Best Energy Drinks for HYROX

HYROX is not just a strength event and it is not just a run. It is repeated high-intensity effort, often lasting 60 to 90 minutes, with very little recovery between stations. That makes carbohydrate availability critical.

While energy gels are practical mid-race, energy drinks play a key role before the start and, for some athletes, during the event. The right drink can top up glycogen stores, maintain blood glucose and support sustained output across all eight runs and eight functional stations.

What Makes a Good HYROX Energy Drink?

Because HYROX sits at a high intensity, your drink should:

• Deliver rapidly available carbohydrates
• Be easy to digest under pressure
• Provide a known carb amount per serving
• Optionally include electrolytes
• Potentially include caffeine for focus

Most athletes will use an energy drink in the final 60 minutes before the start, and sometimes sip small amounts during the race if logistics allow.

Common Mistakes With HYROX Energy Drinks

Be careful not to:

• Overconsume fluid right before the start
• Use a high-carb drink for the first time on race day
• Ignore electrolyte intake in hot indoor venues
• Underfuel because the event feels “short”

HYROX intensity means carbohydrate demand is high, even if the clock says 70 minutes.

With that in mind, here are some great energy drink options for your next HYROX.

Maurten Drink Mix 320

Maurten Drink Mix 320 provides 80g of carbohydrate per serving and uses hydrogel technology to help improve tolerance at high intensities. Once mixed, it forms a solution that can pass through the stomach efficiently, which is valuable when heart rate is elevated. You can also get a caffeinated variant if you want that extra hit of caffeine.

For HYROX, this works well as part of a structured pre-race fuelling plan. You might sip it steadily in the 60 to 90 minutes before your start time, especially if nerves make solid food harder to manage.

Active Root Sports Drink Mix

Active Root Sports Drink Mix combines carbohydrate with real root ginger, which many athletes find supports gut comfort during intense exercise. HYROX efforts can push heart rate close to threshold, and that is where stomach issues often appear.

The addition of ginger can be beneficial if you are prone to nausea under pressure. This is particularly useful in warm-up and pre-race phases, helping you start well fuelled without feeling nauseous.

SiS Beta Fuel Energy Drink

SiS Beta Fuel Energy Drink is designed for high carbohydrate delivery, using a dual-source carb blend to maximise absorption. A full serving delivers a substantial carb hit, making it well suited to intense events like HYROX where glycogen demand is high.

It is particularly useful for athletes targeting fast finish times who need aggressive fuelling to sustain power output through sled pushes and lunges.

FAQs

Is an energy drink enough without gels in HYROX?

For shorter finish times around 60 minutes, it can be. For longer races, combining a pre-race drink with a gel is often more reliable.

Should I choose high-carb or moderate-carb drinks?

It depends on your bodyweight, race intensity and what you can tolerate. Higher carb suits harder efforts, but only if you have trained your gut.

Do I need electrolytes in an indoor HYROX event?

Yes, especially in warm venues. Sweat losses can still be significant even if you are not racing outdoors.

Summary

HYROX demands sustained high-intensity output, and energy drinks can play a vital role in maintaining performance. A well-timed carbohydrate drink before the start can top up glycogen, stabilise blood glucose and help you attack each station with confidence.

Choose a drink that matches your carbohydrate needs, test it in training, and build it into a simple, repeatable race-day routine.

If you want to fine-tune your carbohydrate targets for your next HYROX event, you can also use our Nutrition Calculator.