NakedAde is My New Go-To Hydration for High-Elevation Pursuits

This article is brought to you by Naked Nutrition

I used to ski and snowboard wearing a hydration pack. However, since the days of open-to-close shredding at resorts are largely behind me, and because riding chairlifts with a pack on is uncomfortable and annoying, I’ve taken to alternative forms of hydration. My go-to method for resort skiing over the last couple of seasons is chugging a big glass of electrolytes before hitting the slopes.

Health sources everywhere are pushing the idea of morning hydration. When it comes to high-powered activity at high elevation, this means more than just water.

• Related: The Ideal Supplements for Outdoor Enthusiasts

A 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine measured the hydration status of adolescent alpine skiers. It pointed out how a lack of pre-skiing fluid intake led to dehydration and hypohydration (the body’s state of water deficit), but also that drinking too much water without the balance of additional minerals can lead to hyperhydration, which brings health risks of its own and annoying issues that interfere with a powder day.

“When the fluid is low in electrolytes, hyperhydration gives an increased risk on hyponatremia by diluting and lowering plasma sodium. It can also induce the need to empty the bladder during exercise, which can be quite inconvenient when athletes are on the slope …,” the study said.

• Related: The Ideal Supplements for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Mountain biking is my key summer activity in my hometown of Breckenridge, Colorado, which sits at an elevation of 9,600 feet.

As when skiing or riding, I’ve developed a unique aversion to pedaling with a backpack on, so I try to pre-hydrate and carry only one bottle of water on the bike.

Usually slogging up and down singletrack with a friend or four – all hard-charging badasses – I often ended long rides with an exertion headache. Thus, the experimentation began – trying various electrolyte powders in my water bottle – to see if there was some sort of preemptive remedy. Some of these drink mixes, especially compared with straight-up H20, were so saccharin I gagged with every sip. Others were unnaturally salty, also causing stomach cringe. Only one or two slightly helped in mitigating the headaches. There was one standout, however, that not only served that end, but genuinely seems to keep me energized throughout every ride.

Pure Ingredients and Smart Carbs

NakedAde is an electrolyte mix by Naked Nutrition, which launched in 2014 with the goal of producing supplements and products (protein powders, shakes, multi-vitamins, nut butters, etc.) made from only pure ingredients.

“The idea behind NakedAde is the same as the rest of our line – keep it simple and skip the junk in most sports drinks. It starts with Palatinose, a low-glycemic carb from sugar beets, so you get steadier energy instead of a spike and crash,” says Naked Nutrition’s Ryan O’Connor. “There’s 285 milligrams of potassium per serving to replace what you lose in sweat, and the flavors come from things like juice, sea salt, and monk fruit, not artificial sweeteners.”

In addition to the 285 mg of potassium, each NakedAde packet, designed to be mixed with eight to 16 ounces of water, has 60 calories and 14 grams of carbs (12 grams of sugar). They are vegan, GMO, gluten, soy and additive-free. Flavors include Blueberry Lemonade, Citrus, Strawberry Lemonade, Grape and Watermelon Mint.

For biking, I mix it in a 16-ounce water bottle. I find the flavors (I’ve tried the Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Mint and Citrus) pleasantly subtle and not too sweet. There is a hint of salt, but it’s not overpowering. One of NakedAde’s most winning features from the start is that unlike just about every other electrolyte mix, the powder blends seamlessly without clumping or leaving residue at the bottom of the bottle. One bottle gets me through a two-to-three-hour ride. I’m shocked at how refreshed I feel afterward. I suspect the impact will be similar on backcountry skiing adventures (when, sigh … I’m forced to wear a backpack, and typically bring water/electrolytes in a Nalgene bottle).

Ideal for Year-Round Hydration on the Mountain

Since deserting my hydration pack when resort skiing, if it’s a deep powder day (I know an endless parade of them is coming this season … I feel it in my bones), there’s no buzzkill like getting suddenly parched and needing to dip into the lodge to suck on a water fountain. To avoid this, I keep a soft water bottle in a pocket, which I plan to fill with NakedAde this season … after chugging one in the morning, of course.

• Related: The Effects of High Altitude on Your Body’s Largest Organ: The Skin

While more anaerobic than mountain biking and involving less obvious sweating, lapping chairlifts on skis or a board is sneaky when it comes to draining hydration reserves. NakedAde’s smart carb ingredient (Palatinose) with its energy-prolonging feature could potentially be even more helpful on the slopes.

“For winter sports that’s useful because you’re often out for hours, you’re still sweating when it’s cold, and you need something that hydrates without wrecking your stomach or your energy,” O’Connor said.

I’m eager to see how NakedAde helps keep me charging in that deep pow. For early season especially as my legs get dialed in (it’s amazing how even something like mountain biking doesn’t prepare the muscles for winter), I might try pairing NakedAde with Naked Creatine or BCAAs for the added benefit of reducing muscle soreness. I’m curious to see if and how it helps keep me energized for added laps.