Should Liquid I.V. be on Canadian concertgoers’ must-pack list?

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I love small indoor venues with regulated temperatures and assigned seats, but Kesha, Barenaked Ladies, Cyndi Lauper, Our Lady Peace and many other headliners this summer are at the very popular outdoor Budweiser Stage, located in Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario.

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Toronto is having a very hot summer, so I appreciate Liquid I.V.’s messaging around proper hydration. The popular electrolyte drink mix (available on Amazon) first came to Canada in the summer of 2023 and went after the concertgoer and fitness community across the country.

The brand is not slowing down. It continues to partner with Budweiser Stage and other Canadian venues and events to share its messaging around the importance of hydration.

I see two angles for consuming Liquid I.V. First, it’s important to replenish electrolytes in hot and/or sweaty environments, and it’s easy to do so with convenient packets of powder. Secondly, it’s more fun to drink water when it tastes like a delicious treat. However, know what’s in the packets before consuming them.

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Liquid I.V. offers sugar-free and sugar-full variations (learn more about the sugar options); however, the former have yet to make it to Canada (Organika, a Canadian-made electrolytes powder, has a sugar-free option).

In terms of use and cost, Liquid I.V. packets are not cheap, but also not small. At over $2 per pack, the cost of the drink mix can add up if used frequently. However, it can also be a more affordable option compared to drinks at a concert venue. Just bring an empty reusable plastic bottle (some venues, including Budweiser Stage, often don’t allow metal containers), Liquid I.V. and find a water fountain. Also, it’s recommended to mix one pack of Liquid I.V. with two cups of water, but I prefer a more diluted taste and only use half the pack for two cups (the packets are easy to fold to save for later).

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With a reusable plastic water bottle and a pack of Liquid I.V. in hand, I headed to the Kesha concert.

(If you completely want to stay out of the sun, check out VEEPS, a new streaming service in Canada, where you can watch live concerts.)

There was a Liquid I.V. pop-up at Budweiser, handing out samples. I’ve now tried most of the flavours and my favourite is the strawberry. As mentioned, I can appreciate the added benefits of Liquid I.V. compared to straight water, but would save it for super hot days (like the Kesha-concert day) or days when I’m exerting a lot of energy (like going for a long summer run or bike ride). I enjoyed having Liquid I.V. during the Kesha concert, as it was hot, crowded and sweaty, and I needed every excuse to stay hydrated so I could focus on the music.

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Aside from the convenience of electrolyte packets, I wanted to learn more about Liquid I.V. and what sets it apart from its competitors, so I connected with its brand manager, Courtney Dodds.

Q&A with Courtney Dodds, brand manager, Liquid I.V. Canada

Q: Why is Liquid I.V. looking to connect with concert-goers this summer?

A: Concerts are about more than just the music – it’s about the full experience. From getting ready with friends, to spending the days or nights under hot summer skies, to recovery the next day, they can take a lot out of you. The hot and long days and crowds can often lead to less hydration and electrolyte imbalance as the heat and sweat drains your body of electrolytes like potassium. When you aren’t hydrated and your electrolytes drop, your body feels it fast.

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It’s what makes Liquid I.V. such a perfect hack for concert season. Whether you’re heading to a major festival or a local outdoor venue, Liquid I.V. is designed to enhance your hydration and help to fuel the whole experience. 

Q: What’s Liquid I.V.’s goal in the Canadian market?

A: As wellness continues to be prioritized by Canadians, proper hydration is also becoming even more important. Despite this, in a survey Liquid I.V. conducted last year, we found 63 per cent of respondents reported feeling regularly dehydrated. Even more alarming, younger Canadians ranked highest in feeling dehydrated, with Gen Z (77 per cent) and Millennials (74 per cent) identifying they feel dehydrated weekly. Our goal now is to continue helping Canadians stay hydrated wherever their life takes them, including summer nights spent seeing their favourite artists.

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Q: When do you suggest consuming a packet of Liquid I.V.?

A: While individual needs vary, Liquid I.V. is designed to enhance hydration anywhere you want to support your body, whether you’re active, spending time outdoors or just going about your daily routine. The key is to make hydration a habit and be proactive because by the time you notice signs of being less hydrated, you’re already behind.

Adding Liquid I.V. to your water helps replenish electrolytes, making it easier to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. With 63 per cent of Canadians feeling regularly dehydrated, adding Liquid I.V. into your daily routine can be a simple way to keep your hydration on track, no matter what your day holds.

Q: How can Liquid I.V. support your summer wellness routine? 

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A: According to the Liquid I.V. survey, most Canadians know how much water they should be drinking, but more than half still fall short of that goal andoften feel dehydrated. In the summer, the heat makes us sweat even more, losing essential electrolytes that are crucial in helping our bodies stay hydrated and balanced.

There are a few easy tips to help Canadians stay hydrated and support their wellness routines: 

• Be proactive: Proactivity is key for hydration. Thinking about your hydration before, during and after summer plans is the most important thing so that a dip in your hydration doesn’t sneak up on you. 

• Supplement your water: We know that Canadians are aware of how much water they should be drinking, but we also know that many Canadians are still falling short of that goal. In addition to gulping down multiple glasses of water, adding an electrolyte drink mix like Liquid I.V. that is scientifically formulated to help restore electrolyte imbalances, is the easiest hack to help you stay hydrated throughout all their summer activities. 

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• Take a water bottle: Our survey revealed that just over half of Canadians take a water bottle with them when they leave the house, but that means many people aren’t. Just grabbing that water bottle is a simple step to reduce barriers to hydration.  

• Set goals: Setting a daily water intake goal can boost your motivation and make it easier to establish hydration as a habit.

Q: Is there a recommendation on how many packets of Liquid I.V. should be consumed?

A: We recommend one stick per day mixed with 500mL of water for hydration on the go.

Q: What differentiates Liquid I.V. from other electrolyte drinks like Gatorade?

A: Liquid I.V. has 3x the electrolytes of the leading sports drink in Canada, but it also contains more than just electrolytes. It has five essential vitamins – B3, B5, B6, B12 and Vitamin C – to keep you feeling your best in the summer heat. On top of that, Liquid I.V. comes in travel-friendly, single-serve packets, making it easy to stay hydrated anywhere. It’s these qualities that have made Liquid I.V. Canada’s top powdered hydration brand.

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Q: What’s your favourite Liquid I.V. flavour?

A: I truly love every flavour, but I’m really a fan of the new Tropical Punch that we just launched. It has tangy notes of tangerine nectar, pineapple and cherry. I’m also loving Firecracker, it’s a blend of lemon-lime, cherry and raspberry that delivers a refreshing burst just like summer celebrations. We brought Firecracker back this year because Canadians loved it so much last summer!

Q: What’s one thing on Liquid I.V.’s horizon that you’re looking forward to?

A: It’s impossible to name one thing! There’s so much to be excited about with Liquid I.V. as we’ll be keeping Canadians hydrated coast-to-coast this summer!

We’ll be at Budweiser Stage all season, hitting Badlands in Calgary during Stampede week, and soaking up the vibes at Fvded in the Park in B.C. But what I’m most excited about is getting Liquid I.V. into more hands across the country and showing people just how easy – and game-changing – it is to stay hydrated. We’re also listening closely to our community and can’t wait to bring even more exciting new flavours to the country.

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Love concerts, but can’t make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.

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