Instant Hydration vs Ultima: sodium, sweeteners and cost compared
Label data checked . Amounts are per 12 fl oz of finished drink unless a table says otherwise.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has 9.1 times the sodium of Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix per 12 fl oz (375 mg vs 41 mg). Neither has any sugar. Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix costs less per liter as mixed ($2.22 vs $3.88 for Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix).
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix vs Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix, side by side
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 12 fl oz (355 mL) | 12 fl oz (355 mL) |
| Calories | 8 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 0.8 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 375 mg | 41 mg |
| Potassium | 353 mg | 188 mg |
| Magnesium | 75 mg | 75 mg |
| Calcium | 128 mg | 35 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 59 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) | 1 liter (33.8 fl oz) |
| Calories | 21 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 2.1 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 1,057 mg | 116 mg |
| Potassium | 994 mg | 529 mg |
| Magnesium | 211 mg | 211 mg |
| Calcium | 359 mg | 99 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 165 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Nutrient | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix |
|---|---|---|
| Format | powder stick | powder stick |
| Drink volume | 16 fl oz (473 mL) | 16 fl oz (473 mL) |
| Calories | 10 kcal | 0 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 1 g | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 55 mg |
| Potassium | 470 mg | 250 mg |
| Magnesium | 100 mg | 100 mg |
| Calcium | 170 mg | 47 mg |
| Chloride | not on label | 78 mg |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg |
Shaded cells mark more electrolytes, or less sugar and fewer calories. Carbohydrate and caffeine are not marked, since more or less depends on your use.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix label checked . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sodium per liter
Sweat carries about 230 to 1,610 mg of sodium per liter[1]. Both gauges use the same scale, so the markers line up.
Cost per serving and per 1,000 mg sodium
| Measure | Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix | Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix |
|---|---|---|
| Price checked | $55.00 for 30-stick box | $20.99 for 20-serving stickpacks |
| Cost per serving | $1.83 | $1.05 |
| Cost per liter | $3.88 | $2.22 |
| Cost per 1,000 mg sodium | $3.67 | $19.08 |
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix price checked at Instant Hydration . Source (opens in a new tab)
Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix price checked at Ultima Replenisher . Source (opens in a new tab)
Sugar, sweeteners and caffeine
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit.
- Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has no caffeine.
- 0.2% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Instant Hydration Blend (Sel Gris French Grey Sea Salt), Magnesium Bisgylcinate Chelate, Potassium Chloride, Calcium from mineralized algae], Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Malic Acid, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Color from Tumeric Extract.
- No sugar sources in the ingredients. Sweetened with stevia.
- Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix has no caffeine.
- 0% carbohydrate as mixed, which we estimate as hypotonic.
Ingredients
Citric Acid, Magnesium Citrate, Potassium Phosphate, Natural Lemon Flavor (with other Natural Flavors), Potassium Aspartate, Salt (Sodium Chloride), Calcium Ascorbate, Calcium Citrate, Rebaudioside A (Organic Stevia Leaf Extract), Calcium Lactate, Zinc Citrate and Manganese Citrate.
Which to pick
Each reason below is a measured difference in the label data.
Pick Instant Hydration if
- you want more sodium: 375 mg vs 41 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want more potassium: 353 mg vs 188 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want the cheapest sodium: $3.67 vs $19.08 per 1,000 mg
Pick Ultima if
- you want a lighter salt dose: 41 mg vs 375 mg per 12 fl oz
- you want fewer calories: 0 kcal vs 8 kcal per 12 fl oz
- you want the lower cost per liter: $2.22 vs $3.88
Where to buy
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy, and it never changes the data or rankings. Affiliate disclosure.
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix
Full Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix labelAll Instant Hydration drinks
Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix
Full Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix labelAll Ultima Replenisher drinks
What the data can't tell you
- How they taste. We compare labels, not flavor.
- What they cost near you today. We checked Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix at Instant Hydration on Sep 24, 2026 and Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix at Ultima Replenisher on Sep 24, 2026.
- How much sodium you lose. That depends on your sweat; the sweat rate calculator gives an estimate.
FAQ
Which has more electrolytes, Instant Hydration or Ultima?
Per 12 fl oz, Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has 375 mg sodium, 353 mg potassium and 75 mg magnesium. Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix has 41 mg sodium, 188 mg potassium and 75 mg magnesium. Per liter that is 1,057 mg vs 116 mg sodium.
Do Instant Hydration and Ultima have sugar?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix: 0 g sugar and 8 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix: 0 g sugar and 0 kcal per 12 fl oz, sweetened with stevia.
Which is cheaper, Instant Hydration or Ultima?
Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix worked out at $1.83 a serving, $3.88 a liter and $3.67 per 1,000 mg sodium (30-stick box at Instant Hydration, checked Sep 24, 2026). Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix worked out at $1.05 a serving, $2.22 a liter and $19.08 per 1,000 mg sodium (20-serving stickpacks at Ultima Replenisher, checked Sep 24, 2026). Prices change often, so treat these as a snapshot.
How does the sodium in Instant Hydration and Ultima compare with sweat?
Sweat usually carries about 230 to 1,610 mg of sodium per liter, and it varies a lot from person to person. Instant Hydration Premium Electrolyte Drink Mix has 1,057 mg per liter, in our high band. Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix has 116 mg per liter, in our low band.