This product from MaxiNutrition is a hydration helper that fits in your bag or glovebox, and earns its place in your post-hike or run ritual. Short review of a gifted item (not an advertorial).
This summer in the UK has felt like a heatwave marathon. Yes, there have been bursts of thunder and heavy rain, but they’ve been fleeting – quick interludes in what’s otherwise been a stretch of relentless sunshine. In a reversal of the usual British summertime, it’s been more scorched trails than soggy socks. And with the heat turning even gentle hikes into sweaty endeavours, I was glad to receive a delivery from MaxiNutrition: a selection of hydration tablets to put to the test.
Staying Hydrated
For me, this summer has been mostly about hiking rather than running. Day hikes across Dartmoor’s wide, weathered moorland; through the shifting sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr; along the Wales Coast Path at Sudbrook, where the estuary air clings to your skin; and up to Coaley Peak on the Cotswold Way, with its sweeping views and golden light. The theme on these and all the other walks I’ve done over the last three months or so? The heat. It’s been relentlessly humid. Even that particularly wet hike on Dartmoor was hot and sweaty!
Hydration isn’t something I fuss over much while hiking. I mean, I clearly carry and drink plenty, no issues there, but I keep things simple. A couple of water bottles or my hydration bladder, a flask of tea. I might refill along the way if needed, or pick up something sugary from a shop or pub. I sip steadily and regularly, and let the rhythm of the walk take care of the rest.
And so, when I’m heading home, cheeks flushed and skin tingling, I know my body needs a little extra help. That’s when I choose to reach for the MaxiNutrition hydration tablets.
MaxiNutrition Hydration Tablets
MaxiNutrition’s Hydration Tablets are designed to support post-exercise recovery through a blend of electrolytes; sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. You dissolve one in 500ml of water and let it fizz away before drinking. Each tablet creates a low-calorie (around 8kcal), vegan-friendly, gluten-free drink made without artificial colours or flavours.
They come in a range of flavours. Pink grapefruit is my favourite, it’s bright, not too sweet, and easy to drink even when the water’s warm from sitting in the boot while I’ve been out. Green apple and strawberry lemonade are also pleasant, with a clean taste that doesn’t linger. Other flavours like lemon lime, watermelon, and blackcurrant are available, but I’ve stuck with these three and haven’t felt the need to stray. The drink has a gentle fizz, like any similar tablet, but I find that refreshing rather than distracting.
They’re fool-proof to use: just drop one into water and let it do its thing. No mess, no measuring, no faff. The tablets come in small plastic tubes, each holding ten. While they’re not individually wrapped, there is still some plastic waste, but they are easy to transport and stash in a glovebox, backpack, or running belt.
How I Use Them
These tablets have slotted neatly into my exercise rhythm, as I say, not as a mid-hike necessity, but at the finish-line. One thing I’ve always done is keep a full bottle of water in the car for my return from any hike, run, or even just a long day out. It’s common sense: drink everything you’re carrying while out, knowing there’s fresh water waiting at the end. Now, with these hydration tablets being so easy to stash, I keep a few in the glovebox too. So, here’s the routine: I get back to the car, drop a tablet into the water, let it fizz while I change my shoes and sort my pack, and that’s what I drink on the way home.
And it works. I’m no scientist – I haven’t run a controlled experiment – but I know how I feel. These tablets make a difference at the end of a big hike, especially in hot weather. I’ve felt more balanced and less drained, with no post-hike headaches since I started using them. And if I may be so bold, I think my muscles are grateful too – less stiffness in recovery, less of that heavy-legged feeling the next day. Could it be coincidence? Of course. But it feels like they help, and that’s enough for me to make them part of my routine.
Value for Money
At £14.99 for 60 tablets, each drink works out at just under 25p, much cheaper than grabbing a can of lemonade at the services. Even if you exercise daily, that’s a two-month supply. For something that’s become a reliable part of my recovery, I’d say that’s decent value.
Hot Weather Hiking Tips
Electrolytes are a key part of staying balanced on hot days, and while hydration tablets like the ones I’m reviewing here help replenish them after the fact, there are simple ways to stay ahead of the game while you’re still on the trail. Here are a few of the habits I keep that have made hiking through the heatwave both manageable and mindful.
Start hydrated: I make a point of drinking tea and water before I lace up my shoes and leave the front door. It’s a quiet act of preparation that sets the tone.
Tea and water in combination: My go-to pairing. The tea’s a comfort, the water’s a constant, and together they suit most hikes. I might add a sugary drink from a shop along the way, but that’s an added bonus, not my hydration plan.
Know your top-ups: Planning around refill points, whether it’s a spring with a filter bottle or a handy corner shop that’s along the route, makes it easier to walk knowing you have enough liquid to keep you hydrated all day. And if you choose to stop at a conveniently placed pub… always get a glass of tap water to go with whatever beverage you actually want to drink, and have both.
More Than Drinking
Smart snacks: Hydration comes from eating as well as drinking. Think fruit, flapjack, salted crisps… a well-chosen packed lunch or snack bag will support hydration and fuel your energy levels.
Dress cool: Overheating is never fun. A water-soaked buff around the neck, a lightweight hat, and breathable fabrics against your skin will help keep you cool.
Seek shade: When the weather is very hot, I gravitate toward routes with tree cover or known cool spots, especially during midday stretches. Just as you would choose against exposed peaks in very wet and windy conditions, consider the same when the sun is at its hottest.
Listen to your body: If you feel lightheaded, sluggish, or overly flushed, then don’t be afraid to pause, drink, and reset – without feeling guilty. Safe hiking is about making good decisions as you go, and adjusting as needed.
These small rituals shape the hike before I ever reach for a hydration tablet. They create a gentler experience that respects both the elements and my energy.
MaxiNutition Final Thoughts
After a summer of hot and sticky trails, I’ve come to think of recovery as something more than rest. It’s preparation – a commitment to moving again, soon.
These MaxiNutrition hydration tablets have become a small but steady part of that recovery. Not flashy, not complicated, but effective. They taste good, they’re easy to use, and they seem to work. Whether it’s wringing out a buff, sipping tea from a thermos, or dropping a tablet into water for the drive home, these rituals help me land back into the post-hike real world feeling content.
Do you use hydration tablets like these from MaxiNutrition as part of your hiking routine?
With thanks to Maxi Nutrition for sending me a supply of their hydration tablets to help with my post-hike and run recovery this year. This is not a sponsored advertorial.
EJ Blogs
We were discussing if there was something like this last weekend! Great timing! 🙂