Hammer HEED Comparison

Both Hammer HEED and e-Fuel are primarily complex carbohydrate drinks, that’s a good thing as discussed in this video. Beyond that, e-Fuel has several distinct differences: 1) electrolyte replacement in the drink, Hammer sells electrolyte supplants separately, 2) e-Fuel has citrates and antioxidants not found in HEED (see discussion below) and 3) HEED contains Xylitol, Stevia and Taurine that we don’t use in e-Fuel or any of our products (see discussion below).

calories (8 oz)

e-Fuel

80

HEED

55

Hammer HEED’s usage instructions on their website indicate to “mix 1 scoop to 16-28 ounces of water”. Following their guidelines, the strongest mix would be one scoop for 16 ounces of water, and that is what we have used in determining the values (calories, electrolytes, etc.) for this comparison. If you were to mix it weaker, obviously the numbers would be proportionally lower. At the weakest recommended strength 8 ounces of HEED would have approximately 32 calories instead of 55.

carb sources

e-Fuel

Maltodextrin
Fructose

HEED

Maltodextrin​

Maltodextrin is a long chain complex carbohydrate. As we explained in this video, the advantages of complex carbs are significant. Both Hammer HEED and e-Fuel use maltodextrin as the primary ingredient – that’s a good thing!

e-Fuel also uses some Fructose which is a sugar, but it’s very different than all other forms of sugar and we use it in all of our products for a very good reason.

Fructose sometimes gets a bad rap for endurance athletes because it is thought to cause stomach and GI discomfort. Like anything else, if you take too much fructose it can be a problem. But if you use it properly it can actually significantly improve performance … without stomach issues. Here’s why:

Most of the energy that we use during endurance sports comes from consumed carbohydrates that are converted into glycogen and stored in our muscles. Glycogen can then be quickly broken down into glucose and used to fuel the muscles. The liver also stores glycogen which has been converted from fructose and serves as an additional “fuel tank” to power your muscles.

Here’s where it gets interesting …

The main route for glucose absorption from the gut is through a transporter called SGLT1 – a protein that acts like a door, helping glucose go from the gut to the bloodstream. SGLT1 has a maximum capacity and can only transport around one gram of glucose per minute (240 calories/hour). Fructose, however, is absorbed with a different transporter, called GLUT5. By using both transporters you can increase the amount of carbohydrate the body can use during exercise up to approximately 300 calories/hour.

GLUT5’s sole job in life is to transport fructose, so if you’re not consuming fructose then you’re not using the GLUT5 transporter … it’s like having an additional fuel line and not using it, why would you do that? In addition, your secondary fuel tank (your liver) will be under utilized as well.

The rapid absorption of fructose mixtures and special handling of fructose in the liver are the two main reasons that fructose can also also help to speed up recovery after exercise. A recent study found that when athletes drank sports drinks containing both fructose and complex carbohydrates after exercise, they accelerated the recovery of their liver glycogen stores. It almost doubled this rate of recovery compared with drinks that didn’t have fructose, when the same total amount of carbohydrate was consumed.

Bottom line … if you want to “be your best”, incorporate some fructose into your training and competition nutrition program.

sodium (8 oz)

e-Fuel

150 mg

HEED

30 mg

Ironically HEED stands for “High Energy Electrolyte Drink” and yet the product has extremely low levels of electrolytes. The company also sells electrolyte supplements (Endurolytes) that they recommend using to replenish your electrolytes. We have a completely different approach to electrolyte replacement – we put them right in the product, whether you are using e-Fuel or e-Gel (our energy gel).

Electrolytes are critical to help maintain hydration and to avoid cramping and injuries. In many ways this is the most important component of a good sports drink.

In developing e-Fuel we relied heavily on the decades of independent research performed by the American College of Sports Medicine. They are a non-profit with no “skin in the game”, they just try to figure out how to make athletes better, stronger and faster. Electrolyte replacement is an area that they have studied extensively, and e-Fuel’s electrolyte levels are designed to meet their recommendations.

potassium

e-Fuel

60 mg

HEED

15 mg

Potassium is the other electrolyte that is important to replace during your training and competition, along with sodium. The level of potassium in e-Fuel is designed to meet the American College of Sports Medicine’s recommendation for replacement during athletic activity.

antioxidants

e-Fuel

vitamin C 60%
vitamin E 60%​

HEED

none

Antioxidant vitamins C and E help protect against tissue damage, reduce soreness and aid in the recovery process.

Hammer HEED does not include these antioxidants.

citrates

e-Fuel

Sodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate and Citric Acid

HEED

none

Citrates assist in the carbohydrate to energy conversion process as well as slow the build up of lactic acid in your muscles.

Hammer HEED does not include citrates.

Stimulants

e-Fuel

none

HEED

caffeine

(not all flavors)

Taurine is the ingredient is another ingredient that we do not use in any of our products due to the fact that potential side effects include diarrhea and constipation. We also don’t use caffeine as discussed here.

If you’re looking for a sports drink with stimulants then HEED or Roctane would be a better choices for you. We don’t put stimulants in any of our products.

e-Fuel is all natural with no artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, sugar substitutes or stimulants – it’s just cleans energy!

Xylitol

e-Fuel

none

HEED

yes

If you’re not familiar with xylitol, take a moment to do your own research on this sugar substitute. You will quickly find that xylitol is well documented to cause intestinal gas and diarrhea.

That alone should be enough to concern any athlete, but it gets worse. According to WebMD there are concerns that long term use (more than 3 years) may cause tumors and they recommend that pregnant or breast-feeding women not use xylitol beyond normal food amounts. Additional warning, even in small amounts xylitol is thought to be extremely toxic to dogs.

Hammer does not disclose how much xylitol is in HEED, but if you look at the ingredients, xylitol is the second ingredient on the list. Furthermore, if you’re like most athletes, you use more than one bottle during each workout or competition. If you’re having any stomach discomfort it may be the xylitol.

Stevia

e-Fuel

none

HEED

yes

According to WebMD, Stevia and chemicals contained in stevia, including stevioside and rebaudioside A, can cause bloating or nausea. Other people have reported feelings of dizziness, muscle pain, and numbness. Using ingredients that cause stomach distress is the last thing that an athlete would want to deal with, so none of these ingredients are found in e-Fuel or e-Gel.

ready to try e-Fuel?

we guarantee you'll love it!​

customer testimonials

Patrick Binienda

"I just finished a multi-day event where I ran through the Benton MacKay Trail, start to finish, over 287 miles - fueling almost exclusively on e-Fuel. Each day consisted of an average of 35 miles across some of the toughest mountain trails in the Eastern US. e-Fuel carried me through 9 days with little other nutrition except dinner meals. I have always suffered from over/under hydration using other fuels - e-Fuel is the most complete and efficient fuel I have used. My mountain adventure was a great success largely due to e-Fuel." ...
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Smyrna, Georgia
Sport: Running

Shaun Gallagher

"After having difficulty in races where my gastric system would 'lock up', I found that I simply couldn't handle gels and electrolyte pills frequently enough to support my needs. The calorie content and large amount of electrolytes in e-Fuel were a perfect balance for my training and racing needs. Because e-Fuel mixes fast and easy, it was easier for me to increase the concentration without worrying about trying to swallow a thick, clumpy drink. At Ironman Wisconsin I raced with 2 bottles of 4x concentrated e-Fuel (800+ calories per bottle) on the bike as my primary nutrition. Using eFuel helped me surpass my goal and register a 13 hour finish time with no cramping or stomach problems. " ...
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Tampa, Florida
Sport: Triathlon

David Tucker

"I'm training for Ironman Florida and during the summer months here in Florida, long bike rides take me into some really hot and humid weather. I've been struggling for 6 weeks with cramping every time my ride hit 60-65 miles in length. I read about e-Fuel and after two rides of 80+ miles with no cramping, I'm a believer!" ...
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Brandon, Florida
Sport: Triathlon

Jerry Sanders

"Been using your products for sometime now. Took a bit of a break from them, and decided to try some other brands. Using the competitors products, I was continually having leg cramps after 60 miles of riding. I switched back to e-Fuel, and no more cramps! Just finished a 110 mile 11000 feet climb this weekend! Couldn't have done it with out e-Fuel!" ...
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Glendale, California
Sport: Cycling

Carl Gordon

"I have to tell you that this stuff is great. I haven't done any thing really long yet, only rides in the 50-70 mile range, but the effects are great. Makes the hills a little less painfull and the recovery is much better. It also mixes well and tastes as good or better than the competition. I would like to really praise you on your excellent service. Your web site is perfect. I recieved prompt information regarding shipping and receiving of my shipment. You guys knew I got it before it did. That's kickin." ...
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Plano, Texas
Sport: Cycling

Myk Nelsen

"I used to use another product but ended up in the emergency room twice for dehydration within a month and since I started using e-Fuel I have not had that problem. I think I will be using your product for quite some time, thanks for everything!" ...
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Jacksonville, North Carolina
Sport: Triathlon, Running

Kevin Brice

"I have been using e-Fuel and e-Gel for about 6 years for training and racing in triathlons, running events and cycling events. It is the one product that has continuous energy supply without highs and lows. I have especially liked having all my nutrition needs on the bike premixed in my drink, so I don't have to fumble with gel packs on the bike. At age 47 I am amazed that I am still getting faster and going farther, and I attribute part of that to having a proper energy source and electrolytes during events." ...
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Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Sport: Triathlon, Running, Cycling

Tim P.

"I needed something that wouldn't cause an blood sugar spike. I tried e-Fuel and haven't looked back. This product helps greatly during races and allows me to 'trickle in' calories that will not have deleterious effects on my gut or performance. " ...
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WyCo, Kansas
Sport: Ultra Running

Shawn Carlisle

"I attempted a Big Bear Mountain Ride which summits at 8443 ft. Without e-Fuel and failed. 1 month later with e-Fuel, the ride was no problem. This is the BEST sports drink I have tried. Better than Accelerade or Cytomax." ...
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Highland, California
Sport: Mountain Biking

Dave Hinman

"I try to bike pretty hard for an hour or longer each morning. By the time I'm finished my clothes stick to me and I feel both drained and exhilarated. I've tried sampling almost every sport drink I can buy in Portland and I think e-Fuel is the best. It's not overly sweet, seems to do a good job replenishing what I've lost, and doesn't make my blood sugar spike." ...
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Portland, Oregon
Sport: Cycling

Barb

"I'm not one to typically use these type of supplements but the weather made me nervous about bonking. With e-Fuel, I never got that empty feeling. My energy was consistent throughout my workout. The taste was fine, not overpowering in any way. And I didn't experience any nausea or gi problems that often accompany these type of products." ...
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Erie, Pennsylvania
Sport: Running

Tammie Nyland

"For 3 1/2 years I was searching for a hydrating-electrolyte drink for Ironman. I've tried Gatorade and that drink works fine on the bike, but it kills my stomach on the run. I've tried GU's drink, but it's tends to clump in the bottle. I've tried other drinks, but nothing seemed to work for me because the sugar content was high. A friend referred me to e-Fuel, I placed my first order and I was sold." ...
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Citrus Heights, California
Sport: Triathlon

Ryan Robinson

"Great tasting and great performing stuff!! The Crank Sports customer service is also top notch. You have EARNED my business...I have been impressed." ...
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Lawrence, Kansas
Sport: Triathlon

Jessica W.

"I trained in the Florida heat for the Disney Marathon, Boston Marathon, and the Mount Desert Island (Maine) Marathon with a bottle of Mountain Rush strapped to my waist. e-Fuel got me through some tough, tough long runs, and got me to the corral--and to the chute--in great shape." ...
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, Massachusetts
Sport: Running

Kirk Young

"My buddies and I race in off road enduros which is a race through the forest covering around 90 to 100 miles of off road terrain. I used to cramp up and have no energy. Now with e-Fuel I'm feeling great, no cramps and don't get that feeling like I just got hit by a truck." ...
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Half Moon Bay, California
Sport: Dirt Bike

Mark Williams

"Best sports drink I've tried to date. e-Fuel is convenient, mixes instantly and provides the quick re-fueling I need on those long, hot, hilly rides. I will continue to purchase e-Fuel and can't wait to try e-Gel." ...
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San Jose, California
Sport: Cycling

George Myers

"Started using e-Fuel to find a way to increase energy output for the fast and aerobically challenging sport of indoor soccer. To my amazement it worked. As a goalkeeper I kept my e-Fuel bottle in the goal and took sips throughout my matches. The result was an incredible and exponential increase in reaction time and leaping ability. At the end of games the opposition are always in awe of my ability to make difficult and incredible saves. I will continue to use e-Fuel because it tastes great, dissolves rapidly and provides an exponential increase in energy for the demanding physical activitiy of indoor soccer." ...
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Alameda, California
Sport: Soccer

Lawrence Kagawa

"While competing in the U.S. Paintball League World Championships, our team used e-Fuel. e-Fuel ensured our entire team was fully energized for each match throughout the 3 day event and none of our team members suffered energy highs & lows as we had from other 'energy' drinks and supplements." ...
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Reno, Nevada
Sport: Paintball

Mary Goodrich

"When my daughter started playing competive golf last summer, she fought blood sugar crashes that negatively impacted her performance. Sports drinks didn't have much staying power and she hates eating while playing. I found e-Fuel late last summer and she uses it every round now. She's had marathon rounds that I don't know if she could have finished if she didn't have the e-Fuel. Thanks for a great product." ...
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Wichita Falls, Texas
Sport: Golf

NOTE: All Hammer HEED nutrition values shown are for Lemon-Lime flavor as published on their website as of April 2021, other flavors may vary. e-Fuel nutrition values are the same for all flavors, read why