Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure Review

Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure - Carb and Electrolyte Review

Awesome Supplements recently sent us their Hydrate + Endure bundle to test out which consists of two standalone products designed to work in tandem: Awesome Endure (an unflavoured, tri-carb blend drink mix) and Awesome Hydrate (their award-winning electrolyte blend mix).

Having put this system through its paces during a brutal mountain ultra, I wanted to break down how this customisable fuelling strategy holds up when things get tough on the trail.

Putting It To The Test

I recently took on the formidable UTS 100k (Ultra-Trail Snowdonia), a race notorious for technical terrain, unrelenting climbs and unpredictable weather. It was a massive weekend out, but unfortunately, it resulted in a DNF for me, which you can read all about here.

While the race didn't end with a finish line medal, it wasn't a total loss. If there is one positive I am taking away from the experience, it is that my fuelling strategy worked flawlessly. It is the one component of my race day plan that I won't be changing moving forward.

Throughout those 83km, I used a structured combination of energy gels, solid food (Luchos energy blocks), and the Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure drink mix.

At no point during the long hours in the mountains did I feel like I was "bonking" or running on empty. Having a high-quality carb drink mix on hand proved to be an awesome (excuse the pun) and highly efficient way to hit my hourly carbohydrate targets while simultaneously maintaining optimal hydration.

When navigating the highly technical terrain and exposed ridges of the UTS route, your hands are busy balancing with poles or scrambling. Fumbling about with gel packets can be tricky so knowing I had easy, immediate access to carbohydrates by sipping from my soft flasks was a massive mental and physical advantage.

Flexible Fuelling System

Most commercial sports drinks come pre-mixed, meaning the ratio of carbohydrates to electrolytes is fixed. The main reason the Awesome Supplements approach works so well for ultra-distance and trail running is that they keep the electrolyte mix and the carbohydrate mix completely separate.

This level of separation gives you flexibility over your nutrition setup as your hydration and energy needs can change depending on the weather, distance and intensity.

• Short or Sweaty Training Days (Under 60 Mins): If you are heading out for a quick, high-intensity run or an indoor session where you are sweating heavily but don't need a massive influx of calories, you can use Awesome Hydrate on its own to replace lost salts without adding unnecessary sugars.
• Long or Hard Days (Over 60 Mins): When you are heading out into the hills for hours at a time, your glycogen stores need constant topping up. This is when you add Awesome Endure to your Hydrate mix.

Getting the Ratios Right

During UTS, my go-to formula per 500ml soft flask was:

• 50g of Awesome Endure (Carb Mix)
• 5g of Awesome Hydrate (Electrolyte Mix)

This specific ratio hit the sweet spot for me and wasn't overly sweet or sickly, even hours into the race.

For context, Awesome Supplements recommends up to 9g of Hydrate per serving for optimal electrolyte replenishment. However, I chose to dial the Hydrate back slightly to 5g in my flasks, which is the great thing about having the two products separate, as it allows you to be completely flexible with your setup.

Nutritional Profiles

Awesome Endure

This utilises a tri-carb blend, and because maltodextrin, dextrose and fructose use different intestinal transporters to cross into your bloodstream, your body can process more total carbohydrates per hour (helping you reach that target of 60-90g of carbs per hour) without overwhelming your digestive system. It dissolves completely clear and is unflavoured, making it perfect for stacking.

Awesome Hydrate

No Scoop

A small but highly commendable detail that I appreciate is Awesome Supplements' continuous effort to reduce plastic waste. When you order a pouch, it does not come with a plastic scoop inside. Think about how many times you’ve bought a big pouch of drink mix or protein powder, only to find a plastic scoop buried in the powder. Once the bag is empty, that scoop ends up straight in the bin because the next bag inevitably comes with another one. Across the fitness and running industry, this adds up to a staggering amount of completely unnecessary plastic waste.

Instead, Awesome Supplements encourages you to use your own measuring methods at home. For reference, a standard household teaspoon is usually between 4g and 5g.

Alternatively, you can pick up a set of their reusable, wooden measuring scoops for £5, which is exactly what I’ve been using. The set comes with a 50ml and a 10ml scoop, making it easy to quickly prep my flasks before a long run. 

Who Are Carb Drink Mixes For?

If you are new to trail running or moving up from marathons to ultras, you might wonder if you actually need a dedicated carbohydrate drink powder.

Carb drink mixes can provide a good benefit for:

1. Endurance & Ultra Athletes: Anyone out on the trails for longer than 90 minutes who needs a consistent, predictable stream of energy to protect their glycogen stores.
2. Runners with Sensitive Stomachs: If you are someone who struggles to consume gels, experiences jaw fatigue from chewing solid bars, or finds that heavy food sloshes around uncomfortably, liquid calories may be the answer. Drink mixes bypass a lot of the mechanical digestion required by solid food, making it much easier to hit your hourly carbohydrate intake goals without causing GI distress.

The Verdict: Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure

While my UTS 100k journey didn't end with a finish line photo, finding a bulletproof nutrition strategy made the entire training and racing block a success. The Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure bundle delivers exactly what it promises.

If you want to overhaul your endurance nutrition and support a brand that's actively trying to minimise their plastic waste, this system is well worth trying out.

Get 10% Off Awesome Supplements

If you want to try the Hydrate + Endure bundle or stock up on your favourite flavours for your next training block, we've sourced a 10% Awesome Supplements discount code for the GB Ultra Runner community.

Use code STAVES10 at checkout to get 10% off your order.

Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure

Awesome Supplements Hydrate + Endure Bundle - £27.00 £24.30

Disclaimer: Awesome Supplements sent me the Hydrate + Endure bundle for testing purposes. As always, this review is a completely honest reflection of my experience using the product under real race conditions.