HOIST: An Electrolyte Hydration Solution Suitable for the Mountain Hunter

I’m an avid backcountry hunter and sometimes struggle to maintain proper supplemental nutrition while I'm stomping around the hills. I also am a sweaty guy and tend to lose a lot of water and salt through perspiration.

I’ve tried many packable, supplemental support drink powders in the past and without throwing any particular companies under the bus—most products were tooth-achey sweet or left me depleted after 20 minutes of continued, strenuous activity post consumption.

HOIST has not only positioned itself to fill these voids, but to enhance the overall performance of the user—so much so that it has been chosen as the electrolyte hydration solution by the U.S. Military and authorized by the Department of Defense.

I won’t pretend to understand the scientific nuances of how it interacts in a symbiotic relationship with your body, but according to HOIST, “The specially-formulated blend of carbohydrates, electrolytes and fluids closely match your body’s natural osmolality, which means it can absorb rapidly without the need for digestion. Not only does it replenish your body immediately, but it is also clinically proven to keep you hydrated longer than water.”

My Experiences

I am typically very mobile when I hunt out of a backpack, so I opted to use the military hydration powder sticks, which pack easily and can be individually allocated towards your needs. In my case—one added to my water in the morning, and one added to my water in the evening.

More of a t-shirt and jeans feller than an elaborate peacock in a sportscoat (my way of not calling myself “vanilla”), I elected to bring along tropical orange and fruit punch flavors. Hoist also offers peach mango, grape and watermelon flavors and are constantly coming out with more.

I noticed that it dissolved well in my water once shaken up, which isn’t always the case with others I've tried. Often there are sedimentary-esque granules at the bottom that refuse to dilute and I'm not a fan of grit between my teeth or tonsils.

Out of the two I brought along, fruit punch was my favorite—but I'd venture to guess that peach-mango would taste remarkable.

Performance Boost

I was fortunate to kill a large muley buck this fall several miles from my camp. When you are stalking an animal, you outwardly manifest composure—while inside your endorphins and endocrine system are ebbing and flowing with your heightened senses. Our bodies constantly thermoregulate to maintain equilibrium; if you are losing sweat and have an electrolyte imbalance, it is akin to a vehicle running rough and low on motoroil.

On top of that, a hefty pack load coupled with slow, labored steps is a recipe for sweat and muscle fatigue. With HOIST, my muscles never felt on the brink of spasm or cramp, although I sweated the same amount as usual.

I surmise that this had to do with it matching well with my body’s natural “osmolality” and its immediate boost. Even under the heavy load of meat and strain of steep angles, my body felt strong and revitalized. This could have just been me riding the highs of a successful harvest, but there’s a good probability that the hydration powder did its job and complimented my efforts.

Hunting in the mountains is tough—it takes tenacity, wherewithal and strength. You can’t prepare for everything that you may encounter, but certainly, if you are working hard, you’ll need something hard-working like HOIST to be a yin to your yang.

Other Options Available

HOIST offers 16 oz. IV-Level hydration bottles which would do well for a sports athlete heading to practice or wanting to recover after a game.

They also offer 8 oz. Liquid pouches for the ease and convenience of on-the-go activity. I also can see this as an asset in the endurance runner/marathoner's arsenal as time is always of the essence and nobody wants to gag on a gel-like substance while trying to maintain pace.

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