Dialing in hydration and fueling from start to finish can be a game-changer—and Tailwind has become a staple in that process. Their lineup really covers all the bases: from Rapid Hydration mixes that prep your body pre-run, to Endurance and High Carb fuels designed to keep you going strong on long efforts, and even Recovery formulas that help bring you back post-run. It’s a 360-degree approach backed by science—and it’s one I’ve come to really appreciate.
For a long time, nutrition and hydration were my weak spots in both training and racing. I’d often skip fueling entirely on long runs and wouldn’t even think about hydration during anything short. But when I “grew up” and started getting more dialed into consistent running, I knew that had to change. I began integrating fuel into my long runs, and it didn’t take long to realize just how much I’d been missing. Proper hydration and nutrition completely shifted how I felt during workouts—and made my goals a lot more realistic.
Rapid Hydration
Tailwind’s Rapid Hydration is perfect for everyday use—whether you’re getting ready for a workout, traveling, or just trying to stay on top of your hydration game.
It’s not rocket science, but let’s be real: staying hydrated matters when you’re running. Who knew, right? The Rapid Hydration line is built to help your body hit optimal electrolyte and Vitamin C levels, replacing what you lose when you sweat and giving your immune system a little love along the way.
The Rapid Hydration flavor line-up includes:
- Orange
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Lemon Lime
- Raspberry
- Berry
Even with these fruit-forward options, the taste isn’t overly sweet (and that’s a good thing). I enjoy sweet drinks as much as the next person, but overly sugary flavors can be hard to get down mid-run. These strike a nice balance—light, clean, and easy to sip.
Rapid Hydration is sweetened with real cane sugar and skips all the artificial stuff—no stevia, monk fruit, or sucralose (which I personally can’t handle). This simple formula helps your body absorb water up to three times faster than plain water, getting hydration where it needs to go, fast.
Simple, smart hydration—no gimmicks, just results.
Endurance Fuel
Endurance Fuel is Tailwind’s classic endurance drink mix, delivering 50g of carbs per scoop per serving depending on your needs. It’s made for long efforts, and I’ve found it super easy to use. Just add water to your handheld and go. I’ve had zero stomach issues, which is a huge win—and a big reason I keep going back to it.
The flavor has also impressed me. Dauwaltermelon (named after the famed ultrarunner) is genuinely delicious. With other endurance fuels, I sometimes find myself craving plain water midway through a long run—but not with Tailwind. Even on a recent 20-miler, I was totally happy sipping the mix…until I ran out. I’d forgotten to pack a backup, and by mile 18 or 19, I could feel myself crashing. That drop-off was a clear sign I wasn’t getting the salt I needed once I switched to plain water. Lesson learned: bring extra.
Tailwind Endurance is made with all-natural ingredients and is Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegan. There’s no artificial coloring—just a clean white mix. One packet delivers 200 calories, 606mg sodium, and 50g of carbs—everything I need to stay fueled and feeling strong. You can even half it and bring the extra to refuel halfway – which I regularly do.
It’s now a go-to for both marathon training and race day, especially since I sweat a lot and need that sodium boost alongside carbs. I’m just glad I finally found something that works.
High Carb Fuel
A relatively new addition to the Tailwind lineup is High Carb Fuel, launched this spring. It’s built for racing and hard efforts, packing a hefty 90g of carbs and 360 calories per serving to keep you moving strong through the miles.
That said, just like ramping up your training for a big race, your gut needs time to adapt to this level of carb intake—so it’s not something you want to toss into your flask on a whim. Tailwind even has a helpful ramp-up guide to ease into it the right way.
It currently comes in two flavors: Ginger Lime and Lemonade. I’ll admit, I was a little worried at first—the initial smell was intense, almost like a lemonade slap to the face. But once I took a sip, I was surprised at how light and drinkable it actually was.
This mix seems perfect for marathoners, ultra runners, or anyone tackling long distances regularly. I know a lot of ultra folks struggle with late-run bonking or just can’t stomach solid foods, gels, or gummies late in a race. Tailwind’s High Carb Fuel is a great solution—it goes down easy, delivers sustained energy, and (from my experience and others I’ve read) doesn’t cause stomach issues.
Recovery Mix
Tailwind’s Recovery Mix has been around for a while, but they recently launched a new and improved formula—and it’s worth checking out.
In addition to the familiar Chocolate, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel flavors, they’ve added Strawberry to the mix. It’s a fun, fruity option (perfect for summer) and a nice contrast to the more earthy profiles of the original flavors. The texture also feels a bit smoother and more dialed in this time around.
But it’s not just the flavor that got an upgrade. Tailwind made a few key tweaks at the molecular level, too. They removed fat from the formula, making it a faster-absorbing mix focused strictly on carbs and electrolytes. Leucine—an amino acid that helps kickstart muscle protein synthesis—has been boosted, and protein content has nearly doubled, now offering 20g of rice and fava bean protein per serving (up from 11g).
The end result? A cleaner, faster, and more effective recovery option—perfect for refueling after hard efforts.
Runners who take their performance seriously need to take their fueling just as seriously—and that means more than just grabbing a gel here and there. From hydration and endurance to high-carb racing fuel and recovery, Tailwind offers one of the most well-rounded and thoughtfully designed systems out there to support every stage of the run.
