You've been drinking BioSteel for a while.

It's light, it tastes good, and it's sold all across the country.

But you're starting to wonder.

• Does it really give you what you need to keep going on a longer outing?
• Is there a product made here, with a simpler base?

The honest answer isn't "BioSteel is bad."

It's a good product for what it does.

The real question is knowing what you expect from your drink.

We compared BioSteel Hydration Mix to Maple MC2, figure by figure. Here is what we found about the alternative to BioSteel in Canada.

The quick verdict on the alternative to BioSteel

BioSteel and Maple MC2 do not do the same thing at all.

BioSteel Hydration Mix is light hydration.

A 7g packet contains 5 calories, 1g of carbohydrates, and no sugar. It's designed for all-day drinking and for replacing a bit of salt.

Maple MC2 is hydration with energy. A 30g pouch contains 110 calories and 28g of carbohydrates that come from maple syrup, along with 414mg of electrolytes.

If you want a light, sugar-free, and inexpensive drink, BioSteel does the job very well. If you want energy and more electrolytes for an effort, with a Quebec-made product, Maple MC2 better meets that need.

Let's see why, one criterion at a time.

What BioSteel does well

Let's start by being fair to BioSteel. This product has real strengths.

• Price: $14.27 CAD for a box of 12 packets on the official website, which is about $1.19 per packet
• Lightness: 5 calories per packet and zero sugar
• The NSF Certified for Sport certification, indicated by the brand, useful for athletes subject to testing
• A Canadian company, based in Windsor, Ontario
• Wide availability, notably at Canadian Tire and on Amazon.ca
• Free shipping in Canada on orders of $99 or more on the brand's website

If one of these points is your number-one criterion, BioSteel is a logical choice. There is nothing to correct there.

The criteria that matter

We selected 6 criteria to compare the two without bias:

1. Electrolytes per serving
2. Calories and carbohydrates, i.e., available energy
3. Ingredients, what is actually in the pouch
4. Price per serving
5. Intended use, depending on your sport and your day
6. Origin of the product

Comparison table

BioSteel's data comes from their official website. Ours comes from the label on our pouches.

Two ways to hydrate: light or with energy

Look at the calories.

5 versus 110.

This isn't a flaw in BioSteel.

It's its reason for being.

A 5-calorie mix hydrates and provides some minerals without adding anything to your day.

But for an effort of an hour or more, your body burns carbohydrates. A drink with 1g of carbohydrates does not provide you with that fuel. You'll have to find it elsewhere, with a snack or a gel.

Maple MC2 makes the opposite choice.

The 28g of carbohydrates are there on purpose. They come from maple syrup and provide you with energy while you hydrate.

For a day at the office, those 110 calories are of no interest.

For a run, a bike ride, or a gym session, they are part of the value.

Electrolytes, figure by figure

Regarding minerals, the gap is clear. One Maple MC2 pouch contains about double the sodium of a BioSteel packet, three times more potassium, and four times more calcium.

Be careful with the comparison. The Maple MC2 pouch weighs 30g and the BioSteel packet 7g. We are comparing servings, not grams.

To understand what these minerals do during exertion, read our article on the benefits of natural electrolytes in sports.

Ingredients side by side

BioSteel, according to the product sheet:

• stevia leaf extract
• beet powder as a natural coloring
• a B-vitamin complex and amino acids (L-leucine, L-valine, L-isoleucine, glycine, L-glutamine and taurine).

Maple MC2:

• maple syrup
• salt
• freeze-dried fruit
• natural flavors.

BioSteel bets on adding vitamins and amino acids to a light mix.

Maple MC2 bets on simplicity with few ingredients, one of which provides both the taste and the energy.

Neither is better in absolute terms.

If you like functional mixes with vitamins, BioSteel gives you that. If you prefer a short list you understand at a glance, Maple MC2 goes in that direction.

The maple syrup we use is certified organic. The finished drink is not, because the other ingredients are not covered by the certification. We prefer to say so clearly.

Do B vitamins and amino acids make a difference?

BioSteel adds a B-vitamin complex and amino acids to its mix. That is what sets it apart from a simple electrolyte drink.

At Maple MC2, we made a different choice: few ingredients, maple syrup, salt, freeze-dried fruit and natural flavors. We don't claim it's better, only that it is simpler to read.

If these additions interest you, it's up to you to judge whether they match your need. For a specific health or performance question, a sports nutrition professional is the best person to consult.

An example week with both

Imagine someone who runs three times a week and works at an office the rest of the time.

• At the office: a light 5-calorie mix to drink more water, without adding anything.
• Before a 60-minute run: a Maple MC2 pouch, for the carbohydrates and electrolytes.
• After the run: water, a meal and, if needed, a second pouch.

This routine doesn't ask you to pick a side. It asks you to pick the right product for the right moment.

How to read a hydration drink label

Before choosing a brand, take 30 seconds to check these points.

• Serving size. 7g and 30g cannot be compared by the gram.
• Calories. They tell you whether the product only hydrates or also fuels the effort.
• Sodium per serving. This is the number that counts for your workout.
• The source of the taste. Stevia, natural sugar or other, it's a personal choice, but it must be clearly listed.
• Price per serving, not per box.

With this grid, you can see that BioSteel and Maple MC2 don't occupy the same space. To see the same grid applied to several brands, read our guide on the best natural electrolyte drinks in Canada.

The price of an alternative to BioSteel in Canada

On the official website, a box of 12 BioSteel packets sells for $14.27 CAD. That works out to about $1.19 per packet. Shipping is free in Canada on orders of $99 or more.

At Maple MC2, a sachet costs $2.79 and a box of 12 sells for $29.99, or $2.50 per sachet. With a subscription, the box drops to $26.99, or $2.25 per sachet.

On price per unit, BioSteel costs about half as much. That's a fact, and we won't dodge it.

The question is what you get for that price. A 7g packet with 5 calories on one side. A 30g sachet with 110 calories and 414mg of electrolytes on the other. These are not equivalent servings.

Shipping is free in Quebec for orders of $75 or more, and the product departs from Saint-Ours within 24 business hours.

Which to choose for what kind of effort?

Think about your day rather than the brand.

• Hydration throughout the day, at the office or at home: BioSteel, light and inexpensive, works very well.
• 30- to 90-minute outing, running, cycling, gym training: carbohydrates matter. Maple MC2 covers this need.
• Team sport, hockey, with a need for a sport certification: BioSteel displays NSF Certified for Sport, an important point for some athletes.
• Hot yoga or CrossFit session: both can work. Maple MC2 provides energy and minerals in larger amounts.

You can also keep both. Some people keep a light mix for the day and a drink with energy for exertion. It is not an exclusive choice.

Who should choose what?

Choose BioSteel if...

• You want zero sugar and very few calories
• Price per serving is your first criterion
• You need a product certified for sport
• You want a product that is easy to find in stores

Choose Maple MC2 if...

• You want energy and hydration in the same sachet
• You are looking for a higher intake of sodium, potassium and calcium
• You prefer a short ingredient list based on maple syrup
• You want a product made in Quebec

Find the whole range in our Our products collection. Mostly a runner? Check the sports drink collection for runners.

How to use Maple MC2 daily

Before the effort

One sachet in 500 ml of water, about 15 to 20 minutes before starting. This is the simplest starting point.

During the effort: an alternative to BioSteel with energy

For a 60- to 90-minute outing, take a second sachet to prepare halfway through. The sachet format fits into a running pocket or bike bag.

It dissolves just as well in cold water as in room-temperature water. A slight residue at the bottom of the shaker is normal with maple syrup.

After the effort

A sachet replaces some of the lost electrolytes and boosts your carbohydrate stores. This is not a recovery drink with protein: if you want to rebuild muscle, add a source of protein as well.

Our article on what to drink after a workout details the options based on the effort.

How Maple MC2 compares to other options

BioSteel isn't the only brand we compare. Each product meets a different need, and we wrote an article for each.

• Do you use effervescent tablets? Read our natural alternative to Nuun Sport.
• Are you looking for a powder for daily hydration? Compare the 11 options in our guide on the best hydration powders in Canada.
• Torn between powder and ready-to-drink? Read our article on choosing between powder and liquid.

Why Maple MC2?

Maple MC2 is maple syrup from the Ferme St-Ours in the Montérégie region, transformed into a sports drink.

414mg of electrolytes per sachet: 273mg of sodium, 94mg of potassium and 47mg of calcium. Plus 15mg of magnesium, which is not included in that total.

110 calories, 28g of carbohydrates, gluten-free, vegan. A product from Quebec, prepared in seconds.

And with a subscription, the box of 12 drops to $26.99, or $2.25 per sachet.

Frequently Asked Questions

In summary

On one side, BioSteel offers light hydration at 5 calories, sugar-free, inexpensive and easy to find.

On the other, Maple MC2 provides energy and more electrolytes, based on maple syrup and made in Quebec.

Try the Discovery Box: the 3 flavors, 12 sachets, to find the one that becomes your routine.