PRODUCT REIVEW 1 - Orbana Health Drink

[wiganer]

Ok, to run alongside my "Winter Experiments" TM, I am going to try and test out some different products that dont involve too much outlay (obviously).

I came across this whilst surfing around one day and thought that it might be a good idea to try it out as my first product review. So that is what I have done.

http://www.orbana.com/

I am not associated, connected or involved with them in any way - lets get that part out the way first up.

I ordered my trial pack of 4 x 40g bottles and first off the price of £8 does appear on the expensive side, but it includes free delivery so I cant be too critical on that aspect and you would get more discount for bulk.

The package arrived and was a square box with the four bottles each with the energy powder ready to add water to. The blurb that goes with the product advises that the effects are wakened if left diluted and hence they provide the powder to mix when you are ready to use it. I have no science knowledge to say if that is accurate and no doubt the boffins will be ready to chip in.

So bottle number one - opened and water added - a few shakes and it mixed really well so no issues there - I remember sometimes that Gatorade has a tendency to clump, but nothing like that with this.

Now for the taste - this is always personal to the individual, but I really liked it - the orange definitely tastes different and less "sugary" compared to other drinks....and there is a hint of ginger or something that does make it "different".

Performance - well, its hard to say that it made a really big difference to my efforts and I suppose you could only test that over time or a race or two, but one thing I did notice, is that it definitely cleared my "dry throat" that I get when running. I am not sure if anyone else suffers from this, but I really have a dry back of my mouth when I run, not one that makes you thirsty but you notice it when you swallow. I didnt have this after drinking Obana......that was very positive for me.

I also like the fact that it is a much smaller bottle - and hence much smaller volume than normal sports drinks...I am not a big drinker of liquids during training/racing at the best of times so that works really well for me. I suppose it would work best on the shorter races, and I am not sure how it would work for HIM or IM racing ?

So overall and the first product review of the 2009-2010 winter is

ORBANA HEALTH DRINK - 8 out of 10
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[jibberjim]

[bryanm]

Top distance running coach Bruce Tulloh has had a hand this, I was given a couple of sample bottles of it at the start of the year. I don't usually bother with energy drinks as they generally taste awful and I never seem to be able to tell whether they really help me any better than squash or plain water. I liked the packaging idea of the individual bottles - although it doesn't seem as environmentally friendly as buying a large tub and using reusable bottles. The taste is one of the best sports drinks I've tried.

I'm not connected with the company, but I was given them for free!