Hikers packing a small fizzy drink
If you want a caffeinated drink alongside your snacks, a 250ml can gives you a clearly stated single-can quantity to compare. Pack water separately for the walk.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers comparing sugar and zero-sugar cans
Check the sugars per can as well as the caffeine. Red Bull states 27g sugars for its Original 250ml can and no sugar for its Zero 250ml can; both list 80mg caffeine.
Hikers counting caffeine from several sources
If you also have coffee, tea or another caffeinated product, include it when considering the amount in an energy-drink can. Can size and sugar-free labelling do not tell you the caffeine dose on their own.
What should you check before packing a can?
Start with water for the walk, then compare any optional energy drink by its full-can label rather than its flavour or front-of-pack wording alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Caffeine | Compare milligrams in the whole can, then account for other caffeinated drinks or products. Red Bull lists 80mg in each named 250ml Original or Zero can; Monster lists 150mg in Ultra 500ml and 160mg in Original Green 500ml on its UK product pages. | I want to know the amount I would drink if I finish the can, particularly when I have already had coffee or tea. |
| Sugar and ingredients | Read sugars per can and the ingredient list. Red Bull lists 27g sugars in Original 250ml and says Zero 250ml uses sweeteners instead; Monster lists 0g sugars in Ultra 500ml and 55g in Original Green 500ml. | A sugary drink may be what I want with my snack, or I may prefer a zero-sugar formulation. I still need to check its caffeine separately. |
| Water for the walk | Plan how much water to carry for the length and conditions of the walk. The NHS advises extra fluids after sweating from activity and says water is a way to replace lost fluids. | For a long or warm walk, I want water available rather than relying on a fizzy drink packed with my food. |
| Warnings and pack size | Read the warning on the exact can and check whether you are buying one can or a multipack. UK government food-labelling guidance requires a high-caffeine warning on drinks above 150mg caffeine per litre. | I need a pack I can carry and a label I can check for the person who will drink it, rather than choosing by brand name alone. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming zero sugar means little caffeine
Monster lists 0g sugars but 150mg caffeine in a 500ml Ultra can. Sugar and caffeine describe different parts of the formulation.
Read the caffeine amount for the whole can and consider caffeine from other sources before choosing it.
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Making an energy drink the water plan
A long walk or hot weather can increase fluid needs. The NHS advises drinking extra fluids after sweating from physical activity and identifies water as a way to replace them.
Carry water for the walk; pack a sparkling energy drink separately if you want one with your snacks.
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Overlooking sugars in the complete can
The manufacturers list 27g sugars in Red Bull Original 250ml and 55g in Monster Original Green 500ml. A per-100ml figure alone does not state what you will consume from a full can.
Check the label for the exact variant and can size, and compare it with a zero-sugar option if sugar content affects your choice.
Relevant brand ranges
These brand examples help distinguish formulations; a brand range is not a substitute for checking the particular can you intend to buy.
Red Bull
Its UK Original and Zero pages describe 250ml sparkling energy-drink cans.
- Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine per 250ml can for both named versions.
- Original lists 27g sugars per can; Zero is sugar-free and uses sweeteners. Check which version is in the pack.
Monster Energy
Its UK pages provide per-can figures for the named 500ml Original Green and Ultra drinks.
- Monster lists 160mg caffeine and 55g sugars for Original Green, versus 150mg caffeine and 0g sugars for Ultra, each per 500ml can.
- Zero sugar in Ultra does not mean the same caffeine amount as in a 250ml Red Bull Zero can.
Relentless
Relentless offers carbonated caffeinated drinks in its UK range.
- Its retailer finder names Tesco and Sainsbury's among retailers.
- Read the exact can for its caffeine amount, sugars and warnings before comparing variants.
Lucozade
Lucozade describes its Energy range as sparkling and containing glucose, while it presents Alert as a separate high-caffeine range.
- The distinct range names help identify which formulation to examine.
- Check the specific drink label for caffeine and sugars rather than treating Energy and Alert as interchangeable.
Joybuy drink options
These packs include smaller Red Bull cans and larger Monster and Rockstar cans that could be considered as an optional sparkling drink with hiking snacks. Check the individual can and pack details before choosing; carry water separately.
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Red Bull Zero 4 × 250ml
A four-can pack of smaller zero-sugar drinks to consider alongside snacks. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine per 250ml Zero can and says it uses sweeteners; count caffeine from other sources and pack water for the walk.
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Red Bull Energy Drink 250ml 8 Pack
An eight-can pack for someone who specifically wants the sugar-containing drink with a snack. Red Bull lists 80mg caffeine for its 250ml Original can; check the sugar figure on this pack's cans before comparing them with a zero-sugar version. Carry water separately.
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Monster Energy Green Zero Sugar × 12 Cans
A zero-sugar multipack to compare if you prefer this Monster variant. Check the exact can's volume and caffeine declaration before packing one; zero-sugar wording alone does not establish its caffeine amount. Take water for the hike as well.
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Monster Energy Ultra Zero Sugar 6 × 4 × 500ml
This pack contains larger zero-sugar cans. Monster lists 150mg caffeine per 500ml Ultra can on its UK product page; account for a full can alongside other caffeine sources, and check the pack details before buying. Water remains a separate part of the walk plan.
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Rockstar Blueberry & Pomegranate 12 × 500ml
A blueberry-and-pomegranate option in 500ml cans. If a full can is going in your bag, check its caffeine and sugars on the exact label and consider what else you plan to drink. Bring water for the walk separately.
Questions about drinks for a hike
Can a sparkling energy drink take the place of water on a hike?
Plan to carry water rather than making an energy drink your water supply. The NHS says people may need more fluid during prolonged activity or in hot conditions and advises extra fluids after sweating; a fizzy drink can be a separate choice with snacks.
How much caffeine is in the named 250ml and 500ml cans?
Red Bull lists 80mg per 250ml can for Original and Zero. Monster Energy UK lists 150mg per 500ml Ultra can and 160mg per 500ml Original Green can. Confirm the exact variant and can size on the label you buy.
Is zero sugar enough reason to choose a drink for a hike?
No: it tells you about sugars, not the caffeine dose or how much water to carry. Monster lists 0g sugars and 150mg caffeine per 500ml Ultra can, so compare the full-can label with what you have already consumed and pack water separately.
What has been announced about sales to under-16s in England?
The Department of Health and Social Care and Department for Education announced in July 2026 that England plans to ban sales to under-16s of drinks containing more than 150mg caffeine per litre, other than tea or coffee, from April 2027. That is an England-specific planned rule, not a statement of the current legal position throughout the UK; check the rules in force where the drink is sold.