Scores: Justin 7.1/10, Jared 8.3/10
The other week I got my hands on XTEND’s hydration mix, XTEND x Airheads.
As an amateur runner slowly ramping up my miles, I’ve started experimenting with endurance and hydration supplements. I had a race a couple of weeks ago, so I used it to put XTEND to the test.
Justin’s review: 7.1/10
I’ve tried a lot of hydration formulas, and the flavors vary wildly. Because of the sodium in most electrolyte mixes, some taste like pure salt water while others mask it better. I was pleasantly surprised that the Blue Raspberry edition is one of the better-tasting blends, sweet enough to downplay the salt.
The performance and nutrition side, which I think matters most in a hydration supplement, also impressed me: 5 calories, 0 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of BCAAs per serving. I took one scoop about an hour before the race. As unconditioned and unprepared as I felt going in, I think it helped me cross the finish line. There were water stations along the course, but I felt fully hydrated and didn’t grab water until around mile 8.5.
I’d like to test it on more runs and endurance workouts, but overall I was impressed with XTEND Blue Raspberry’s flavor and perceived performance boost.
Jared’s review: 8.3/10
First, a shoutout to the team behind C4 and XTEND for keeping us stocked with their latest products. And a shoutout to Justin, our newest writer: as a serious runner and gym guy, he brings a fresh perspective on these products and the caffeine industry at large.
XTEND is the first hydration supplement I’ve ever taken, and it kind of blew my mind that this exists. I run fairly consistently but wouldn’t call myself a serious runner. An affordable, great-tasting powder that boosts your cardio and makes recovery easier seems like a cheat code, so I was excited to try it.
Following the instructions, I drank one serving before my run and one after. (The label also says to take a serving on rest days, which I haven’t kept up with.)
Taste: Of course it tastes exactly like a blue Airhead. C4 always nails candy flavors. What impressed me was how natural it tastes in water; I didn’t miss the carbonation of a canned energy drink. It also wasn’t too sweet, which I’d worried about. The flavor was really balanced, which feels weird to say about a candy-flavored water enhancer, but it’s true.
Performance: It’s hard to pinpoint the improvement, but I had a great run. I’m just getting back into it after the winter, so I only ran two miles, but I felt much better than on my run a few days earlier. Recovery was flawless, with no soreness or dehydration afterward.
Overall, this is a great product, and I’m excited to keep using it to see if there are long-term benefits. If there are, it’s a real game changer.
Try XTEND on Amazon through our affiliate link. Prefer your electrolytes with caffeine? See our Gatorade Fast Twitch rankings or the C4 cans we’ve rated:
