N-2 vs. Electrolyte Powders
Electrolyte powders made hydration mainstream, and most of them are built around the same formula: sodium, a little potassium, and sweetener.
N-2 takes a mineral-first approach. Instead of leading with sodium alone, it delivers meaningful amounts of calcium and magnesium, the two minerals most commonly underconsumed in modern diets, alongside potassium, sodium, and 70+ ocean-sourced trace minerals.
| N-2 | Typical electrolyte powders | |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 130 mg (10% DV) per stick | Often little to none |
| Magnesium | 130 mg (30% DV) per stick | Often minimal or absent |
| Potassium | 200 mg per stick | Usually present in small amounts |
| Sodium | 550 mg, balanced with the other minerals | Typically the headline mineral |
| Added sugar | None (lightly sweetened with stevia) | Many contain added sugar or synthetic sweeteners |
| Trace minerals | 70+ naturally occurring, marine-sourced | Rarely included |
| Mineral source | Ocean-sourced mineral complex | Usually lab-isolated salts |
The bottom line
If your goal is simply to replace sodium after heavy sweating, many electrolyte powders can do that. If you want a more complete daily mineral profile, including the calcium and magnesium most diets miss, a mineral-first formula is built for exactly that.
Not sure where to start? Take the hydration quiz.