Adults packing a small food box
Individual 250ml cans may be easier to fit around food and cooking equipment than 500ml cans. Compare the caffeine in one can as well as the space taken by the whole pack.
Who is this for?
Adults choosing a sugar-free variant
Check the exact can for both sugar and caffeine. Monster states that its 500ml Zero-Sugar drink has 0g sugar but still contains 160mg caffeine.
Groups with different drink needs
Plan other drinks for group members who will not have energy drinks. For anyone who is pregnant, NHS guidance says to have no more than 200mg caffeine a day from all sources.
What should you check?
Start with the amount in one can, then check how many cans the group would use and where the pack will fit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Read the amount per can on the exact variant. Red Bull states 80mg per 250ml Original can; Monster states 160mg per 500ml Original Green or Zero-Sugar can. Include coffee, tea and other caffeine consumed that day. | I want to know what one serving adds to my day, especially if I will also drink coffee while travelling or at camp. |
| Sugar | Compare sugar per can, not just per 100ml, and distinguish standard from sugar-free variants. Monster states 55g sugar per 500ml Original Green can and 0g per 500ml Zero-Sugar can. | If I am choosing a sugar-free drink, I still want to check its caffeine rather than assume the two labels mean the same thing. |
| Pack format | Confirm the container, individual volume and number of drinks. Sainsbury's lists Red Bull 250ml x8 and Monster and Relentless 4 x 500ml can packs; a Joybuy listing for Lucozade Energy Original is 8 x 380ml bottles. | A smaller can may fit my food box better, while the pack count needs to match the adults and days planned. If I need cans specifically, bottles will not do. |
| Drinking water | Plan drinking water separately, particularly for time spent active or outdoors in heat. The NHS identifies water as a choice for hydration. | I need a dependable water supply for the trip, whether or not I pack an occasional caffeinated drink. |
| Group needs | Check who will drink each can and provide alternatives where needed. NHS guidance limits caffeine during pregnancy to 200mg a day from all sources. | If our group includes someone who is pregnant or anyone who will not have energy drinks, I want suitable other drinks on the food list. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Checking the pack count but not caffeine per can
One 500ml Monster Original Green or Zero-Sugar can contains 160mg caffeine according to Monster, compared with the 80mg Red Bull states for one 250ml Original can. Pack size alone does not tell you how much one person will drink.
Read the exact can label and include caffeine from other drinks in the day's plan.
-
Using energy drinks as the water supply
An energy-drink multipack does not replace planning drinking water for camp activities. The NHS identifies water as a choice for hydration.
Pack water separately before deciding whether to add caffeinated cans.
-
Assuming sugar content is similar across variants
Monster states 0g sugar per 500ml Zero-Sugar can and 55g per 500ml Original Green can. Both are stated to contain 160mg caffeine per can.
Compare sugar and caffeine on the exact variant you intend to pack.
-
Assuming every multipack contains cans
A Joybuy listing for Lucozade Energy Original specifies eight 380ml bottles, which would not meet a cans-only packing plan.
Confirm the container type, individual volume and pack count before ordering.
Brand and retailer references
Red Bull
A compact-can reference: Sainsbury's lists an eight-pack of 250ml cans.
- Red Bull states that its Original drink contains 80mg caffeine per 250ml can.
- Check the sugar label on the exact variant; the Original and Sugarfree products are distinct choices.
Monster Energy
A 500ml-can reference with standard and zero-sugar variants.
- Monster states 160mg caffeine per 500ml for both Original Green and its Zero-Sugar drink.
- Their stated sugar contents differ: 55g for Original Green and 0g for Zero-Sugar per 500ml. Check the name on the pack rather than applying either figure to another Monster variant.
Relentless
Sainsbury's lists Relentless Origin as a four-pack of 500ml cans.
- A Joybuy product listing states 32mg caffeine per 100ml for Relentless Origin.
- For a serving-level comparison, check the exact can's caffeine and sugar information alongside its 500ml volume.
Lucozade Energy
A format to check carefully when the camping list calls for cans.
- Lucozade describes its Energy range as containing glucose.
- The Joybuy Lucozade Energy Original eight-pack listing specifies 380ml bottles, not cans.
Sainsbury's
A retailer reference for comparing listed pack counts and can volumes across brands.
- Its energy-drinks category lists Red Bull, Monster and Relentless multipacks in the formats noted above.
- Check each product listing for the exact variant and container before using it to plan your trip.
Joybuy can multipacks
These canned multipacks offer 250ml and 500ml serving sizes for an adult camping food plan, including Sugarfree and Zero Sugar variants. Check the exact can label when comparing caffeine and sugars.
No image available
Red Bull Energy Drink, 8 x 250ml
Eight individually portioned 250ml cans suit a plan built around smaller servings. Red Bull states 80mg caffeine per 250ml Original can; check the can's sugar information if comparing it with a sugar-free variant.
No image available
Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink, 12 x 250ml
The 250ml cans offer a smaller individual portion for campers choosing a sugar-free variant. This pack contains 12 cans; check caffeine on the exact can when planning how many to take.
No image available
Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar, 4 x 500ml
Four 500ml cans provide a larger individual serving in a Zero Sugar variant. Allow space for the larger cans and read this Ultra variant's caffeine label rather than using a figure from another Monster drink.
No image available
Monster Energy Aussie Style Lemonade, 4 x 500ml
This four-can pack suits a plan for 500ml servings and the Aussie Style Lemonade variant. Compare caffeine and sugars on this can's label, rather than applying figures for Monster Original Green.
No image available
Rockstar Blueberry & Pomegranate, 12 x 500ml
Twelve 500ml cans require more packing room than a smaller multipack, so match the count to the planned servings. Check caffeine and sugars on this Blueberry & Pomegranate variant before allocating cans across the trip.
Questions about camping with energy drinks
Should energy drinks replace water at camp?
No. Pack drinking water separately for the trip, particularly when activities or heat affect your plans. The NHS identifies water as a choice for hydration; an energy drink can be an occasional caffeinated drink, not the basis of the water supply.
How do I compare caffeine in 250ml and 500ml cans?
Use the amount on the exact can, not volume alone. Red Bull states 80mg caffeine in a 250ml Original can; Monster states 160mg in a 500ml Original Green or Zero-Sugar can. Include other caffeine consumed that day when deciding how many cans to pack.
Does a sugar-free can still contain caffeine?
It can. Monster states that its 500ml Zero-Sugar drink contains 0g sugar and 160mg caffeine. Check both figures on the particular variant you are buying, since sugar and caffeine answer different questions.
What if someone in the group is pregnant?
Include caffeine from every source before choosing drinks for that person. NHS guidance says not to have more than 200mg caffeine a day during pregnancy, so provide a non-caffeinated option and seek individual clinical advice if needed.