About this Guide
- This is a living guide and is added to and updated frequently
- We are open to feedback; if you have a suggestion or something you would like us to add please email us at info@destinationhikers.com
- This guide is based on experience–if we recommend a product it is because we use it ourselves
Pain, Soreness, and Inflammation Prevention and Recovery
There is always some pain to be had on the trail. Pain, soreness, and inflammation on the trail are caused by numerous reasons: heavy packs, longer mileage days, prior injury, age, etc. Between us, we have both torn our ACLs (sports injuries) and have sore neck and back issues. While solutions like Advil and Aleve work, we like to limit these and utilize natural alternatives. Some of our favorite and most effective supplements to prevent and reduce post-exercise soreness are:
Produced by red marine algae, astaxanthan is a potent beta-carotenoid that is responsible for salmon’s reddish hue. BioAstin is a Hawaiian grown supplemental form of this potent antioxidant and can be found in virtually any natural foods store. Astaxanthan is a powerhouse supplement that is known to decrease exercise-induced inflammation, promote eye health, boost the immune system, and naturally prevent sunburn.
This product uses a complex blend of herbs and botanicals known to reduce inflammation in the body. Effective herbs such as turmeric, ginger, hops, skullcap, and bromelian paired with vitamins C and D3 and minerals such as magnesium, selenium, and manganese, result in an improvement in overall joint function.
Arnica is one of the most well-known homeopathic remedies for bruising, swelling, soreness, and inflammation. It is extremely effective and is always in our family’s first aid kit. It comes in many forms and can be taken internally or applied topically. We carry packets of the ArniSport product because it specifically targets muscle pain, soreness, and fatigue due to overexertion. We use the gel formula to massage into sore muscles and knees at the end of the day.
This popular supplement is tasteless and odorless and can be mixed with any type of liquid, hot or cold. Bovine-sourced collagen peptides aid in joint mobility.
Electrolyte and Hydration Mixes
Like most hikers and backpackers we both enjoy energy boosts to make it to the top of a tough climb. We also like to add electrolyte mixes to our water to ensure our bodies stay hydrated. To accomplish this, we both keep a small reusable water bottle separate from our hydration packs for adding powdered energy supplements. Here are our favorites:
Ultima Replenisher not only tastes great, but it provides 6 key electrolytes and 2 minerals in a calorie free mix. Sweetened with stevia, this product contains calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and sodium, plus Vit C and Zinc. Hydrating with Ultima helps to replenish essential electrolytes lost through sweat during intense hikes, especially in warm weather.
Liquid IV is more than an electrolyte replenisher. Their custom mix promises to effectively improve overall hydration using their cellular transport technology. Each serving provides 8 vitamins and nutrients plus glucose and sodium. They offer many flavors, sweetened with real sugar or stevia.
Energy
We forgo coffee and instead augment early mornings and tough uphill climbs with caffeine bars, energy chews, and chocolates. Here are our favorites:
Containing 80 mg of green tea caffeine per bar, Verb Bars are a welcome source of energy both pre-hike and throughout the day. These chewy bars are delicious and made with simple organic ingredients to fuel your adventures. They offer both mini caffeinated bars (3g protein) and more substantial caffeinated protein bars (10g protein), sweetened with organic agave. With such a large variety of flavors, we never get sick of these little treats. Available at grocery and outdoor stores, as well as online. Use code CASEY15428 for 30% off if ordering direct (best pricing and lots of ongoing promos).
These chews are easy to store in your hip belt pockets, won’t melt, and are a great source of sustained energy. They contain electrolytes, B vitamins, and complex carbs. The caffeinated variety come in Berry Blast and Raspberry, while the non-caffeinated versions come in Orange, Pink Lemonade, and Strawberry.
These little dark chocolate candies are a sweet indulgence and perfect for on-the-go satisfaction. Each piece contains 20mg of caffeine from green tea extract, as well as B vitamins and taurine.
The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.
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» Guides, Ultimate Couples Hiking Guide » Backpacker and Hikers Guide to Supplements About the Author: Katy
Katy loves trails, cookies, wildflowers, healthy living, her children, and most everything outdoors.
