You're mid-workout or heading into a long shift, and you need energy. Two very different products sit in front of you: a brightly colored can of Rip It and a stick pack of doingwell electrolytes. One promises a caffeine jolt. The other promises hydration. Both claim to fuel your performance.
The confusion is real. Many people conflate "energy" with caffeine when what their body actually needs during physical activity is proper hydration and mineral balance. This isn't about which product is "better" in some absolute sense — it's about understanding what each one actually does and which job you need done.
Rip It is a traditional energy drink. doingwell is a performance electrolyte formula. They serve fundamentally different purposes, and mixing them up can undermine your training, your recovery, and your long-term performance. Let's break down what each product actually delivers, when each makes sense, and why the distinction matters more than most people realize.
Two Products, Two Completely Different Jobs
Rip It is a caffeine-based energy drink. A typical 16oz can contains around 160mg of caffeine — roughly the equivalent of a strong cup of coffee — along with taurine, B vitamins, and either high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners like sucralose. It's designed to stimulate your central nervous system, increase alertness, and give you that familiar jittery boost. The goal is simple: wake you up, keep you awake, or push through fatigue when you're mentally tired.
doingwell is a performance electrolyte formula built for a completely different purpose. Each stick pack contains approximately 1000mg of sodium, 220mg of potassium, and 150mg of magnesium — with zero sugar, zero caffeine, and organic monk fruit as the sweetener. It's formulated to replace what you lose through sweat during physical exertion: minerals that regulate fluid balance, muscle contraction, and cellular energy production.
The word "energy" creates the confusion. When you drink Rip It, you're getting stimulant energy — caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in your brain, making you feel less tired. When you use doingwell, you're supporting cellular energy production by maintaining the mineral balance your muscles and nerves need to function properly during sustained activity.
Think of it this way: caffeine is like revving your engine louder. Electrolytes are like making sure you have oil, coolant, and fuel in the tank. Both might feel like "energy," but one is masking fatigue while the other is addressing the root cause of declining performance during training.
This distinction matters because using the wrong tool for the job can backfire. If you're heading into a hard training session and you chug an energy drink instead of hydrating properly, you're adding a diuretic (caffeine increases fluid loss) to a situation where your body already needs more fluids and sodium. You might feel alert, but your performance will still suffer as dehydration during intense workouts sets in.
What Your Body Actually Needs During Training
During exercise, your body loses sodium, potassium, and fluids through sweat. The harder you train and the hotter the environment, the more you lose. A heavy sweater can lose 1000-2000mg of sodium per hour during intense activity. Your body doesn't lose caffeine when you sweat. Replacing what you actually lose is the foundation of sustained performance.
When sodium levels drop, your body struggles to maintain fluid balance. Water follows sodium — if you're low on sodium, drinking plain water won't hydrate you effectively because your cells can't hold onto it. This is why athletes who drink only water during long sessions sometimes experience hyponatremia (dangerously low blood sodium) despite consuming plenty of fluids.
Caffeine can mask fatigue, but it doesn't address the root cause of declining performance during workouts. If your muscles are cramping because you're low on sodium and magnesium, drinking an energy drink won't fix it. You might feel more alert, but your physical output will continue to drop. The stimulant effect can even trick you into pushing harder than your hydration status can support, increasing the risk of heat-related issues.
High-sodium electrolyte formulas like doingwell are built for athletes who sweat heavily. The ~1000mg sodium per serving matches what serious trainers actually lose during hard sessions. This isn't about casual hydration — it's about supporting performance at the cellular level. Sodium and potassium regulate the electrical gradients that allow your muscles to contract and your nerves to fire. Magnesium supports ATP production, the molecule that fuels every muscular contraction.
When you maintain proper electrolyte balance during training, you maintain performance. Your muscles contract efficiently. Your cardiovascular system doesn't have to work as hard to maintain blood pressure. Your core temperature stays regulated. You can train longer and recover faster because your body isn't fighting dehydration while also trying to adapt to the training stimulus.
This is why professional athletes and serious trainers prioritize electrolyte replenishment during sessions and save caffeine for specific situations where mental alertness is the limiting factor — not physical output.
Ingredient Comparison: What's Actually in Each Product
Rip It ingredients typically include caffeine (160mg per 16oz can), taurine, B vitamins, high fructose corn syrup or sucralose, artificial flavors, and artificial colors like Red 40 or Blue 1. The formula is designed for a quick stimulant hit. The sugar version delivers a rapid glucose spike followed by a crash. The sugar-free version uses artificial sweeteners to avoid calories while maintaining sweetness.
doingwell ingredients are built around performance hydration: approximately 1000mg sodium, 220mg potassium, 150mg magnesium, organic monk fruit sweetener (never stevia), and maltodextrin-free organic natural flavors. Zero sugar. Zero caffeine. Every milligram is disclosed on the label — no proprietary blends, no hidden ingredients. The formula is Informed Sport Certified, meaning every batch is third-party tested for banned substances.
Here's a direct comparison of key differences:
Caffeine Content: Rip It contains ~160mg per can. doingwell contains 0mg. If you need a stimulant, Rip It delivers. If you need hydration without the jitters or sleep disruption, doingwell is built for that.
Sugar Content: Rip It's regular version contains high fructose corn syrup (often 20-30g per can). The sugar-free version uses sucralose. doingwell contains 0g sugar in all flavors, sweetened with organic monk fruit instead.
Sodium Levels: Rip It contains minimal sodium (often less than 200mg per can). doingwell contains ~1000mg per serving, formulated to match sweat losses during hard training.
Third-Party Testing: Rip It is not third-party tested for banned substances. doingwell is Informed Sport Certified, tested on every batch — critical for competitive athletes subject to drug testing.
Ingredient Transparency: Rip It uses proprietary blends and artificial ingredients without full disclosure. doingwell discloses every milligram on the label and uses organic monk fruit and maltodextrin-free natural flavors. Athletes who prioritize hydration supplements with clean formulas increasingly demand this level of transparency.
The ingredient differences reflect fundamentally different design goals. Rip It is optimized for taste, cost, and stimulant effect. doingwell is optimized for athletic performance, clean ingredients, and third-party verification.
When Each Product Makes Sense (And When It Doesn't)
Rip It may work for situations where you need alertness but aren't physically exerting yourself. Late-night studying. Long drives. Shift work where you need to stay awake but aren't sweating. In these contexts, a caffeine-based energy drink delivers what you actually need: central nervous system stimulation to fight sleepiness.
doingwell is built for training sessions, competition, outdoor work, or any scenario involving sweat and physical performance. If you're running, lifting, sparring, playing a tournament, or working construction in the heat, you need electrolyte replenishment. The stick packs are convenient for throwing in a gym bag or taking on the road — just mix with water and drink during or after your session.
The problem with mixing them up is real. Using caffeine-based drinks during training can increase dehydration because caffeine acts as a mild diuretic, increasing fluid loss through urine. If you're already sweating heavily, adding a diuretic to the mix works against your hydration goals. You might feel alert, but your performance will decline as your body struggles to maintain fluid balance.
Caffeine can also mask warning signs that your body needs fluids. Normally, fatigue during a hard session is partly your body signaling that it's time to hydrate or back off. When you override that signal with a stimulant, you can push into dangerous territory — especially in hot conditions — without realizing how dehydrated you've become.
If you're using energy drinks before workouts to "get amped up," consider whether you actually need a stimulant or whether you're just under-fueled and under-hydrated. Many people reach for caffeine when what they really need is better sleep, better nutrition, and proper electrolyte balance. Caffeine can't fix a fundamentally depleted system.
That said, caffeine has its place. If you're training early in the morning and genuinely need the mental boost to get moving, a moderate dose of caffeine before your session — paired with proper hydration during your session — can work. The key is separating the two jobs: use caffeine for alertness, use electrolytes for hydration. Don't expect one product to do both.
Why Athletes Are Moving Away from Traditional Energy Drinks
Informed Sport Certification matters for tested athletes. If you compete in any sport with drug testing protocols, consuming products that aren't third-party tested is a risk. Rip It isn't tested for banned substances. doingwell is Informed Sport Certified, tested on every batch. This gives competitive athletes confidence that they're not inadvertently consuming something that could trigger a positive test.
Sugar crashes and caffeine dependency can undermine consistent training performance over time. If you rely on energy drinks to get through every session, you're building a tolerance to caffeine and creating a cycle where you need more and more to feel the same effect. Meanwhile, the sugar spikes and crashes (or the artificial sweeteners) can disrupt appetite regulation and recovery nutrition.
Clean ingredient standards reflect a broader shift in sports nutrition expectations. Athletes increasingly care about what's inside their supplements. No artificial colors. No maltodextrin. Full label transparency. Organic sweeteners. These aren't just marketing buzzwords — they represent a move toward products that support long-term health, not just short-term performance hacks. Understanding how sports nutrition brands source ingredients responsibly has become a priority for serious competitors.
doingwell was co-founded by UFC Champion Sean O'Malley after his tainted supplement experience. He learned the hard way that what's inside matters. The brand is built around full transparency: every milligram disclosed, organic monk fruit instead of stevia, maltodextrin-free natural flavors, and third-party testing on every batch. This level of accountability is becoming the standard among serious athletes who understand that cutting corners on ingredient quality can have real consequences.
The shift away from traditional energy drinks isn't about demonizing caffeine. It's about recognizing that athletic performance is built on fundamentals: proper hydration, electrolyte balance, clean nutrition, and adequate recovery. Energy drinks were never designed with these priorities in mind. They were designed to deliver a quick stimulant hit at the lowest possible cost. That's fine for what it is, but it's not a performance nutrition strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use doingwell and an energy drink together? Technically, yes — but understand what you're doing. If you drink an energy drink for the caffeine boost before training and then use doingwell during your session for hydration, you're addressing two different needs. Just be aware that caffeine increases fluid loss, so you'll need to hydrate more aggressively. Don't rely on the energy drink to handle hydration — it won't.
Does doingwell give you energy? Not in the stimulant sense. doingwell doesn't contain caffeine, so it won't make you feel "wired" or more alert. What it does is support cellular energy production by maintaining the electrolyte balance your muscles and nerves need to function properly. When you're properly hydrated with adequate sodium, potassium, and magnesium, your body can produce and use energy more efficiently. That's a different kind of energy — metabolic, not stimulant.
Is Rip It bad for athletes? It's not designed for athletic hydration needs. If you drink Rip It during training, you're getting caffeine and either sugar or artificial sweeteners, but you're not getting the sodium and electrolytes you're losing through sweat. That's the core issue. Rip It isn't "bad" in some moral sense — it's just the wrong tool for the job. If you're using it for alertness in non-training contexts, it does what it's designed to do. But don't expect it to support hydration during physical exertion.
How much sodium do I actually need during training? It depends on how much you sweat and how salty your sweat is. Heavy sweaters can lose 1000-2000mg of sodium per hour during intense activity. If you notice white residue on your clothes or skin after training, you're a salty sweater. doingwell's ~1000mg per serving is formulated for athletes who sweat heavily. If you're training for more than an hour in hot conditions, you may need multiple servings.
Can I just drink water and skip electrolytes? For short, low-intensity sessions in cool conditions, plain water may be fine. For anything longer than an hour, in heat, or at high intensity, you need electrolytes. Drinking only water during extended sessions can dilute your blood sodium levels, leading to hyponatremia — a dangerous condition where your cells swell because they can't regulate fluid balance properly. Water is essential, but it's not a complete hydration strategy for serious training. Learn more about why hydration supplements are worth buying even beyond intense training.
What's the difference between monk fruit and stevia? Both are plant-based zero-calorie sweeteners, but they taste different. doingwell uses organic monk fruit because it has a cleaner taste profile without the bitter aftertaste that some people experience with stevia. It's a personal preference, but for a product you're drinking during training, taste matters. If it doesn't taste good, you won't drink enough of it. Check out the best organic flavored supplements for options that prioritize both performance and taste.
The Bottom Line: Match the Tool to the Job
Energy drinks and electrolyte formulas aren't competitors — they're different tools for different jobs. Rip It delivers caffeine and stimulation. doingwell delivers hydration and electrolyte replenishment. Confusing the two leads to suboptimal performance and potential health risks.
For athletes and serious trainers who care about what goes in their body, the choice comes down to understanding what you actually need. If you're sweating, training, or competing, hydration and electrolyte replenishment should come first. Caffeine has its place, but it's not a substitute for proper mineral balance and fluid intake.
doingwell is built for that purpose. Informed Sport Certified. Zero sugar. Organic monk fruit sweetener. Every milligram disclosed on the label. Convenient stick packs for training, travel, and competition. Co-founded by UFC Champion Sean O'Malley, who learned through hard experience that what's inside your supplements matters.
The formula is straightforward: ~1000mg sodium, 220mg potassium, 150mg magnesium. No caffeine. No artificial colors. No maltodextrin. No proprietary blends. Just clean ingredients formulated to support performance when it counts.
If you're tired of guessing what's actually in your hydration products, doingwell offers full transparency. If you're tired of artificial sweeteners and sketchy ingredient lists, doingwell uses organic monk fruit and maltodextrin-free natural flavors. If you compete and need third-party testing, doingwell is Informed Sport Certified on every batch.
Available in Coconut Lime, Raspberry, and Mango 500mg. $55 per month on subscription or $60 one-time for 30 stick packs. No gimmicks. No hype. Just clean hydration built by someone who understands what's at stake when you're training at a high level.
doingwell performance electrolytes are Informed Sport Certified, zero-sugar, and sweetened with organic monk fruit — with every milligram disclosed on the label. Built by a UFC champion who learned the hard way that what's inside matters. Try it and see what clean hydration actually tastes like.
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