During-effort fuel · drink mix · reviewed 28 Aug 2026
PowerBar Isoactive 58
370 mg of sodium in every 33 g scoop, among the higher doses of any drink mix in this catalog, on a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose blend printed right on the tub, at 3.1 cents a gram, cheaper than Tailwind, GU's Roctane Drink Mix, or NEVERSECOND's C90.
Score breakdown
Each dimension below is scored 0 to 100 against a fixed scale, not against the rest of the catalog, so adding a product never moves this number. The overall score is the average of the dimensions this product declares data for. How the scales are set →
Comparison
5 of 17 drink mixes heldPrices per single sachet at the cheapest box size we track. Best in green, worst in red, across the gels shown.
| Measure | PowerBar PowerBar Isoactive | 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall scoreAn average of the various variables measured. | 58 | 48 | 50 | 65 | 66 | |
| CarbohydrateHow much fuel one scoop carries. | 29 g | 25 g | 50 g | 80 g | 80 g | |
| Glucose : fructoseGoverns how fast you absorb it. More fructose, higher ceiling. | 1 : 0.5 | n/d | n/d | n/d | 1 : 0.8 | |
| SodiumAgainst 400 to 1000 mg an hour typically lost in sweat. | 370 mg | 310 mg | 200 mg | 245 mg | 4 mg | |
| ProvenanceWhether that ratio is read off the panel, computed from it, or inferred. | Stated | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Stated | |
| Price per scoopWhat one costs. Not comparable across scoop sizes. | $0.91 | $1.03 | $2.62 | $3.64 | $3.87 | |
| Cost per gramThe only price that compares across scoop sizes. | 3.1 cents | 4.1 cents | 5.2 cents | 4.5 cents | 4.8 cents | |
| Scoops for 90 g/hrHow many you open an hour to hold a 90 g/hr target. | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
Verdict
what it does · what it costsWhat it does well
- 370 mg of sodium per scoop, among the higher doses here (Tailwind High Carb Fuel carries 680 mg, Precision's Carb & Electrolyte 500 mg).
- States its 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio directly on the tub, not just in marketing copy.
- 3.1 cents a gram of carbohydrate, cheaper than Tailwind, GU Roctane Drink Mix, or NEVERSECOND's C90.
What it costs you
- 2:1 is the older generation of ratio science, the same ceiling as PowerBar's own PowerGel and NEVERSECOND's C30/C90.
- No official US retailer: PowerBar sells this only through its DACH-region (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) store, priced in EUR.
- 20 g of sugars out of 29 g carbohydrate is the sweetest-tasting profile of any drink mix here, more sugar-forward than Skratch or HEED.
Where to buy
Prices and links as last checked. The price next to the name above is per unit at the cheapest box size we track; a single-unit price below may run higher.
Who this is for
the numbers, appliedThe field tells you what it is. This is who should act on it.
Worth the money if
- You're comparison-shopping on cost per gram and value is a top priority.
- You want a high, stated sodium dose and don't mind ordering from a European retailer.
Look elsewhere if
- You need guaranteed US retail availability and domestic shipping.
- You want the field-leading 1:0.8 / 1:0.77 ratio rather than 2:1.