Short answer: For hydration on the job, our pick is Fire Salt: 670 mg sodium, 190 mg potassium, 90 mg magnesium and 90 mg calcium per stick, with 0 g sugar and 5 calories. A Pedialyte Classic Powder Pack (17 g) has 490 mg sodium, 370 mg potassium, 12 g added sugar and 60 calories, per Abbott's label. Pedialyte is an oral rehydration solution made with sugar on purpose. Fire Salt is made for people who sweat through a shift, at one stick per hour of hard work.
Fire Salt publishes this comparison and ranks its own product first. Pedialyte figures come from Abbott Nutrition's Pedialyte Powder Packs 17 g product data, checked October 13, 2026. Formulas vary by flavor and product line.
Side by side
| Per stick or packet | Fire Salt Essential Hydration | Pedialyte Classic Powder Pack (17 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 670 mg | 490 mg |
| Potassium | 190 mg | 370 mg |
| Chloride | Not listed | 570 mg |
| Magnesium | 90 mg | Not listed |
| Calcium | 90 mg | Not listed |
| Sugar | 0 g | 12 g (all added) |
| Calories | 5 | 60 |
| Sweeteners | Stevia | Sugar, plus sucralose and acesulfame potassium |
| Coconut water | Yes | No |
Where Fire Salt wins on a jobsite
- No sugar adding up. Eight Pedialyte packs over a shift add 96 g of added sugar and 480 calories. Eight Fire Salt sticks add 0 g sugar and 40 calories.
- More sodium per stick (670 mg vs 490 mg).
- Magnesium and calcium, 90 mg each.
- No artificial sweeteners. Fire Salt uses stevia.
- Made for work, not the medicine aisle. One stick is formulated to replace what the average person loses in about an hour of significant exertion.
- Every batch third-party tested before it ships by a Salt Lake City-based, ISO 17025-accredited lab. Made in the USA in an FDA-registered, GMP-certified facility. See Quality & Testing.
- Proven with real buyers. 4.8 stars across more than 1,000 Amazon reviews.
- HSA/FSA eligible. Choose HSA or FSA at checkout and pay with your HSA or FSA card. A letter of medical necessity is required, and your plan makes the final call. See HSA/FSA.
Pedialyte's strength, in one line
Pedialyte is in almost every pharmacy, and it's formulated as an oral rehydration solution with more potassium (370 mg).
When to use which
If you're sick or dehydrated from illness, follow your doctor's advice. For hard work in the heat, Fire Salt is built for the shift: one stick per hour of hard work, with water, rest and shade.
FAQ
How much sugar is in Pedialyte Powder Packs?
12 g of added sugar per 17 g pack, per Abbott Nutrition's product data checked October 13, 2026. Fire Salt has 0 g.
Which has more sodium, Fire Salt or Pedialyte?
Fire Salt, at 670 mg per stick vs 490 mg per Pedialyte Classic Powder Pack.
Is Fire Salt an oral rehydration solution?
No. Fire Salt is a zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix for hydration during hard work and heat. It isn't intended to treat any illness.
Can my crew use Fire Salt every day?
Fire Salt is dosed at about one stick per hour of hard work. Talk to your doctor before using a high-sodium product if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems, or you're on a low-sodium diet.
Related guides
- Fire Salt vs DripDrop
- Fire Salt vs Gatorade
- Fire Salt vs Sqwincher
- Working in the Heat: A Jobsite Hydration Guide
- Best Electrolytes for Construction Workers and the Trades
- Shop Fire Salt Essential Hydration
Sources
- Abbott Nutrition, Pedialyte® Powder Packs 17 g: https://www.abbottnutrition.com/our-products/pedialyte-powder-packs-17-g, checked October 13, 2026 (nutrition data, ingredients).
- Abbott Store listing, Pedialyte Powder Packs Grape 17 g: https://abbottstore.com/infant-and-child/pedialyte/pedialyte-powder-packs/pedialyte-powderpacks/pedialyte-powder-packs-grape-17g-stickpacks-6-pack-64598p6.html
Brand names are trademarks of their owners. Fire Salt is not affiliated with Abbott or Pedialyte. Fire Salt is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
