I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, and in many of the western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I have made a move to lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with my brother-in-law Dave or fiancée Jenn.

The Product

Manufacturer: Mott's LLP (yes the applesauce folks)
Web site: www.accelerade.com
Product: Accelerade
Year manufactured: 2007
MSRP: N/A
Flavor reviewed: Orange (also available in Fruit Punch and Lemon Lime)
Weight of bulk container: 1.91 lb (868 g)
Weight per serving: 1.1 oz (31 g)
Serving size (amount of water mixed with): 12 fl oz (0.35 l)

Accelerade

Product Description

Accelerade is a carbohydrate and electrolyte replacement drink that has a twist. It adds 5 g of protein per serving in what the company calls a 4:1 ratio with the carbohydrates.
nutritional info
It is in the form of a dry powder. It is of such fine consistency that transferring it to small locking bags left powder suspended in the air like smoke, taking about as long to dissipate.

The powder comes in a plastic storage container that was only half full. I guess that it settled a bit during shipping… A plastic scoop is provided for measuring, one of which makes one 12 fl oz (0.35 l) serving.

The powder is very sticky. After getting just one bag getting filled I moved the operation outside as I did not want my office coated with sticky residue. I could taste the orange flavor of it in the air.

Field Conditions

I used the Accelerade product on a four-day 84 mile (135 km) backpacking trip in Kings Canyon National Park. Elevations were from 5100' to 12300' (1554 to 3749 m) and temps from just below freezing to 91 F (33 C). I climbed just shy of 20,000' (6096 m) of elevation gain during the trip.

A three-day 26-mile (42 km) loop backpacking trip in Grand Teton National Park. Starting pack weight was 47 lb (21.3 kg) and temperatures from 35 to 82 F (2 to 28 C). Terrain consisted of hard packed dirt to scree and exposed rock. Elevations ranged from 6790' to 10700' (2070 to 3260 m) with 5300' (1615 m) of total gain and loss.

Multiple fastpacks between 30 and 36 miles (48 - 58 km) in length. Elevations from 2000' to 11500' (600 to 3500 m) and temperatures ranging from just above freezing to over 100 F (38 C). These all had ungodly elevation gains on all kinds of terrain.

Here is a picture at Little Pete Meadow in Laconte Canyon on the John Muir Trail earlier this year; the Accelerade is on the ground near me. (We are smiling like maniacs because we just went over 50 miles (81 km) to get back to the point we were forced to bail the fall before due to snow storms. (Ha! Take that Mother Nature. Why is it getting dark…? Kaboom!)

On the JMT

Observations

I first saw Accelerade in 2006, reading about it intrigued me.
Here are two of the many clinical study results listed on the web site, and what made me interested in trying it in the first place.

Seifert JG, Harmon J, DeClercq P.
Protein added to a sports drink improves fluid retention.
International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism 16: 420-429, 2006.
This study concluded that "contrary to popular misconception, adding protein to a carbohydrate-based sports drink ... led to improved water retention by 15 % over [a carbohydrate-only sports drink] and 40 % over plain water." Cyclists exercised until they lost 2 % of their body weight (through sweating) and then drank either a carbohydrate-protein sports drink (Accelerade), a carbohydrate-only sports drink (Gatorade®), or water. Over the next three hours, measurements were taken to determine how much of each beverage was retained in the body (versus the amount lost through urination). The carbohydrate-protein sports drink was found to rehydrate the athletes 15 % better than the carbohydrate-only sports drink and 40 % better than water. All three drinks emptied from the stomach and were absorbed through the intestine at the same rate. In addition, there was no difference between the carbohydrate-protein drink and the carbohydrate-only drink in terms of effects on blood plasma volume. This suggests that the carbohydrate-protein drink resulted in increased water retention within and between cells. Therefore a carbohydrate-protein sports drink may be a preferable choice, over plain water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink, when rehydration and fluid retention are a concern.

Luden, N.D., Saunders, M.J., Pratt, C.A., Bickford, A.S., Todd, M.K., and Flohr, J.A.
Effects of a six-day carbohydrate/protein intervention on muscle damage, soreness and performance in runners.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(5):S341, 2006.
This study found that "muscle recovery ... was enhanced with the ingestion of a [carbohydrate-protein] recovery beverage compared to a [carbohydrate-only] recovery beverage." Twenty-three NCAA Division I cross-country runners completed traditional in-season training for six days. Immediately following each training session, subjects ingested either a carbohydrate-protein beverage (Accelerade) or a carbohydrate-only beverage. Following a 21-day washout period, subjects repeated the same protocol as above, receiving the alternate beverage. Measurements of muscle damage (CPK) and muscle soreness were obtained before and after each trial. Compared to the carbohydrate-only, Accelerade reduced muscle damage by an average of 27 % and muscle soreness by 30 % in the runners.

There are many more references to other sports but as I used to run, I know that hard backpacking can be much like running as far as the way that I sweat. As this drink is on the expensive side I waited to try it until they changed their packaging this year and the discontinued look went on sale to get it off the shelves. (Yes I am a thrifty guy…)

The nutritional content is almost exactly the same as the powder I normally use. The calories are higher because of the added protein, which comes in the form of "whey protein concentrate" a protein additive found in many body-building drinks. This concerned me a little bit. While I do not have lactose intolerance, I have found through the years that I can not ingest much dairy products when I undergo strenuous activity. (Let me relate about the early instant breakfasts and backpacking, uh, maybe not…)

My first use of the Accelerade came on my very strenuous trip in Kings Canyon. I had premixed two 1-qt/l bottles with 2 servings in each and kept them in an ice chest to be ready to go from the trail head on day one. Even after a day traveling in the ice chest through the mountains the powder never dissolved. It was a milky orange color. My first taste confirmed that even though it has a strong orange flavor, I could taste the whey in it. As the day warmed up I started worrying that maybe I should not have mixed it all beforehand. I was worried that it may turn bad in the bottles. I finally poured out the last half bottle to stop worrying about it.

Then I found that the whey sticks to everything. The bottles and the caps were coated with little whey particles. When I got into my first night's camp site, and filtered water, I tried rinsing the bottle out to no avail. The whey would not come off. I was very happy that I did not bring a bladder with tube on this trip.

I was able to take some snow and use it to scrub the whey out of the bottles. I decided to use just one of my two bottles as a dedicated Accelerade container after that, and to carry the water until I was ready to use the Accelerade, at which time I would mix one bottle. I would then drink it within the next hour or so. When I was ready for more I would transfer the water from one to the other bottle, if we did not have to stop to filter more anyway. (In which case I would just filter more water straight to the Accelerade bottle.) I did this for the next three days.

I did notice that the protein added a bit more satisfaction to the drink. I could tell the difference from my regular drink. Three of the four days on the trail I found that I did not eat all I had brought for the day's caloric intake. I drank two bottles, or four servings of the Accelerade each day, two servings before noon and two around 3:00 PM.

A couple of things that were immediately obvious about the Accelerade and the way that it reacts with me were not so positive. The stuff gives me gas within 15 to 20 minutes of drinking. I realize that climbing at altitude affects the gastro-intestinal system but this was over and above what normally occurs. Other than this I had no other stomach problems with it.

The other thing is the Yellow Dye # 5 and # 6 that they use gave me unbelievably fluorescent yellow urine, also within the hour of drinking. It would be back to normal after an evening in camp and overnight just drinking plain water. But the next day as soon as the Accelerade goes in, Ray go Day-glo! (Groan)

The next big trip that I used it on for an extended time was the trip to Grand Teton National Park. This time armed with my previous experience I mixed it up right when I was going to drink it, and even shared it with Jenn (who had liked using Accelerade for Century rides, but had not used it hiking yet) so as to keep from having it sit in my water bottle for long. This helped a lot with it sticking to the inside of my bottle, but the other effects were still very apparent. As we had it at the top of Paintbrush Divide, 10700' (3260 m) the elevation may have had something to do with the way we were burping within minutes. It was almost like I had an Orange Julius made with carbonated milk.

I used it on a few extreme day-hikes (fastpacks) with the same results. It does work great as far as giving a noticeable boost while hiking. I can use it as an energy bar replacement if I drink a couple of liters (quarts). On the Grand Teton trip I only ate one Larabar between breakfast and dinner. Normally I eat two and some hard candies too. I never had a single candy for the entire trip, and never ate more than one bar a day. I attribute that to the protein in the Accelerade.

But I am getting very tired of the burping and gas. And it should be noted that I am not lactose intolerant. I love all milk products and have no difficulty ingesting or digesting them.

At the time of this writing I still have over half of a large container of the Accelerade but I have decided not to buy any more of it. While it does work as advertised the side effects (for me at least) keep me from enjoying the benefits of it. If I ever hear of them switching to a different source for the protein I will probably try it again as I like it in theory.

Here is a picture of the Accelerade in my pack's side pockets as I admire a standing wave near Mist Falls in Kings Canyon.

Mist Falls

Owner Review by Ray Estrella

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