- Variety pack to discover your perfect thirst-quencher
- From the makers of Gatorade Sports Science Institute
With its delicious flavors, essential electrolytes, and zero sugar, this Propel Fitness Water Variety Pack is designed to perfectly hydrate every active moment of your day.
LIFEWTR pH Balanced Purified Water with Electrolytes
LIFEWTR is a premium purified and pH balanced drinking water with added electrolytes for taste. It comes in 100% recycled plastic bottles with a flip cap for easy on-the-go hydration.
LIFEWTR Premium Purified Water is designed to keep you refreshed and inspired. It undergoes a thorough purification process before select electrolytes are added to create the perfect pH balance. LIFEWTR believes creativity starts from within, which is why they crafted a crisp, clean tasting water to reawaken your senses.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Purified via reverse osmosis for clean, crisp taste
- pH balanced between 6.4 – 7.4
- Essential electrolytes added for subtle flavor
- 100% recycled plastic bottles
- Convenient flip cap for easy drinking
- Artistic bottle designs showcase creativity
With its pH balanced formula, subtle electrolyte taste, and inspired bottle designs, LIFEWTR Premium Water aims to stimulate your creative spirit as it hydrates your body.
Pocari Sweat Hydration Drink Variety Pack, 12 Count
Pocari Sweat is a hydration drink from Japan designed to quickly replenish fluids and electrolytes lost during exercise. This crisp, light citrus-flavored drink contains a balance of water, sugars, and electrolytes to hydrate better than water alone.
Pocari Sweat Hydration Drink was specially formulated over 50 years ago to provide faster, longer-lasting hydration compared to water. It’s designed to restore the optimal balance of water and electrolytes in your body after sweating from exercise or activity.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Light and refreshing citrus flavor
- Formulated to hydrate faster and retain fluids longer than plain water
- Contains an optimal blend of water, electrolytes, and carbohydrates
- Backed by decades of scientific research and development
- Helps restore balance, rehydrate quickly, and boost stamina
- Low calorie, caffeine-free formulation
With its crisp, thirst-quenching citrus flavor and electrolyte-packed formula, Pocari Sweat provides smarter hydration to fuel your active lifestyle. This variety pack offers the perfect introduction to Japan’s favorite sports drink.
smartwater Vapor-Distilled Purified Water
smartwater is a premium purified bottled water made through vapor-distillation and enhanced with electrolytes for a crisp, clean taste. This pack comes with 24 23.7oz bottles featuring a convenient sports cap.
smartwater starts with pure vapor-distilled water then undergoes a proprietary filtration process to remove impurities. Select electrolytes including calcium, magnesium and potassium are added back in to give smartwater its distinctly fresh, crisp taste. The result is a premium hydration experience you can feel.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Made from pure vapor-distilled water
- Proprietary filtration process for a second level of purification
- Enhanced with electrolytes for a crisp, clean taste
- Balanced pH for a refreshing drinking experience
- Convenient 23.7oz size with sports cap for easy drinking
- Pack of 24 bottles for hydration at home or on-the-go
With its crisp, subtly sweet taste from naturally-sourced electrolytes, smartwater provides premium all-day hydration wherever your day takes you.
BODYARMOR Alkaline SportWater, Pack of 24
BODYARMOR SportWater is an alkaline water designed for superior hydration during physical activity. It has a high 9+ pH level, electrolytes, and a wide-mouth bottle for faster hydration.
BODYARMOR Alkaline SportWater is a specialized sports drink made to keep you hydrated during any active lifestyle. It starts with ultra-purified water that then undergoes ionization to reach an optimal alkaline level of 9+ pH. Select electrolytes and minerals are then added to create the ultimate hydration companion.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Alkaline level of 9+ pH to work in harmony with the body
- Added electrolytes to replenish what’s lost through sweat
- Wide-mouth bottle for quicker hydration
- Perfect for athletes, gym-goers, and active lifestyles
- Crisp, clean taste from ionized ultra-purified water
- Comes in convenient pack of 24
With its specialized 9+ pH alkaline level and electrolyte formula, BODYARMOR Alkaline SportWater provides superior hydration to power you through workouts, games, and any active moment of your day.
Essentia 1 Liter Ionized Alkaline Bottled Water
Essentia Water is ionized alkaline bottled water that goes through a proprietary 3-step ionization process for a supercharged, smooth taste. It has a pH of 9.5 or higher.
Essentia Ionized Alkaline Water is premium bottled water specifically designed for hydration. It starts with water sourced from protected springs before undergoing a specialized ionization process using physics and chemistry to restructure the water molecules. This creates a supercharged ionized alkaline water with a clean, smooth taste.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Proprietary 3-step ionization process
- pH of 9.5 or higher
- Infused with electrolytes for smooth taste
- BPA-free recyclable plastic bottles
- Convenient 1 liter size for on-the-go
- Stacks easily for at-home storage
Offering superior hydration through its ionized formula and refreshing taste, Essentia Water aims to fuel an active lifestyle by keeping you performing at your best with premium alkaline water.
VOSS+ Aquamin Mineral Enhanced Spring Water
VOSS+ Aquamin is a premium spring water enhanced with a unique multi-mineral complex for optimal hydration. It contains 74 trace minerals and electrolytes sustainably sourced from Iceland’s coastal seas.
VOSS+ Aquamin is a functional water designed to optimize hydration while retaining VOSS’s signature crisp, clean taste. It starts with VOSS’s pure spring water which undergoes a 7-stage purification process. A mineral complex containing 74 trace minerals and electrolytes is then added, which is sustainably sourced from Iceland’s coastal seas. This helps enhance the water’s hydrating properties.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Unique multi-mineral complex from Iceland’s coastal seas
- 74 trace minerals and electrolytes to support hydration
- Refreshing crisp, clean VOSS spring water taste
- 100% recycled PET bottles
- Convenient sports cap for active lifestyles
With its refreshing taste and vital nutrients from Icelandic seas, VOSS+ Aquamin delivers premium spring water enhanced for optimal hydration. Its unique mineral complex helps your body absorb water more efficiently while retaining VOSS’s signature purity and taste.
Propel Zero Sugar Lemon Fitness Water
Propel lemon fitness water is a zero-calorie electrolyte drink made to hydrate active lifestyles. It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and electrolytes with no sugar added.
Propel Zero Sugar Lemon Fitness Water is a thirst-quenching sports drink specially designed for exercise and activity. It is purified water enhanced with electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals to help replenish what’s lost through sweat. Propel believes proper hydration fuels an active life from the inside out.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Zero calories and zero sugar for guilt-free hydration
- Essential electrolytes to replace what’s lost in sweat
- Added antioxidants Vitamins C and E
- Refreshing lemon flavor
- From the makers of Gatorade Sports Science Institute
- Convenient individual 16.9 oz bottles
With its crisp lemon flavor, electrolyte replenishment, and zero sugar, Propel Lemon Fitness Water is expertly crafted to keep you properly hydrated during every active moment.
Protein2o Electrolyte-Infused Protein Water Variety Pack
Protein2o is a protein-infused water that contains 15g of whey protein isolate and a blend of electrolytes. This variety pack includes mixed berry, tropical coconut, and strawberry banana flavors.
Protein2o Electrolyte-Infused Protein Water combines the hydration of water with muscle-fueling whey protein isolate. It undergoes a specialized filtration process before select electrolytes and minerals are added to create the optimal combination of thirst-quenching and protein-powered. Protein2o believes proper nutrition starts from within, which is why they crafted a protein water to keep your body energized.
Key Features and Benefits:
- 15g of whey protein isolate to support muscle recovery
- Essential electrolytes to replenish what’s lost through sweat
- Delicious mixed berry, tropical coconut, strawberry banana flavors
- Sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free
- Only 70 calories per bottle
- Hydrating protein water to power you through the day
With its fruit-inspired flavors, muscle-building protein, and electrolyte infusion, this Protein2o Variety Pack provides guilt-free, thirst-quenching nutrition for every active moment of your day.
Mind Over Matter: How Hydration Influences Mental Toughness in Athlete
The Significance of Hydration in Athletic Performance
In the world of sports, athletes are constantly pushing their bodies to the limit, striving for peak performance and excellence. While physical training and nutrition play crucial roles in an athlete’s success, there is another factor that often goes overlooked: hydration. Proper hydration is essential not only for maintaining physical health but also for enhancing mental resilience and toughness on the field or court.
Exploring the Link Between Hydration and Mental Toughness
Recent studies and anecdotal evidence from athletes and sports psychologists have shed light on the intricate relationship between hydration and mental toughness. This blog post will delve into the ways in which adequate water intake can influence an athlete’s focus, perceived exertion, and decision-making abilities under pressure. By understanding the science behind hydration and its impact on cognitive function, athletes can unlock their full potential and gain a competitive edge.
How Hydration Impacts Mental Resilience
Enhancing Focus Through Adequate Hydration
One of the primary ways in which hydration affects mental toughness is by enhancing focus and concentration. When athletes are properly hydrated, their brains function at optimal levels, allowing them to maintain sharp focus throughout intense training sessions or high-stakes competitions. Dehydration, on the other hand, can lead to mental fatigue, decreased alertness, and difficulty concentrating on the task at hand.
Reducing Perceived Exertion with Proper Hydration
Hydration also plays a significant role in reducing perceived exertion during physical activity. When athletes are well-hydrated, they tend to feel less fatigued and can push themselves harder without experiencing the same level of mental and physical strain. This is because dehydration can cause an increase in core body temperature, leading to a higher heart rate and greater perceived effort.
Improving Decision-Making Under Pressure
In fast-paced sports where split-second decisions can make or break a game, staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining mental clarity and quick thinking. Dehydration has been shown to impair cognitive function, including reaction time, memory, and problem-solving abilities. By ensuring adequate hydration, athletes can improve their decision-making skills under pressure, giving them a valuable advantage over their competitors.
The Science Behind Hydration and Cognitive Function
Studies Linking Hydration to Cognitive Performance
Numerous studies have investigated the link between hydration and cognitive performance, providing compelling evidence for the importance of proper hydration in maintaining mental sharpness. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that even mild dehydration, as little as 1-2% of body weight loss, can lead to significant decreases in cognitive function, including attention, memory, and executive function.
Psychological Well-Being and Hydration Levels
In addition to its impact on cognitive function, hydration has also been linked to overall psychological well-being. A study conducted by the University of Connecticut found that mild dehydration can lead to increased feelings of anxiety, tension, and fatigue, as well as decreased vigor and alertness. By maintaining optimal hydration levels, athletes can promote a positive mindset and emotional stability, which are essential for peak performance.
Insights from Sports Psychologists and Athletes
Expert Perspectives on Hydration and Mental Toughness
Sports psychologists have long recognized the importance of hydration in promoting mental toughness and resilience. Dr. Jim Afremow, a renowned sports psychologist and author of “The Champion’s Mind,” emphasizes the connectionbetween hydration and mental performance, stating, “Proper hydration is essential for maintaining focus, concentration, and mental clarity during competition. When athletes are dehydrated, they may experience increased feelings of fatigue, irritability, and difficulty making decisions under pressure”.
Athletes’ Experiences: Hydration’s Role in Psychological Readiness
Many elite athletes have shared their personal experiences with the impact of hydration on their mental game. For example, tennis star Serena Williams has spoken about the importance of staying hydrated during grueling matches, noting that it helps her maintain focus and mental toughness. Similarly, NBA player LeBron James has emphasized the role of hydration in his pre-game routine, stating that it helps him feel mentally prepared and ready to perform at his best.
The Mental Implications of Dehydration on Athletic Performance
Understanding the Effects of Dehydration on Decision-Making
Dehydration can have significant implications for an athlete’s decision-making abilities, especially in high-pressure situations. A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that dehydration can lead to increased impulsivity and risk-taking behavior, which can be detrimental to athletic performance. When athletes are dehydrated, they may struggle to make quick, accurate decisions, potentially leading to costly mistakes on the field or court.
Cognitive Function and Dehydration
Dehydration can also have a significant impact on various aspects of cognitive function, including attention, memory, and reaction time. A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that even mild dehydration can lead to decreased cognitive performance, particularly in tasks that require sustained attention and complex problem-solving. For athletes, this can translate to difficulty focusing on key plays, remembering game strategies, or reacting quickly to changing situations.
Practical Strategies for Optimal Hydration in Sports
Hydration Tips for Athletes
To ensure optimal hydration and maintain mental toughness, athletes should follow these practical tips: 1. Drink water consistently throughout the day, not just during training or competition. 2. Monitor urine color; aim for a light, straw-colored urine, which indicates adequate hydration. 3. Consume water-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to supplement fluid intake. 4. Avoid excessive consumption of diuretics, such as caffeine and alcohol, which can contribute to dehydration. 5. Adjust fluid intake based on environmental factors, such as heat and humidity, and the intensity of physical activity.
Importance of Hydration Plans in Training and Competitions
Developing and implementing a personalized hydration plan is crucial for athletes to maintain optimal physical and mental performance. Sports nutritionists and coaches can help athletes create tailored hydration strategies based on individual sweat rates, sport-specific demands, and environmental conditions. By having a well-defined hydration plan in place, athletes can ensure they are adequately hydrated before, during, and after training sessions and competitions, promoting mental resilience and overall performance.
