Best High-Carbohydrate Drink Mixes for Long Races

The useful question is not which drink mix has the biggest number on the front. It is how many grams your actual flask contains when you mix it according to the label, and how you will prepare the next one on course. A 90 g sachet is not a prescription to drink 90 g per hour. It is a quantity you can use when planning a setup you have already practised.

Maurten Drink Mix 320 is the simplest option here if your plan calls for a premeasured 80 g in 500 ml. Neversecond C90 is worth comparing if you want a 90 g packet with more than one labelled water volume. Skratch Super High-Carb makes sense when you would rather measure a serving from a bag or carry a smaller premeasured packet. Those are format and logistics judgments, not claims that one formula is faster or easier on every stomach.

This guide compares manufacturer labels and storefront listings, not results from taste tests or races. It is not an individual nutrition or hydration plan. Compare the label on the product you buy, especially if you have a dietary restriction or a reason to seek sports nutrition advice.

Compare grams in your bottle, not just grams per serving

Mix	Labelled carbohydrate	Manufacturer mixing instructions	What makes it useful
Maurten Drink Mix 320	80 g per sachet	500 ml water	A fixed amount and volume, easy to count by sachet
Neversecond C90 High Carb Drink Mix	90 g per sachet	500 ml, 750 ml or 1 litre water	Same grams with a choice of labelled volumes
Skratch Super High-Carb Sport Drink Mix	About 50 g per two-scoop serving; the listed 200-calorie packets say 51 g	Brand’s starting instructions use two additions of 4 to 5 US fluid ounces of water per serving	Scoop or packet formats, useful for smaller units of fuel

There are three separate numbers: grams per packet, water used for that packet, and the proportion of the bottle you actually finish. For example, half of a well-mixed 500 ml bottle of Drink Mix 320 contains 40 g of carbohydrate. That is arithmetic, not a recommended intake. Write the amount on each bottle and track what you used, rather than assuming every bottle that left an aid station was emptied.

Maurten Drink Mix 320: pick it for the fixed 500 ml recipe

The manufacturer’s instructions specify 80 g of carbohydrate in 500 ml of water. That is 160 g per litre at the stated recipe. The standard Drink Mix 320 is not the same product as 320 Caf 100, which the Maurten product FAQ lists with 100 mg of caffeine. Check the complete name if someone else prepares your drop bag.

A single sachet per 500 ml bottle is easy to stage and count. It is less flexible if your only bottle is a different size or you plan to refill from an unmarked cup. Do not assume the same packet belongs in whatever volume is available. Arrange a measured refill, choose a different format, or use your already practised backup instead of changing concentration during the race.

Maurten’s US-dollar listing showed $51 for 14 servings, about $3.64 for 80 g. The label provides the carbohydrate amount; the brand’s hydrogel and tolerance claims are not comparative findings from this guide.

Neversecond C90: choose the volume that fits the equipment

The C90 listing gives 90 g carbohydrate and 200 mg sodium per packet, with no caffeine listed. It provides instructions for one sachet in 500 ml, 750 ml or 1 litre. That means the same packet supplies 180 g/L, 120 g/L or 90 g/L respectively. These are concentrations, not targets. The full packet still contains 90 g in every case, and the sodium per litre changes along with the water volume.

This is a useful choice to evaluate when you have a 750 ml bottle for part of a race or a bigger carry volume between stations. It does not mean the most concentrated option is best. Work out which volume fits your equipment and rehearse the same mix, drinking pattern and refills before relying on it.

The US product listing showed $38 for eight sachets, or $4.75 each before shipping. C90 and the brand’s lower-carbohydrate products are not interchangeable by packet count. Check the exact label if your race supplies a Neversecond drink at aid stations.

Skratch Super High-Carb: compare scoop and packet sizes

Skratch’s listing describes a two-scoop serving as about 50 g and separately lists 51 g for the 200-calorie packet format. The same product page shows why older comparisons can be confusing: the brand describes a previous 100 g serving, and four current scoops still total about 100 g. Use the current package and scoop, not a serving number copied from an older guide.

The resealable bag is useful for premeasuring a bottle at home. The single packet is more convenient in a drop bag if you want to avoid measuring powder in wind or rain. Test the manufacturer’s suggested preparation method with the neck of the actual flask. Powder that is easy to prepare in a kitchen can be harder to transfer at a crowded station. The linked storefront displayed $41.95 for its selected listing; verify the bag or packet format and total labelled carbohydrate before making a price comparison.

Plan the refill before buying a whole box

1. Read the race logistics. Mark where you can carry premixed bottles, where there is water, and which aid stations actually offer the product you intend to use. Do not assume a familiar brand means a familiar concentration.
2. Match the bottle to a label recipe. A flask marked 500 ml is useful only if you can reliably measure that amount when refilling. If you transfer between bottles, know what the finished mixture contains.
3. Rehearse with the actual gear. Practise opening sachets, mixing, carrying and drinking on a long training run. Record what you finish and what you leave behind. A setup you cannot execute comfortably is not improved by a higher carbohydrate number.
4. Keep the fuel and fluid decisions separate. Adding more drink powder is not the same decision as adding fluid. Look at your existing plan and conditions. If you need a different way to carry water, see the ultrarunning vest guide. For a separate comparison of carry options and on-course electrolytes, see the marathon electrolyte drink guide.

Compare price by the amount you actually prepare and use. A large sachet is not automatically cheaper if your setup regularly leaves half behind. A bag is not automatically more convenient if you need unopened portions at multiple handoffs.

FAQ

Does 80 g per bottle mean I should finish one each hour?

No. It is a label quantity, not an hourly instruction. Your consumption depends on your own plan, what else you are eating and drinking, and what you have already practised.

Can I make a packet stronger by using less water?

Do not assume every product supports that. Follow the exact package directions. A recipe tested in a larger bottle is a different setup when you put it into a smaller flask.

Are high-carbohydrate mixes the same as electrolyte mixes?

No. A drink can provide both, but the useful comparison for this purchase is grams of carbohydrate at a documented volume. Read the sodium, caffeine and ingredient fields separately.

Which format is easiest to carry for a long race?

A packet is easy to count and hand off if it matches your available bottle and refill volume. A scoopable bag is easier to portion before leaving home. Pick the format that removes the most uncertainty from your actual race setup.

Official labels and prices checked 5 November 2026; local packaging and prices can differ. No hands-on testing, affiliate links or paid inclusions were used.