# Best Electrolytes in South Africa 2026: 10 Products Compared

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

> The best electrolyte in South Africa is one that tells you its sodium, because sodium is what you lose in sweat. Few do. As of October 2026, Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture is the only one we priced whose sodium can be worked out: about 288 mg sodium and 12 g sugar per sachet by our calculation from its SAHPRA-listed salts (R18–R20 each). Biogen Electrolyte is the cheapest at R5.17 per sachet (R154.99 for 30). Sugar-free REVIVE costs R10.64–R15 per sachet. For runs under an hour, water is enough.


## 2026 at a glance: ranked on published sodium per serving, then cost per serving

1. **Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Orange or Blackcurrant (6 x 14 g)** (Only verifiable sodium dose): About 288 mg sodium and 12.2 g sugar per 14 g sachet, our calculation from SAHPRA product information; R108–R121 for 6 is R18–R20 each.
2. **Biogen Electrolyte (3 x 10 sachets, citrus)** (Cheapest per sachet): R139.49–R154.99 for 30 sachets at Dis-Chem is R4.65–R5.17 each, but sodium and sugar are not published on the listing.
3. **Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy (10 tablets)** (Cheapest tablet): R47.69–R52.99 for 10 effervescent tablets is R4.77–R5.30 each; composition not published on the listing.
4. **USN Purefit Zero Sugar Hydrator (10 sachets)** (Budget zero-sugar): Zero sugar; R99.99 for 10 at Clicks (R112.99 at Dis-Chem) is R10–R11.30 each; sodium mg not published on the pages we read.
5. **Nutritech Hydrate Electrolytes Sachets, Lemon Lime Twist (10 x 9 g)** (Budget sugar-free): Sugar-free 9 g sachets at R99.99 for 10 (Clicks) is R10 each; mineral amounts not on the Clicks page.
6. **REVIVE Raw Daily Electrolytes, unflavoured (30 sachets)** (Unsweetened, unflavoured): No sweetener or flavour, three named salts; R319.20–R399 for 30 is R10.64–R13.30 per sachet, sodium per sachet not published.
7. **REVIVE Daily Electrolytes (30 sachets, assorted flavours)** (Best-known sugar-free): Sugar-free with stevia, 7 flavours; R359.20–R449.99 for 30 is R11.97–R15 per sachet, sodium per sachet not published.
8. **Hydropop Electrolyte Hydration Sachets (30-pack, assorted flavours)** (Flavour variety): Six flavours; R386 for 30 on Takealot is R12.87 each, with sodium and sugar not published.
9. **Rehidrat Sport Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Naartjie (6 x 14 g)** (Sugar plus salts for long events): Sugars (castor sugar, dextrose) with sodium and potassium salts; R120–R121 for 6 is R20 each, amounts not published.
10. **32Gi Cramp Assault Electrolyte Gel (10 g)** (Race-day gel, priciest): Local endurance brand's 10 g electrolyte gel at R34–R37 each; composition not published on the listing.

Disclosure: ATP Fitness is a commercial partner of Healthnews24 and its products are featured on this site. Rankings follow our published method, and every pick, including ATP Fitness, shows its price maths and trade-offs.

## Comparison table

| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per serving | Sweeteners | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Only verifiable sodium dose |
| Biogen Electrolyte (3 x 10 sachets, citrus) | 3 x 10 sachets | R139–R155 (Dis-Chem (electrolytes group), 2026-10) | 30 | R5.17 | Not published | Cheapest per sachet |
| Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy (10 tablets) | 10 effervescent tablets | R48–R53 (Dis-Chem (electrolyte drinks page), 2026-10) | 10 | R5.30 | Not published | Cheapest tablet |
| USN Purefit Zero Sugar Hydrator (10 sachets) | 10 sachets | R100–R113 (Clicks via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 10 | R10.00 | Not published (zero sugar) | Budget 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) | Budget sugar-free |
| REVIVE Raw Daily Electrolytes, unflavoured (30 sachets) | 30 sachets | R319–R399 (Faithful to Nature, 2026-10) | 30 | R13.30 | None (unsweetened, unflavoured) | Unsweetened, unflavoured |
| REVIVE Daily Electrolytes (30 sachets, assorted flavours) | 30 x 6 g sachets | R359–R450 (Dis-Chem Living Fit, 2026-10) | 30 | R15.00 | Stevia leaf extract; page states no sugar, carbs or calories | Best-known sugar-free |
| Hydropop Electrolyte Hydration Sachets (30-pack, assorted flavours) | 30 sachets | R386 (Takealot via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 30 | R12.87 | Not published | Flavour variety |
| Rehidrat Sport Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Naartjie (6 x 14 g) | 6 x 14 g sachets | R120–R121 (Clicks via PriceCheck, 2026-10) | 6 | R20.00 | Sugars (castor sugar, dextrose) | Sugar plus salts for long events |
| 32Gi Cramp Assault Electrolyte Gel (10 g) | 10 g sachet | R34–R37 (Dis-Chem (energy and endurance), 2026-10) | 1 | R34.99 | Not published | Race-day gel, priciest |

## Do you need electrolytes, or is water enough?

For most gym sessions and runs under about an hour, water and normal meals cover your needs. Electrolytes earn their place when sessions go beyond 1–2 hours, when you sweat heavily, and in heat and humidity: Durban and Lowveld summers, a hot Comrades Marathon or Two Oceans, the Cape Town Cycle Tour on a windless day, or multi-day stage racing.

Sodium is the electrolyte that matters most. Sweat sodium varies widely between people, commonly cited at about 10–90 mmol/L (Baker 2017 review), and sweat rates often run 0.5–2 L an hour. As a worked example, a runner losing 1.5 L an hour at 40 mmol/L loses about 1 380 mg of sodium an hour (1.5 × 40 × 23 mg). No sachet fully replaces that, and it does not need to over a few hours: the aim is to limit the deficit, not to match it.

**Hyponatraemia matters more than dehydration for slower ultra runners.** The 2015 international consensus on exercise-associated hyponatraemia found that drinking more than you sweat is the main cause, with risk rising for events over four hours and slower finishers. Electrolyte drinks slow but do not prevent it. Drink to thirst, and weigh yourself before and after long training runs: gaining weight means you drank too much.

## What to look for on an electrolyte label

- **Sodium per serving in mg.** This is the number that matters, and most South African products we priced do not show it on retailer pages. Ask the brand, or read the pack in store.
- **Sugar per serving.** Sugar-free sachets suit everyday hydration and shorter sessions. In events longer than about 2 hours you also need 30–90 g carbohydrate an hour (Jeukendrup 2014), so a sugar-containing drink or gels do two jobs.
- **Potassium and magnesium** appear in most sachets. Sweat losses of both are small compared with sodium, so do not pay extra for them.
- **Sweeteners.** REVIVE uses stevia; others do not name theirs. REVIVE Raw is unsweetened.
- **Medicine or food.** Rehidrat is an oral rehydration salt with SAHPRA product information written for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis. Its composition is known, which is why we can calculate its sodium, but it is not designed as a sports drink.

## Brand by brand

### 1. Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Orange or Blackcurrant (6 x 14 g) (Known sodium)

Rehidrat is South Africa's familiar pharmacy oral rehydration mixture. The SAHPRA product information lists, per 14 g sachet, sodium chloride 0.44 g, potassium chloride 0.38 g, sodium bicarbonate 0.42 g, glucose 4.1 g and sucrose 8.1 g. From those salts we calculate **about 288 mg sodium, about 200 mg potassium and 12.2 g sugar per sachet**: roughly 50 mmol/L of sodium in 250 ml, or 25 mmol/L in a 500 ml bottle. That makes it the only product here whose sodium you can work out from an official source. It ranks first on that criterion. The caveats are real: it is labelled for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, it costs R18–R20 a sachet (R107.99–R121), and the sugar is modest for racing. Use it when you need a known sodium dose, such as after a heavy sweat session in the heat.

Strengths: Sodium (~288 mg, our calculation) and sugar (12.2 g) worked out from official product information; Sold at every Dis-Chem and Clicks; Glucose helps sodium absorption

Trade-offs: Labelled for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, not as a sports drink; R18–R20 per sachet, among the dearest here; 12 g sugar per sachet is too little to fuel a long event on its own

### 2. Biogen Electrolyte (3 x 10 sachets, citrus) (Cheapest)

Biogen Electrolyte (citrus, three packs of 10) costs R154.99 at Dis-Chem, or R139.49 on a website special, so **R4.65–R5.17 per sachet**, the cheapest electrolyte sachet we found. The listing does not publish sodium, sugar or the full ingredient list, so read the pack before you rely on it for long, hot sessions. Biogen also sells Electrolyte Plus (R72–R80 for 10, R7.20–R8 each) and Active Hydrate (R180–R200 for 15, R12–R13.33 each), with composition also not shown on the listings we read.

Strengths: R4.65–R5.17 per sachet, the lowest we found; Widely stocked at Dis-Chem; 30 sachets per pack

Trade-offs: Sodium and sugar not published on the listing; Flavour choice limited (citrus)

### 3. Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy (10 tablets) (Cheapest tablet)

Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy tablets cost R52.99 for 10 at Dis-Chem (R47.69 on special), so **R4.77–R5.30 per tablet**. The 30-pack is R129.99 (R4.33 each). Tablets are handy in a cycling jersey or hiking pack, and they dissolve in a bottle without a funnel, which suits a long Cape Town Cycle Tour training ride or a day hike in the Drakensberg. Composition, including sodium and sweetener, was not published on the listing we read, so check the tube before relying on it for a long, hot session.

Strengths: About R4.33–R5.30 per tablet; Easy to carry and dissolve; 30-pack available

Trade-offs: Sodium and sweetener not published on the listing; Tablets usually carry less sodium than larger sachets (check the pack)

### 4. USN Purefit Zero Sugar Hydrator (10 sachets) (Zero sugar)

USN's Purefit Zero Sugar Hydrator is R99.99 for 10 at Clicks (R112.99 at Dis-Chem), so **R10–R11.30 per sachet**; single sachets cost R12.99–R14.99. USN's product description (on its Kenyan site) lists sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, but sodium per sachet sits in flavour-specific nutrition files we could not read. It is a sensible everyday zero-sugar option from a brand sold everywhere, and at R10 a sachet it costs less than REVIVE. Being sugar-free, it does not supply energy for long sessions.

Strengths: Zero sugar; Widely available, three flavours; About R10 per sachet at Clicks

Trade-offs: Sodium per sachet not published on the retail pages we read; Sweetener not named on the pages we read

### 5. Nutritech Hydrate Electrolytes Sachets, Lemon Lime Twist (10 x 9 g) (Sugar-free)

Nutritech Hydrate (Lemon Lime Twist, 10 x 9 g) is R99.99 at Clicks, **R10 per sachet**, and Clicks describes it as sugar-free and keto-friendly. Mineral amounts are not on the Clicks page, so you cannot compare its sodium with other sachets without reading the pack. It is a budget alternative to REVIVE if you want a sugar-free daily sachet from a pharmacy shelf at about two-thirds of REVIVE's price per sachet. Being sugar-free, it does not fuel long sessions: pair it with gels or food on runs and rides longer than about two hours.

Strengths: Sugar-free; R10 per sachet; Clicks availability

Trade-offs: Mineral amounts not published on the Clicks page; One flavour

### 6. REVIVE Raw Daily Electrolytes, unflavoured (30 sachets) (Unsweetened)

REVIVE Raw is the plain version of South Africa's best-known sugar-free electrolyte: natural desert salt (sodium chloride), magnesium malate and potassium chloride, with **no sweetener and no flavouring**. At R399 for 30 on Faithful to Nature (R319.20 on special) it is **R10.64–R13.30 per sachet**. It suits people avoiding sweeteners or adding salts to their own drink. The retailer's nutrition table gives sodium only per 100 g with no sachet weight, so we cannot calculate sodium per sachet. Expect a plain, salty taste.

Strengths: No sweetener or flavouring; Short ingredient list; Cheaper than flavoured REVIVE

Trade-offs: Sodium per sachet cannot be calculated from the retailer page; Salty, plain taste

### 7. REVIVE Daily Electrolytes (30 sachets, assorted flavours) (Best-known)

REVIVE Daily Electrolytes is the sachet you see in most South African gyms and health shops. It is sugar-free and carb-free, sweetened with stevia, and comes in seven flavours. It uses sodium chloride (desert salt), sodium citrate, potassium chloride, magnesium malate and calcium carbonate. Dis-Chem Living Fit lists R449.99 for 30 and Faithful to Nature R359.20 on special, so **R11.97–R15 per sachet**. The 40-sachet variety pack is R579.99 (R14.50 each). The drawback is that sodium per sachet is not on the retailer pages, so you cannot tell whether it suits a salty sweater.

Strengths: Sugar-free with seven flavours; Two sodium sources plus potassium, magnesium and calcium; Sold at Dis-Chem, Faithful to Nature and gyms

Trade-offs: Sodium per sachet not published on retailer pages; R12–R15 per sachet; Contains stevia

### 8. Hydropop Electrolyte Hydration Sachets (30-pack, assorted flavours) (Variety)

Hydropop's assorted 30-pack is R386 on Takealot (previously R429), so **R12.87 per sachet**; the 15-pack is R215 (R14.33). Six flavours suit people who drink electrolytes daily and get bored of one taste. Sodium, sugar and sweetener were not published on the listing we read, so it ranks low on our criterion: without the sodium figure you cannot plan around it for a hot ultra. At nearly R13 a sachet it also costs more than double Biogen. Read the pack, or ask the brand, before you buy in bulk.

Strengths: Six flavours; Bulk 30-pack

Trade-offs: Composition not published on the listing; R12.87 per sachet

### 9. Rehidrat Sport Oral Electrolyte Mixture, Naartjie (6 x 14 g) (Carbs plus salts)

Rehidrat Sport (Naartjie) is the sport version: castor sugar and dextrose with potassium citrate, sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. Amounts are not published on the product page we read, and it should not be assumed to match standard Rehidrat. At R120–R121 for six (Clicks) it costs **R20 per sachet**; the 20-pack at Dis-Chem is R484.99 (R24.25 each, R436.49 on special). It suits long events where you want sugar and salt in one bottle, but 32Gi or other carbohydrate drinks are cheaper per gram of carbohydrate.

Strengths: Combines sugars and sodium for long sessions; Pharmacy availability

Trade-offs: Sodium and sugar amounts not published; R20–R24 per sachet

### 10. 32Gi Cramp Assault Electrolyte Gel (10 g) (Race-day gel)

32Gi is a South African endurance brand and was named the official gel and bar supplier for the 2024 Comrades Marathon. Its Cramp Assault electrolyte gel is a 10 g sachet for race-day pockets, R34.99 at Dis-Chem and R34–R36.90 elsewhere, which makes it **the dearest per serving here**. Composition was not published on the listings we read. Cramps have several causes (fatigue, pacing and not just sodium), so do not expect any gel to stop them reliably. Try it in training before race day.

Strengths: Small and easy to carry; Local brand with a Comrades link

Trade-offs: R34–R37 per gel; Composition not published on the listings; Cramp causes are multifactorial

## What does an hour of electrolytes cost, and is homemade cheaper?

One sachet per hour at October 2026 prices:

| Option | Per sachet | 5-hour long run | Sodium known? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Electrolyte | R4.65–R5.17 | R23–R26 | No |
| Lifestyle Fizzy tablet | R4.33–R5.30 | R22–R27 | No |
| USN Purefit / Nutritech Hydrate | R10–R11.30 | R50–R57 | No |
| REVIVE (flavoured or Raw) | R10.64–R15 | R53–R75 | No |
| Rehidrat Oral | R18–R20 | R90–R100 | Yes, ~288 mg (our calculation) |

**Homemade** is cheapest and fully known. Table salt is about 39% sodium, so a quarter teaspoon (about 1.5 g) holds roughly 590 mg sodium. Add it to 750 ml water with a little juice or sugar for taste. Measure carefully, and do not use homemade salt drinks for diarrhoea in children: use a pharmacy oral rehydration salt and see a doctor.

## Electrolytes for Comrades, Two Oceans and the Cape Town Cycle Tour

- **Train it first.** Practise your drink, sachet and gel plan on long runs and rides in similar heat. Nothing new on race day.
- **Drink to thirst.** Comrades seconding and water tables make overdrinking easy over a 12-hour cut-off. Overdrinking, not lack of salt, is the main cause of hyponatraemia.
- **Carbohydrate is a separate job.** For events over 2.5 hours, aim for 60–90 g carbohydrate an hour from mixed sugars; sugar-free sachets do not provide this.
- **Salty sweaters** (white marks on kit, stinging eyes) can add sodium from salted potatoes, broth, salty snacks or a known-sodium product.
- **Medical conditions.** High blood pressure, kidney or heart disease, or diuretic use need a doctor's advice before high-sodium products. Children in normal sport mostly need water and food.

For tested athletes, SAIDS strict liability applies to any product. Electrolyte salts are low risk, but none of the products here showed third-party sport certification on the pages we read.

## How we compared

1. We priced 16 electrolyte products sold in South Africa (Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem Living Fit, Clicks, Faithful to Nature and Takealot via PriceCheck) on 27 October 2026, using price bands where retailers or specials differed by more than 10%.
2. Ranking criterion, stated openly: first, whether sodium per serving is published or can be calculated from an official source; second, cost per serving (price ÷ sachets, at the lowest dated price in each band); third, whether the sugar content suits the stated use.
3. Sodium for Rehidrat Oral is our calculation from the salt weights in SAHPRA product information (sodium is 39.3% of sodium chloride and 27.4% of sodium bicarbonate). We did not estimate sodium for any product without published composition.
4. Evidence on hydration and hyponatraemia follows the 2015 international consensus, Baker's 2017 sweat review and Jeukendrup's 2014 carbohydrate framework.
5. ATP Fitness, a featured partner of Healthnews24, sells no electrolyte product and is not included. Rankings follow our published method.

## Which should you choose?

- **Need a known sodium dose**: Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture. About 288 mg sodium per sachet, by our calculation from SAHPRA product information.
- **Lowest cost per sachet**: Biogen Electrolyte (30 sachets). R4.65–R5.17 each; check the pack for sodium.
- **Sugar-free daily hydration**: REVIVE Daily Electrolytes or USN Purefit Zero. REVIVE for flavour range, USN for price (R10 per sachet).
- **No sweeteners at all**: REVIVE Raw. Unsweetened and unflavoured, R10.64–R13.30 per sachet.
- **Ultra or long ride fuelling**: A carbohydrate drink or gels plus sodium. Sugar-free sachets do not supply the 60–90 g carbohydrate an hour long events need.
- **Run under an hour**: Water. Normal meals cover sodium for short sessions.

## FAQ

### What is the best electrolyte in South Africa?

On published sodium, Rehidrat Oral Electrolyte Mixture is the only product we priced in October 2026 whose sodium can be worked out: about 288 mg and 12.2 g sugar per sachet, by our calculation from the salt weights in its SAHPRA product information. For sugar-free daily use, REVIVE and USN Purefit Zero are popular, but neither shows sodium per sachet on retailer pages.

### What is the cheapest electrolyte per serving?

Biogen Electrolyte, 30 sachets for R154.99 at Dis-Chem (R139.49 on special), works out to R4.65–R5.17 per sachet. Lifestyle Electrolyte Fizzy tablets are similar at R4.33–R5.30 each. Homemade salt water is cheaper still: a quarter teaspoon of table salt gives about 590 mg sodium.

### How much sodium do I lose running in South African heat?

It varies a lot. Sweat sodium is commonly about 10–90 mmol/L and sweat rate 0.5–2 L an hour, so a runner losing 1.5 L at 40 mmol/L loses about 1 380 mg sodium an hour. You do not need to replace it all; drink to thirst and add sodium in long, hot sessions.

### Can electrolytes prevent hyponatraemia at Comrades?

Not on their own. The 2015 international consensus found that drinking more than you sweat is the main cause of exercise-associated hyponatraemia. Sodium in drinks slows the fall in blood sodium but cannot prevent it if you overdrink. Drink to thirst and get help if you develop headache, nausea or confusion.

### Is Rehidrat good for sport?

Its composition is known, which is useful, but it is an oral rehydration mixture with SAHPRA product information for diarrhoea and gastroenteritis, not a sports drink. By our calculation it gives about 288 mg sodium and 12.2 g sugar per sachet. For long events you also need more carbohydrate.

### Do sugar-free electrolytes work?

Yes, for replacing sodium and fluid. They do not supply energy. In events over about 2 hours you also need 30–90 g carbohydrate an hour, depending on duration, from a sports drink, gels or food.


## Sources

- [Hew-Butler et al. 2015, Statement of the 3rd International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference (BJSM 49:1432)](https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/49/22/1432)
- [Baker 2017, Sweating rate and sweat sodium concentration in athletes (Sports Med)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28332116/)
- [Jeukendrup 2014, A step towards personalized sports nutrition: carbohydrate intake during exercise (Sports Med)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4008807/)
- [Australian Institute of Sport Supplement Framework: Group A (sports foods incl. electrolytes)](https://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/supplements/group_a)
- [SAHPRA: Rehidrat professional information](https://pi-pil-repository.sahpra.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pi_clean_26-July-2023.pdf)
- [Comrades Marathon: race information](https://comrades.com/race-information)
- [SAIDS: supplements and their risks](https://drugfreesport.org.za/supplements-and-their-risks/)
- [Dis-Chem: electrolytes](https://www.dischem.co.za/group/electrolytes)
- [Dis-Chem Living Fit: REVIVE Daily Electrolytes 30 sachets](https://dischemlivingfit.co.za/shop/revive-daily-electrolytes-30-sachets/)
- [Faithful to Nature: REVIVE Daily Electrolytes 30s Raw](https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/health/sports-nutrition-supplements/revive-daily-electrolytes-30s-raw)
- [USN (Kenya site): Zero Sugar Hydrator product description](https://ke.usn.global/products/usn-zero-sugar-hydrator)