On the go reload - great idea!
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share their views, it is very helpful and some great ideas in here.
It seems that the primary issue that we collectively have is cost - while many are happy to pay a little more for convenience, there is a limit to that and only a few products (Fluid and Formula 369 as examples) have come close to meeting expectations.
Flavour will be a interesting challenge, as personal preference is a strong driver. I think the key here is to be mild and cater for the majority - as long as it doesn’t taste terrible users will prioritise price over flavour.
Keeping costs down by offering a product in bulk, and an easy way to measure the drink mix to get your preferred amount of carb per bottle will add to the convenience value.
Here’s one cost saving measure: dump the scoop and go with a standard (e.g., teaspoon / tablespoon / fraction of a cup in the US) measurement side that people will already have. Besides a small cost savings, this also would eliminate a lot of unnecessary plastic usage.
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Biggest gripe is suppliers that use artificial sweeteners (Looking at you SIS). I buy the stuff for the actual sugars, not fake ones.
Minor gripes: what’s the deal with these ridiculous oversized tubs? Can we get refill packages or accurately sized containers that fit in a normal cupboard?
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Artificial sweeteners
Messy powders instead of granules
Reliance on proprietary scoops instead of common kitchen measures like cups for US customers and 15ml Tablespoons in the UK.
Instructions based on measuring by volume when the weight of a scoop of powder can vary by 50% depending on aeration.
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Main gripe is, it’s not grapes…
I make my own and will mix 90-130g in a 1L bottle. If I were to do 100g for a summer, hard ride I’d do something like:
- 40-50g of Fructose
- 50-60g of Maltodextrin
- 1-1.5 tsp of Sodium Citrate (this is ~700-1000mg of sodium)
- 0.5-0.6tsp of Citric Acid (be careful with this because it quickly gets unpalatable)
Add that to an empty bottle and then shake vigorously as soon as you fill it with water. If you add it to a partially filled bottle then the malto clumps and is very hard to get it to dissolve.
Yup. I buy the 10 lbs. bag and add extra electolytes depending on the heat. Great value.
Glad to hear that all of your gripes are the same gripes that led me to create Formula 369. Affordability is our first priority. But I’m also a food scientist so I know how to make powders that work. Our powder doesn’t clump in the bag or while mixing. We sell in 3#, 5#, or a huge 10 pound bag that is full to the brim! It’s a simple formula with only 3 ingredients and no extra “fluff”. Each scoop is 30g of carbs for easy measuring and you can use as much or as little as you need that day. We also have a caffeine version and an Electrolyte Booster that can all be used in combination to create the perfect custom mix that you need for your situation. Yes you might save a few bucks making it yourself, but it won’t mix as well and for those who value their time more than a few bucks, we provide convenience you don’t have to think about. Thanks to our supporters on here and if you haven’t tried it, I invite you to do so. I’m 100% confident you’ll be happy with your purchase and the value you receive.
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Hi, do you only ship within the US? I’m in Au but couldn’t see an option for Au delivery in the shopping cart. TIA
Biggest issue I have is cost.
There are enough options out there now that means preference on ingredients and taste can be met.
Almost universally the cost of powders (in bigger volume tubs but worse for sachets) is a barrier to entry.
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