First things first: The best hydration powders won’t work if you’re not drinking enough fluid. They are, however, performance enhancing, and (anecdotally) have a synergistic effect when taken, say, the morning after you consume other popular supplements. Athletes and partiers alike have been trying to game their hydration for decades, from the inception of Gatorade in the ’60s, to now—when dudes are quite literally sucking down horse nutrient powder in pursuit of an affordable thirst-quenching beverage. Luckily, you don’t have to head down to Tractor Supply Co. to get your electrolyte fix. There are a ton of brands on the market today that sell high-quality hydration powders on the cheap.

“If you are someone who trains hard, sweats a lot, and experiences cramps, nausea, headaches, or extra fatigue during workouts, you may need to replenish lost electrolytes,” Mike Dewar, strength coach and founder of J2FIT, says. Everyone can benefit from being hydrated, and while you don’t need supplements so long as you’re eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water (hence the term supplement), they can be a huge aid if you’re trying to improve your athletic performance, kill a hangover, or speedrun your gains. Here, we’ve pulled a few picks into a (non-exhaustive) list of some of the best hydration powders on the market.

The Best Hydration Powders, at a Glance:

Best Hydration Powder Overall: Liquid IV

You’ve almost certainly seen these hydration packets before, whether on an Instagram ad, in Whole Foods, or in the hand of your favorite (or least-favorite) influencer. I will say, out of all the hydration powders I’ve tried, these are the best—for both post-gym nutrition and post-night out… recovery. With a grip of high-quality flavors, a balanced electrolyte profile, and a portable package, these are best in class.

Best Effervescent Hydration Powder: Nuun

For my LaCroix people who want a more balanced electrolyte profile in their sparkling beverage, Nuun is a solid option. A personal favorite of mine—I keep a tube of the Citrus Fruit flavor on my desk at work—these give your plain ol’ water a fun sparkle and keep you hydrated with five essential electrolytes in the process. Is it the same level of bubbles as you’d get in a can of Spindrift? Negative. Is it just enough zing to scratch that sparkling water itch? Bingo.

Best Zero-Calorie Hydration Powder: Gatorade Zero

Ah, the ol’ faithful. If you’re just looking for a tasty, zero-cal hydration powder without the bells, whistles, and (often) false promises of some of the grocery store checkout aisle packets, this is a great choice. You probably already know your preferred Gatorade flavors—and have strong opinions on which one is the best (orange, for me)—but this multipack has Lemon Lime, Glacier Cherry, and Watermelon. What more could you ask for? (Orange, actually.)

Best Hydration Powder With EAAs: Reebok ReeCover

If you’re in the market for a hydration powder that’ll help streamline your gains, Reebok makes a supplement with both an electrolyte profile and EAAs (a.k.a. Essential Amino Acids) which can help improve recovery and muscle growth. Better yet, it tastes surprisingly good—”surprisingly” because I’m almost always not a fan of popsicle-flavored supplements, of which there are (surprisingly) many.

Best Hydration Powder for Performance: LMNT

Okay, if you’re crushing serious workouts and sweating bullets—especially if you’re outside—LMNT is the move. Back when I was wrestling in college, the mats would get so sweaty (I’m talking slip-and-bust-your-ass sweaty) that our coaches would have us do towel pushes across the mats to help soak up some of the standing water halfway through a session. I’m not sure if LMNT was around back then, but it would have been the perfect addition to our nutrition routine, given that we would sweat off anywhere from two to five pounds of water in a single practice. With a massive electrolyte profile (this stuff tastes SALTY!), you’ll be squared away for pretty much any workout. Plus, if Tom Haviland swears by it, it must be good—dude’s an absolute horse.

Best Affordable Hydration Powder: Nutricost

To no one’s surprise, I’m picking Nutricost for the best affordable hydration powder. At just 28 bucks for a 120-serving tub, it’s your best bet for low-cost hydration—besides, like, a tub of table salt. (We do not advise guzzling table salt in the name of hydration.) I’m partial to Nutricost for a ton of my supplements, from pre-workout to protein powder.

Best Hydration Powder With Caffeine: Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets with Caffeine

My girlfriend and I drink about a pot of coffee each day—and that’s before I take my pre-workout—so I really don’t need any extra caffeine. That being said, when I do need a boost (particularly at work), I like to whack one of these bad boys into a carafe of water for some tasty hydration and energy. (And to freak out my colleagues by drinking ambiguous green liquid.)

Best Tasting Hydration Powder: Skratch Labs Hydration Powder

I “won” a bag of Skratch Labs’ Hydration Powder years ago from a Strava promotion back when I used to pretend to run and cycle on the regular, and while the hydration aspect is great, what I really like about this stuff is the taste. It’s actually delicious, in my opinion, and though taste is obviously subjective, I highly suggest you try this stuff if most supps don’t pass your flavor standards. (It might be the added sugar—this is decidedly not zero-cal).

What to Look for in a Hydration Powder

“Electrolytes are often consumed in adequate amounts in a well-rounded diet,” Dewar explains. “However, hard training and prolonged sessions can deplete them (and if you are dieting or cutting, you may not be getting enough electrolytes through foods).” However, he says, it’s not always that simple. “It’s important to note that fatigue, light-headedness, and weakness can also be a culprit of low blood sugar—or not enough carbs, which is a whole other issue. Pay attention to how you feel during training and adjust accordingly: If you’re looking for a supplement, start with something that delivers 500mg of sodium, 250mg of potassium, and 1000mg of taurine. These are on the lower end, so you could take a little more, but if you’re unsure, then start there and see how you feel.” One final tip from Dewar: “It’s important to point out these recommendations are for healthy individuals with no issues of blood pressure or cardiac disorders, or people on any statins.” As always, consult with your medical provider before taking any supplements.

Meet the Expert

Mike Dewar is the founder and strength coach at J2FIT. With 13+ years of experience as a personal trainer, five years as a NCAA Strength Coach at New York University, and over 550+ published fitness and nutrition articles, he knows a thing or two about fitness. He also holds a masters in Exercise Physiology from Columbia University and a bachelors in Exercise Science from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. You can check him out on Instagram and YouTube.