Review: Summer Stimulation

Energy products to supplement the season.

Summer in Montana is notoriously precious, a slim three-month window of long days, warm temps, and unlimited outdoor opportunity. To optimize this short-but-incredibly-sweet season, we hard-charging Bozemaniacs often need an energy enhancement – a little artificial augmentation – to help ramp up our outdoor activities and keep us going strong, till the sun sets over the T-Roots. Here's a rundown of some of the best (and legal) stimulants on the market; use them to overcome the occasional bout of lethargy and make the most of this splendid time of year.

Voke Tab
With headquarters in Hamilton and a loyal following in Bozeman, Voke Tab is quickly becoming the go-to cure for those lackluster days afield. Pop one before a grueling hike, rigorous paddle, or challenging rock-climb, and enjoy a much-needed boost that doesn't leave you feeling strange or shaky. Unfamiliar with the concept of a chewable energy tab? Think of it this way: if Folgers and SweetTart made sweet love in a field of wildflowers, Voke would be their bouncing baby boy.

UpTime
As a counterpoint to the extreme-athlete mania promulgated by most energy drinks, UpTime offers a more refined image, appealing to students, urbanites, indoor athletes, and working professionals as well as the usual outdoor-enthusiast market. Offering benefits such as "focus, clarity, and being fully in the moment," this fruity, lightly carbonated drink tastes great – it's way less syrupy than Red Bull or RockStar – and comes in both regular and sugar-free versions. Be advised: the regular version has 39 grams of sugar, which is, according to official FDA verbiage, a crap-ton. The company also makes tablets for a more even, sustained energy enhancement.


EnergIce
EnergIce is basically an amplified Otter Pop that serves a dual purpose, both pumping you up and cooling you off on a hot summer day. Stash a dozen of these in the freezer and next time you feel a little languid, let these icy delights take you back to your childhood, when you craved sweet treats and had more natural energy than you – or your parents – knew what to do with. Designed for athletes, this "premium ice bar" has no caffeine, just a bunch of vitamins and minerals that boost energy without compromising your healthy diet regimen.

Positive Energy
Super sweet but still delicious, Positive Energy gives you an all-natural option that tastes just like your favorite fruit beverage. With flavors ranging from cranberry to lemonade, this energy-infused juice has plenty of caffeine, without the usual litany of suspicious ingredients like taurine and sucralose. In fact, the label's nutrition info is perhaps this product's greatest virtue, with recognizable ingredients and daily-value percentages that don't make you shiver. Replace your morning OJ with this and you can skip the coffee altogether.