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High 5 Zero Sport electrolyte drink tablets

8
£6.99

VERDICT:

8
10
May help prevent cramp by replacing vital minerals lost through sweating
Weight: 
99g
Contact: 
www.highfive.co.uk

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The Zero sport electrolyte drink is a new product from High5. Although I’ve used various energy gels and drinks with electrolytes included, this is the first time I’ve used an electrolyte-only product. And so far, I’m impressed.

I don’t suffer too badly from cramp, but when the going gets really hot and tough I do get warnings from my legs (“keep going like this, sonny, and we’re going to seize”) that force me to back off the pace a tad, especially on hills. So I welcome anything that can help me overcome this mutinous habit in my lower limbs.

The drink comes in the form of a tube of soluble tablets each about the size of a 10p bit. You drop a tab into a bottle of water on your bike, let it dissolve, then drink.

Why do this? Basically, to replace the essential minerals that get lost through sweat when exercising. Put in the simplest terms, you need these minerals to help your muscles work efficiently. If levels are low, you can’t go so fast or so far, and it’s part of the reason you get cramp.

What’s in the drink? Not surprisingly, those same essential minerals: namely sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Plus citric acid, artificial sweeteners and some flavouring.

Does it work? It works for me. After a couple of trials on local training rides, I used these tabs in one of my bottles on the final stage of this year’s Etape du Tour - the Col du Tourmalet - among the longest, hottest, toughest hills I’ve ever had the joy to pedal up. Although I suffered like a dog, and sweated like a donkey, I did have a single twinge of cramp.

Will it work for you? It’s impossible to say. Like any similar product, you need to try it for yourself. But if you suffer from cramp it’s well worth a go.

Mix up a drink and try it first just sitting at home. If it doesn’t disagree with you, drink a bottle on an easy training ride. If it still feels fine, drink one on a hot hard ride. If you notice the benefits, add Zero tabs to your armoury for your next race, sportive or long training ride.

What does it taste like? Like a slightly fizzy drink, and quite refreshing. And you get a choice of flavours: orange, berry and citrus. Another advantage is the size of the tablet. If you’re doing a long sportive, you can wrap a couple of tabs in a bit of silver foil, and stick them in your back pocket or under-saddle pouch where they take up no space at all, ready to be dropped into a bottle of water at one of the feed stations.

The High5 website recommends adding each tab to 500ml of water, but the tube itself indicates they can be added to up to 1 litre. I was using one per 750ml bottle. This is the kind of thing you can experiment with until you find the balance that works for you.

A tube of 20 tablets costs £6.99 from the High5 website, and you find it for nearer £6 at other on-line stores. That works out at about 30p per bottle-full.

Finally, it’s important to realise that Zero is not an energy drink. As the name implies, the tabs contain very minimal carbohydrate, no sugars and no caffeine. When training, racing or riding sportives, you’ll need to take on the usual amounts of carbohydrate, and you’ll need to hydrate as well - two other key components of avoiding cramp.

Verdict

Used in conjunction with adequate energy food and water intake, these tablets may well help regular sufferers avoid cramp, and even assist your performance if you only suffer occasionally.

road.cc test report

Make and model: High 5 Zero Sport electrolyte drink tablets

Size tested: citrus/orange/berry

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 49  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp  My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, mtb,

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
bikingscot | 14 years ago
0 likes

I was using Nuun for years but recently tried Zero and I'm a total convert. Really prefer the flavours and it works out at much better value for money. I think Nuun was something like 50p per tablet but Zero comes in at 30p. Cherry Orange flavour is amazing!

Avatar
John_the_Monkey | 14 years ago
0 likes

I like these too (got some free with one of the comics).

The little tablets are great - I usually pop a couple in a top tube bag just in case my short run out turns into more of an epic than I plan for.

Avatar
SimpleSimon | 14 years ago
0 likes

I love ZYM, even in the gym! Practise safe hydration

Rhyming posts now please, so we need posts for ZERO, NUUN, AGISKO (could be tricky that one!), and any others.

Avatar
Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
0 likes

Yes, it's definitely magnesium not manganese. Swating/sweating yep that was my fault, but it was late at night and I was probably dehydrated…

Avatar
KirinChris | 14 years ago
0 likes

I can also endorse these - and in Abu Dhabi we sweat a lot.

I think they taste much better than most drinks and I like the hint of fizz.

Avatar
SimpleSimon | 14 years ago
0 likes

another typo? manganese? Magnesium is more likely!

Avatar
StuAff | 14 years ago
0 likes

I first tried these care of some free samples- bought & went through one tube, now working through two more. I really like them. My main rides of the week tend to be on Sunday afternoons- after the carb-load of a roast, these do the trick nicely. Great taste, no ill-effects whatsoever.

Avatar
Yennings | 14 years ago
0 likes

Ha! Just spotted an even better typo further down: 'if you suffer from camp.' Brilliant...

(PS: My proof-reading rates are very reasonable...)

Avatar
Yennings | 14 years ago
0 likes

Typo in the strapline, guys ('swating'). Tsk!

Pedantry aside, I have tried these and they are pretty good. Haven't got around to trying the Nuun version yet. In general, though, I reckon the thinking behind these hydration drinks is spot on - I plan to get my carbs from solid food alone in future (plus the occasional gel, of course).

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