While I found the ESN Pro Series sachets expensive and a bit too salty, they are ultra convenient and tick all the nutrition boxes.
Men’s Fitness verdict
ESN’s convenient sachets hit all the right numbers nutrition-wise but the taste and cost might not be to everyone’s liking.- Good range of electrolytes
- Easy to carry individual sachets
- One sachet will almost fill a 750ml bottle
- Can’t escape the salty aftertaste
- Not the cheapest option
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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Our team of fitness kit reviewers includes experienced product testers and fitness writers – as well as the core MF team – who know exactly what sets the best products apart from the rest. The ESN Pro Series Electrolyte Powder was tested by sports and fitness journalist Laurence McJannet. Find out more about how we test.
ESN continues to make shakes in the world of sports nutrition and is a brand trusted by elite athletes and their nutritionists. I have tested its Designer Whey and Isoclear protein powders before but this was my first experience with the company’s range of electrolyte drinks. I used them over a month before, during and after training sessions for a half-marathon, to see if they were among the best electrolyte drinks.
ESN Pro Series Electrolyte Drink nutritional values
The ESM Pro Series Electrolyte drink has a carbohydrate-electrolyte mix to both fuel and rehydrate you as you work out. Each 22.5g sachet contains 17g or carbs (of which only 1.1g is sugars). Each serving has a decent dose and mix of electrolytes too, with 660mg sodium, 150mg potassium, 59mg calcium and 28mg magnesium. I was a bit surprised by that sodium number, as it’s more than two times that found in, say, the Powerbar 5 electrolyte tabs.
ESN Pro Series Electrolyte Drink in use
Okay, so the numbers seem to add up but how does it perform in use? Though it’s hard to determine how effective an electrolyte drink is without scientific testing, there are certain things like taste, solubility and portability/ease of use that you can judge objectively.
I tested the natural lemon flavor of the ESN Pro Series electrolytes. Though there are also neutral, red apple or lollipop flavors to choose from. One sachet is recommended for 625ml of water, so it’s a little too much for those smaller 350ml or 500ml bottles you might attach to your bike. I used a 750ml bottle filled to the 625ml mark and found a sachet dissolved almost instantly with no need for shaking.
The taste, however, took a bit of getting used to. The lemon flavor is extremely subtle and is overpowered by the noticeable salty aftertaste. I can’t speak for the other flavors, but considering they have the same quantity of sodium I think there may be similar issues there.
ESN Pro Series Electrolye Drink cost and verdict
A sachet of the Pro Series costs £1.80 when bought in a 15-sachet box. That’s quite a bit more than 40p of each SiS Go Hydro tablet and more expensive than most electrolyte powders on test. Bear in mind, though, that some would need two or three tabs to make up the same quantity of drink.
If you’re looking for a hydration-promoting drink with a carb fuel dose and don’t mind the slightly salty aftertaste, there’s no doubt that the ESN Pro Series ticks all the boxes nutrient-wise. Its quantity of sodium is significantly more than most powders on test – but again it does make a larger quantity of drink. I found the sachets useful for refilling running vest soft bottles and CamelBaks mid-event. However, if you prefer a sweeter taste or smaller servings there are other tabs that might better fulfil your needs.
ESN Pro Series Electrolyte Drink specs
| Serving size | 1 sachet in 625ml water |
| Sodium per serving | 660mg |
| Price per serving | £1.80 |
| Flavours | Natural lemon, neutral, red apple, cherry lollipop |
