For long or hot efforts, most endurance athletes use both — because they do different jobs. Hüma's gels are fuel: real-food carbs that keep your energy up. Hüma Hydration is a low-sugar drink mix that replaces the fluid and electrolytes you sweat out. A gel feeds you; Hydration keeps you topped up on water and salts. On short or cool days, a gel and plain water is plenty.
The quick comparison
| Hüma gels | Hüma Hydration | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Fuel — carbs for energy | Fluid + electrolytes |
| Format | Real-food gel pouch | Drink mix you stir into water |
| Carbs | 24g (Original) | 2g |
| Calories | 100 | 10 |
| Sugar | About 14g | 1g |
| Sodium | About 105mg (Original) | 380mg |
| Caffeine options | Yes | No |
What the gels do
Hüma's gels are fuel. Each pouch delivers 24g of real-food carbs — from brown rice syrup and cane sugar, with real fruit and chia — and 100 calories to keep your energy up through a long effort. No maltodextrin, no artificial flavors, made in the USA. The job is simple: replace the carbs you burn so you can finish strong. Fuel with two to three Hüma per hour, and they go down smooth at any pace. (More on the math in how many carbs per hour you need.)
What Hydration does
Hüma Hydration is a drink mix you stir into water — low sugar, high electrolytes, formulated to match what hard, hot efforts make you lose. It carries 380mg of sodium plus potassium, magnesium, and calcium, with just 1g of sugar and 10 calories, sweetened with stevia and no maltodextrin. If you finish a hot session with a gritty, salt-streaked hat, that's the fluid and salts Hydration is built to put back — without piling on more sugar on top of your gels.
Electrolytes, side by side
Here's where the electrolytes land per serving. Hüma's gels carry electrolytes too — PLUS has double what Original does — but Hydration is the one built around them, with the most sodium and barely any sugar:
| Per serving (typical) | Original gel | PLUS gel | Hydration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 105 mg | 240 mg | 380 mg |
| Potassium | 40 mg | 90 mg | 100 mg |
| Magnesium | 10 mg | 15 mg | 40 mg |
| Calcium | 20 mg | 25 mg | 25 mg |
| Sugar | About 14 g | About 12 g | 1 g |
Gel amounts vary slightly by flavor — PLUS potassium ranges about 50–145 mg, and the Chocolate Original runs a bit higher on sodium.
Isn't PLUS already electrolytes?
It is — PLUS is Original with double the electrolytes, so it's the easy call when you want fuel and a bigger electrolyte dose in one pouch. The difference is sugar and fluid. Every gel you take to raise electrolytes also adds carbs and sugar, and there's a ceiling on how many gels sit well per hour. Hydration lets you dial up fluid and electrolytes on their own — in your bottle, with 1g of sugar — without touching your fueling math. (For the full gel breakdown, see Original vs. PLUS.)
Do you need both?
For short or cool efforts, no — a gel and plain water covers it. The pairing earns its place when it's long or hot. Here's the simple way to run it on a hot day: reach for PLUS — Original with double the electrolytes, built for heavy sweat — or stay with Original if that's your go-to, and fuel with two to three per hour, leaning toward three when it's really hot or you're racing. Sip Hüma Hydration alongside the gels to replace the fluid and electrolytes you're sweating out — it carries the most sodium of the three, with just 1g of sugar, so you top up your salts without adding more carbs. Gels for the fuel, Hydration for the fluid and salts.
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FAQ
Do I need Hüma Hydration if I already use the gels?
Not for short or cool efforts — a gel and plain water is plenty. For long or hot days, pairing them lets you fuel with gels and replace fluid and electrolytes with Hydration, adjusting each on its own.
What's the difference between Hüma's gels and Hydration?
The gels are fuel — 24g of real-food carbs per pouch for energy. Hydration is a low-sugar drink mix that replaces the fluid and electrolytes you sweat out, with just 1g of sugar.
Is Hüma Hydration a gel?
No. It's a powdered drink mix you stir into water — no caffeine, sweetened with stevia, with 380mg of sodium plus potassium, magnesium, and calcium per serving.
Should I use Hydration instead of PLUS?
They do different jobs. PLUS is a gel with double the electrolytes, so it adds fuel and salts together. Hydration adds fluid and electrolytes with almost no sugar, so you can raise them without adding carbs. Many athletes use both.
How many Hüma gels should I take per hour?
Two to three per hour for most endurance athletes, whether you choose Original, PLUS, or a mix — and pair with Hydration in the bottle when it's long or hot.
