By Ariana Losch |
Hydration drinks seem to be all the rage lately. Why? Dunno. Maybe the rise of the “sober curious” movement has people swapping cocktails for electrolytes. Maybe it’s all the influencers coming out with their own hydration products (hey there, Alex Cooper). Or maybe it’s just the work of the mysterious, almighty algorithm at play, deciding all the trends for us. Whatever the reason, we rounded up a bunch of the best sports and hydration drinks we’ve tasted over the years, along with some new flavors from popular brands, to pit them against each other in a little friendly, sporty competition. Whether the world has convinced you that you’re constantly dehydrated or simply looking for a post-workout boost, here are the ten best hydration drinks we ranked based on taste (and a little bit of merit, too.)
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- Pedialyte Tropical Fruit
Post-food poisoning, Pedialyte literally saved my life; I won’t be shamed for including it among the best hydration drinks. I remember wandering through my local CVS in a dehydrated, fever-dreamy haze, wishing for a handy little Sporked article that could tell me the best Pedialyte flavor to buy in terms of taste. Well, you know what they say: When you want something done, do it yourself. I taste-tested (almost) every Pedialyte flavor, and Tropical Fruit came out on top—it’s fruity but mellow, with a hint of caramel that’s oddly cozy. If you’re recovering from any kind of illness, it’s the best hydration drink to buy. Don’t take it from me; take it from the helpful but oddly antagonistic pharmacist who checked me out for my antibiotics, saw the blue Gatorade I’d been carrying around like an emotional support animal, made a noise of abject horror, and marched me straight over to the Pedialyte aisle. Not all heroes wear capes. Or speak very nicely to you. And that’s just life.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Gatorade Lemon Lime Thirst Quencher
As my irritable pharmacist can attest, Gatorade may taste much better than your more stomach-friendly hydration drinks, but it’s really not the healthy choice for anyone in, uh, medical distress. Lemon Lime has remained at the top of our Gatorade ranking since its inception. (Technically, Passion Fruit is our #1, but good luck tracking it down.) What else is there to say? It’s the perfect balance of lemon and lime, and it will never not be refreshing. When it comes to the best sports drinks, this one is a classic for a reason.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Gatorlyte Mixed Berry
Gatorade’s “Gatorlyte” series tastes like a mix of Pedialyte and Gatorade Thirst Quenchers. Thirst Quenchers, on the whole, have a smoother, slightly sweeter, and more chuggable flavor. Gatorlyte is very salty—but that’s what makes it one of the best hydration drinks to buy. Theoretically, it’s supposed to rehydrate you faster, with less sugar and calories, making it a little easier on your stomach. The lightly tart, muted taste of Gatorlyte Mixed Berry is a breeze to drink. Despite all that salt, it’s pretty refreshing, and you won’t get sick of it over time. It’s pretty Gator-lit, if I do say so myself.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Body Armor Tropical Coconut
To quote our editor-in-chief Justine Sterling: “I like the idea of a Pina Colada rehydrating me.” Same, Justine. Especially on a vacation. As someone who isn’t a huge fan of coconut water, I was surprised by how much I liked this Body Armor flavor. It has a smooth, fresh, easy-going coconut flavor brightened by that perfect, not-too-sweet pineapple. This isn’t for everybody, though—my colleague Jordan Myrick didn’t love it, and a couple of others at the office said it wasn’t their fave. I doubt any Pina Colada fans would have a problem with it, though. (Would it be fun or torturous to get drunk off Pina Coladas and also cure your hangover with something that tastes like one? I can’t tell…)
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Gatorlyte Orange
Orange Gatorlyte is pretty elite; it hits you with a balanced, tangy citrus flavor that helps mask the electrolytes. In fact, out of all the Gatorlyte flavors we tried, it definitely tastes the least salty. Plus, it doesn’t coat your mouth in a way that unpleasantly lingers (something I’ve noticed from both other Gatorade flavors and orange-flavored drinks in the past). It’s a good experience from start to finish.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Prime Blue Chill
First: I’m sorry. I don’t want Prime on this list, either. I don’t want to give Logan Paul money. But I have a job to do, and that’s pinpointing the best hydration drinks based on flavor. It is with a heavy heart that I say Prime makes some of the best tasting hydration drinks, and two of their new flavors (Blue Chill and Red Chill, released earlier this year) are pretty darn tasty. Prime flavors, in general, are incredibly bold. Blue Chill immediately hits you with a powerful sour raspberry unlike anything else we’ve tasted on this list. It’s tart, tangy, strongly sour, and a little sweet from the lightest hint of coconut water you get from each sip. Post-workout, I’m not sure I want all of that sour berry sitting in my stomach, but I can’t deny that it’s pretty wow-worthy.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Prime Red Chill
If you watch our taste test (which you should, because it’s funny? Go watch it right now?), you’ll notice that Prime’s Red Chill comes in second place overall. Well, I have final say here, and I’m demoting it to fourth, okay? It’s nothing personal, Logan. Red Chill is basically fruit punch, emphasis on the punch. This isn’t your kiddie fruit punch, either—it’s elevated and nuanced, with notes of pineapple, cherry, and berry. My larger issue is the same Blue Chill: It’s bold in a way that could be too harsh after an intense workout. I don’t want to puke up fruit punch, is what I’m saying.
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Body Armor Orange Mango
Body Armor Orange Mango is unexpected, which is why we love it. Unlike Orange Gatorlyte, this isn’t that citrusy or tangy. It tastes more like a mandarin orange—a little sweet, super tropical, with a tartness that’s nicely rounded out by the mango flavor. Don’t ask me why, but this is exactly what I would crave after a long run in the sun. It’s pure bliss in a bottle.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Prime Lemonade Hydration Drink
In her official Prime ranking, Justine referred to Prime Lemonade as a “lemon creamsicle (instead of an orange creamsicle),” and that’s the most accurate description you could possibly come up with for this hydration drink. You get an immediate burst of sweet lemon flavor that’s honestly unlike anything else on this ranking. Honestly, it doesn’t even taste that much like actual lemonade; the finish is more crisp than tangy. It’s like going to a soda fountain and mixing fountain lemonade with a flat Sprite and flat cream soda. It’s one of the best hydration drinks because it’s also one of the most unique.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Body Armor Strawberry Banana
Among the whole Sporked team, the verdict is unanimous: Body Armor Strawberry Banana is the best hydration drink we’ve ever tasted. I mean, c’mon, it tastes exactly like a smoothie—and merely because it’s a classic smoothie flavor combo. I don’t know how they do it, but there’s a very subtle creaminess here engaging in textural trickery. It tastes like a thicker consistency than it is (in reality, the liquid is very thin and chuggable). It’s not too sweet, which I definitely look for in the best sports drinks.
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best for Sickies
Rating:
7/10
Sporks
Best Thirst Quencher
Rating:
7.5/10
Sporks
Best Salty
Rating:
7.5/10
Sporks
Best Coconut Flavor
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Gatorlyte Flavor
Rating:
8/10
Sporks
Best Sour
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best New Hydration Drink Flavor
Rating:
9/10
Sporks
Best Tropical
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Runner Up
Rating:
9.5/10
Sporks
Best of the Best
Rating:
10/10
Sporks
Other hydration drinks we tried: Pedialyte Coconut Burst, Pedialyte Sport, Gatorlyte Strawberry Kiwi, Gatorlyte Lime Cucumber, Gatorlyte Glacier Freeze, Gatorade Cool Blue, Gatorade Frost, Kinderlyte Lemonade Plus, Kinderlyte Fruit Punch, Unwell Strawberry, Powerade Island Burst, Powerade Mountain Berry Blast; additionally, all remaining products from our Prime, Body Armor, Gatorade, Pedialyte, Powerade, and Unwell hydration drink rankings.
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About the Author
Ariana Losch
Ariana Losch is a Sporked contributor, webcomic writer, java junkie, and bad TV enthusiast. She only ever feels at peace laying out on a beach like a kebab, roasting in the sun; sadly, she can never move back to Florida, her home state, because there simply isn’t enough good Mediterranean food. You can find her overstaying her welcome at just about every LA coffee shop, working on a screenplay and avoiding all eye contact. (She is embarrassed to be there, please leave her alone.)
