The Electrolyte Packets That Cost More Than My Electricity
“LMNT is $1.50/packet. Dr. Berg's is $0.28/serving. Both have great electrolyte profiles. I switched to Dr. Berg's and add a pinch of Redmond salt. My muscles can't tell the difference. My wallet can.”
LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix (Variety Pack, 30 Count)
28,543 reviews
Pros
- +1000mg sodium — perfect for Miami heat and kiteboarding
- +Zero sugar, no artificial junk
- +Every podcast host on Earth endorses it
- +The flavors are actually good (Citrus Salt is elite)
- +Endorsed by Robb Wolf and the whole ancestral health crew
Cons
- -$1.50 per packet — per DAY that adds up fast
- -It's salt, potassium, and magnesium in a packet
- -The podcast industrial complex made me buy this
- -I could literally buy the ingredients for $15 and make 300 servings
Dr. Berg's Electrolyte Powder (Raspberry Lemon, 90 Servings)
45,876 reviews
Pros
- +90 servings for $25 — that's $0.28 each
- +1000mg potassium per serving
- +Zero sugar, stevia sweetened
- +45,000 reviews at 4.6 — massive following
- +One tub lasts three months
Cons
- -Less sodium than LMNT (add a pinch of salt — solved)
- -Stevia taste isn't for everyone
- -Dr. Berg is a chiropractor, not an MD (doesn't affect the minerals though)
The Story
Every podcast I listen to is sponsored by LMNT. Huberman? LMNT. Rogan? LMNT. Peter Attia? LMNT. After hearing 'LMNT — that's L-M-N-T, element' approximately four thousand times, I finally bought a box.
They're good. Genuinely good. 1000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium. The Citrus Salt flavor is legitimately delicious. After kiteboarding sessions in the Miami sun, they stop me from cramping up. I became a daily user. $1.50/day. That's $45/month. $540/year. On salt water.
Then I looked at the ingredients: sodium, potassium, magnesium, citric acid, natural flavors. That's it. It's minerals in a packet. Important minerals, but minerals nonetheless.
Dr. Berg's electrolyte powder is $25 for 90 servings. That's $0.28 per serving. It has more potassium than LMNT (1000mg vs 200mg). Less sodium, but I just add a pinch of Redmond Real Salt which I already have in my kitchen. Total cost per serving with added salt: about $0.30. That's an 80% cost reduction for the same electrolytes.
I still keep a few LMNT packets in my kite bag for convenience. They're the best grab-and-go option. But my daily driver is now Dr. Berg's with a salt pinch, and my body hydrates exactly the same way it did when I was paying the podcast tax.
The Lesson
Electrolytes are minerals, not magic. If you're paying $1.50/day for salt and potassium, look at the $0.28/serving option. Add your own salt. Save $500/year.
Affiliate Disclosure: Links on this page go to Amazon and include an affiliate tag. If you buy something, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is an honest comparison of products I've actually used. Product details, prices, ratings, and review counts are approximate and may be outdated. This page was created with AI assistance. Not professional product advice — just one guy's experience.
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Glen's Musings — AI, investing, and building things. Occasional. Free.
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