Would you like to improve your hydration during exercise and are you wondering whether to choose powders or tablets? This comparative study between Hydratis and Mulebar examines their concentrations of minerals, vitamins, and electrolytes in detail to help prevent muscle fatigue. These points will help you choose between Mulebar drink and Hydratis to hydrate yourself as effectively as possible during your sporting activities.
The importance of electrolytes in hydration
Proper hydration is about much more than drinking plain water. It is the key to athletic performance. When you sweat, your body loses not only water but also essential mineral salts, also known as electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. These losses, even at 1 to 2%, can disrupt your electrolyte balance, causing cramps, reduced energy and alertness, and premature fatigue. They will of course be even greater when the outside temperature is high.
Which provides more electrolytes: Hydratis or Mulebar?
Let’s precisely compare the Hydratis and Mulebar formulas based on the values stated in the nutrition facts tables on their websites.
For 500 ml of water, 10 g of Mulebar drink powder provides the following mineral amounts: 351 mg of sodium, 753 mg of potassium, 152 mg of magnesium, 240 mg of calcium in the form of gluconate, and 4 mg of zinc.
For the same amount of water, 2 Hydratis tablets provide more modest amounts: 120 mg of sodium, 300 mg of potassium, 65 mg of magnesium, and 2 mg of zinc, but no calcium. They also add 1 mg of manganese. The latter is not a major electrolyte, as it is instead intended to reduce oxidative stress in muscle cells. There is also 180 mg of chloride. Chlorides, combined with sodium, improve fluid retention after ingestion. Without them, an overly “pure” drink, low in electrolytes, is quickly eliminated in the urine. With them, isotonic osmolarity is maintained, which is optimal for intestinal absorption. They therefore appear to be there to "compensate" for the low sodium content.
When comparing the compositions of Hydratis and Mulebar, strategic differences can be observed in their electrolyte balance. Our formula intentionally exceeds the recommended minimums to ensure a safety margin during intense efforts such as a summer marathon, a mountain ultratrail, or a long cycling ride in hot weather.
- Sodium 351 mg per serving: combats hyponatremia (a danger caused by blood plasma dilution when consuming only water) while improving cellular hydration.
- Potassium 753 mg per serving: essential for muscle contraction and recovery, especially during prolonged exercise, when losses through sweat can reach several grams per hour.
- Magnesium 152 mg per serving: key to preventing cramps by helping muscles relax and participating in more than 300 enzymatic reactions.
- Zinc and calcium: a complementary duo with 4 mg of zinc to support the immune system and 240 mg of calcium to improve neuromuscular transmission.
Our powdered hydration drink stands out from classic effervescent tablets through its high salt concentration. Consumed every 10–15 minutes, it provides a continuous supply of minerals, preventing performance declines caused by an electrolyte imbalance.
Hydration without a blood sugar spike
An electrolyte drink must combine a high mineral content with a low calorie impact. It should therefore not be confused with a sports drink, whose purpose is to provide not only mineral salts but, above all, energy.
Our Mulebar drink contains only 11.2 kcal per 500 ml, with just 2.8 g of carbohydrates, including 0.16 g of sugars, thanks to DE19 maltodextrin, which releases energy gradually. A tiny amount of sucralose (less than 0.1%) adds flavor (to mask the taste of the mineral salts, which is very mineral, as the name suggests) without affecting absorption or calorie content. Ideal if you already consume energy gels or energy bars, as it prevents excess carbohydrates while maintaining Mulebar hydration focused on minerals.
Hydratis provides 20 kcal per 500 ml bottle, with 3.8 g of carbohydrates and 3.6 g of sugars—5.5 times more.
Natural, well tolerated, and anti-cramp
The Mulebar brand, founded in 2008, uses exclusively natural ingredients, with a vegan and gluten-free formula. It complies with the AFNOR NF EN 17444 anti-doping standard, ensuring excellent digestive tolerance even during intense exercise. Its sodium-potassium-magnesium blend, enriched with calcium and zinc, provides effective protection against cramps. The sodium and potassium bicarbonates in Mulebar drink neutralize muscle acidity outside the cells, delay the burning sensation, and improve endurance.
Hydratis adds manganese to perform an antioxidant function inside cells. This will have a greater impact on recovery.
What is the benefit of adding vitamins to a hydration drink?
Mulebar adds 8 essential vitamins (B, C, D, E) to its hydration drink not to hydrate more, but to optimize the cellular response during and after exercise. They improve energy production, limit oxidative stress, and support immunity—three critical factors for athletes.
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B vitamins: the engine of energy metabolism
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Necessary for converting the carbohydrates in gels/bars into ATP.
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Support neuromuscular function (B1, B6, B12).
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Reduce the feeling of central fatigue (through their effect on neurotransmitters).
- Without B vitamins, energy substrates are available but poorly utilized.
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Vitamins C and E: synergistic antioxidant protection
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Exercise significantly increases ROS (reactive oxygen species).
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Vitamin C acts in the aqueous phase, while vitamin E acts in the lipid phase, providing total cell protection.
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Less oxidative damage = better recovery + reduced muscle soreness.
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They prevent oxidative “slumps” and accelerate muscle regeneration.
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Vitamin D: immune support and performance
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Essential for muscle protein synthesis and the regulation of intracellular calcium.
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Plays a key role in immune function, which is especially useful in winter or after heavy training loads.
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Associated with a reduced risk of post-exercise respiratory infections.
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Practicality to consider
When choosing the best electrolyte drink, ease of use matters too.
Our powdered formula, with its integrated scoop, enables precise mixing: 10g per 500ml of water covers approximately one hour of moderate exercise. Use one bottle per hour in hot weather or during intense exercise, and every 90–120 minutes in winter or at low intensity. The 250g sachet (25 servings) therefore makes 25 500ml bottles.
Hydratis recommends 2 tablets per 500 ml bottle, to be consumed during and after exercise for better endurance and muscle recovery (helping to limit cramps and muscle soreness). Repeat as needed (up to a maximum of 5 tablets per day).
It must be acknowledged that although the mineral salt content is lower than that of Mulebar, Hydratis tablets are convenient to take anywhere because they take up very little space. This is also why we recently created individual sachets at Mulebar that can be slipped into a cycling jersey. All that remains is to find a water source once the bottles are empty.
Light flavor for frequent drinking
The Mulebar hydration drink recipes, red berry or citrus, offer a light flavor that encourages regular consumption without becoming tiresome. Unlike overly sweet drinks, its subtle taste promotes continuous hydration, which is crucial for performance. Some athletes even reduce the dose to 8 g per 500 ml for an even milder taste.
Hydratis also tastes very pleasant and offers no fewer than 12 flavors in its range for greater variety.
What is the price difference between the two brands, Mulebar and Hydratis?
A 250 g sachet of Mulebar powdered hydration drink costs €25 including VAT. The price of a 500 ml bottle filled with 10 g of Mulebar hydration powder therefore comes to €1.
The price is the same for Hydratis, since a tube of 20 tablets costs €9.90 including VAT and they recommend 2 tablets per bottle.
Why doesn't Mulebar offer hydration tablets?
We believe that tablets do not contain enough mineral salts and that powder is much more effective. This is not an intentional choice on the part of the brands, but a technical constraint. In fact, a tablet is small. It must contain both the electrolytes and enough citric acid and sodium bicarbonate for the tablet to disintegrate when it comes into contact with water,
You should also consider the packaging, which is extremely important to us in the fight against plastic. Effervescent tablets are very sensitive, and moisture is their number-one enemy. In fact, 1–2% residual water can trigger the reaction prematurely, which is why moisture-proof packaging is so important (plastic tube + desiccant cap).
If you would like to compare your usual brand with Mulebar hydration drinks, read this comparison of the leading hydration brands on the market.
What is the difference between a sports drink and a hydration drink?
To conclude this article, it is important to understand the difference between a hydration drink and a sports drink in order to optimize your sports nutrition. The former is mainly intended to replace electrolyte losses with very few calories, while the latter combines minerals and carbohydrates to provide energy during prolonged effort.
Which drink should you choose for your outing?
When comparing the composition of Hydratis and Mulebar, each format has specific advantages. Hydratis effervescent tablets are ultra-portable and perfect for travel, but their mineral content is lower than that of the powdered versions. You will therefore need to use more than recommended, and this will quickly become very expensive.
It should be noted that Hydratis does not offer an energy version to provide carbohydrates during longer and more intense efforts.
Our recommendations:
- Short sessions (less than 1h): A hydration drink alone is enough to replace electrolyte losses, with no need for additional calorie intake.
- Moderate efforts (1–2h): Combine your hydration drink with bars, gels, or energy compotes if necessary, to separate hydration from energy intake.
- Long distances (+2h): Choose a carbohydrate-enriched sports drink.
- Extreme conditions: In very hot weather, prioritize electrolyte-rich hydration every 15–20 minutes, with energy intake from solid foods such as our Mulebar energy bars.
This versatility is the key strength of our Mulebar nutritional approach. The choice between a hydration drink and an energy drink depends on the type of physical activity and your overall strategy:
- With gels/bars/compotes: choose calorie-free hydration to avoid excessive carbohydrate intake.
- For sports where eating is difficult (trail running, cycling): a sports drink containing different carbohydrates simplifies logistics.
What drink is best for the morning after a night out?
A tie, with a technical advantage for Mulebar in combating the next day’s hangover. Alcohol causes massive dehydration. Rehydrating with electrolytes is key. While Hydratis communicates extensively about this, Mulebar is actually just as effective, if not more so. Why? Thanks to the significant amounts of Vitamins B1 and B6 in Mulebar powder, which help the liver and nervous system recover after alcohol consumption.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a hydration drink and a sports drink?
Our Mulebar hydration drink is specially designed to maintain electrolyte balance, with optimal amounts of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and vitamins. Low in calories (only ~11 kcal/500 ml), it limits carbohydrate intake while effectively replacing electrolyte losses. In contrast, a sports drink combines minerals and carbohydrates (maltodextrin, sucrose, fructose) to provide sustained energy during prolonged efforts (>90 min).
How can you prevent cramps and dehydration during exercise?
To prevent cramps and dehydration, maintain a minimum intake of 300 mg of sodium and 150 mg of magnesium per hour. Hydrate regularly (every 10–15 min) without waiting until you feel thirsty. Our Mulebar hydration formula contains 351 mg of sodium, 753 mg of potassium, and 152 mg of magnesium, enriched with bicarbonates to neutralize lactic acid and preserve muscle performance.
Can you combine an hydration drink with gels and bars?
Combining an hydration drink with solid nutrition is ideal for prolonged efforts. Use our Mulebar red berry or citrus hydration powders to meet your needs for water, salts, electrolytes, and vitamins. Supplement with gels, energy compotes (every 30–45 min), and one energy bar per hour for balanced intake without overloading your digestive system with liquid carbohydrates.
