Let me start with a confession. I love sports drinks–and the more artificial the flavor is, the better. If I see a Gatorade or Powerade in a radioactive bright blue–say Cool Blue or Mountain Blast–I’m going to drink it. No, I’m going to chug it. They’re just amazing on a hot summer day. Especially during and after workout. But, but, but, everyone knows Gatorade and Powerade are, well, not that hot for you. So, fortunately, along have come a host of new sustainable, organic, low sugar drinks vying to take Gatorade and Powerade’s place in our hearts.
Most of us know well-established competitors like Vitamin Water but there’s also Runa Zero, Dark Dog, Hial, Sambazon, Yerbae Mate, Kona to name just a few. Out of this batch, one new drink is particularly intriguing and getting buzz–Roar Organic.
Roar bills itself as a general energy drink: “the tools to hustle harder” and “full of flavor not sugar.” It’s not a pure sports or performance drink, but it is an electrolyte infusion like Gatorade or Powerade and also features antioxidants, B-Vitamins and 5% coconut water. Plus it contains only 2 grams of sugar, no artificial flavors and no GMOs–not to mention being gluten free, soy free and vegan. Whoa! Roar is clearly committed to checking all the boxes, and its Roar Model brand ambassadors talk about how it makes a difference in their lives. It’s a large and ambitious territory. But does Roar live up to its large claims?
First there’s the taste. It doesn’t blow you away, but after you have a few Roars, you discover you like it more than you realized. George Peach stands out as sweet but not too sweet, the best Roar flavor alternative to Gatorade or Powerade we tasted.
Other standout flavors include Strawberry Coconut with its subtle but tasty coconut finish. Pineapple Mint also has a sweet start and a minty fresh after-taste. The 50 Alpha team also sampled Roar and their top pick was Mango Clementine, a nice mix of tart and citrus.
Second, did Roar become part of my life, amping my day-to-day? Honestly, while I certainly liked Roar from the get-go, I was surprised to find myself pulling a Roar out of my office fridge mid-morning, and doing so without guilt. Why not have a George Peach given it’s a mere 40 calories per bottle (based on two 20 calorie servings per bottle)? It quenched my thirst, gave me a boost and added a bit of fun and play to the morning. Would it clarify as a “tool to hustle harder”? Perhaps not yet.
Third, any electrolyte infusion drink has to pass the sports test. In my case, that means swamping out Gatorade for Roar during a singles tennis match—a true test for sure. Despite my junior competitive years being well behind me, my ego is still always on the line in each and every match and I like to play hard. Especially on a hot day.
On the first change over, I took a big gulp, and I found I missed the sugar jolt from Gatorade/Powerade. But as the match progressed, I began to appreciate the lightness of Roar and wondered if the absence of a sugar boost might be a good, not a bad thing—allowing me to maintain a steady energy level through one and half hours of competition.
So far, so good for Roar Organic on living up to its claim to help you hustle harder without the sugar and become part of your life. It is a standout entry in the energy / lifestyle drink category and a worthy member of 50 Alpha.
50 Alpha Test Score 4.5:5
Problem–Consumers seek a healthy electrolyte infusion alternative to Gatorade and Powerade as well as a low calorie pick me up.
Solution–Roar is low calorie, features B vitamins, antioxidants and electrolytes and is available in a range of flavors.
Usability–Roar works equally well for sports or quick pick-me-up during a busy day.
Competition–Despite being low in sugar and no artificial flavors, Roar surprises with its slowly addicting taste. Overall, Roar offers a quality electrolyte / sports drink that either beats or holds its own against alternatives in terms of taste, attributes and uses.
Third Party Reviews–On Amazon, 122 customers have rated Roar, with 77% giving five stars, eight percent four stars and just sixteen percent three stars or below. Overall, it scores a 4.4 out of 5, with a 4.6 for flavor and 4.1 for value for the money.