During-effort fuel · drink mix · reviewed 26 Aug 2026
Tailwind Endurance Fuel 48
A nine-ingredient dextrose-and-cane-sugar mix with no fructose at all, so no dual-transporter absorption ceiling to speak of, but 310 mg of sodium built into every scoop at 4.1 cents a gram.
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 | 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 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall scoreAn average of the various variables measured. | 48 | 50 | 65 | 66 | 54 | |
| CarbohydrateHow much fuel one scoop carries. | 25 g | 50 g | 80 g | 80 g | 30 g | |
| Glucose : fructoseGoverns how fast you absorb it. More fructose, higher ceiling. | n/d | n/d | n/d | 1 : 0.8 | 1 : 0.5 | |
| SodiumAgainst 400 to 1000 mg an hour typically lost in sweat. | 310 mg | 200 mg | 245 mg | 4 mg | 500 mg | |
| ProvenanceWhether that ratio is read off the panel, computed from it, or inferred. | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Stated | Stated | |
| Price per scoopWhat one costs. Not comparable across scoop sizes. | $1.03 | $2.62 | $3.64 | $3.87 | $2.13 | |
| Cost per gramThe only price that compares across scoop sizes. | 4.1 cents | 5.2 cents | 4.5 cents | 4.8 cents | 7.1 cents | |
| Scoops for 90 g/hrHow many you open an hour to hold a 90 g/hr target. | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.0 |
Verdict
what it does · what it costsWhat it does well
- 310 mg of sodium per scoop, meaningfully more than most drink mixes here.
- 4.1 cents a gram of carbohydrate, among the cheapest of any product reviewed.
- Simple, widely trusted formula with a large following in ultra-distance racing.
What it costs you
- No fructose in the formula, so there's no glucose:fructose ratio and no dual-pathway absorption advantage at higher intake rates.
- 25 g of carbohydrate a scoop means more scoops to reach a high carb target than the 80 g sachets from Maurten or SiS.
- All-sugar formula (dextrose plus cane sugar) with nothing masking the sweetness across a long session.
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 want high sodium built into your carb source without adding a separate tab.
- You're fuelling at a moderate rate and value cost per gram.
Look elsewhere if
- You're targeting 90 g/hr and want to minimize scoops per bottle.
- You want a stated glucose:fructose ratio for the absorption ceiling it implies.