Transparent Labs

Hydrate Black

FitFrek Score

8.4

Expert
Rating

Type Brands

Price $34.99

Servings 30

Quick Verdict

Feels like Hydration plus an energy lift that stays useful into the later sets.

Best for My 200 mg caffeine pre-workout plus 100 mg intra-workout setup on longer sessions, with one stick diluted in a 1.5-liter bottle.

Downside That setup is 300 mg total. Hydrate Black is not neutral just because it looks like a hydration drink.

Worth it if You deliberately want to move part of your caffeine into the workout instead of simply adding another 100 mg.

Expert Review

Nader Qudimat

Supplement reviewer · lifting since 2004 · FitFrek founder

I use Hydrate Black differently from an ordinary electrolyte drink: I take a lower, 200 mg caffeine pre-workout before training, mix one 100 mg stick into a 1.5-liter bottle, and sip it between sets and exercises.

Black Cherry stays easy to drink at that dilution and the gradual intake helps me keep useful energy through the later sets, but the session still totals 300 mg of caffeine.

Bottom line: It works well for longer sessions when I deliberately lower the caffeine I take before training; I would not simply add it on top of an unchanged high-stim pre-workout.

From the Workout

Transparent Labs Hydrate Black Black Cherry box with a single stick pack

Hydrate Black Black Cherry Box and Stick

Transparent Labs Hydrate Black Black Cherry box with a stick pack on the table

Hydrate Black Black Cherry Product

FitFrek reviewer mixing Transparent Labs Hydrate Black into a workout bottle at the gym

Hydrate Black Gym Mixing

FitFrek reviewer training with dumbbells while testing Transparent Labs Hydrate Black

Hydrate Black Workout Testing

How I Use It During Training

200 mg before · 100 mg during · 300 mg total

Before

Take the lower, 200 mg pre-workout dose and mix one Hydrate Black stick into my 1.5-liter bottle.

Early

Start the workout normally and sip between sets and exercises rather than chugging the bottle.

Later

This is where it earns its place for me: the extra energy is still arriving when I would normally start fading.

Overall

The exact setup is 300 mg total caffeine spread across the session. Useful on harder or longer days, unnecessary for every workout.

Flavor Notes

Black Cherry tested · mixed in a 1.5 L bottle

Black Cherry

Tastes good without being overpowering. I use a lot of water, so it stays light rather than overly sweet or strong, and there is not much of an aftertaste.

Peach Mango

Available, but I have not personally tested it, so I am not rating it.

The Formula That Defines Hydrate Black

Per stick · current formula

Caffeine (PurCaf®) 100 mg

Organic caffeine from green coffee beans. This is one of the two main differences from regular Hydrate.

Sodium 1,000 mg

Double regular Hydrate. The higher amount makes more sense for longer, hotter or sweatier training.

Taurine 1,000 mg

The same dose used in regular Hydrate.

Potassium 250 mg

The same dose used in regular Hydrate.

Product Details & Hydrate Comparison

Hydrate Black

Format 30 stick packs Black Cherry + Peach Mango

Caffeine 100 mg PurCaf® natural caffeine

Sodium 1,000 mg Per stick

Certification Informed-Choice Current product claim

Hydrate Black vs Regular Hydrate

Caffeine 100 mg vs 0 mg Black adds caffeine; regular Hydrate is caffeine-free

Sodium 1,000 mg vs 500 mg Black doubles the sodium

Potassium 250 mg each Same listed dose

Taurine 1,000 mg each Same listed dose

Best fit Energy + hydration Choose regular Hydrate when you only want hydration or train late

Pros & Cons

Pros

Works with my deliberately lower-caffeine pre-workout setup

100 mg can be consumed gradually during training

Double the sodium of regular Hydrate

Caffeine and electrolytes in one drink

Black Cherry still tastes good in a 1.5-liter bottle

Informed-Choice certified

Cons

Easy to add 100 mg without lowering another caffeine source first

Not ideal when you do not need more caffeine

1,000 mg sodium is not necessary for every person or session

Only two current flavors

Less flexible than regular Hydrate for late-day training

Who Should Buy This

Longer or harder sessions Hot, sweaty training Moving part of the caffeine intra-workout A deliberately reduced pre-workout dose Late-night training Caffeine-sensitive users Already took a high-stim pre-workout Only need caffeine-free hydration

Things to Know

Caffeine, sodium and timing

Med One stick adds 100 mg caffeine. My tested setup lowers the pre-workout to 200 mg first, for 300 mg total rather than adding Hydrate Black on top of my usual high-stim serving.

Med Because it contains caffeine, regular Hydrate makes more sense for me when I train late or do not want additional stimulation.

Med Caffeine-sensitive users should account for the full day's caffeine intake, not treat Hydrate Black like a caffeine-free electrolyte drink.

Low The 1,000 mg sodium serving makes more sense for longer, hotter or sweatier sessions; it is not necessary for every person or workout.

How I Use It

My training setup

Serving

1 stick

Official water amount

10–12 oz cold water

Official timing

Before, during or after exercise

My bottle

1.5 liters

I use one full stick in a 1.5-liter bottle and sip it between sets and exercises. The larger bottle makes Black Cherry lighter and easier for me to drink throughout the workout. The full bottle still contains the complete 100 mg caffeine stick.

Where to Buy

2 stores

Lowest listed price

Transparent Labs

Ships from US

$34.99

Other prices

NutriCartel

Ships from US $34.99

Prices updated daily

Lowest price is the cheapest current offer we track. Affiliate links may earn FitFrek a commission.

Code auto-copies when you click Buy.or tap to copy

Final Verdict

Hydrate Black is useful when I want hydration and some of my caffeine during the workout instead of taking everything before I start. My preferred setup is 200 mg from the pre-workout plus one 100 mg stick in a 1.5-liter bottle, for 300 mg total. I would use regular Hydrate when I only need hydration, train late or have already taken a high-stim pre-workout.

Sources

What supports this review

🏋️

Firsthand training use

Black Cherry · 1.5-liter bottle · 200 mg before + 100 mg during

Personal Test

🏷️

Official Hydrate Black product page and label

Transparent Labs · current formula, flavors, format and directions

View official page →

Label Claim

📚

ISSN position stand on caffeine and exercise

Peer-reviewed caffeine timing, dose and performance context

Read the position stand →

User Reported

FAQ

How much caffeine is in Hydrate Black? ▼

100 mg per stick, from PurCaf® organic caffeine. Count it alongside your pre-workout, coffee and anything else caffeinated that day.

What’s the difference between Hydrate and Hydrate Black? ▼

Black adds 100 mg caffeine and doubles sodium to 1,000 mg. Potassium, taurine, coconut water powder, calcium, magnesium and SenActiv are otherwise listed at the same doses.

Can I use it with a pre-workout? ▼

I do, but I lower the pre-workout first: 200 mg before training plus one 100 mg Hydrate Black stick during training, for 300 mg total. That is my high-tolerance personal setup, not a starting recommendation.

Can I mix Hydrate Black in a 1.5-liter bottle? ▼

Yes. That is how I use Black Cherry. The flavor becomes much lighter than it is in the official 10–12 oz amount, but the full bottle still contains the complete stick.

Is 1,000 mg of sodium too much? ▼

It depends on the person and session. It makes more sense for a long, hot or sweaty workout. For a shorter, lower-sweat session, regular Hydrate at 500 mg may fit better.

What flavors does it come in? ▼

Black Cherry and Peach Mango. I have tested Black Cherry. In my 1.5-liter bottle it tastes good without being overly sweet or strong, and there is not much of an aftertaste. I have not tested Peach Mango, so I am not rating it.

Is it third-party tested? ▼

Transparent Labs currently describes Hydrate Black as Informed-Choice certified.

Should I get this or regular Hydrate? ▼

Regular Hydrate if you only want hydration, train late, are caffeine-sensitive or already use a high-stim pre-workout. Hydrate Black if you specifically want electrolytes and caffeine together during longer or harder sessions.

Review

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Official Hydrate Black product page and label

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