Top Recommendations: REIZE Energy
Road trips are exciting adventures that take you out of your daily surroundings to a completely different place. That said, when you’re behind the wheel on a long trip, it can become draining over time and you’ll need some source of energy to keep you awake.
And what’s the fastest way to give you a jolt of energy?
Energy drinks, of course!
There’s no denying that you also have to use other ways to keep yourself awake, but energy drinks can provide you with a number of benefits for those long hours on the road.
For a more detailed discussion, read on to find out about the benefits of the ingredients in energy drinks as well as which brand would be your best road trip companion.
Can Caffeine Keep You Awake?
Caffeine can definitely keep you awake since it’s a natural stimulant that can trigger your brain and central nervous system.
Caffeine is an ingredient that’s found in certain plants like coffee beans and tea leaves. It works by stimulating your central nervous system and brain; preventing adenosine, which is sleep-regulating receptors, from properly functioning.
It carries a number of benefits, from improving exercise performance to enhancing reaction time.
Plus, caffeine can also increase your alertness and keep you awake for extended periods of time. As such, going for some caffeine is great for situations when you need a boost to combat that post-lunch drowsiness, or even while you’re driving for many hours.
In fact, one of the main ways to stay awake while you’re on the road is to have a caffeinated beverage.
Still, how much caffeine you’ll need to stay awake on a long trip depends on two factors: how quickly caffeine leaves your system and how sensitive you are to its effects.
That said, even if your caffeine tolerance is quite high, it doesn’t give you a free pass to have as much caffeine as you like.
For reference, the FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 400mg for healthy adults. Any more than that, and you might end up with adverse effects such as:
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
But, once you’ve completed your task or reached a stop, be sure to take a short rest. Even if caffeine can keep you up, your body needs to replenish its energy levels and nothing beats getting some deep sleep, even if it’s for a short while.
Therefore, make sure to moderate your daily caffeine intake to prevent yourself from going over the limit, and get some shuteye after staying up the whole night.
How Much Caffeine Does It Take To Keep You Awake?
The amount of caffeine you need to consume to keep awake depends on your caffeine metabolism.
Everyone breaks down caffeine at a different pace, which is influenced by many factors such as genetics, age, height, and overall health condition.
As such, everyone builds different levels of tolerance to caffeine, while some might even be sensitive to it.
Regular caffeine drinkers will require more caffeine for the effects to kick in, whereas if you happen to be trying caffeinated beverages for the first time, you might not be accustomed to it.
No matter how much caffeine you need for it to start kicking in, make sure to consume caffeine within the daily limit.
For more information on caffeine on how to avoid having too much of it, have a look at the article I’ve written on caffeine overdoses and how exactly they relate to energy drinks.
Energy Drinks, Caffeine, And Driving
When you’re driving for many hours with your eyes on the road, you can easily become fatigued. One of the few ways to help improve your alertness when you’re starting to doze off behind the wheel is to drink caffeine.
Driving can be a tiring and monotonous task that takes up a lot of energy, focus, and attention. Whether you’re waiting in a jam or passing through highways for your road trip, you’re responsible for the lives of your passengers, of other people on the road, as well as your own.
Aside from its stimulating benefits, caffeine will make you want to visit the bathroom more often as it’s a short-term diuretic.
Feeling uncomfortable while driving will prevent you from falling asleep and force you to make stops to go to the bathroom.
Of course, it isn’t recommended to have caffeine for trips lasting over 4 hours, since you’ll need to continuously increase your caffeine intake to avoid feeling tired. This could make you over-consume caffeine by accident and cause some pretty unpleasant effects.
Does Sugar In Energy Drinks Drain Your Energy?
Sugary foods and drinks can indeed drain your energy as they’ll cause a sugar crash.
While it’s fine to indulge in some sugar every now and then, since it’s a temporary mood-booster, having too much of it can lead to severe health problems in the long run.
Energy drinks usually have a considerable amount of sugar in each serving, which can be bad for you if consumed regularly within a short period of time.
For guidance, the AHA advises a daily sugar limit of 25g and 36g for women and men respectively.
If you have sugar in excessive quantities, you might end up with health issues like:
- Cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Acne
Plus, high consumption of sugar causes a drastic spike and drop in your blood sugar levels, leading to a sugar crash, which isn’t something you’ll want on your road trips.
You can reduce the risks of sugar crashes by going for sugar-free energy drinks, which have the same sweetness and flavors as regular energy drinks. Of course, it boils down eventually to your own preferences and needs.
In any case, take note of your daily sugar intake and try not to have too many sugary energy drinks while you’re on your road trip.
Are Energy Drinks Good For Driving?
Energy drinks are good for driving as they’re more convenient and can be enjoyed immediately without waiting for them to cool down.
While coffee and tea make a good wake-up call, I personally believe energy drinks are superior. They’re tasty as well as refreshing, and they come in conveniently light cans.
Besides, you won’t have to worry about accidentally burning yourself when having an energy drink while driving, unlike with warm beverages.
Many studies have discovered that energy drinks can enhance driving performance and reduce driver sleepiness during prolonged driving.
Of course, while energy drinks would greatly complement your road trips, you should avoid consuming too much either, or you might end up with a caffeine-induced headache that might disrupt your concentration.
All in all, make sure to have energy drinks in moderation while you’re driving, as well as avoid drinking too much caffeine and sugar either.
If you’re looking for some recommendations on energy drinks that pair well with driving, have a look at the article I’ve written on the best energy drinks for driving for some of my personal favorites.
What Drinks Are Good For Road Trips?
Aside from energy drinks, here are other good drinks for road trips:
- fruit juice
- sports drinks
- water
- vegetable juice
In addition, you can also grab some snacks and eat them while on a rest stop. I love having something to chew while on a road trip!
Side Effects Of Energy Drinks
While energy drinks can be beneficial, you must be aware of your intake and moderate your daily consumption so you don’t go overboard. If consumed in excessive amounts, the ingredients in energy drinks can cause detrimental side effects, both minor and severe.
Here are several of the short-term and long-term negative effects of energy drinks, if not consumed properly:
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Shaking
- Irritability
- Fatigue and sugar crashes
- Stomach Irritation
- Caffeine addiction
- Dehydration and weakness
- Poor dental health
- Kidney stones
- Respiratory problems
- Miscarriage
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Allergic reactions
- Caffeine overdose
Thus, be sure to avoid having too many cans of energy drinks within a day, especially when you’re on a long road trip. Instead, switch over to beverages like water or juice, and eat some snacks to keep you alert.
While energy drinks taste amazing and energize you quickly, nothing is better than plain water.
Other Ways To Stay Awake For Your Road Trips
Eat Healthy Snacks
Be sure to bring a few low-sugar, high-protein snacks along for your long drives to get a constant supply of energy. You should also keep them within your reach for easy access while you keep your eyes on the road.
A few examples include trail mix and protein bars.
Take A Break
Even if you still have a long stretch of driving ahead, make sure to catch a short break at a rest stop. Your life is way more important than reaching your destination on time after all.
Put On Some Music
Listening to fast-paced and energetic songs can help stimulate your brain and make you more awake. You can even sing along to your favorite songs to increase your alertness.
Best Energy Drinks For Road Trips
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar Content | Calories |
| Rockstar | 160mg | 24g | 122 calories |
| Xtend Energy On-The-Go | 125mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| Raze | 300mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| REIZE | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
Rockstar
A well-known brand like Red Bull and Monster, Rockstar will certainly make you feel like a ‘rockstar’ when you’re on the road.
Every 16 fl.oz can of Rockstar has 160mg of caffeine, 24g of sugar, and 122 calories, along with loads of energy-boosting ingredients like ginseng, guarana, and B vitamins.
While the Original version is good, Rockstar Sugar-Free, their sugar-free version, offers the same caffeine content, classic taste, and benefits in their special sugarless mix.
If you want to know whether Rockstar is really effective or not, check out my Does Rockstar Actually Work article for further explanations.
Xtend Energy On-The-Go
Made with improved performance and recovery in mind, Xtend Energy On-The-Go would definitely supply you with a smooth energy boost for those long hours behind the wheel.
A single 16 fl. oz can of Xtend Energy On-The-Go is sugar-free and contains 0 calories, and 125mg of caffeine, with ingredients like taurine, electrolytes, and lots of B vitamins.
Xtend Energy also offers a caffeine-free version, Xtend Carbonated, which has no sugar, no calories, and pretty much the same benefits.
For a more in-depth discussion on both versions of Xtend and how well they work, check out my review on Xtend Energy Drink for my experience with this brand.
Raze
Though originally marketed toward fitness enthusiasts and the more health-conscious audience, Raze would still make a great energy drink to accompany you during those long drives.
Each 16 fl. oz can of Raze is sugar-free with 300mg of caffeine and 0 calories, along with beneficial ingredients like BCAAs and Alpha GPC.
Raze also offers an extensive variety of interesting flavors, which is a huge bonus, particularly if you have a liking for switching between flavors.
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
In my opinion, REIZE is the best energy drink for road trips.
REIZE is a powdered energy drink that is available in light and fitting 4g sachets. With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is also sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
With moderate levels of caffeine and zero table sugar, you’ll be able to stay awake for a longer period of time without going overdoing it on the caffeine.
Plus, REIZE also contains a smart blend of beneficial ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins that work together to provide you with a smooth energy boost – no sugar crashes involved.
The best part is that REIZE ships to your doorstep for only around $1 per sachet, which is amazing value for money.
Give REIZE a try, and you might find it to be the smartest option for your energy needs when you’re on a road trip.