Little tab of competition

I have worked with Outside PR several times. It has been a very nice experience each time. They have been generous in letting my try out GU products and I was met with a surprise package in the mail two days ago.

  As you may know I work for and love nuun active hydration.  I am a brand ambassador, Iowa Team Lead, and sponsored athlete.  That said I am a contractor.  The beauty of contract work is that I have freedom to come and go as I please and be honest regardless of my ties to a company.  I stay with nuun because I  believe in the idea as well as the product.  I do however love to try all kinds of products and write about them here.  I want to see whats out there that could help me on my journey and then share that info in hopes that it will help you along your path.

 Now on to the package....GU has come out with the new GU Brew Tabs.  From the letter that was sent with the tube there are only 26 tubes out there and I got one of the golden tickets.  Ah competition!  It breeds innovation and creativity.  It lights a proverbial fire under a the arse of stagnation.  I commend GUs efforts.
The tabs have 320 mg of sodium and 55 mg of potassium.  The sweetener is Stevia and the tabs yield only 10 calories each so you are free to hydrate and fuel based on situation and individual needs.  

They will be initially available in Orange, Lemon Lime, and Peach Tea flavors and will be released to specialty run, bike , and outdoor specialty retailers in March 2011 and retail for $6.50 per 12 tab tube.
I get to try the Lemon Lime!

  I like that it is sweetened with Stevia Leaf. For the price I would still choose nuun over GU considering nuun includes calcium and magnesium to make a balanced blend of electrolytes  where as GU only has sodium and potassium.   Most people are dehydrated and don't know it.  There are many factors involved when considering dehydration including climate controlled environments, dry winter air, illness, exertion, foods we eat as well as exercise.  I like that I have many options to choose from to stay hydrated.

Both nuun and GU's  tablet and tube design are brilliant.  The tubes are convenient and easy to take on the go.
The GU hinged tube beats out nuuns unhinged lid.  The nuun tablet has the advantage of being scored for easy splitting to put in a smaller mouthed bottle.

I would use the GU brew tablets when I have them.  In the mean time they have made a fantastic effort to move in this direction and I hope that their second generation will include calcium and magnesium.   I do love GU gels and Chomps and this will be a nice addition to the GU lineup!