During-effort fuel · drink mix · reviewed 3 Sep 2026
Tailwind High Carb Fuel 81
Tailwind's own 90g-carb drink, landing at 4.1 cents a gram of carbohydrate -- identical to its own Endurance Fuel's per-gram cost despite carrying 90g of carbs instead of 25g and 680mg of sodium instead of 310mg.
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 →
81/100
Strong
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.100
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.68
Value (cost/gram) ?Price of one gram of carbohydrate. Not physiological -- a market-based scale from 15 cents/g (0) to 2 cents/g (100).84
Cost per gram of carbohydrate
4.1 cents/g
Glucose : fructose
1:0.5
Comparison
6 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 High Carb Fuel | 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. | 81 | 48 | 50 | 65 | 66 | 54 |
| CarbohydrateHow much fuel one pouch carries. | 90 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. | 680 mg | 310 mg | 200 mg | 245 mg | 4 mg | 500 mg |
| ProvenanceWhether that ratio is read off the panel, computed from it, or inferred. | Stated | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Stated | Stated |
| Price per pouchWhat one costs. Not comparable across pouch sizes. | $3.69 | $1.03 | $2.62 | $3.64 | $3.87 | $2.13 |
| Cost per gramThe only price that compares across pouch sizes. | 4.1 cents | 4.1 cents | 5.2 cents | 4.5 cents | 4.8 cents | 7.1 cents |
| Pouches for 90 g/hrHow many you open an hour to hold a 90 g/hr target. | 1.0 | 3.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.0 |
Verdict
what it does · what it costsWhat it does well
- 90g of carbohydrate a pouch in a brand-stated 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio.
- 680mg of sodium a pouch, more than double Endurance Fuel's 310mg, aimed at hot or high-intensity efforts.
- 4.1 cents a gram of carbohydrate -- matches Endurance Fuel's own per-gram cost and beats NEVERSECOND C90 Drink Mix's 5.3 cents/g at the same 90g carb dose.
- Same short, non-gimmick ingredient list style as the rest of the Tailwind line.
What it costs you
- 61g of the 90g carbohydrate is sugars -- more simple sugar per serving than any other drink mix in this catalog.
- 360 kcal and 680mg sodium in a single pouch is concentrated; mixing at the full 16-24oz keeps it drinkable but it's still a big single dose.
- Only two flavors (Ginger Lime, Lemonade) versus Endurance Fuel's much wider range.
- Positioned by Tailwind for high-intensity, shorter efforts -- not marketed as a straight swap for Endurance Fuel across a full Ironman.
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 a higher-carb Tailwind option for shorter, harder efforts without switching brands.
- You're shopping against NEVERSECOND C90 or Maurten Drink Mix 320 and want a similar 80-90g carb dose for less per gram.
Look elsewhere if
- You want Tailwind's original low-sugar profile -- Endurance Fuel carries a fraction of the sugar per serving.
- You're fueling an ultra-distance event where 360 kcal and 680mg sodium per pouch is too concentrated to sustain hour after hour.