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Electrolytes seem to be the new darling among fitness and wellness circles on social media, but it doesn’t take a viral post to understand the importance of essential minerals. Electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, regulate how much water you have in and outside your cells. Others, like magnesium, are needed for normal muscle and nerve functioning.
Electrolyte powders help support hydration and muscle health. Fitness enthusiasts know dehydration is the enemy of athletic performance1 and muscle growth. Your muscles rely on water to create ATP energy; without it, you can’t expect to feel strong and energized during muscle-building exercise or otherwise. Rehydrating after a sweaty workout is also crucial for recovery and muscle gains.
If you’re looking for some electrolyte support, we think Hydrate is one of the best electrolyte powders available. Read on for our full Transparent Labs Hydrate review, with feedback from a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Our Transparent Take On Popular Electrolyte Powders
Our GGR product testers have researched and tested over 20 electrolyte powders. Our testers know hydration during exercise matters—they’re all experienced industry pros, including personal trainers, athletes, and dietitians.
To test Transparent Labs Hydrate, we had GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, order and use the product in his real-life workout routine. He gave us feedback and rated the electrolyte powder on a scale of 1 to 5 in the following categories:
- Price per serving
- Formulation
- Taste
- Solubility
- Side effects
- Third-party testing
- Customer experience
Transparent Labs Hydrate
Transparent Labs Hydrate V3
Product Highlights
- Includes taurine to help performance
- Naturally sweetened
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Contains SenactivTM for recovery
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low cost per serving
- Easily absorbed electrolytes
- Aides in muscle recovery
- Subscribe & Save available
Cons
- Contains the allergen tree nuts
Bottom Line
At an extremely low per serving cost, Transparent Labs Hydrate V3 is a great option for anyone looking to try out electrolytes or anyone looking for clean ingredients without the hefty price tag.
A Quick Look at Transparent Labs Hydrate
Transparent Labs produces top-notch sports nutrition products with simple ingredients, transparent labeling, and third-party testing. We’re big fans of their commitment to quality, and several of their products have earned spots on our best-of lists, including:
- Casein protein powder
- Grass-fed whey protein isolate
- Protein+ bars
- Creatine HMB
- BCAA glutamine
- Prebiotic greens
- Several pre-workouts, including Bulk Black and Stim-Free
Hydrate was named our best overall pick among other popular electrolyte powders. Hydrate contains sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium to support hydration and muscular endurance during exercise.
Before You Buy
- Hydrate has a 100% transparent label, so even the amounts of inactive ingredients are provided.
- This product is naturally sweetened with stevia extract, so it’s free from sugar, carbs, and calories.
- If the flavor level is too strong, you can dial it back by diluting it with extra water.
Is Transparent Labs Hydrate Worth It?
Considering Hydrate costs less than $1 per serving, has a “clean” ingredient list, and is third-party tested, we think this is one of the best electrolyte powders on the market today. It’s versatile, so you can use it to replace lost electrolytes during activity, in hot and humid climates, or if you’re feeling under the weather.
Hydrate comes in six delicious flavors, has zero sugar or carbs, delivers noticeable results, and comes from a trusted brand. What more could you ask for from an electrolyte powder?
Great for:
- Hydration and electrolyte support before, during, or after exercise
- Anyone looking for an electrolyte supplements made without sugar or artificial sweeteners
- Athletes and fitness pros who undergo routine drug screening
Not recommended for:
- Anyone with a coconut allergy
- Anyone already using another supplement that contains electrolytes
- Individuals who need to restrict their sodium intake
Transparent Labs Hydrate Specs
| Price per serving | $0.75 |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (8.3 g) |
| Flavors | Raspberry Lemon, Peach Mango, Blue Raspberry, Arctic Freeze, Tropical Punch, Lemon Lime |
| Sodium dosage | 500 mg |
| Potassium dosage | 250 mg |
| Magnesium dosage | 50 mg |
| Chloride dosage | N/A |
| Other notable ingredients | Taurine, SenActiv, Coconut Water Powder |
| Third-party tested? | Yes |
Experience Using Transparent Labs Hydrate
Anthony O’Reilly, CPT, drank Hydrate before and after working out and noticed he felt better hydrated than on days he didn’t use it. He found it especially useful when taken as a pre-workout supplement, resulting in a noticeable increase in muscle endurance. Remember, well-hydrated muscles can do more work before fatigue sets in.
Price Per Serving
A 40-serving container of Hydrate sells for $29.99, which breaks down to $0.75 per serving. Transparent Labs knocks 10% off if you set up a subscription, bringing the cost down to $26.99 per container or $0.67 per serving.
The cost can add up if you start using more than one daily serving, but the less than $1 price per serving is reasonable, earning a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Formulation
We gave the Hydrate formulation a winning 5 out of 5. It’s sugar-free and made without artificial sweeteners, artificial coloring, or fillers. It’s also gluten-free and non-GMO. It’s lean in macros with zero calories, making it compatible with calorie-controlled weight loss plans, plus low-carb, keto, and Paleo diets.
The main ingredients in Hydrate are sodium (500 mg), potassium (250 mg), magnesium 50 mg), and calcium (84 mg). Sodium and potassium are most important for regulating fluid balance. Muscles also need potassium for normal contraction. Magnesium and calcium are essential for proper muscle, nerve, and heart function.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans2 recommends adults consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily. However, this amount may not be enough for high activity levels. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends consuming 300 to 600 mg of sodium3 to replace losses during long periods of exercise.
Hydrate also contains 1,000 mg of taurine, a naturally occurring amino acid linked to cellular energy production. Studies have found mixed results, but some suggest supplementing with taurine4 can lower lactate and inflammatory markers in muscles, which can delay fatigue.
SenActiv® is a trademarked herbal ingredient linked to enhanced endurance, performance, and muscle recovery. Each serving of Hydrate contains 50 mg.
RELATED: Best Muscle Recovery Supplements
Taste and Solubility
Transparent Labs Hydrate comes in six flavors:
- Raspberry Lemon
- Peach Mango
- Blue Raspberry
- Arctic Freeze
- Tropical Punch
- Lemon Lime
Anthony used Tropical Punch and gave it a 5 out of 5 for taste. He likened the taste to “a very concentrated Hawaiian punch.” The flavor was a little too punchy for his preferences, so he added extra water. If you scroll through product reviews, other customers rave about the flavors they’ve tried.
Anthony also rated Hydrate 5 stars for solubility. It dissolved easily in water, even when combined with other supplements. Anthony mixed a scoop of Hydrate with cluster dextrin in a shaker bottle, and it still blended well and delivered a strong flavor.
RELATED: Best Carbs For Bodybuilding
Side Effects
Anthony didn’t experience any negative side effects using Hydrate. Other customers love how this product makes them feel—well hydrated and with better energy in and out of the gym. With no side effects noted, we award Hydrate a 5 out of 5 in this category.
Since Hydrate contains coconut water powder, anyone with an allergy should avoid it. It’s also a good idea for anyone with fluid or sodium restrictions to consult with their healthcare provider.
Third-Party Testing
All Transparent Labs supplements undergo independent third-party testing, which verifies ingredients and dosages match what’s on the label and are safe from potentially harmful substances, like heavy metals. Hydrate is Informed Choice Certified, which ensures the product is free from banned substances—a serious perk for competitors who get screened.
True to their name, Transparent Labs shares the Certificates of Analysis (CoA) and Certificates of Composition (CoC) for each of their products on their site. The above-and-beyond commitment to quality earns Hydrate a perfect rating for third-party testing.
Transparent Labs Hydrate vs LMNT
LMNT ggr_score=
LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix
Product Highlights
- Science-backed electrolyte ratio
- Free from sugar and artificial coloring
- Suitable for Keto and Paleo diets
- Gluten-free and vegan
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great flavors
- Suitable for almost everyone
- Clean ingredients
- No-questions-asked refund policy
Cons
- Includes stevia, which is known to cause GI distress in some people
- Strong salty flavor can be off-putting
Bottom Line
With sodium, potassium, and magnesium LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix is a great post-workout hydrator. It can also be great for those who are low-carb and looking to increase electrolyte intake.
It feels like every nutrition and fitness influencer I follow swears by LMNT for electrolytes, so how does it compare to Transparent Labs Hydrate? For starters, LMNT costs twice as much per serving as Hydrate and is only available in single-serving packets.
LMNT contains double the amount of sodium in Hydrate, and not surprisingly, it tastes super salty. It also has less potassium and a similar amount of magnesium per serving. We’ve tested both products, and both are tasty, but the saltiness of LMNT can be a turn-off.
Read our in-depth LMNT Electrolyte review for more information.
| Transparent Labs Hydrate | LMNT | |
| Price per serving | $0.75 | $1.50 |
| Serving size | 1 scoop (8.3 g) | 1 packet (6 g) |
| Flavors | Raspberry Lemon, Peach Mango, Blue Raspberry , Arctic Freeze, Tropical Punch, Lemon Lime | Citrus Salt, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Salt, Grapefruit Salt, Orange Salt, Mango Chili, Raspberry Salt, Raw Unflavored, Watermelon Salt |
| Sodium dosage | 500 mg | 1,000 mg |
| Potassium dosage | 250 mg | 200 mg |
| Magnesium dosage | 50 mg | 60 mg |
| Chloride dosage | N/A | N/A |
| Other notable ingredients | Taurine, SenActiv, Coconut Water Powder, Stevia | Stevia |
| Third-party tested? | Yes | No |
Customer Experience
Transparent Labs has a generous refund policy that earns a 5 out of 5 for customer experience.
They’ll refund unopened products or give you store credit for opened products within 30 days of delivery. If you try Hydrate and don’t care for the flavor, you’ll be able to get a credit to try another flavor or product. The customer service contact info is easy to find.
Ordering Transparent Labs Hydrate
You can buy Hydrate from transparentlabs.com. It may also be in stock with third-party retailers, including Amazon and Vitamin Shoppe.
To order, choose your flavor, whether you’d like to receive it as a standalone order or on a subscription, and then checkout. The subscribe & save option knocks 10% off and gets you free shipping. Orders over $100 also ship free; otherwise, you’ll pay $7.99.
Customer Reviews
Customers rave about Hydrate; it currently has a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on the Transparent Labs site, with nearly 200 reviews.
Many reviews praise the quality of ingredients, flavor, and absence of additives, sugar, and artificial ingredients. One customer wrote the stevia-sweetened formulation “fits perfectly into my intermittent fasting and low-carb lifestyle.”
Several customers swear by Hydrate for post-workout recovery and extra hydration in the heat. “I used Hydrate all summer long to help refuel me post-workout and doing hard projects outside of the gym,” wrote one satisfied customer
Final Verdict of Our Transparent Labs Hydrate Review
Transparent Labs Hydrate is a high-quality, calorie-free, and sugar-free electrolyte supplement from a trusted sports nutrition company. You can drink Hydrate to support your hydration before, during, and after exercise or throughout the day.
- Hydrate costs less than $1 per serving and is Informed-Choice certified.
- Customers love Hydrate for its “clean” ingredients. It’s sweetened with stevia and naturally colored with fruit and vegetable extracts.
- It’s available in several fruity flavors and the flavor strength can be adjusted by diluting with more water.
Full Rating
Transparent Labs Hydrate
At an extremely low per serving cost, Transparent Labs Hydrate V3 is a great option for anyone looking to try out electrolytes or anyone looking for clean ingredients without the hefty price tag.
Product Brand: Transparent Labs
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 29.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.8
Transparent Labs Hydrate: FAQs
Is Transparent Labs FDA-approved?
Transparent Labs is a sports nutrition supplement brand. Sports nutrition supplements fall under the category of dietary supplements, which are not regulated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has established guidelines called good manufacturing practices (GMP) that outline steps for safe manufacturing. All supplement companies must follow GMP by law.
Are hydration supplements worth it?
Hydration supplements help replace lost electrolytes and support full-body hydration, but they may not be best for everyone. Hydration supplements are 100% worth adding to your routine if you regularly sweat a lot during exercise, play sports, or live in a hot climate. They can also come in handy if you’re sick.
Are hydration powders good for you?
Hydration powders can benefit people with higher electrolyte and fluid needs, such as those who exercise regularly, play sports, or have a physically demanding job. The purpose of hydration powders is to replace lost electrolytes, which are essential minerals like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
References
- Judge LW, Bellar DM, Popp JK, et al. Hydration to Maximize Performance and Recovery: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among Collegiate Track and Field Throwers. J Hum Kinet. 2021;79:111-122. Published 2021 Jul 28. doi:10.2478/hukin-2021-0065
- 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. United States Department of Agriculture.
- Veniamakis E, Kaplanis G, Voulgaris P, Nikolaidis PT. Effects of Sodium Intake on Health and Performance in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Sports. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3651. Published 2022 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/ijerph19063651
- Kurtz JA, VanDusseldorp TA, Doyle JA, Otis JS. Taurine in sports and exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18(1):39. Published 2021 May 26. doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00438-0
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