Drinks for Runners – Prehydration, Hydration, Rehydration

Drinks for Runners – Prehydration, Hydration, Rehydration

There is a seemingly endless supply of drinks geared towards runners, each with a different mix of sugars, proteins, and electrolytes. But which ones should you use when? And which ones are worth the money? I’ve tried out a whole bunch and will give you some of my favorites.

0:00 intro
0:45 disclosures
1:22 main categories
1:43 before
3:41 During
6:24 After
7:41 General
10:11 buying recommendations

Financial disclosure: no one is paying me to make this video or to include their product in the video. No one will get a chance to preview any of my footage or thoughts before the video goes up on youtube. Some of the Unived products were provided by Unived, some of the Unived products I have purchased myself. The remaining products were all purchased by me.

Medical Disclosure: I am not a registered dietician. I am just a dude who runs a lot and has tried a bunch of these products.

Before
Maurten 320 https://www.maurten.com/products/drink-mix-320-caf-100-us
Coffee https://amzn.to/3eq9jXq

During
Gatorade Endurance https://amzn.to/3ham4qM
Tailwind https://amzn.to/3vQ889w

After
Nuun Recover https://amzn.to/3nY6gsL
Honey Stinger Recover https://amzn.to/3erJ17p
Nuun Tablets https://amzn.to/3erZvwf

Thanks for watching! Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!

Running footage shot on:
insta360 one X2 (paid link)
https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_x2?insrc=INRDT68

GoPro Hero 9 Black (paid link)
https://amzn.to/3iWG8v9

Music sourced via Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/0xronu/

Disclosure: It’s 2021, so I think we all know how affiliate links work at this point, but for regulatory compliance or affiliate program purposes, I must state that affiliate links do not increase cost to you, but:
I may earn commissions if you purchase items from Insta360 via my affiliate links.
“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Also, you do not need to use these links. You can also search for these same items in amazon or on any search engine/shopping site of your choice and buy/research them that way.

——-
strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/kofuzi
twitter: https://twitter.com/wordofko
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kofuzi/

subscriber count at time of upload: 75,448

end card music:
Jim Yosef – Checkered
https://soundcloud.com/ninety9live/jim-yosef-checkered

44 Comments

  1. @rileymaynor on June 26, 2025 at 3:05 am

    We need an updated version of this video! Pleaseee. This would be very helpful

  2. @davidsaxe7077 on June 26, 2025 at 3:05 am

    I really enjoy the Unived drink mix after a long run.

  3. @donvishnu7390 on June 26, 2025 at 3:07 am

    Plz tell …pre workout drinks

  4. @chrissykes8666 on June 26, 2025 at 3:08 am
  5. @rogerstoffel4112 on June 26, 2025 at 3:08 am

    Have you ever tried High5?

  6. @neiloconnellx on June 26, 2025 at 3:09 am

    Could you do a video on how you wash your shoes? Got caught in some downpour today and now my shoes stink after drying out!

  7. @keeferification on June 26, 2025 at 3:10 am

    That’s a rather in depth video. Thanks for being the tester. +1 for using the word dogmatic. Edit: Also, I’m pretty sure branch chain amino acid consumption in supplements is more pseudo science nonsense than anything.

  8. @alfrede.newman1838 on June 26, 2025 at 3:10 am

    Chug-a-lug !!!!

  9. @liangshepherd on June 26, 2025 at 3:11 am

    I tried tailwind before but I just fail to see the point of personalized drinks (during workout anyway). I don’t have a crew and from 100 miler to marathon I am at the mercy of whatever the organizer provided.. If it’s for training run in the city, I used coke since it’s available everywhere; if I am running trail I just use gels.

  10. @angelmatos9143 on June 26, 2025 at 3:12 am

    I’m 68 years old & have been an avid consumer of supplements. Try Soul Performance Nutrition.

  11. @runningmarit5927 on June 26, 2025 at 3:12 am

    Saw the intro and almost clicked away in horror.

  12. @cheekster777 on June 26, 2025 at 3:14 am

    Niice. Thanks

  13. @williamlunn-pigula7029 on June 26, 2025 at 3:19 am

    I usually just chug a lucozade or recovery drink afterwards and it seems to work great for me.

  14. @sun.2801 on June 26, 2025 at 3:20 am

    That is some intro ASMR 😆!

  15. @leejoycechung2162 on June 26, 2025 at 3:21 am

    Thanks again for another informative video. I keep learning about running in all aspects from your channel. Good work kofuzi!

  16. @David_T on June 26, 2025 at 3:24 am

    The drink that I think of having at the end of a long race is beer.
    I know that chocolate milk is a good post race drink, but after a half or full marathon the beer line is always the longest.

  17. @ProfessorSzivacs on June 26, 2025 at 3:24 am

    noone want to be look like you.

  18. @dawson9736 on June 26, 2025 at 3:26 am

    Do you think I could drink the nuun tablets after a run? Or stick to the recovery mix for that.

  19. @cl8822 on June 26, 2025 at 3:27 am

    @kofuzi love your stuff and this video! Any chance you can revisit this, and do more recent choices?

  20. @ColinChan on June 26, 2025 at 3:29 am

    Have you ever tried a UCAN or starch drink as fuel? If so how does it compare to sugar/glucose?

  21. @spence-omz on June 26, 2025 at 3:29 am

    Lmao, this opening is gold!! ❤️❤️❤️

  22. @justinmayes5455 on June 26, 2025 at 3:30 am

    Great video! Just in time for some hot weather

  23. @robertmorano2372 on June 26, 2025 at 3:30 am

    Hey, I have that same collagen! My favorites have been just straight coconut water, it has everything you want with none of the stuff I don’t. I’ve even found 2 brands that have the ratios of all of the "stuff" I want in there as far as sodium and potassium. Another one of my favorites I’ve started using is just adding honey and salt to my water inside my soft flasks. Usually about a tablespoon of honey and a pinch (or so) of sea salt per 500ml of water. It works very well and I can customize it for what I want. I just picked up some BCAA’s because most of my running is done from a fasted state early in the morning or in the afternoon where I’ve eaten breakfast, but skip lunch, run, then eat. I’m still testing them out.

  24. @terryfurlong518 on June 26, 2025 at 3:31 am

    "Lets talk about some drinks for runner!" Channelling your inner Viking 🙂

  25. @seanmarshall5569 on June 26, 2025 at 3:31 am

    Straight up, I’ve struggled w fueling for the past year. Hydration in summer was a mess, and now overall calorie/ recovery are as well. This vid helped me see the importance of that post run window. Thanks again Ko

  26. @Anthony-yd2we on June 26, 2025 at 3:31 am

    The beginning of the video was kind of gross to listen through headphones.

  27. @hidden6pack998 on June 26, 2025 at 3:32 am

    Unived also has a really good Carb/ electrolyte mix for the "during" category. I really like the the watermelon. it sounds like it could be too sweet but its not. what I like about it is that it is super mild tasting and it doesn’t mess with my stomach like some of the other ones do. Nuun always irritates my stomach. I also love the Unived recovery drink. Taste great ( I get the vanilla, add a banana, blue berries, and spinach and make it into a smoothie) and has the right mix of what you’d want in a recovery drink. It’s kind of like the gels, you have to experiment and find what works for you.

  28. @RealRyanSecord on June 26, 2025 at 3:33 am

    I have a suggestion for you: Nutrabio SuperCarb.

    Unflavored cluster dextrin powder with added electrolytes. Best stuff I have tried.

  29. @itsaflyboything on June 26, 2025 at 3:33 am

    zero sugar is essential if you’re putting it in a camelbak/bladder. they can get nasty in a hurry and can be tricky to clean.

  30. @MonteComeau on June 26, 2025 at 3:33 am

    Like most of us I have tried many and most just don’t work well for me. Skratch Labs Superfuel is one I just recently have been testing and find it easy on the digestive system. Good info on Glycogen levels that need to be returned to normal within a 30ish minute window after your workouts…most people think it is just protein that needs to be replaced for recovery. I sip on NUUN all day as well, good stuff.

  31. @JoshLruns on June 26, 2025 at 3:35 am

    I really want to try the Unived Elite gels for my next marathon. I’m not sure if I would still need to carry electrolytes with me if the gels already have them.

  32. @TheNodontdoit on June 26, 2025 at 3:36 am

    I mix cold brew coffee with vegan protein powder and a table spoon of sugar and a spoon full of chia seeds to have in the morning before I run. Really helps me feel prepared.

  33. @michaeljjon on June 26, 2025 at 3:38 am

    people keep saying "make sure you get enough electrolytes." whats enough? I have been using 500mg of sodium in my liter water bottle then i see some other poeple putting 3 scoops of that same amount in 16oz. which seems like a ton. or am i completely under hydrating?

  34. @williamreynolds3445 on June 26, 2025 at 3:39 am

    BodyArmor?

  35. @drc3857 on June 26, 2025 at 3:39 am

    How about some pre work out drink that contains beta-alanine, citruline malate? What’s your opinion on those? Tnx

  36. @legendamian on June 26, 2025 at 3:42 am

    Dude i think your timestamps are completely wrong, you had me thinking about the wrong products for the wrong category haha. It’s during – after – before, not before – during – after hahaha.

    I only took gels from isostar and never really thought about anything else. But i only ever do a max of half marathon running and i hate taking a bottle with me. I also took some pills from the sport range of Performance Lab, but those are hella expensive and maybe more bodybuilding focused. Never thought about before the run (i usually just took another gel maybe) but i will absolutely look into those unived sacks for post workout. They look incredible.

  37. @phil-anthro-py on June 26, 2025 at 3:44 am

    Wow. I just take water pre, during, and post.

  38. @saramims1592 on June 26, 2025 at 3:47 am

    This is definitely one of my favorite videos! I learned a lot from Ko having all the type of drinks differentiated into categories and so clearly laid out in one video. I currently drink Nuun sport but want to try the recovery. Also, interested in Tailwind and Honeystinger.

  39. @AkshayAiyar on June 26, 2025 at 3:47 am

    Maybe I’m wrong but is that the first time you said yo what’s going on I’m kofuzi ever :p always just used to hearing the song

  40. @jacobriis7859 on June 26, 2025 at 3:48 am

    I would be careful talking about supplements. Just eat food and drink water will be a very good option. A banana or a few dates before a run is for example a good option.

  41. @nativebluelake on June 26, 2025 at 3:51 am

    Thanks, this is so informative. ✍🏼 Beginning runner here.

  42. @grn4rnr on June 26, 2025 at 3:54 am

    Very helpful

  43. @JS-xn3dq on June 26, 2025 at 3:55 am

    Thanks, will look into some of these products. Surprised there is no mention of Hammer Nutrition products. I am not sure anyone had been doing it longer.

  44. @Seanonyoutube on June 26, 2025 at 4:01 am

    kofizzy

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