When it comes to determining their liquid diet for a day in the skintrack, tourers have historically broken nutritional choices into two categories: pre-ski coffee and post-ski beer. And while the a.m. caffeine kick and aprs libations will always have a place in skiing and riding culture, there are other offerings that can help you fuel for and recover from a long day in the mountains that involve neither the jitters nor a hangover.

Cure claims their hydration mix is as effective as an IV drip, and while it might be hard to corroborate this assertion, its far easier to bring along Cures single-serving four-inch-long packets than an IV bag. Sweaty days can be dehydrating, not just because of water loss, but also because of electrolyte depletion, and Cure aims to help the process of fluid retention with a balance of sodium and glucose that comes from organic coconut water powder, Himalayan sea salt and lemon juice powder. Three flavorslemon, mixed berry and ginger turmericoffer tasty options and are also highly quaffable when mixed with hot water. $20 (pack of 14), curehydration.com

What you eat and drink before you hit the skintrack can be just as important as your nutrition during and after a long day in the mountains. Enter Salt Lake City, Utah-based Gnarly Nutritions Pre Workout supplement, designed to help with stamina during a tour and muscle recovery afterward. This energy-packed mix includes caffeine and ginseng (also available in a caffeine-free version) to give your step some extra pep, while the beta-alanine, an amino acid, aims to stave off muscle fatigue for when the sun starts to wane. A dose of citrulline malate, another amino acid, is also included to help with muscle recovery over winters long haul. The strawberry lemonade flavor is outstanding. $38 (14 oz. tub), gognarly.com

It can be hard to remember to hydrate during winter, especially if cold temperatures and unwieldy mittens make mining through a pack for a water bottle inconvenient. So when you do stop, its important to have a drink that can make an impact. Quick energy and a boost in hydration is Skratch Labs goal with their Sport Hydration Mix, which incorporates sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium to enhance water absorption, plus cane sugar combined with natural sugars from real fruits to keep energy levels at their peak. Flavors include a host of not-too-sweet fruit optionslemon/lime, orange, strawberry, passion fruit and fruit punchand a matcha and lemon flavor that offers a 16 mg/serving jolt of caffeine. $20 (1 lb. bag), skratchlabs.com

Not just for flapjacks and French toast, maple sugar, one of just three ingredients in Vermont-based UnTappeds Ginger Mapleaid, provides a shot of energy during long workouts without the additives or fake sugar frequently included in energy drinks. In addition to including calcium, manganese, riboflavin, zinc and potassium that help the body maintain energy and recover quickly, maple sugar also has a low glycemic index, meaning it wont spike glucose levels, providing more sustained energy than other sugars do. This mixs real ginger adds extra zip and can aid in digestion when trail food gets the upper hand, and a dash of sea salt balances the sugar and helps replace electrolytes. Ginger Mapleaid makes an excellent hot drink, too. $25 (1 lb. bag), untapped.cc

Sleep might seem like down time, but just because your legs arent moving doesnt mean your bodys not working. With Ascents Micellar Casein, the wee hours run double duty for muscle rejuvenation. Micellar casein, a dairy protein, is slow digesting, meaning it releases proteins over a longer time than the average whey protein thats commonly taken directly after a workout. So while youre dozing, Ascents casien aims to repair and strengthen tired legs over a five- to six-hour period. Its thicker than whey, so Ascent suggests using more liquid for shakes or making a bedtime pudding snack with almond milk or even a dollop of peanut butter, so dessert can be yummy and a part of recovery. Flavors include chocolate, vanilla andour choicechocolate peanut butter. $40 (2 lb. bag), ascentprotein.com

For those who are diary-free or just keen on plant-based supplements, Gnarly Nutritions Vegan Plant Protein is designed to take the place of whey when consumed post-workout to help with muscle repair and recovery. A higher carbohydrate count than traditional milk-based proteins is intended to help enhance recovery after longer endurance-style missions, while pea proteina complete protein containing all essential amino acids (BCAAs)helps repair muscle fibers. When mixed with water, this vegan treat boasts a smooth texturelighter and less dense than a whey shakeand comes in chocolate and vanilla so you can treat yourselfand your legsto some tasty healing action before diving into traditional aprs drinks. $60 (1.8 lb. container), gognarly.com

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Six supplements to aid in muscle recovery and boost energy - Backcountry