Guide · Formats
Electrolyte sachets, tablets or a jar?
Sachets, sticks, tablets and powder jars all do the same basic job. Here is how the formats compare on servings, sodium, packaging and carrying, from brands' own labels.
Sachets and sticks are single servings you tear open; tablets dissolve in a set amount of water; a powder jar holds many servings with a scoop. None is more effective. Choose on sodium per serving, sugar, taste and how you carry it. Lula is a jar only: 20 scoops of 1,000 mg sodium in a 130 g glass jar.
- Sachets and sticks: portable, one wrapper per serving.
- Tablets: light, fizzy, usually lower sodium per serving.
- Jar: no wrapper per serving, choose your own water, mix at home or carry a dry scoop.
The formats, side by side
| Format | How it works | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powder jar (Lula) | Scoop into your own bottle of water | Daily use at home, gym bag, choosing your water | Carry a dry scoop in a small tub for days out |
| Sachets and sticks | One serving per wrapper, tear and pour | Travel, races, handing out | One wrapper per serving |
| Tablets | Drop into a set amount of water, fizzes | Very light carrying | Often lower sodium per serving; fixed water amount |
| Drops and concentrates | Squeeze into water | Flavouring water lightly | Check the minerals per serving |
| Ready-to-drink bottles | Already mixed | Grab and go | Sugar and sodium vary widely |
Hydration sachets and sticks: when single servings make sense
Single-serve sachets and sticks (also sold as "hydration packets") are the same idea as a scoop of powder, pre-measured into one wrapper. They suit some days better than others.
When a sachet or stick is handy
- Travelling, when you do not want to carry a tub.
- Race day or a long ride, when you want a measured serving at a feed stop.
- Trying a brand or a flavour before you buy a full tub.
- Keeping one in a bag, a desk drawer or the car.
When a jar is handy
- You use an electrolyte most days at home, at work or at the gym.
- You like to choose how much water to mix with.
- You would rather not open a wrapper for every serving.
What to check on any sachet or stick
- Serving weight and how much water the brand says to use.
- Sodium per serving (on our 20 October 2026 table, single-serve products ranged from 530 mg to 1,000 mg).
- Sugars per serving, and what sweetens it.
- Whether minerals are stated per sachet or per litre.
How shoppers buy sachets in the UK
On Amazon UK's Electrolyte Replacement Supplements bestseller list (checked 22 October 2026), 9 of the top 30 products were sachets or sticks, 13 were effervescent tablets and 6 were tubs of powder. Myprotein's UK range covers every format: tubs, sachets, tablets and gummies. Format is a matter of habit, not of which works better.
Method: we counted the format of each of the top 30 products on the amazon.co.uk Best Sellers list for Electrolyte Replacement Supplements on 22 October 2026. Rankings change hourly.
Sodium per serving, by format
From each brand's own label or product page, checked on 20 October 2026.
| Product | Format | Sodium per serving | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lula Natural Peach | Jar, 6.5 g scoop (20 per jar) | 1,000 mg | 0.17 g (no added sugar) |
| LMNT drink mix | Single-serve stick | 1,000 mg | No sugar (brand states) |
| Puresport Ultra Electrolytes | Sachet | 1,000 mg | No sugar (brand states) |
| Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (UK) | Stick | 530 mg | Contains sugar and dextrose |
| Precision Hydration PH 1000 | 20 g packet | 1,000 mg per 32 oz as directed | 16 g per packet |
| Nuun Sport | 5 g tablet | 300 mg | 1 g |
Figures as each brand states them on its own label or product page, checked on 20 October 2026. Labels change, so the pack in your hand is the final word. This is a label comparison only: we do not claim any product hydrates better or faster than another, or than water.
Why Lula comes in a jar
We chose a 130 g amber glass jar with a scoop for the way most people actually use an electrolyte: at home, at the desk or in the gym bag, most days. A jar means no wrapper per serving and you choose your own bottle and water.
The trade-off is portability. For a long day out, put a dry scoop in a small airtight tub and add water when you need it. We do not claim a jar is better for the planet than any other format; we just like it, and it suits a daily scoop.
Electrolyte tablets vs powder
Hydration tablets are light and tidy, and many people like the fizz. On our table, the tablet states 300 mg sodium per tablet, while the higher-sodium powders and sachets state 1,000 mg per serving. Powders also let you choose how much water you mix with.
If you are comparing, look at sodium per serving, sugar, and whether the label states minerals per tablet or per litre.
Cost per serving
Always compare price per serving rather than per pack. A Lula jar holds 20 scoops, so divide today's price on the product page by 20 to get the cost per scoop. The subscription and the 2-jar offer both bring it down. Check other brands' own sites for their current price per sachet, stick or tablet.
Inside the jar
What is in every scoop
One 6.5 g scoop. Every amount on the label, in plain sight.
from pink Himalayan salt1,000 mg42%The electrolyte you sweat out most
potassium citrate250 mg13%Sodium's partner mineral
magnesium citrate75 mg20%Magnesium contributes to normal muscle function. Magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
calcium citrate50 mg6%An electrolyte mineral in the blend
taurine, glycine, alanine1.2 gn/a500 mg taurine · 450 mg glycine · 250 mg alanine
sweetened with stevia0.17 gsugarsNo added sugar · 7.7 kcal · no caffeine
Good to know
Questions, answered
Are electrolyte sachets better than powder?
Neither is more effective. Sachets are single servings that are easy to carry; a jar holds many servings and lets you choose your water. Compare sodium and sugar per serving.
Does Lula come in sachets?
Lula comes in a 130 g amber glass jar with a long-handled scoop: 20 servings.
Are hydration sachets the same as electrolyte sachets?
Usually, yes. Brands use both names for single-serve electrolyte powders. Check the label for sodium and sugars per serving.
How do I take Lula out with me?
Mix a bottle at home, or carry one dry scoop in a small airtight tub and add water when you need it.
Electrolyte tablets or powder: which has more sodium?
It depends on the brand. On our 20 October 2026 table, the tablet stated 300 mg sodium per tablet, and the higher-sodium powders and sachets stated 1,000 mg per serving.
How many servings are in a jar of Lula?
20 scoops of 6.5 g.
Keep reading
Related guides
Try Lula
The complete amino electrolyte.
One scoop of Natural Peach in 750 ml to 1 litre of ice-cold water. 1,000 mg sodium with potassium, magnesium and calcium, plus 1.2 g of amino acids. No added sugar.
- One jar20 scoops · Tracked UK shipping, see shipping policy£24.99
- Buy 2 jars40 scoops · free UK shipping£39.99
- Subscribe & save 10%Subscription10% off, free UK shipping · pause, skip or cancel anytime
£24.99£22.49/month
Dispatch next working day · Royal Mail Tracked
Choose your Lula →Do not exceed the daily recommended dose (one scoop a day). Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Not recommended for children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking prescription medicine or have a medical condition, speak with your doctor before use.
Lula is a food supplement. Any health claims relate to its magnesium content.