Viter Energy Mints PERFORMANCE REVIEW (with video)
Sometimes you need a little pick-me-up in the backcountry and you don’t always have time to bust open a stove to make coffee or mix a beverage. Thanks to Viter Energy and their little magical caffeinated breath mints, all you need to do is pop one in your mouth and you’ll be off to the races. I now never leave for a backcountry adventure without them.
Why I Have Viter Energy Mints
Sometime in early 2019, the company Viter Energy reached out to me by email and asked if I wanted to try some of their caffeinated breath mints (Uh….yes please). I said yes, and in a few days the showed up, but sat on the shelf until the snow melted and I headed out for my first backpacking trip of the year.
This review is NOT sponsored. Yes, they did send them too me free of charge, but I made it clear from the start that they need to be cool with me giving my honest feedback.
With that out of the way, let’s go.
My Experiences with Viter Energy
Before I dive in here. Let me just say I wanted to make sure I was using these mints in a way that made sense. I didn’t just want to take them and sit there waiting for something to happen. I wanted to use them in the field when I was tired so I could see if they actually worked or not. Yes, they’re a simple mint, but I needed to know if they could be a tool to use or not. This is why it took me so long to use them AND write this review. It couldn’t just be a one and done thing. I needed to use them a few times in strained situations so I could get a base for performance.
Mount St. Helens
I do a hike around Mount St. Helens each year and it’s a perfect proving ground for new gear and techniques. I waited until I was about 12 miles into a 20 mile day and was for sure at the point where I needed boost.
I pulled out the tin of mints and asked my friend how many we should consider taking. We decided on two each and away we went.
By the time the mints were about gone I was feeling good. Like really good. I was bouncing down the trail like a champ and cruising through a section of the trail that is normally not so fun. When I asked my partner how he was feeling, he gave me a big smile and said he was on point.
As the day progressed, so did the weather. We were soaking wet and the trip ended up being a hot mess in the end. we cruised through 25 miles of hiking that day and popped a couple more mints as we needed.
It seemed that on this first go, the mints were a hit.
Death Hike
The good folks from Exo Mountain Gear invited me on their annual Death Hike. This would be a 40 + mile trip into and back out of the Frank Church Wilderness. We left the trailhead at 12AM on a Friday and were back by Saturday evening. Lots of hiking, lots of elevation, and lots of pack weight. There were various challenges during the hike, the last one being that we must add 40 lbs. of rocks to our packs for a minimum of 17 miles of hiking back to the trailhead. My total weight came to about 71 lbs…..for 17 miles.
I lived on those mints for 17 miles. When one dissolved, I popped another and it worked like a charm. Those heavenly mints kept me going for that hike out and I don’t want to think about how it would have been without them. The fact that you can get a shot of caffeine so quickly AND have it taste good is incredible. If you’ve never hiked with a jolly rancher, a mint, or something like that, you’re missing out. In this case, the mint had a nice taste, gave me something to do, and provided energy.
After the Death Hike, I was sold.
It’s also worth mentioning that I passed a tin of mints off to a friend who had the same experience on the hike. He loved them!
Hunting Season
The last go with the Viter Energy mints was hunting season. There is always a moment during the day where you’re feeling like a slug. You’ve been up since before the sun was out and you’re looking at a long afternoon before you’re done. I do my best to hunt all day so I need to stay energized.
There were two times when I was feeling slow and tired but didn’t want to make coffee. It would be loud and I needed to make it quick so I could continue hunting.
Out come the mints and in a few minutes I was feeling good again. Just like a cup of coffee in the afternoon gives you an extra boost.
The fact that I could quickly toss a mint in my mouth and get on with the hunt was huge.
Taste
The mints taste great. I’ve heard the same from other people as well who I’ve shared them with. I like the Wintergreen flavor myself.
They don’t taste funky and don’t have a weird aftertaste when it’s dissolved.
What I Like About Viter Energy
Here’s what I like.
I like that they’re quick and easy
They’re efficient to use and that’s what I care most about.
No extra trash
Small and light
Inexpensive
Provide a good boost of energy. If you need more, take another. Pretty simple.
NO CRASH
Final Thoughts and Who Viter Energy Mints Are For
If you hike, backpack, or do any sort of long duration physical activity, you should have these on you.
These things are going to be in my pack from here on out and they’re nice to have when you need them. After my experiences this past year, I’m sold.
It’s a simple mint, but it makes a difference!
