You searched for "natural alternative to Skratch Labs Canada" because something is bothering you.
Perhaps the price. Perhaps the ingredient list, which starts with cane sugar.
- Skratch Labs markets itself as "real food"
- No sweeteners, no artificial flavors, no colorings
- But real food doesn't mean a single ingredient
We’ll take a look at what’s in the packet, then compare it to Maple MC2, a Quebec-made drink from a single source: organic maple syrup.
What is Skratch Labs?
Skratch Labs was born in 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. Two former professional cycling team chefs were tired of synthetic sports drinks and wanted to make something closer to actual food.
The brand has carved out a solid niche in cycling and running with three promises:
- less sugar than traditional industrial drinks
- fruit for flavor
- no additives that cause stomach issues during a race
It is a respected brand. Professional cycling teams have been using it for years.
Compared to an industrial sports drink filled with dyes and sweeteners, the Skratch Labs formula is a clear improvement.
"Real food" can, however, mean two things:
- a single whole food, like a fruit or a syrup
- several natural ingredients combined
Skratch Labs is in the second category.
Its flagship product, Sport Hydration Drink Mix, is sold in individual packets or 440g bulk bags, available in Canada at many specialized running and cycling retailers.
The brand makes a distinction between hydration and fueling.
- Hydration mix: low in carbohydrates, designed to replace electrolytes lost in sweat.
- Fueling mix: much higher in carbohydrates, designed to fuel long efforts.
The product discussed here is in the first category, just like Maple MC2.
Many amateur runners and cyclists look for a drink that does both. No hydration product is designed to provide 60g of carbohydrates per hour during a marathon.
For that, you need gels or dedicated fueling mixes.
What is in a Skratch Labs packet
The Skratch Labs Sport Hydration (Lemon-Lime flavor) ingredient list:
- Cane sugar
- Dextrose
- Sodium citrate
- Citric acid
- Magnesium lactate
- Calcium citrate
- Potassium citrate
- Lemon oil, lime oil
- Lemon juice, lime juice
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
That is 12 ingredients if you count the oils and citrus juices separately.
It contains:
- 2 different carbohydrate sources (cane sugar and dextrose)
- 4 mineral salts added separately to replenish electrolytes
- citrus oils and juices for flavor
It is a composite formula, assembled piece by piece in a laboratory using isolated ingredients.
Skratch Labs is certified:
- non-GMO
- gluten-free
- dairy-free
- vegan
- kosher
No organic certification accompanies the product.
Cane sugar and dextrose work well during exercise. The body burns them quickly, which is why they are found in almost all sports drinks.
The two products differ by their source.
A whole ingredient, like maple syrup, provides its carbohydrates and minerals together, just as they exist in nature.
A composite formula assembles them one by one. Sugar on one side, isolated sodium salt on the other, another salt for calcium.
Key Takeaway
Skratch Labs contains 380 mg of sodium per serving compared to 273 mg for Maple MC2, about 40% more.
For a short or moderate effort, this difference doesn't matter. For an outing lasting several hours in high heat, it can help prevent cramps.
But what is Maple MC2?
Maple MC2 is based on a different principle. Instead of assembling isolated ingredients, it uses a single whole ingredient that already contains carbohydrates and electrolytes.
Quebec organic maple syrup naturally provides sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, in addition to its sugars. No cane sugar, dextrose, or synthetic salt is added.
- 28g of carbohydrates per packet, entirely from maple syrup
- 414 mg of total electrolytes (sodium 273 mg, potassium 94 mg, calcium 47 mg)
- Certified organic, gluten-free, vegan
- Produced at Ferme St-Ours, in Montérégie, a multigenerational family maple farm
Maple MC2 comes in three flavors: Maple, Maple-Blueberry, and Maple-Peach.
Try all three flavors
Maple, Maple-Blueberry, Maple-Peach. 12 packets to find your favorite.
Discovery Box | $29.99Skratch Labs vs. Maple MC2: The Numbers
| Criteria | Maple MC2 | Skratch Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Price (single packet) | $2.79 | $2.99 |
| Price (multi-serving format) | $29.99 / box of 12 ($2.50/packet) | $32.99 / 440g bag, approx. 20 servings ($1.65/serving) |
| Format | 30g packet | Packet or bulk, 22g per serving |
| Calories | 110 kcal | 80 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 28g (maple, single source) | 20g (cane sugar + dextrose) |
| Sodium | 273 mg | 380 mg |
| Potassium | 94 mg | ~40 mg (estimated) |
| Calcium | 47 mg | 47 mg |
| Magnesium | 15 mg | 39 mg |
| Ingredients | Maple syrup, salt, freeze-dried fruit, natural flavors | Cane sugar, dextrose, sodium citrate, citric acid, magnesium lactate, calcium citrate, potassium citrate, citrus oil/juice, vitamin C |
| Origin | Saint-Ours, Quebec | Boulder, Colorado |
| Certifications | Organic, gluten-free, vegan | Non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher |
Skratch Labs ingredients and prices were verified on Well.ca. Maple MC2 data comes from the official nutritional panel.
Skratch Labs' potassium is not published on the nutritional panel. It is estimated based on the dilution ratio recommended by the manufacturer.
For whom Skratch Labs remains relevant
Skratch Labs has three advantages over Maple MC2.
- 40% more sodium per serving. On a bike ride or run of several hours in high heat, this surplus helps prevent cramps.
- $1.65 per serving in bulk. The 440g bag is cheaper than buying single packets, an advantage for those who consume a lot each week.
- More flavors. Lemon-lime, strawberry, orange, and mango, with or without caffeine.
If your training often includes sessions longer than two hours in hot weather, Skratch Labs (or adding salt to your drink) remains an option to consider.
- Cyclist, 4 hours on a July Saturday in a heatwave: they lose a lot of sodium in sweat. The 380 mg in Skratch Labs helps.
- Runner, 45 minutes on a Tuesday night: no noticeable difference between the two products.
Sweat rate varies greatly from one person to another. Some athletes lose twice as much sodium as others for the same effort.
These are called "salty sweaters." White dried salt marks on clothing are often a sign of this.
If this is your case, a product higher in sodium like Skratch Labs, or adding salt to your usual drink, is worth considering regardless of the duration of the effort.
The cost over a season
Based on 4 workouts per week, or about 16 packets per month:
- Maple MC2, in boxes of 12: about $40 per month ($2.50/packet)
- Skratch Labs, in a 440g bulk bag: about $42 per month ($1.65/serving, though shipping must be considered if purchased online from a retailer outside of Quebec)
The difference is about $2 per month, or $24 over a year. Price should therefore not be the deciding factor.
Choose instead based on the source of the ingredients and your sodium needs.
How to choose based on your training
Before the effort
A packet diluted about 30 minutes before starting helps you begin well-hydrated without overloading the stomach. Regardless of the brand chosen, avoid testing a new drink for the first time on the day of a race.
During the effort
Under 90 minutes of effort, the sodium difference between the two products generally has no perceptible impact. One packet every 45 to 60 minutes is enough to maintain hydration.
Beyond 2 hours, especially in high heat, watch for cramps and your sweat rate. Under these conditions, the 380 mg of sodium in Skratch Labs can help.
After the effort
In the 30 to 60 minutes following arrival, replacing lost minerals speeds up recovery. Both products are suitable for this stage; the choice depends mainly on which taste you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where these numbers come from
The Skratch Labs nutritional values cited in this article come from the nutrition facts panel displayed on the packaging, as reproduced by third-party nutrition databases and confirmed by the ingredient list available from a Canadian retailer.
The prices are those displayed at the time of writing at Mathieu Performance and Well.ca, two retailers that sell Skratch Labs in Canada.
The only estimated value is the Skratch Labs potassium. The manufacturer does not list it on the abbreviated nutrition panel, only in the recommended dilution ratio for bulk preparation.
All other figures come directly from verifiable sources.
The Maple MC2 data (273 mg sodium, 94 mg potassium, 47 mg calcium, 15 mg magnesium, 110 kcal, 28 g carbohydrates) are from the official nutrition facts panel, which is identical for all three flavors and the Discovery Box.
In summary
- Skratch Labs: a formula composed of several isolated ingredients, higher in sodium, with no organic certification. Designed for endurance in high heat.
- Maple MC2: a single source, organic maple syrup from Quebec, which provides both carbohydrates and electrolytes. Designed for regular training.
For your everyday training, Maple MC2 is a natural alternative to Skratch Labs. If your rides exceed two hours in high heat, keep Skratch Labs (or an added salt supplement) in your kit.
Discover the three flavors in the Discovery Box, or explore all Maple MC2 products.
Maple MC2 is also compared to other brands in our articles alternative to Nuun Sport, alternative to LMNT, alternative to BioSteel and the ranking of the best hydration powders in Canada.
