Clean-label peers: NOOMA and Pricklee
The two clean-label drinks closest to Athleton. The real differences are the plant base, the added electrolytes, and the sweetener.
| Athleton | NOOMA | Pricklee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant base | Prickly pear + coconut water, not from concentrate | Coconut water from concentrate1 | Prickly pear (cactus) water2 |
| Ingredients (approx.) | ~7 simple | ~5-61 | ~5-62 |
| Source of sodium | Coconut water, prickly pear, sea salt | Sea salt1 | From prickly pear2 |
| Source of potassium | Coconut water and prickly pear; none added | Coconut water from concentrate1 | From prickly pear2 |
| Added magnesium (form) | Magnesium malate (organic)8 | None added1 | None added2 |
| Sweetened with | Honey or dates; no stevia | Stevia leaf extract1 | Agave; no stevia3 |
| Sugar (per can) | Set per flavor | ~5 g (coconut water)4 | ~7 g3 |
| Caffeine | None | Caffeine-free1 | Caffeine-free2 |
| Certifications & claims | Vegan, GF, Non-GMO, Halal, Kosher; no artificial sugars or coloring | Keto, Organic, Non-GMO, Paleo, GF, Vegan, B Corp5 | No artificial sugars or colors; antioxidant-rich2 |
| Format & design | 12 oz slim can, BPA-free; collectible designs | 16.9 oz Tetra Pak carton1 | 12 oz can2 |
Competitor details reflect each brand's own published pages, last checked May 2026. Formulations and flavors can change, so always confirm against the current label or the brand's site before purchase.
The takeaway: only Athleton pairs coconut water and prickly pear, adds magnesium malate, and skips both stevia and agave.
How clean hydration compares to mainstream sports drinks
The mainstream drinks most people, and most kids, actually reach for. Shown for Prime Hydration (caffeine-free, not Prime Energy) and the original BodyArmor Sports Drink.
| Athleton | Prime Hydration | BodyArmor Sports Drink | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant base | Prickly pear + coconut water, not from concentrate | Coconut water from concentrate6 | Coconut water from concentrate7 |
| Ingredients (approx.) | ~7 simple | ~176 | ~18-207 |
| Sweetened with | Honey or dates | Sucralose + acesulfame K6 | Cane sugar + stevia7 |
| Artificial / high-intensity sweeteners | None | Yes (sucralose, ace-K)6 | Stevia7 |
| Added cane sugar | None | No (uses sucralose, ace-K)6 | Yes7 |
| Added coloring | None added | Beta-carotene added6 | Fruit/veg juice added7 |
| Also added | Sea salt + magnesium malate; no synthetic vitamins | Added BCAAs + synthetic vitamins6 | Added synthetic vitamins + mineral blend7 |
| Source of sodium | Coconut water, prickly pear, sea salt | Very low sodium6 | Low sodium7 |
| Source of potassium | Coconut water and prickly pear; none added | Dipotassium phosphate (added)6 | Dipotassium phosphate + coconut water7 |
| Magnesium (form) | Magnesium malate (organic)8 | Magnesium citrate (organic)6 | Magnesium oxide (inorganic, poorly absorbed)8 |
| Caffeine | None | None (Prime Energy is separate)6 | None7 |
| Format & design | 12 oz slim can, BPA-free; collectible designs | 16.9 oz plastic bottle6 | 16 oz plastic bottle7 |
Reflects each brand's own published information for the specific products named, last checked May 2026. Both Prime and BodyArmor sell multiple lines (for example BodyArmor Lyte and Zero, and Prime Energy) with different formulas. Always confirm against the current label.
The takeaway: Athleton has no sucralose, no cane sugar, no synthetic vitamins, and no added coloring. Just a whole-food base and well-absorbed magnesium.
How Athleton compares to electrolyte mixes: LMNT and Liquid IV
One difference matters before the table: LMNT and Liquid IV are powdered drink mixes you stir into water, not ready-to-drink beverages. The figures below are per stick pack, typically mixed into about 16 oz of water, so they describe a concentrate you dilute rather than a finished can. Read this as a category look, not an exact serving-to-serving match with a 12 oz Athleton.
| Athleton | LMNT | Liquid IV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Ready-to-drink 12 oz can | Powder stick, mixed into water9 | Powder stick, mixed into water10 |
| Plant base | Prickly pear + coconut water, not from concentrate | None; salt and minerals only9 | None; an oral-rehydration formula10 |
| Sweetened with | Honey or dates; no stevia | Stevia leaf extract9 | Cane sugar, dextrose + stevia10 |
| Sugar (per serving) | Set per flavor | Zero sugar9 | ~11 g (cane sugar, dextrose)10 |
| Added magnesium (form) | Magnesium malate (organic)8 | Magnesium malate9 | None10 |
| Source of potassium | Coconut water and prickly pear; none added | Potassium chloride (added)9 | Potassium citrate + dipotassium phosphate10 |
| Source of sodium | Coconut water, prickly pear, sea salt | ~1000 mg per stick (very high, about half a day's limit)9 | ~500 mg per stick10 |
| Added vitamins or amino acids | None | None9 | Added synthetic vitamins (C, B3, B5, B6, B12)10 |
LMNT and Liquid IV are sold mainly as powdered stick packs; amounts shown are per stick, typically mixed into about 16 oz of water. LMNT also sells a ready-to-drink sparkling line, and Liquid IV sells sugar-free and other varieties with different formulas. Always confirm against the current label.
The takeaway: both mixes are powders sweetened with stevia, and LMNT's ~1000 mg of sodium per stick, about half a day's worth, is built for endurance, not everyday hydration. Athleton is ready-to-drink, whole-food, and stevia-free. Why too much sodium matters →
More on the science: how magnesium absorption works, and what the research says about sweeteners and gut health.
Sources
- 1. NOOMA product page (ingredients, base, sea salt, stevia, caffeine-free): drinknooma.com/products/blueberry-peach-2
- 2. Pricklee product and FAQ (prickly pear base, antioxidants, caffeine-free, no artificial sugars/colors): pricklee.com/products/prickly-pear
- 3. Pricklee FAQ (agave nectar, ~7 g sugar, no stevia): pricklee.com/pages/faq
- 4. NOOMA brand site (sugar from coconut water, low calories): drinknooma.com
- 5. NOOMA brand site (certifications and B Corp): drinknooma.com
- 6. Prime Hydration, official site (coconut water, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, BCAAs and vitamins, caffeine-free): drinkprime.com
- 7. BodyArmor, official site (coconut water, cane sugar and stevia, added vitamins and electrolytes): drinkbodyarmor.com
- 8. Bioavailability of magnesium food supplements: a systematic review, Nutrition (2021), finding organic magnesium forms more bioavailable than inorganic forms: sciencedirect.com
- 9. LMNT, official site (ingredients and per-stick electrolytes: about 1000 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, 60 mg magnesium as magnesium malate, zero sugar, stevia): drinklmnt.com
- 10. Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (ingredients and per-stick nutrition: cane sugar and dextrose, about 500 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium, added B and C vitamins, stevia): liquid-iv.com
NOOMA, Pricklee, Prime, BodyArmor, LMNT, and Liquid IV are trademarks of their respective owners. This comparison is provided for informational purposes and is not endorsed by any of these brands.