Planning your holiday gifts for 2020? If you’re not sure what to get that exercise enthusiast in your life, SaltStick may be your answer. For 15 years, our products have been powering athletes of all types by helping them avoid cramps and fatigue through proper electrolyte consumption. From ultrarunners to weekday yogis, anyone who sweats for an hour or more at a time can benefit from a nutritional routine that aims to keep electrolyte levels balanced. Additionally, as many health-conscious athletes have begun to avoid sports drinks due to their high sugar and food coloring content, a clean, all-natural product like SaltStick will get the job done. Unsure of which product might be best? Use the guide below to find the perfect holiday option.
SaltStick Caps
Our original and most popular product, SaltStick Caps work well for athletes of all kinds, including runners, triathletes, hikers, cyclists, yogis, CrossFit enthusiasts, winter sports fans and any other person who likes to work up a sweat. These flavorless capsules are made with all-natural ingredients and void of any GMOs or artificial sweeteners, meaning they’ll pass even the most stringent personal nutritional standards.
Best for: Any athlete who likes to work up a sweat for an hour or more at a time.
Electrolyte Profile: Each capsule contains 215 milligrams of sodium, 63 milligrams of potassium, 22 milligrams of calcium and 11 milligrams of magnesium. An additional 100 IU Vitamin D helps the body absorb and utilize the calcium. View the Comparison Table. Suggested Usage: We suggest one capsule per 30-60 minutes during activity, depending on levels of heat and humidity. Here, you can view our Caps Usage Guide. Pro Tip: Not sure if your friend will like the Caps? Hedge your bets by purchasing a few 3-capsule SaltStick sample packets to use as stocking stuffers. When your giftee discovers how great they are, he or she can head to a local retailer to buy the full 100-count bottle.
SaltStick Caps PLUS
SaltStick Caps PLUS are exactly what they sound like: the original Caps formulation, plus a little something extra. With the Caps PLUS, your giftee will not only get a product that is formulated to closely resemble the electrolyte profile lost sweat, but also 30 milligrams of caffeine in each capsule—providing an extra boost when things get tough, as well as sodium via sodium citrate to help soothe the stomach. Caps PLUS fans tend to be on the more serious side of endurance training, so these would be better suited for a friend who has recently gotten hooked on ultramarathons or all-day hiking trips. For the average runner or gym enthusiast, it’s probably better to stick with the Caps.
Best for: Endurance athletes who train for lengthy events, such as marathons and beyond or 100-mile cycling races. Also ideal for individuals who experience upset stomach during training or racing, and for those who like a caffeine boost.
Electrolyte Profile: Each capsule contains 190 milligrams of sodium, 53 milligrams of potassium, 14 milligrams of calcium and 7 milligrams of magnesium. An additional 100 IU Vitamin D helps the body absorb and utilize the calcium. View the Comparison Table. Suggested Usage: We suggest one capsule per 30-60 minutes during activity, depending on levels of heat and humidity. Here, you can view our Caps PLUS Usage Guide. Pro Tip: Similar to the Caps, you can let your giftee test the waters with sample packets instead of a full 100-capsule bottle. In fact, why not mix it up and get a few packets of both? That way, your special someone can decide what is uniquely best for him or her.
SaltStick Fastchews
As the only flavored product in the SaltStick family, SaltStick Fastchews were created as an option for athletes who enjoy a tasty boost of nutrition mid-race. And before you ask the obvious, we can say unequivocally that no, Fastchews do not taste like salt. By developing Zesty Lemon-Lime,Tart Orange, Seedless Watermelon and Perfectly Peach flavor options, we designed them specifically to not taste like salt. In fact, when we offer samples at events, we consistently hear the same instant feedback: “Wow, these taste really good!” Fastchews have a similar nutritional breakdown as Caps and Caps PLUS, but at a lower concentration, so they work well for athletes of all kinds, especially those who are new to endurance training and are not ready to make the jump to something like SaltStick Caps.
Best for: Athletes who prefer chewable tablets to capsules, or athletes who are newer to endurance training and still experimenting with an electrolyte strategy.
Electrolyte Profile: Each serving of two tablets contains 100 milligrams of sodium, 30 milligrams of potassium, 10 milligrams of calcium and 6 milligrams of magnesium. View the Comparison Table. Suggested Usage: We suggest two tablets every 15-30 minutes during activity. Here, you can view our Fastchews Usage Guide. Pro Tip: Like Caps and Caps PLUS, Fastchews come in both sample packets and larger bottles. Also, if you’re bestowing your gift on the eve of an office holiday Christmas party, you may want to mention that when combined with water, Fastchews can aid hydration during a night out. Your coworkers will no doubt thank you in the morning.
SaltStick Elixalyte
The newest member of the SaltStick family, SaltStick Elixalyte offers a balanced supply of electrolytes in liquid form. Elixalyte is the first and ONLY liquid add-in that is formulated to closely resemble the electrolyte profile lost in sweat. Like all SaltStick products, it features a proprietary high-performance formulation that provides a balanced supply of bioavailable sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Athletes, or anyone looking to boost their consumption of electrolytes, can use Elixalyte to quickly fortify a sports drink or beverage.
Best for: Athletes who prefer to obtain their nutrition entirely from liquid sources.
Electrolyte Profile: Each 5-mL serving contains 210 milligrams of sodium, 60 milligrams of potassium, 16 milligrams calcium and 8 milligrams of magnesium. View the Comparison Table. Suggested Usage: We suggest consuming 5 mL (1 tsp, diluted into 500 mL/17 fl oz) for every 30-60 minutes of activity. This serving approximately equals 1 SaltStick Capsule. Here, you can view our Elixalyte Usage Guide. Pro Tip: Elixalyte tastes a bit salty, and we don’t recommend that you drink it straight from the container. Complete your athlete’s gift package by including a bottle of his or her favorite beverage.
SaltStick Vitassium
All right, athletes, this one is not for you. While there is certainly nothing wrong with taking SaltStick Vitassium during endurance activities, this is the one product in the SaltStick family that was not specifically designed to replace electrolytes lost through sweat, meaning outdoor junkies would be better suited with a gift in one of the three previous categories. Vitassium instead has a much more specific audience in mind: those with chronic medical conditions that are aided by a high intake of sodium, including dysautonomia, POTS and/or vasovagal syncope, among others. A word of caution though: Vitassium is best used in consultation with a physician, so it may be in your interest to check with your friend or family member before making your purchase.
Best for: Vitassium is not designed for athletes. Instead, Vitassium is a medical food specifically formulated to provide sodium and potassium for the clinical dietary management of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Cystic Fibrosis (CF), and Vasovagal Syncope, when increased plasma volume has been shown to be beneficial.Electrolyte Profile: Each serving of two capsules contains 500 milligrams of sodium (22 mmol sodium, 1,270 milligrams of sodium chloride) and 100 milligrams of potassium. Suggested Usage: Usage is very specific to the individual, so an exact daily breakdown will be up to your giftee and his or her doctor. Pro Tip: If your recipient finds he or she likes Vitassium, make sure they know about the Vitassium Club, which offers a discount on all SaltStick products and free shipping for every purchase to individuals who use Vitassium as a medical food. With a major increase in online orders this holiday season, be sure to place your order sooner than usual to ensure arrival by Christmas day. Happy holidays from all of us!
