The Nalgene Bottle (courtesy, REI)

Do you have a question of your own?

Actually, the best drink to take on a hike is a Nalgene bottle ($10; www.nalgene-outdoor.com) filled with Dole’s Pine-Orange-Banana Juice. Freeze it, then stick it in the pack. About the time you are REALLY thirsty and it is REALLY hot, the stuff will have melted to a lovely slushy consistence. I love that stuff—and it’s actually a pretty good sports drink, with some natural sugars, a good dose or carbs, and electrolytes such as potassium.

Anyway, that’s just me. But Pine-Orange-Banana has fueled me on many a hike or ride.

Otherwise, I suggest going for a mix of sports drinks and water. Sports drinks certainly have their place, but these days they’re over-hyped and over-sweetened. One option is to pack a bottle of sports drink in your pack, toss in a bottle of water or a hydration bladder full of water, and alternate when you get thirsty.

And, given the nationwide heat wave, your question presents a good time to discuss the dangers of drinking TOO much. That’s right—you can easily over-hydrate. The condition is called hyponatremia, and it happens when you pump so much fluid into yourself that you literally thin the sodium in your blood that helps keep the machinery firing. You may experience nausea, muscle cramps, disorientation, slurred speech, or confusion. In really severe cases, seizures may occur, and even death! It’s commonly seen at ultra-marathon events such as the Ironman in Hawaii, and in places such as the Grand Canyon. Treatment can include eating salty foods such as potato chips, or drinking some sports drinks that have sodium.

So there you go. Cheers!

•	Subscribe to Outside and get a FREE Gift!
•	Give the gift of Outside Magazine!
•	Subscribe to Outside Online's free weekly e-mail newsletter featuring gear reviews, fitness advice, galleries, podcasts, and more.

RECENT QUESTIONS What set of walkie-talkies should I get for a three-month trip on Hawaii’s Big Island? Who makes the best three-season one-person condensation-free tent? What’s the best boot for a Denali summit? What’s the best altimeter for a winter ascent of Mount Rainier? What day pack should I use for winter adventures on the Gaspe Peninsula? Search the Gear Guy

GEAR GUY FEATURES Check out the bio of Douglas Gantenbein, aka the Gear Guy. Readers' Mailbag: The Gear Guy digs into some of your more bizarre, obscure (and let’s face it, downright weird) posts from years gone by to see if he can make sense of it all, or if it’s just time to run up the white flag. Previous column: Beat the Cost of Gear. The Gear Guy reports from the 2005 Outdoor Retailer summer trade fair, with his rundown of ten products to watch in 2006, plus the inside scoop on what shook down at the bi-annual gearapalooza.

MORE GEAR The Outside Gear Blog 2005 Buyer's Guide State of the Art: 2005 Bikes