The Best Sports Drink for Summer Hydration

It's almost summertime; that highly anticipated season where work slows down and you can take a little time to relax. However, that time spent relaxing and playing in the summer sun can leave you thirsty and dehydrated. Sodas and summer drinks like lemonade and iced tea can only make this worse, and let's face it, water's just boring after awhile. So in an effort to expand my own (and your!) beverage selections, here's a personal comparison of some thirst-quenching sports drinks meant to have a little more excitement than H2O.

Gatorade: Ahh, the classic. In a rainbow of colors and flavors, Gatorade has long become an athlete's favorite (to drink and to dump on coaches). Gatorade has evolved to come in a variety of different bottle sizes, including 12 ounce bottles which are prefect to throw in a purse or even a cargo pocket during a long walk. However, the high number of calories in Gatorade put it at a disadvantage during bathing suit season. Its acrid after-taste also leaves you with a sour pout. However a classic is a classic for a reason, and Gatorade provides definite refreshment and refueling even during the most strenuous activity and hottest temperatures.

Propel fitness water: Gatorade's lower calorie cousin provides a lighter choice for the weight conscious. Though little more than flavored water, Propel is refreshing and tasty. The Propel line provides the wide array of flavor choices that Gatorade does, but also has the bonus offering of the "Propel with Calcium" alternatives. It also has true-to-taste fruit flavoring that isn't overly sweet or bitter (kiwi-strawberry is my favorite!). I found it to be the best choice for hydration during hot summer weather.