During-effort fuel · drink mix · reviewed 26 Aug 2026
4Endurance 2:1 Drink 53
A three-way maltodextrin, dextrose and fructose split computing to a stated 2:1 glucose-source-to-fructose ratio, at the lowest cost per gram of carbohydrate of any drink mix reviewed.
Score breakdown
The overall score is the average of what's below, each measured against every other drink mix we've reviewed.
53
Mixed
Absorption rate ?How much carbohydrate an hour the glucose-to-fructose blend can move. Scored from the stated or derived ratio (1:0.8 tops out this scale); an Estimated ratio counts the same as a Stated one here.72
Carb density ?How much fuel one scoop or sachet carries. 90 g is the ceiling here, matching the top of the range cited for multi-transportable-carb intake.33
Sodium ?Sodium carried by the mix itself, on a scale topping out at 1000 mg — the upper end of what's typically lost to sweat in an hour.10
Value (cost/gram) ?Price of one gram of carbohydrate. Not physiological -- a market-based scale from $0.15/g (0) to $0.02/g (100).97
Cost per gram of carbohydrate
$0.024/g
Glucose : fructose · derived
1:0.5
Comparison
6 of 14 drink mixes heldPrices per single sachet at the cheapest box size we track. Best in green, worst in red, across the gels shown.
| Measure | 4Endurance 4Endurance 2:1 Drink | Tailwind Nutrition Tailwind Endurance Fuel | Skratch Labs Skratch Labs Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix | Maurten Maurten Drink Mix 320 | Science in Sport SiS Beta Fuel 80 Drink Mix | Precision Fuel & Hydration Precision Fuel & Hydration Carb & Electrolyte Drink Mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarbohydrateHow much fuel one scoop carries. | 30 g | 25 g | 50 g | 80 g | 80 g | 30 g |
| Glucose : fructoseGoverns how fast you absorb it. More fructose, higher ceiling. | 1 : 0.5 | n/d | n/d | n/d | 1 : 0.8 | 1 : 0.5 |
| SodiumAgainst 400 to 1000 mg an hour typically lost in sweat. | 100 mg | 310 mg | 200 mg | 245 mg | 4 mg | 500 mg |
| ProvenanceWhether that ratio is read off the panel, computed from it, or inferred. | Derived | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Stated | Stated |
| Price per scoopWhat one costs. Not comparable across scoop sizes. | $0.72 | $1.03 | $2.62 | $3.64 | $3.87 | $2.13 |
| Cost per gramThe only price that compares across scoop sizes. | $0.024 | $0.041 | $0.052 | $0.045 | $0.048 | $0.071 |
| Scoops for 90 g/hrHow many you open an hour to hold a 90 g/hr target. | 3.0 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.0 |
Verdict
what it does · what it costsWhat it does well
- $0.024 a gram, the cheapest drink mix here by a wide margin.
- 2:1 ratio explicitly stated and computed from declared ingredient percentages.
- Flexible mixing (250–500 ml) lets you run it more or less concentrated.
What it costs you
- 100 mg of sodium is modest next to Precision's 500 mg or Tailwind's 310 mg.
- 2:1 is behind the field-leading ratios on absorption ceiling.
- Not sold through US retailers; pricing here is converted from EUR and availability will vary.
Where to buy
Prices and links as last checked.
Not yet checked at retail.
Who this is for
the numbers, appliedThe field tells you what it is. This is who should act on it.
Worth the money if
- Cost per gram of carbohydrate is your top priority.
- You want a stated ratio at the lowest price in this category.
Look elsewhere if
- You want the drink itself to carry a large sodium dose.
- You need guaranteed US retail availability.