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Tailwind Nutrition Debuts with High-Electrolyte Endurance Sports Drink

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Tailwind Nutrition is a new sports drink brand formulated for extended endurance events.

After suffering digestion issues and bloating during the Leadville 100 mountain bike race, founder Jeff Vierling decided to make his own “secret weapon.” The result, which he’s now commercialized, is Tailwind, and it’s supposedly light enough in flavor to still be palatable even after hours on the bike. They also say it mixes easily and rinses clean, making it perfect for hydration packs.

In addition to the taste profile, the idea was to create something that provided all the energy and electrolytes you’d need so you don’t have to fumble with gels, pills or chews.

Each serving provides 100 calories from dextrose (glucose) and sucrose and provides a whopping 303mg of sodium from citrate and sea salt, plus potassium (88mg), calcium (26mg) and magnesium (14mg). Flavors are organic. It’s priced comparatively well, too, at $34.99 for 50 serving container and $19.99 for 25 servings. Single-serve pouches are also available.

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Gumby
Gumby
11 years ago

Name / branding SUCKS change it change it change it!

Steve M
Steve M
11 years ago

It is a bit evocative of Lance and Tailwind Sports.

Topmounter
Topmounter
11 years ago

Tailwind: Now with Beano!

dale
dale
11 years ago

The story behind it is good marketing. No matter how many of those sports drinks I try I still get the bloat or post ride dia-blast every couple weeks. I usually rotate Cytomax, GU brew, roctane and my own concoctions. I’d try this tailwind stuff. The black package is odd, it seems more like a protein package.

Brian
Brian
11 years ago

An “endurance” drink that is basically electrolytes? So what is one to do for protein replacement after 2 to 3 hours? Fuel for less than 6+ hours does not an endurance drink make in my book.

Meta
Meta
11 years ago

This or Osmo or Skratch or any hydration snake oil are all just industrial products people. Just mix sugar, salt, juice an you’re all set. These products remind of inkjet for printers and the Mafia!

Joey
Joey
11 years ago

Try it before you knock it, perhaps. Tailwind doesn’t taste like medicine like most of the stuff you guys probably drink.

herrow prease
herrow prease
11 years ago

agreed with STeve M. The first thing I thought of when i read “tailwind” was Lances Scam company.

Jenny
11 years ago

First off, thanks for your sense of humor. We came up with the name Tailwind Endurance Fuel while on the Hermosa Creek Trail in Durango, CO (where we’re from). We joked about taglines like “Blow away your competition”, but we were actually thinking of that nice push you get when a tailwind hits your back. At the time, we had no idea that Tailwind Sports even existed or had some connection to Lance Armstrong.

As for “industrial products people”, we’re just endurance athletes who couldn’t find anything on the market that worked for us. Stomach problems, cramping, a gagging reflex (because drinks out on the market are just way too sweet for long rides and you stop drinking), you name it…it was a total bummer to invest countless hours (and money) into preparing for an event just to have it end miserably because our fueling options weren’t working. We originally created it for ourselves, and then friends started asking for it, then acquaintances (you get the picture).

As for protein, the latest research shows that protein has no measurable impact on performance and is a leading culprit for stomach issues. Joe Friel has a great post here where he looked at the most recent research: http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2011/09/should-you-use-carbohydrate-protein-sports-drinks.html. Is protein important for recovery? Absolutely. Should it be part of your overall diet? You bet. But, to drink it during your activity? Not good.

We only put in Tailwind what will help your performance: calories (dextrose/glucose+sucrose), electrolytes, and organic flavoring. That’s it. And, we have customers running with Tailwind for 24 hours straight – that’s the real proof.

I hope this helps you understand where we are coming from…

Thanks,
Jenny

Arnie
Arnie
10 years ago

I just tried this and rode my mountain bike like never before. I perspire heavily and was always trying to play catch up. Gels- Gatorade -coconut water – bananas you name it and I tried it and always seem to bonk out. I tried this today rode two hours eighteen minutes and felt as if I had done nothing. This is my first review ever left on the web. I bought it after reading a few and I wanted to stop being selfish and contribute this item is all it claims to be !

Crystal
Crystal
8 years ago

I tried Tailwind for the first time this past summer training for a 24 hour endurance event held in Moab, UT. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it exceeded my expectations. I always have gotten stomach cramps and a sensation of oncoming diarrhea (never experienced it though) during most of my events that go past 2 hours. I used Tailwind for 80-90% of my calories during up to 8 hour races and guess what? My stomach has never felt so great. I guess I’m sold. I used to rely mostly on Hammer Nutrition products, Melon was my favorite flavor of Heed, Gu Chomps, gels, chews, waffles, etc, but I think the Orange flavored Tailwind has officially replaced most of it. I found switching to the caffeinated berry after the 8 hour mark works great and gives a pretty good boost to your energy.

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