Fluid Performance Review

I first tried Fluid Performance at the Mountains 2 Beach Half Marathon. I hadn’t heard of the brand before, but that’s what M2B used. I wish they had more electrolyte stations along the course, but that is beside the point. It was the first time I had heard or tried Fluid. When I grabbed the first cup, I thought it was water because the flavor was so mild. So if you prefer milder flavors, Fluid is a good option for you.

About the brand Fluid:

Fluid began as a senior project at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California. The Founders Richard Smith and David Brown saw a need for post-exercise recovery nutrition, and the current options available weren’t enough. They looked through several running and cycling stores and couldn’t find exactly what met the latest scientific research. So they set out to create their product.

After months of research, they developed a product they believed would revolutionize how athletes train, recover and improve. Fluid Recovery was born to help athletes get in nutrients immediately after working out. Since then, Fluid is now sold online and in many locally-owned stores.

About Fluid Performance:

Fluid Performance is no ordinary sports drink and is designed as a cramp-crushing endurance fuel. Funny enough, I did get cramps at Mountains 2 Beach half marathon. I knew I couldn’t base my experience on a single race, so I ordered myself some.

What makes Fluid Performance Different?

Fluid Performance has a complex carbohydrate foundation. It contains 70% less sugar than competing products, making it much more gentle on the stomach. Each serving has 100 calories. Since many other brands use simple sugars, the complex sugars allow for greater energy, variability, and less stomach issues,
Complete Mineral Profile: As most runners know, we sweat more than sodium. We lose very specific ratios of electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride. Fluid Performance has the correct ratio. If you are looking to learn more about electrolytes, I wrote about it.
The Taste: According to Fluid Performance, it tastes good. It doesn’t taste salty and has a more mild flavor profile.

What’s inside Fluid Performance?

25 grams of carbohydrates with onl8 grams of sugar
Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Chloride – we include these electrolyte minerals from choice sources in the real ratios lost in sweat to help rehydrate you & keep the body in balance.
Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
Vegan Friendly.
No artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors.
Made with natural ingredients in California.

Favors you can find Fluid Performance: Blueberry Pomegranate, Fresh Citrus, Raspberry Lemonade, Passion Fruit Tea (+ 50mg caffeine).

My Experience with Fluid Performance:

As mentioned, my first experience with Fluid Performance was not great. I was running Mountains 2 Beach and got some serious stomach cramps towards the end. Truthfully, I don’t think my stomach cramps had anything to do with Fluid Performance but with the lack of electrolyte stations and a gel without water. Nevertheless, that was still fresh in my mind. I was curious about Fluid Performance, so I decided to order some more and use it on my own terms. I actually noticed during the race how mild the flavors were. They handed me a cup, and at first, I thought they were giving me water. While Fluid Performance does taste milder than other brands, and that is probably because of the lack of sugar and artificial sweeteners.

On my second round, I first tried Fluid Performance again on a hike. I found I had plenty of energy during the hike and felt good during the entirety. Next, I tried it on an easy run, and it sat in my stomach well. It’s getting hot in the desert, and I’ve needed extra fueling. I didn’t have any issues or any cramps. Finally, I used it on a workout and long run, and unlike Mountains 2 Beach, I felt great. I was glad to try it again so I could squash any thoughts that maybe it didn’t sit well in my stomach.

Flavors of Fluid Performance I Tried:

Fresh Citrus: Of the flavors, this was the mildest. I liked it, and it tasted more like water with a hint of citrus.
Passion Fruit Tea: I am not a big tea fan, so I was curious about how I would like this. It does have more passion fruit than tea, and I found it to be enjoyable.
Raspberry Lemonade: Sometimes, a product may be too lemonade, and I’ve had issues with the lemon getting stuck in my throat. This is not the case with Fluid Performance, and it’s the mildest flavor of lemonade I’ve tried.

Cost:

A single serving is $1.95, and you can get 30 serving bags for $27.95 and 54 serving bags for $42.95. This actually makes Fluid Performance one of the cheaper electrolyte options.

Fluid Performance Conclusion:

In all, I’m a fan of Fluid Performance. I’m glad I decided to try it again, so I knew how good it is. First, it’s cheaper than many options, plus it works. Finally, if you are someone who finds that many electrolyte options are “too sweet” for them, you’ll discover Fluid to be much less so.