Product
Information
Manufacturer: Ola
Loa
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer Website: www.DrinkYourVitamins.com
Flavors
Available and Tested: Mango Tangerine, Lemon Lime, Mixed
Berry
MSRP: $24.99 US for 30 packets
Product
Description
Ola
Loa Sport is an all natural effervescent hydrating
drink mix that contains B Vitamins to promote energy
and carbohydrate metabolism; 1000 mg non-acidic
Vitamin C for immunity, amino acids for endurance;
electrolytes for performance; osmolytes, TMG, and
glycine to prevent dehydration and excessive thirst.;
and anti-oxidants for recovery.
This drink mix is
low in sugar, measuring 2 grams, and has 10 calories
each.
Ola Loa Sport is
enjoyed by mixing it with 4-6 oz (0.12-0.18 L)
of cold water or juice. It is recommended to take
1-3 packets daily. It is indicated on the product
box that the statements listed have not been evaluated
by the Food and Drug Administration and is not
intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
The manufacturer
lists on the product box the top 5 reasons to use
Ola Loa Sport (these are summarized below):
- It is the only sport drink to offer osmolytes:
TMG and glycine-protection against dehydration.
During exercise and heat stress, osmolytes offer
far greater protection than electrolytes alone.
- Offers a balanced electrolyte formula of potassium,
calcium, sodium, and magnesium to keep the cells
working properly.
- Uses the amino acid L-Carnitine to turn body
fat into energy.
- Has immune nutrients: vitamin C, zinc and selenium.
- Low in sugar. No artificial ingredients.
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Sport
Mango Tangerine Drink:
Listed Weight:
8 g (0.28 oz)
Actual Weight: 8 g (0.28 oz)
Measured Packet Size: 4 in (10
cm) height, 2.75 in (7 cm) width
Ingredients: See
image provided below from the manufacturer's website.
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Sport
Lemon Lime Drink:
Listed Weight: 7.4
g (0.26 oz)
Actual Weight: 8 g (0.28 oz)
Measured Package Size:
4
in (10 cm) height, 2.75 in (7 cm) width
Ingredients: See
image provided below from the manufacturer's
website.
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Sport
Mixed Berry Drink:
Listed Weight:
8 g (0.28 oz)
Actual Weight: 10 g (0.35 oz)
Measured Package Size: 4
in (10 cm) height, 2.75 in (7 cm) width
Ingredients: See
image provided below from the manufacturer's website.
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Initial Impressions
The Ola Loa Sport boxes that
I received contained 30 packets each of the vitamin
mix. The packets are small enough for me to fit
several in a backpack, day pack, biking pouch,
or biking jersey.
The packets have what appears
to be a plastic coating to protect the vitamin
mix from moisture. There is no notch to tear
the packets open; however I was able to open
them easily. The inside of the packets are foil
lined.
To see how the product worked,
and for a taste test I mixed each flavor in 6
oz (0.18 L) of water. I added the vitamins to
the glass and then added the water. There was
a slight fizzing while the vitamins were effervescing
when they were dissolving. It took about a minute
until the barely audible fizzing stopped. I mixed
the drink with a spoon to dissolve the small
amount of remaining vitamins that were on top
of the water. All the flavors were tasty and
had no bitter or odd aftertaste. Each of the
flavors had a distinct taste of their intended
flavor and they did not have a vitamin taste.
During this initial taste test I found the mixed
berry flavor to be my favorite.
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Long
Term Report
March
11, 2010 |
Testing Locations
The Ola Loa Sport Drinks were carried and consumed
during backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, and rock
climbing in the following areas.
Southern California: Mt. San Jacinto
State Park, Mt. Woodson, Bommer Canyon, Aliso and Woods
Canyon, Orchard Hills, Point Dume (Malibu), Fullerton/Coyote
Hills, Limestone Canyon, Marshall Canyon, Cleveland
National Forest, and various locations in the Santa
Ana Mountains.
Utah: Wilderness area near St. George.
Nevada: Near the Red Rock Canyon
National Conservation Area.
The elevations ranged from sea level to 9,000 ft (2,750
m). And the temperatures ranged from around 17 F (-8
C) to approximately 77 F (25 C).
Performance
in the Field
Most of the time I mixed the Ola Loa Sport Drinks
with water in 21-24 fl oz (0.62-0.71 L) water bottles.
Sometimes I would mix them with the full fluid volume
and in these cases I would use two packets for a stronger
taste. Other times I would mix one packet with half
the fluid volume of the bottle and the taste was strong
enough for my liking. Even though the directions say
to mix one packet with 4-6 oz (0.12-0.18 L) of water
or juice; adding more water per packet did not cause
too much dilution to the taste.
Most of the time I carried a hydration bladder with
me containing water and I used a water bottle for the
Ola Loa Sport Drinks. I was not too keen on putting
the powder in my hydration bladder since it was effervescent.
I have a hard enough time keeping my bladders clean
and odor free. If I consumed my first bottle of sport
drink and needed more I would just put more water
(from my hydration bladder) in my bottle and mix another
packet or two. The most packets I consumed in one day
was five. On
the packet it is recommended to consume 1-3 packets
per day as desired. Sometimes I drank two packets in
one hour. I did not have any adverse reactions from
drinking the extra packets and I am not certain if
I could overdose on these, or what the symptoms would
be. Almost every day I was drinking one Ola Loa Energy
packet in the morning or the evening. I did not notice
any adverse reaction with this situation either. I
never mixed these with juice as they were pleasant
tasting in water.
On the trail I do not have a spoon with me except
for backpacking. So, when I was not backpacking I
found that the easiest way for me to mix the drink
was to close the bottle and shake it. When I would
open the valve to drink some air would pop out from
the effervescent properties. Generally the powder dissolved
with a few shakes. However, I found that the packets
are harder to dissolve in colder water, and more shaking
is needed to fully dissolve the powder.
I found that these drinks do give me more energy and
a pick-me-up when I am about to "hit the wall".
I have also used them after activities for recovery
and re-hydration. My friends called me the energizer
bunny when I first started to drink the Ola Loa Sport
products. I also noticed a positive improvement in
my performance and my recovery. My endurance lasts
longer and my recovery is quicker.
After drinking the Ola Loa Sport during high endurance
activities (such as cycling uphill for an extended
period) at times I would belch quietly a few times
after the initial consumption. I think this is from
the effervescent properties. There are times I felt
a little queasy in the stomach during high physical
activity, but I do not necessarily think it was from
the Ola Loa Sport Drinks. It could have been the intensity
of my activity or the food I was eating.
I really like that the Ola Loa Sport Drinks are low
in sugar. They have a light taste and do not leave
a sugary taste in my mouth. I think they help me hydrate
more because the taste is pleasant.
Taste is very subjective
and I generally like berry flavored products. Hence,
my favorite flavor is the Mixed Berry, followed the
Lemon Lime and then the Mango Tangerine. I could actually
live without the Mango Tangerine, mostly because I
am not a Tangerine fan. The flavor is pleasant and
tolerable; it is just not my personal favorite. The
Mango Tangerine was actually the last flavor I consumed.
I like the individual serving sized packets. With
my other drink mixes I buy them in large tubs and I
always have to measure out my servings and place the
powder in small plastic bags. I cut out some of my
work by using the Ola Loa Sport Drinks. Plus I think
the product stays fresher and the vitamins are more
potent. The packets are very easy to open, even if
they get wet.
Unfortunately for me, my pack became wet on a
trip and there was some water on the outside of the
Sport Drink packets. A positive note on this: the
packet protected the powder from the moisture; therefore
I was able to stay hydrated without a sticky mess
from wet powder.
Things That
Rock:
- Pre-measured serving size
- Individual packets
- Increase in energy
- Quicker recovery time
- Tasty
Things That
Are So-So:
- I have a few belches during high
endurance activities immediately after drinking
- Kind of pricey
I have some packets left of the Mango Tangerine flavor.
I plan on continuing to use these until they are gone.
I plan on ordering some more Ola Loa Sport Drinks,
as I am very pleased with this product.
Remarks
This
concludes my reporting on the Ola Loa Sport
Drinks. Thank you Ola Loa and backpackgeartest.org
for providing me with the opportunity to test these
products. |