# What are the best hydration tablets in South Africa?

Source: https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/best-hydration-tablets-south-africa/
Publisher: Healthnews24 (South Africa's supplement answer desk)
Updated: 2026-10-27

> The only true hydration tablet we could verify in South African retail is Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy, at about R4.80 to R5.30 per effervescent tablet at Dis-Chem (October 2026), though its sodium content is not published. Most other products are sachets. Choose by sodium on the pack, sugar content and price, since none can be ranked on sodium per Rand.

Key facts:
- Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy is the only effervescent hydration tablet we could verify in South African retail, at about R4.80 to R5.30 per tablet (Dis-Chem, October 2026).
- Most South African electrolyte products are sachets; Biogen Electrolyte costs R4.63 to R5.17 each.
- Sodium per serving is not published for most products, so they cannot be ranked on sodium per Rand.
- Sweat sodium varies roughly 10 to 90 mmol/L between athletes.

## Which hydration tablets are sold in South Africa?

We searched Dis-Chem, Clicks, Faithful to Nature, Takealot and specialist retailers in October 2026. Genuine tablet products were scarce. The verified one is:

- **Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy** (10 effervescent tablets): R48 to R53 for 10 at Dis-Chem, with a 30-pack at R129.99 (R116.99 on website special), so roughly R3.90 to R5.30 per tablet. Sodium and other minerals are not published in the text we could read; check the tube.

Everything else sold as "hydration" is a sachet or a gel. Maurten, SiS and others sell powders and gels, not tablets, in our data.

## What are the best options by use?

Because sodium per serving is not published for most products, we cannot name a single best on sodium per Rand. These picks reflect price, format and what is disclosed.

| Need | Option | Price (October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest tablet | Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy | R4.80 to R5.30 each | sodium not published |
| Cheapest sachet | Biogen Electrolyte (30) | R4.63 to R5.17 each | composition not published |
| Sugar-free sachet | USN Purefit Zero Hydrator; Nutritech Hydrate | about R10 each | minerals not published on retailer pages |
| No sweetener or flavour | REVIVE Raw Daily Electrolytes (30) | R10.63 to R13.30 each | sodium chloride, magnesium malate, potassium chloride; amounts per sachet not published |
| Stevia-sweetened | REVIVE Daily Electrolytes | R12 to R15 each | stevia leaf extract |
| Illness (diarrhoea) | Rehidrat | R18 to R20 per sachet | about 288 mg sodium per sachet by our calculation; contains sugars |

## How should you pick a tablet or sachet?

1. **Read the sodium line.** If a pack does not state sodium, you cannot dose it against a sweat test. Daily-use "hydration" products often contain little sodium, which is fine for a desk but not for a 4-hour ride.
2. **Match sodium to your sweat.** Sweat sodium varies roughly 10 to 90 mmol/L; heavier, saltier sweaters need more. Use [how much sodium per hour](/answers/how-much-sodium-per-hour-running-in-south-african-heat/) as a guide.
3. **Check sugar and sweeteners.** Carbohydrate is useful in a long race but not for light days.
4. **Compare cost per serving,** not per pack.
5. **Test in training.** Effervescent tablets can taste salty or fizz in a hot bottle.

## Do hydration tablets work?

They help replace sodium and make drinking more appealing in heat, but they are a tool and not a guarantee against cramps or hyponatraemia. See [do salt tablets prevent cramps](/answers/do-salt-tablets-prevent-cramps/). Drinking to thirst remains the main safeguard.

## Who should avoid them?

People with high blood pressure, kidney or heart disease, pregnant women, and anyone on diuretics or other regular medication should take medical advice before using sodium-rich products. Children and teenagers rarely need them.

See our [best electrolytes in South Africa](/best/best-electrolytes-south-africa/) ranking and the [tablets versus powders](/answers/electrolyte-tablets-vs-powders-vs-gels/) comparison.

## Products mentioned

| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy (10 tablets) | 10 effervescent tablets | R48–R53 (Dis-Chem (electrolyte drinks page), 2026-10) | 10 | R5.30 | Not published |
| Biogen Electrolyte (3 x 10 sachets, citrus) | 3 x 10 sachets | R139–R155 (Dis-Chem (electrolytes group), 2026-10) | 30 | R5.17 | Not published |
| USN Purefit Zero Sugar Hydrator (10 sachets) | 10 sachets | R100–R113 (Clicks via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 10 | R10.00 | Not published (zero sugar) |
| Nutritech Hydrate Electrolytes Sachets, Lemon Lime Twist (10 x 9 g) | 10 x 9 g sachets | R99.99 (Clicks via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 10 | R10.00 | Not published (sugar-free) |
| REVIVE Raw Daily Electrolytes, unflavoured (30 sachets) | 30 sachets | R319–R399 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | 30 | R13.30 | None (unsweetened, unflavoured) |
| Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Orange or Blackcurrant (6 x 14 g) | 6 x 14 g sachets | R108–R121 (Dis-Chem (electrolytes group); Clicks via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 6 | R20.00 | Sugars (glucose and sucrose); no sweetener listed in the SAHPRA composition |

## Sources

- [Baker 2017, Sweating rate and sweat sodium concentration in athletes (Sports Med)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28332116/)
- [SAHPRA product information: Rehidrat oral rehydration salts](https://pi-pil-repository.sahpra.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pi_clean_26-July-2023.pdf)
- [Dis-Chem: energy and endurance range](https://www.dischem.co.za/fitness/energy-and-endurance)
- [Australian Institute of Sport Supplement Framework, Group A](https://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/supplements/group_a)