Gym-goers with refillable bottles
If you can fill a bottle before leaving or at the gym, a small squash concentrate lets you carry flavouring rather than several ready-to-drink cans. Check the ingredients of the flavour you choose.
Who each format suits
People who need a drink ready to open
When water for mixing is not available, a sealed can avoids preparation. Tesco lists the cited J2O Apple & Raspberry can as a soft drink with 10g sugars per 250ml can, rather than a diluting squash.
Shoppers checking ingredients
No added sugar does not mean no sweeteners or sulphites. Asda lists sulphites in Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits; the Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as a possible risk for people with a sensitivity and notes a higher reaction risk for people with asthma. Check the current label of the exact flavour.
What to check before buying
Small squash concentrate
Choose it when: You want squash and can add water to a refillable bottle.
Trade-off: It is not ready to drink, and the ingredients of the exact flavour matter.
Ready-to-drink cans
Choose them when: You need a sealed portion you can open without finding water.
Trade-off: The cited J2O cans are soft drinks rather than squash, and carrying several takes more bag space than carrying one.
Larger squash bottle
Choose it when: You can prepare squash at home and carry the diluted drink in another bottle.
Trade-off: Preparation comes before the trip; the full bottle is not the compact concentrate option.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink format | Check whether the pack contains squash to dilute or a drink ready to open. If choosing concentrate, confirm where you will get water and what bottle you will use. | I can refill a bottle, so carrying concentrate works for me. Without water for mixing, I need a ready-to-drink portion instead. |
| Bag space and portions | Compare what you will actually carry, not just the outer pack. The cited Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits is 66ml, according to Asda; Tesco lists the cited J2O pack as four 250ml cans. | For one visit, I may only need one can. If I want squash for repeated visits, a small concentrate suits my bag only when I can supply the water. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Read nutrition figures on the same basis, such as per 100ml of prepared drink or per can. Tesco lists 10g sugars per 250ml J2O Apple & Raspberry can; check sweeteners and allergens on the exact pack. | I want to know what is in the drink I will take, rather than treating a no-added-sugar squash and a canned fruit soft drink as equivalent. |
| Use after opening | Check the concentrate’s storage and use instructions if it will stay in your bag between visits. Asda says to use the cited Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits within one month of opening. | If I will make several drinks over time, I need a format whose preparation and storage instructions fit how I use it. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a fruity multipack can is squash
Tesco labels the cited J2O cans as an apple and raspberry soft drink with sugar and sweetener. By contrast, the cited Robinsons Mini is a squash concentrate that needs water.
Decide whether you need a drink ready to open or squash to dilute, then compare the nutrition for the amount you will drink.
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Putting the whole multipack in the bag for one visit
Four 250ml cans contain 1 litre of drink in total, although you may only plan to open one can.
Pack the number of cans you expect to use, or take concentrate and a refillable bottle if water will be available.
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Skipping the ingredient list because squash has no added sugar
Asda lists sulphites in the cited Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits. The Food Standards Agency identifies a possible risk for people with a sulphite sensitivity and a higher reaction risk for people with asthma.
Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack before choosing it.
Relevant brand references
These examples illustrate different drink formats; a brand’s inclusion here does not describe every product in its range.
Robinsons
Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits is a small squash concentrate for adding to water. Asda lists the cited bottle as 66ml.
- The cited Summer Fruits variant is labelled no added sugar.
- It requires water; Asda also lists sulphites in the cited variant.
J2O
J2O Apple & Raspberry is the ready-to-drink can example, not a squash concentrate.
- Tesco lists the cited product as four 250ml cans that need no diluting.
- Tesco labels it a soft drink with sugar and sweetener and lists 10g sugars per can.
M&S
M&S Orange Squash is a conventional bottle option for preparing a drink before leaving home.
- M&S describes the cited squash as double strength, no added sugar and made with 20% real fruit.
- It is not the cited 66ml on-the-go concentrate format.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's grocery listings show larger squash bottles and ready-to-drink can multipacks as separate formats.
- The cited listings include a 1.5L quadruple-strength squash bottle.
- A larger bottle and a canned soft drink answer different preparation and carrying needs.
Joybuy options for this decision
These options include ready-to-drink cans for carrying a sealed portion and larger squash bottles for preparing a drink before you travel.
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J2O Apple & Raspberry Fruit Blend Cans 4 x 250ml
A ready-to-drink can suits a trip where you cannot mix squash with water. This four-pack contains 250ml cans; take account of how many you intend to carry. It is a soft drink rather than diluting squash, so check the current label for sugars and sweeteners.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
This squash suits preparing a drink with water before heading to the gym, rather than opening a can on arrival. The bottle is 850ml; check whether its dimensions suit your bag if you plan to carry it, and read the current ingredient and allergen label.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash 1.5L
This 1.5L squash bottle is an option when you prepare a diluted drink before travelling. It is not a ready-to-drink portion; check the dilution, ingredient and storage instructions on the current pack, and the bottle dimensions if you intend to carry it.
Questions about gym-bag drinks
Are multipack cans the same as squash?
No. Tesco labels the cited J2O Apple & Raspberry four-pack as a ready-to-drink soft drink with sugar and sweetener. The cited Robinsons Mini is squash concentrate that must be diluted with water.
What should I carry if I can refill my bottle?
A small squash concentrate suits someone who wants squash and can add water to a refillable bottle. Asda lists the cited Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits as 66ml and says to use it within one month of opening; check its ingredients before choosing it.
Can a can replace the drink I usually take to the gym?
A ready-to-drink can supplies a drink without mixing, but check whether its ingredients and portion suit what you intend to take. The British Heart Foundation advises that everyday fluid intake, including for people who train, should be mostly water, low-fat milk, soy milk, no-added-sugar squash or herbal teas; the cited J2O can is a soft drink with sugar and sweetener.
Should I check portable squash for sulphites?
Check the exact flavour’s current ingredient and allergen label, particularly if sulphites are a concern for you. Asda lists sulphites in the cited Robinsons Mini Summer Fruits, and the Food Standards Agency identifies a possible risk for people with a sulphite sensitivity and a higher reaction risk for people with asthma.