For a hike, choose plain sparkling water if you want to avoid added sugar and sweeteners; if you prefer flavour, check the exact drink’s ingredients and nutrition panel rather than relying on a ‘no added sugar’ claim. Some flavoured drinks use sweeteners, while fruit-juice drinks can contain naturally occurring sugars. An individual 500ml bottle may be easier to pack than a large sharing bottle, but sugar-free fizz still has an acidity consideration: the NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion regardless of sugar content.
Plain sparkling water is a straightforward route if you do not need flavour. Highland Spring says it adds nothing but bubbles to its sparkling water; Perrier describes its plain carbonated mineral water as having no sugar. For a flavoured option, Sanpellegrino describes its S.Pellegrino Essenza range as containing no sugars or sweeteners. Check the exact product label before packing it.
If you want a flavoured drink alongside your snacks, decide whether sweeteners are acceptable and compare total sugars on the nutrition panel. Sainsbury’s Apple & Elderflower no-added-sugar sparkling water, for example, lists less than 0.5g sugars per 100ml and contains acesulfame K and sucralose. Consider whether its 1L bottle suits what you plan to carry.
‘No added sugar’ does not mean zero total sugars. Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its no-added-sugar Juicy Apple & Elderflower Sparkling Water. Compare the nutrition panel as well as the claim on the front of the pack.
Start with the sugar and sweetener labels, then choose a container that suits the walk and consider how often you want a fizzy drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Compare total sugars on the nutrition panel, using the stated per 100ml or per 100g basis. Check fruit-juice ingredients as well as any no-added-sugar claim. | I want to know how much sugar the drink contains, not just whether sugar was added. Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its no-added-sugar Juicy Apple & Elderflower drink. |
| Sweeteners and flavour | Read the ingredients for sweeteners and check claims for the exact range and flavour. Sainsbury’s lists acesulfame K and sucralose in its Apple & Elderflower drink; Sanpellegrino describes S.Pellegrino Essenza as having no sweeteners. | Flavour matters to me, but I may prefer a drink without sweeteners. A no-added-sugar label alone does not settle that choice. |
| Pack size | Check the volume of each container, not just the multipack total. Highland Spring lists a 500ml sparkling-water bottle; larger 1L and 1.5L formats are also listed by UK retailers. | For a walk with snacks, I would rather pack an individual bottle than carry a large sharing bottle unless I need the larger format. |
| Carbonation | Consider how a fizzy drink fits into your plans for the day. The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion due to acidity, whether or not they contain sugar or sweeteners. | Choosing sugar-free fizz does not remove the acidity consideration, especially if I expect to sip it repeatedly. |
A fruit-juice drink can contain naturally occurring sugars without added sugar. Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its Juicy Apple & Elderflower Sparkling Water.
Compare the total-sugars figure on the nutrition panel if zero total sugar is your requirement.
Sainsbury’s no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower sparkling water lists acesulfame K and sucralose among its ingredients.
Read the ingredients list. If you want flavour without sweeteners, check the claim for the exact product rather than the category.
A 1L or 1.5L bottle may be awkward to carry for a solo snack stop compared with an individual 500ml container.
Check the volume of each bottle and any storage instructions that apply after opening.
The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion due to their acid content regardless of whether they contain sugar or sweeteners.
Take that into account if you plan to sip a fizzy drink throughout the walk; a sugar-free label does not mean acid-free.
A plain sparkling spring-water option with a 500ml bottle listed by the brand.
Its S.Pellegrino Essenza and Sanpellegrino Zero Added Sugar ranges make different sugar claims.
A plain carbonated mineral-water option.
Its Apple & Elderflower no-added-sugar sparkling water is a flavoured option for people who accept sweeteners.
A retailer listing sparkling-water formats, including individual bottles sold in multipacks.
Its Juicy Apple & Elderflower Sparkling Water illustrates why a no-added-sugar claim needs a nutrition-panel check.
These options are plain sparkling waters in individual 500ml containers sold as multipacks. If zero total sugars or no sweeteners is essential to your choice, check the label of the exact pack.
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The 500ml containers provide individual drinks to pack with hiking snacks. The product name describes them as resealable; check the pack if that feature matters to you, and read its current ingredients and nutrition panel for your sugar and sweetener requirements.
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This pack contains six individual 0.5L bottles of plain sparkling natural mineral water. Check the label of this product for its ingredients and total sugars; claims made for flavoured S.Pellegrino Essenza do not describe this plain-water pack.
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The eight-pack provides individual 500ml bottles to pack separately for a walk. Check the current ingredients and nutrition panel if you need to confirm its total sugars and sweetener content.
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This eight-pack offers individual 500ml bottles, a format Highland Spring describes as suitable for carrying. The Joybuy product page lists naturally sourced water as the ingredient, while Highland Spring says nothing is added to its sparkling water but bubbles. Check the pack label for the sparkling variant and total-sugars value if either is decisive for you.
No. Compare total sugars on the nutrition panel: Marks & Spencer lists 6.6g sugars per 100g for its no-added-sugar Juicy Apple & Elderflower Sparkling Water, and Sanpellegrino says its Zero Added Sugar range contains naturally occurring sugar.
Choose plain sparkling water or check for a no-sweeteners statement on the exact flavoured product. Highland Spring says its sparkling water has nothing added but bubbles, and Sanpellegrino describes S.Pellegrino Essenza as having no sugars or sweeteners. Other no-added-sugar drinks may contain sweeteners, so read their ingredients lists.
Yes, sparkling water can be part of your drinks plan if you enjoy it. The NHS advises drinking extra fluids after sweating from physical activity; plan what to carry around the route, conditions and opportunities to refill rather than relying on the type of water alone.
No. The NHS associates carbonated drinks with dental erosion due to their acid content, regardless of whether they contain sugar or sweeteners. Bear that in mind if you expect to sip a fizzy drink repeatedly.
An individual 500ml bottle may be simpler to pack for a solo walk; a larger bottle may suit sharing or a different carrying plan. Check the volume you need and follow the product’s instructions for storage after opening.