What About Osmolality?
Osmolality has become one of the most talked-about terms in sports nutrition, but it is often discussed without context.
Osmolality simply refers to the concentration of dissolved particles in a solution. Carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, magnesium, amino acids, flavourings and sweeteners all contribute.
Higher osmolality is not automatically bad.
Lower osmolality is not automatically better.
What matters is whether a product delivers the fuel, fluid and electrolytes required for the task while remaining comfortable to consume during exercise.
At Hexis, we do not formulate products around a marketing number.
We formulate around athlete outcomes.
That means considering:
• Carbohydrate delivery per hour
• Sodium delivery per hour
• Fluid intake requirements
• Mixing instructions
• Taste fatigue
• Solubility
• Gastrointestinal comfort
• Real-world race execution
A drink with very low osmolality may look impressive on paper, but if it only delivers a small amount of carbohydrate or sodium, the athlete may still need additional products to meet their requirements.
Likewise, a drink containing meaningful carbohydrate and sodium can still be highly tolerable when formulated correctly and consumed at an appropriate dilution.
The question should never be:
“What is the osmolality?”
The question should be:
“Can I comfortably absorb the fuel, fluid and electrolytes I need to perform?”
The Hexis Approach
When we designed Fuel 60, J60 and Hydra 700, the goal was not to chase ingredient trends or arbitrary formulation targets.
The goal was to create products that fit together as a system.
Fuel 60
• Prioritises carbohydrate delivery.
• Minimal ingredient profile.
• Built on a 2:1 glucose:fructose ratio, using two separate gut absorption pathways (SGLT1 and GLUT5) to increase total carbohydrate uptake beyond what a single carbohydrate source allows.
• Allows athletes to increase energy intake without unnecessary extras.
J60
• Combines carbohydrate and sodium in the same 2:1 glucose:fructose ratio, in a balance suitable for most endurance athletes.
• Designed to provide a practical starting point for hourly fuelling.
• Can be adjusted with additional fluid or sodium depending on conditions and sweat losses.
Hydra 700
• Focuses on hydration and electrolyte replacement.
• Designed for athletes whose sodium requirements exceed what a standard sports drink can provide.
• Complements rather than competes with carbohydrate intake.
Instead of trying to force every ingredient into one product, each formula has a specific job.
Because in endurance nutrition, execution usually beats complexity.
The athlete who consistently consumes enough carbohydrate, enough sodium and enough fluid will almost always outperform the athlete chasing the latest ingredient trend.
That’s the philosophy behind every Hexis formula:
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
