The Drink Mix 320 from Maurten was what initially convinced me of the Swedes' hydrogel principle. Even during long competitions, such as the monster time trial in Almere or during 8-hour trips like the one from Hamburg to Berlin full gas, I was so convinced by the product that it has now landed here in the shop, along with a few other products from Maurten.
The highlight is the maximum carbohydrate supply of 120 grams per hour for hours – and all without nausea or problems getting the thick liquid down.
Specifically, I solved this by adding three sachets of powder to two large drinking bottles of 750 milliliters each and 120 grams per bottle. It is definitely worth paying close attention to the filling instructions, i.e. not adding more or less powder to the amount of liquid. The water should also contain little calcium. A good idea is to combine it with the other products from the Swedes, such as gels and solid bars .
This powder contains the following to get around 80 grams of carbohydrates per bag: maltodextrin, fructose, pectin, sodium alginate, sodium chloride and, in the caffeine version, 100 milligrams of caffeine per bag . Both types contain a relatively high amount of salt.
As always, it's worth trying the drink out in training to see if it works in competition. I find the product to be pleasantly mild in terms of taste. It is sweet, like everything with two types of sugar in it, but not too sweet or overpowered by too many flavors. No colorings or preservatives are used here, otherwise this can quickly backfire on people with sensitive stomachs.
Be careful with caffeine: you have to try it out early on. There are people who respond, people who have problems with it, and athletes who don't feel any effect at all. In any case, the powder with caffeine should only be put in the bottle at the end of training and competition and shouldn't be used right at the beginning.
The problem with Maurten, as with all other really good sports nutritionists, is the relatively high price. This can be put into perspective by saying that it is fuel for the day of the competition, which you often work towards for months. And I have indeed experienced many energy flops because I simply ate something that was cheap or had been added during the race. Simply think of sports nutrition as fuel.
Maurten tests its products at Informed Sports for contamination with doping substances and is a partner of Ironman, among others. The right nutrition is particularly important on the long-distance triathlon so that you don't end up on the portable toilet or have to crawl to the finish line on your nipples. Numerous top professionals rely on the Swedes' products and now finish in areas that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
This bundle contains 14 portion bags, the Drink Mix 320 costs the equivalent of 3.92 euros per 100 grams, Drink Mix 320 Caf 100 costs the equivalent of 4.48 euros per 100 grams.
This product is “Made in Denmark”.
Manufacturer information according to GPSR: Maurten AB, Gibraltargatan 1A, 411 32 Gothenburg, Schweden, E-Mail:info@maurten.com