You can drink an energy drink before a hike to give yourself a decidedly better walking performance. But it is worth understanding how they really work.
How they act on the body
Energy drinks were designed to produce two precise effects on the human body:
- Mobilise more quickly the sugars available throughout the body;
- Reduce the sense of fatigue, by acting on the pain centres.
In short, they can give us that extra gear for tackling demanding hikes and climbs, whether in terms of height gain or length.
When to take them
There is one detail that makes all the difference: energy drinks take effect about an hour after you drink them. So they should be taken a little ahead of the moment of hardest effort – not at the last minute, when the climb is already making itself felt.
The writer has had as many as 2 cans in the course of a single hike: it works, but you have to know how to use them.
Listen to what your body tells you
Pain, or the sense of fatigue, are not necessarily signals to ignore – quite the opposite, they should be listened to. They are the way our body talks to us and warns us that something is wrong. Someone who is well trained does not "suffer" fatigue, but experiences it as a physical state entirely consistent with the effort they are making.
Balance and common sense, always
It goes without saying that any abuse is to be avoided: the long-term effects of these drinks have never really been verified. As in all things, moderation is needed.
And above all: don't expect energy drinks to do the walking for us.
To stay hydrated on the march, read also hydrating drinks and electrolyte supplements.