Adult hikers avoiding sugar
If you want a caffeinated drink without sugar, compare caffeine per whole can. A zero-sugar label does not tell you how much caffeine the can contains.
Who is each drink choice for?
Walkers planning for fluid replacement
If you expect to sweat during a long or warm-weather walk, plan what water to carry. NHS guidance identifies water as the best way to replace fluid lost through physical activity; an electrolyte sports drink is a separate product choice.
Hikers considering a sugary drink with their snacks
If you deliberately want a drink containing sugar, check the sugar and caffeine figures for its exact flavour and can size alongside the food you plan to pack.
What should you check before packing a drink?
Decide whether you want caffeine, a sugar-containing drink or fluid replacement, then compare the label for the full can you would carry.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | Check the sugar declaration for the exact drink and can size. A zero-sugar energy drink and a sugar-containing one serve different snack plans. | I want caffeine without choosing a sugary drink, so the sugar declaration matters more to me than a general description on the front of the can. |
| Caffeine | Compare caffeine per whole can and count other sources, such as coffee, tea or caffeine gels. Red Bull lists 80 mg per 250 ml Sugarfree can; Monster lists 150 mg per 500 ml Ultra can. | A larger can may change how much caffeine I take in one go. I need to account for everything else I plan to consume that day. |
| Fluid replacement | Plan the water you will carry for the route. The NHS says water is the best way to replace fluid lost through physical activity; a caffeinated energy drink is not a replacement for that plan. | If I expect to sweat, my main drink needs to address fluid replacement rather than just my preference for caffeine or flavour. |
| Drink type | Check whether the pack is an energy drink or a sports drink, and read its ingredients and nutrition panel. Lucozade describes Sport Zero Sugar as a drink with electrolyte and vitamin B3 for low-intensity exercise. | I might prefer a sports drink to a caffeinated energy drink when its stated exercise-related features are what I am looking for. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming zero sugar means little or no caffeine
Zero sugar does not mean caffeine-free. Monster lists 150 mg of caffeine in a 500 ml Ultra can, while Red Bull lists 80 mg in a 250 ml Sugarfree can.
Read the caffeine amount for the complete can and include other caffeine sources in your plan.
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Relying on an energy drink for all your fluids
When physical activity causes sweating, fluid replacement remains a separate consideration. The NHS identifies water as the best way to replace lost fluid.
Carry water as your main drink and consider a caffeinated drink separately.
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Treating every sugary energy drink as the same snack
Sugar and caffeine depend on the product and can size. Monster lists 55 g sugar and 160 mg caffeine for a 500 ml Original Green can.
If you intend the drink to contribute sugar to your hiking snacks, check the exact can’s label alongside the rest of your food.
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Choosing by an older listing rather than the current pack
Tesco advises shoppers to read food labels because ingredients and nutrition information can change when products are reformulated.
Check the pack you are buying for its size, sugar, caffeine, ingredients and best-before date.
Which brands and retailers are relevant?
Red Bull
Red Bull Sugarfree is a smaller-can option for adults comparing caffeinated drinks without sugar.
- Red Bull lists 80 mg caffeine per 250 ml Sugarfree can.
- It remains a caffeinated drink, not a substitute for carrying water.
Monster
Monster Ultra is a zero-sugar energy drink sold in a 500 ml can.
- Monster lists 150 mg caffeine per 500 ml Ultra can.
- Account for that full-can amount alongside other caffeine you plan to consume.
Lucozade
Lucozade has distinct zero-sugar soft-drink and sports-drink ranges; check which type you are choosing.
- Lucozade describes Sport Zero Sugar as containing electrolyte and vitamin B3 and designed for low-intensity exercise.
- A sports drink should not be assumed to have the same purpose or caffeine content as an energy drink.
Relentless
Relentless identifies Tesco and Sainsbury’s among retailers for its drinks.
- Its range offers another energy-drink label to compare by exact product and pack.
- Relentless warns that its Guava drink is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, or pregnant or nursing women.
Tesco
Tesco is a retailer, not an energy-drink brand; its grocery listings include standard and zero-sugar energy-drink variants.
- Its listings allow comparison of named Red Bull, Monster and Relentless variants.
- Tesco advises checking the product label, as food ingredients and nutrition information can change.
Energy drinks on Joybuy
These listings are canned energy drinks in different can sizes and pack formats. Compare the whole-can caffeine amount and sugar declaration before deciding which, if any, belongs alongside your hiking snacks and water.
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Red Bull Sugarfree Energy Drink, 4 × 250 ml
For an adult considering a smaller, sugar-free caffeinated drink alongside hiking snacks. Red Bull lists 80 mg caffeine per 250 ml can. The listing is a four-can pack; carry water separately for fluid replacement.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar, 6 × 4 × 500 ml
For an adult comparing a larger zero-sugar can with other caffeine choices. Monster lists 150 mg caffeine per 500 ml Ultra can. This is a large multipack, so distinguish the pack size from the amount in one can; carry water separately.
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CELSIUS Watermelon Strawberry, 12 × 355 ml
This pack contains twelve 355 ml cans. If you are comparing it with zero-sugar drinks for a hike, check the sugars per 100 ml and caffeine per can on the current label rather than treating a no-added-sugars claim as a zero-sugar declaration. Carry water separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does zero sugar mean an energy drink is caffeine-free?
No. Red Bull lists 80 mg caffeine per 250 ml Sugarfree can, and Monster lists 150 mg per 500 ml Ultra can. Check the caffeine amount for the whole can as well as its sugar declaration.
Can an energy drink replace water on a hike?
Do not use it as your main plan for replacing fluid lost through activity. The NHS says water is the best way to replace lost fluid; consider a caffeinated drink as a separate choice.
How should I account for caffeine from a hiking drink?
Read the amount per whole can and include caffeine from other drinks, gels and supplements you plan to consume. For context, the European Food Safety Authority’s assessment says single doses up to 200 mg do not raise safety concerns for the general healthy adult population; that general assessment is not individual advice for someone with a relevant medical condition or medicine interaction.
When might a zero-sugar sports drink suit a hike instead?
Consider that product type when you want its stated exercise-related features rather than a caffeinated energy drink. Lucozade describes Sport Zero Sugar as containing electrolyte and vitamin B3 and designed for low-intensity exercise; check the exact pack to see whether it meets your needs, and plan the water you will carry.