Namedsport HydraFit Energy Drink Review

Namedsport is an Italian brand of dietary and energy products that is the nutritional partner of World Tour teams Astana, Trek-Segafredo, Bahrain-Merida, and UAE Team Emirates. We tested their HydraFit> hydration drink, which stands out for its unbeatable price of €5.99 for 20 bottles.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: 3bikes.fr / All rights reserved

Testing dietary products in the field is extremely tricky, as it’s almost impossible to differentiate between two competing products, unless there’s a major error from a manufacturer. However, it’s quite simple to compare rides of equivalent duration and intensity (a power meter provides a good indication of the energy cost of a training session) with or without an energy product. And to feel the difference in sensations during the session, at the end of it, and over accumulating training days.

Because many riders still just ride with plain water in their bottle (which is the minimum to ensure sufficient hydration during exercise), with water and syrup (providing fast sugars with very small amounts of minerals), or with juice like Pulco (with fewer calories than syrup). The price of specific sports drinks, which are supposed to provide the necessary calories or at least sugar to maintain good blood sugar levels, as well as vitamins and minerals for assimilation, is often a barrier to their use. It’s true that with prices sometimes exceeding €2.50 per bottle, some brands are frankly exaggerating.

The 400g pot of HydraFit, designed for 20 bottles, costs €5.99, which is less than 30 cents per bottle.

With HydraFit>, Namedsport is very strong in this area. The 400g pot, designed for 20 bottles, costs €5.99, which is less than 30 cents per bottle. This is, for example, more than twice as cheap as Isostar, which is readily available in supermarkets and already at a very attractive price. There’s no longer any reason to deprive yourself.

An anti-doping certified product

As we know, you see all sorts of things among powdered products, especially in some “mass gain” or “amino acid” or “energy” supplements found from some dubious manufacturers (particularly in certain gyms). Informed-Sport is a globally recognized quality certification program established to ensure that all dietary supplements bearing the program’s logo have been tested by a major independent laboratory (LGC). This lab analyzes all product formulations and conducts tests to exclude 146 substances that could be slipped into formulas to guarantee spectacular results, but which are prohibited in sports (stimulants, anabolics, etc.).

Namedsport is currently the only Italian brand certified by Informed-Sport with HydraFit>. This means it’s serious, and in any case comparable to the major French brands we’re used to seeing at our bike shops or in supermarkets.

Measured contributions

HydraFit is a hypotonic drink (to promote water diffusion into cells when the drink is ingested) that provides minerals, sugars and maltodextrins (slow-release carbohydrates), nine vitamins, and magnesium and potassium.

However, where many energy drinks provide 150 to 200 calories per bottle (mainly carbohydrates, and up to 320 calories for Maurten 320 drink), HydraFit provides only 61.8 calories for the 20g of powder needed to make a 50ml bottle. Therefore, this drink should not be relied upon as the sole energy source during sustained effort, at the risk of running out of energy.

On the other hand, HydraFit makes up for it, and largely so, in its vitamin and mineral content, with values two to three times higher in all areas compared to the competition. The benefit is obvious not in terms of pure energy, but at least in terms of carbohydrate assimilation (there are few, so they might as well be perfectly assimilated), maintaining good hydration levels (to avoid excessive sweating), and also limiting mineral loss due to perspiration.

Let’s add that magnesium and potassium, present in more than sufficient quantities in HydraFit, ensure normal muscle cell function. Those who have never suffered from cramps, raise your hand! And for the others, this might be a solution to avoid this problem.

Noticeable differences

As explained above, it is almost impossible to compare energy products with each other outside the confined environment of a laboratory. It would probably be necessary to push the body to its limits to see any differences, and even then, over several days in our opinion. So let’s just make do with our means, and therefore good sustained winter rides with a power meter, and test several usual configurations for average riders.

• With a bottle of water: no problem for two hours, then a gradual feeling of decreased energy and concentration. With cold liquid in the bottle, difficulty swallowing and having the desire to drink it. End of ride after 3h30 with the feeling of being tired.
• With a bottle of syrup: a good boost for two hours, then a sudden feeling of weak legs. The last half hour is done in diesel mode with a lack of strength. End of ride after 3h30 with a feeling of hunger and a bit feverish.
• With a bottle of fruit juice: this has long been our basic preparation during winter training. Experience shows us that it must be diluted with water, otherwise gastric problems may occur. Not all juices are equal. A preparation consisting of half a bottle of grape juice + water seems to provide the best results in terms of sensations, but these are always inferior to those felt with a real sports drink.
• With a bottle of Pulco lemon: a neutral contribution, a bit like water, but with flavor. More desire to drink and finish the bottle before the end of the ride, even in cool weather. Last hour a bit laborious, with empty legs.
• With a bottle of HydraFit: no peak in form and strength, but a feeling of greater endurance, an effort that depletes reserves less, more energy and concentration at the end of the ride. After 3h30, you don’t throw yourself at the fridge when you get home either.

Tastes are personal, but we appreciate this blood orange flavor, which is both powerful and refreshing, not excessively sweet but also tastes like a candy. If you know Isostar, the taste is very similar. The advantage is that it leaves no aftertaste in the mouth. So HydraFit is very pleasant to consume during exercise.

For €5.99 for a 400g pot (delivered with a bottle!), HydraFit> is the most reasonable product on the market. While it’s not very rich in calories, it largely compensates with its vitamin and mineral content, the highest of all drinks on the market. And if you still doubt the value for money of this drink, all you have to do is compare the price of powdered sugar (widely used by some brands) with that of a vitamin complex.

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