I’ve been using Skratch for years now, and am curious how Tailwind stacks up, tastewise. I moved to Skratch for more subtle flavoring, and have used the Hyperhydration for workouts I know I’ll sweat more.
I have tried all the Tailwind flavors and the lemon one is my favorite.
Tailwind do sample packs that include a sachet of all their flavours.
Despite their claims of “no stomach bombs” it’s probably the only product I’ve tried that has actually resulted in one!
SIS BetaFuel is the one for me.
I used hammer for training and endurance formula for racing + long workouts on weekends for ease of use on the course. Just recently switched to tailwind since it’s easier for me to get.
I have the berry flavor (no caffeine) and so far have no complaints. I used skratch last year and found the taste too powerful. Tailwind is extremely subtle taste. At the end of the day all of it is sugar water IMO
At the end of the day all of it is sugar water IMO
Well, they are either all sugar water or not. That is not a matter of opinion.
Have you done a sweat test yet? Might be worth it if you are considering changing fuels anyways. I like tailwind, the naked one or lemon.
Back when I was thriftier, I literally mixed salt, sugar, and water. Added some of the bubbly water flavor for Soda Streams to make it more palatable. Then went to Skratch.
Have you done a sweat test yet? Might be worth it if you are considering changing fuels anyways. I like tailwind, the naked one or lemon.
Been a while since I’ve done one properly, but know for sure I’m sweating TONS more as as I get older. I should probably do another one in the heat of the summer now though.
Tailwind do sample packs that include a sachet of all their flavours…
That sounds WAY too smart for a knuckle-dragger like myself! I’ll have to give it a try for a medium-long and hot ride and see what it does for me. Thanks!
My understanding is that Skratch is more of an electrolyte replacement product with a tad of energy added. But Tailwind -similar to Infinit- is a full blown fueling system. Therefore, each product has it uses, depending on the race and training etc. Only one of my clients uses Tailwind and loves the new Cola - but the rest use Infinit.
Hope this helps
I’ve been using Tailwind since about 2015 or so. I use the Naked flavor and have one 200 calorie bottle per hour plus a banana. Works very well for me.
I’m a regular Skratch user for years now. Love it. I tried Tailwind for the first time about two weeks ago, and I really liked it, too. I found Tailwind to be a good bit sweeter than Skratch, not surprising looking at the calorie count, but not Gatorade-sickly-sweet. The Tailwind is also a lot saltier in taste, which I think also shows up on the nutrition label, though I don’t recall the numbers.
There’s a place for both. I like Skratch (and Osmo) for long, hot days when I need a lot of hydration but not necessarily all the calories that come with drinking a higher-calorie drink. You could alternate with Tailwind to get calories in, or go Tailwind-only in colder weather when you don’t need as much fluid per hour.
I’ve used them both and have to say, the Green Tea Tailwind is my favorite - mellow, subtle flavor and not nearly as sweet as the Skratch mixes.
I’ve been using Skratch for years now, and am curious how Tailwind stacks up, tastewise. I moved to Skratch for more subtle flavoring, and have used the Hyperhydration for workouts I know I’ll sweat more.
Skratch Labs makes several formulas. The Hyper-Hydration is one of the specialized mixes, but they make one that is just electrolytes and a couple of others that contain carbs and protein.
Tailwind Nutrient makes just one formula and it is a do everything type of mix.
So they are formulated to do different things.
On a side note, I would be careful using the Hyper-Hydration formula. You would need to be a very heavy sweater (the kind that develops a salt ring on their hat and shirt) to justify taking in 1800 mg of sodium in a 24 oz drink.
I used tailwind (and nothing else) for the bike leg at Norseman this year and it worked very well for me. I’ve cocked up nutrition before but this was very simple and once I had dialled in my approach over long training rides I was pretty confident on race day.
I put 2 scoops - 200 cals - in each of a pair of 550ml bottles and drank at a rate of one bottle every 45 mins. Two bottles on the bike (BTA and BTS). Worked out at 266 cals/hr and almost exactly 1g carbs per hour per kg bodyweight. Picked up 2 new bottles from my mobile aid station (my brother Stephen in the hire car) at intervals <90 mins.
On the run I went to coke, red bull, couple gels and a dime bar.
I’m happy I’ll do this in future races but if using on course support I’ll keep a concentrated bottle and pick up water to supplement as I go.
Cheers, Rich
I personally avoid stuff I barely get at events.
I really like Tailwind, and all th flavors I’ve tried so far have been good. Pretty subtle flavor when mixed around 200 kcal a bottle. Super concentrated (800+ kcal a bottle) the flavored mixes can get a bit unpleasant but tolerable. The nude one is great for concentrated bottles.
Skratch Labs makes several formulas. The Hyper-Hydration is one of the specialized mixes, but they make one that is just electrolytes and a couple of others that contain carbs and protein.
Tailwind Nutrient makes just one formula and it is a do everything type of mix.
So they are formulated to do different things.
On a side note, I would be careful using the Hyper-Hydration formula. You would need to be a very heavy sweater (the kind that develops a salt ring on their hat and shirt) to justify taking in 1800 mg of sodium in a 24 oz drink.
To be clear…I believe all of the “during†mixes Skratch makes contain no protein at all…but they do offer a 4:1 cabs/protein recovery mix for post-workouts…
Probably should have included more info. Just looking at hydration. I use Cliff Shots as well. I do sweat a TON now and have found the Hyperhydration beneficial in this long, hot days.
I just switched to Skratch from Gatorade powder. No problems with the Gatorade but love the strawberry Skratch.