Every few months a new sports drink is launched into the already crowed sports supplement market. It means you won’t die for lack of choice, but it can be pretty overwhelming. Which one do you go for? Here’s the low down on a few from Seamus Allardice.
USN Pure Fit Endure Balanced Energy Drink 
USN is a brand you should be familiar with and chances are you’ve had your bottles topped up with it at a water point in a race or grabbed a sample sachet somewhere along the line. The Pure Fit range launched late last year and is built around the fact none of the Pure Fit products contain any artificial colourants, sweeteners & preservatives. I’ve tested the Balanced Energy Drink in the light strawberry flavour and I’ve also filled up my bottle with the light tangerine at a National MTB Series race. I found both a bit sweet when mixed to the prescribed strength, but as you’ll see I’m not a fan of sweet drinks on long rides. Mixed more frugally the light strawberry is pleasantly palatable for three hour plus rides and as long as you eat a bit more to compensate, especially by adding salts, mixing to taste shouldn’t be a problem.
Sus the USN Pure Fit Endure Balanced Energy Drink Stats
Energy per 100g: 1 632kJ
Protein per 100g: 7.4g
Carbs per 100g: 88.6g
Sugar per 100g: 36.6g
Container Size: 1 000g
RRP: R160
Serving Size: 50g (one scoop) to 400 – 500ml of water
Energy per Serving: 816kJ
Servings Per Tub: 20 x 500ml bottles
Cost Per 500ml: R8.00
More nutritional info: www.usn.co.za
32Gi Race Sports Drink 
32Gi have recently rebranded their Accelerate range to Race to remove any confusion from the mind of the consumer. It’s much like USN’s approach of suggesting you train on their Balanced Energy Drink and race on Epic Pro. They’ve also cracked down on any artificial sweeteners, flavours or colourants and are also gluten, soya and GMO free. Personally I find 32Gi’s drinks very sweet and I have to mix them very weak to enjoy the taste, but that being said they were the only thing I could stomach for the last half of the Attakwas and they got me home so the performance claims are certainly valid, for me at least. 32Gi Race is available in four flavours, plus they also do a lower GI ‘Endure’ mix for training, and if you’ve done a Dryland Events race you’ll have tested 32Gi at their water points.
Sus the 32Gi Race Sport Drink Stats
Energy per 100g: 1 542kJ
Protein per 100g: <0.5g
Carbs per 100g: 90g
Sugar per 100g: 62g
Container Size: 900g
RRP: R280
Serving Size: 75g (three 25g scoops) to 500 – 750ml of water
Energy per Serving: 1 157kJ
Servings Per Tub: 12 x 750ml bottles
Cost Per 500ml: R15.55
More nutritional info: www.32gi.com
Enervit G Sport 
Enervit’s G Sport sports drink is probably the brand you’ll be least familiar with as the Italian sports nutrition brand was only brought into South Africa for the first time last year. Taste-wise it’s by far and away my personal favourite as it has a slightly tart citrus flavour (it’s available in Orange and Lemon flavours). You will probably have to purchase a few sachets of G Sport if you’d like to try it however, as they don’t have a large footprint on the South African market and unlike 32Gi, USN and Cadence you more than likely won’t be getting any to test at an event water point. So it’s handy that they do offer 15g single serving sachets too.
Sus the Enervit G Sport Stats
Energy per 100g: 1 559kJ
Protein per 100g: 0g
Carbs per 100g: 91.5g
Sugar per 100g: 88.5g
Container Size: 420g
RRP: R239.95
Serving Size: 30g (two 15g scoops) to 500 of water
Energy per Serving: 469kJ
Servings Per Tub: 14 x 500ml bottles
Cost Per 500ml: R17.14
More nutritional info: www.shop.enervit.co.za
Cadence Marathon 
Science to Sport’s Cadence Nutrition range is built on the ideal of strict peer reviewed science, so their products have the best scientific chance of working for you. But because we’re all different and as taste and texture is the first thing we encounter and therefore judge a product on, all the science can be redundant if you simply don’t like the product. Personally I don’t like the taste and texture of Cadence Marathon, but then again it’s the Full Sus publisher, Shayne Dowling’s favourite. I’m fairly sure that it’s the whey protein concentrate which gives it the texture I can’t handle. That’s a pity because it’s also the whey protein that gives Cadence Marathon the scientifically proven optimal 5:1 carbohydrate/protein ratio. People who like Cadence Marathon really do love it, so give it a try. They also have sample sachets available, so ask at your local bike shop.
Sus the Cadence Marathon Stats
Energy per 100g: 1 533kJ
Protein per 100g: 15.7g
Carbs per 100g: 71.6g
Sugar per 100g: 31.8g
Container Size: 908g
RRP: R330
Serving Size: 60g (two 30g scoops) to 500 of water
Energy per Serving: 920kJ
Servings Per Tub: 15 x 500ml bottles
Cost Per 500ml: R22
More nutritional info: www.cadencenutrition.com
Isotonic Game 
Good old fashioned Isotonic Game, the sports drink you grew up with, before even Energade or Powerade were on the scene. It’s cheap, it’s not harsh on your stomach (it’s nourished many a person though a tummy bug when real food just won’t stay down) and it’s tried and tested. I have no idea about the scientific effectiveness of Game, but it’s what I train on simply because it’s the cheapest option. My favourite mix is six scoops of Game, one and a half litres of boiling water and two rooibos tea bags in a jug; left to cool and then put in the fridge. It makes a slightly tart and refreshing drink, especially when ice cold which acts as a great counter to the typically sweet energy bars or tabs on a long ride.
Sus the Isotonic Game Stats
Energy per 100g: 1 527kJ
Protein per 100g: <0.1g
Carbs per 100g: 91g
Sugar per 100g: 74.9g
Container Size: 720g
RRP: R65
Serving Size: 40g (two 20g scoops) to 500ml of water
Energy per Serving: 610kJ
Servings Per Tub: 18 x 500ml bottles
Cost Per 500ml: R3.61
More nutritional info: See the back of a tub or sachet at your local supermarket because Game has no website.
