In the beginning, so the legend goes, there was pickle juice. Athletes, chiefly football players, consumed it to replace the liquid and salts lost through perspiration.

That may or may not be true, but it is indisputable that Gatorade, the granddaddy of all sports drinks, combines salt with water and a laundry list of other ingredients to make a concoction that supposedly gives you back more of what you lose through sweating than plain water.

These days, sports drinks have gone high-tech and boutique simultaneously. Now, you don't have to settle for simple lemon-lime Gatorade like your parents did. The original brand now comes in a rainbow of flavors, and its competitors range from close analogs like Powerade to more esoteric and exotically blended concoctions from Snapple and others.

But how do they stack up? Some of the new breed of sports drinks don't even include salt, although they include herbal ingredients that, if you believe in such things, will do the same good for you.

Some of them have caffeine or other stimulants, that will certainly wake you up and make you feel more energetic but don't necessarily contribute to your overall hydration.

It all really depends on what you're looking for. The main ingredient in all these drinks is water, which is what your body really needs after a workout. Anything else is simply a matter of choice.

We're going to evaluate the taste of these drinks and give you some facts about their makeup. The tastes are not compared against each other. That would not be fair, as some of them use greater amounts of sugar and flavorings in a direct attempt to make them more palatable, whereas some stay lean and would suffer for it.

Instead, each drink is evaluated in and of itself, with the flavor and nutrition facts combined to give a final letter grade.

So get yourself a nice glass of ice water and read along.

Snapple Antioxidant Water (1 cup serving): 50 calories, 0 fat, 0 sodium, 0 cholesterol, 12 grams carbs

Snapple's Dragonfruit offering includes guarana, ginseng and caffeine. The flavor is a bit weak, especially considering the 12 grams of sugar per serving, but there's a tangy aftertaste that's pleasant but finishes too fast. It does offer a good smattering of B vitamins and other nutrients. All in all, it combines for a final grade of C-.

Powerade Green Squall (1 cup serving): 60 calories, 0 fat, 50 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 15 grams carbs

This Coca-Cola product is the chief head-on competitor against Gatorade, and the green squall flavor is pretty tasty. There's a hint of melon along with the expected salty-sweet flavor. Something in the mix gives a bit of bitterness, though, which is definitely unwelcome. It gives a small 10-percent ratio of niacin and two other B vitamins. Final grade: B.

Gatorade Lemon-Lime: (1 cup serving) 50 calories, 0 fat, 110 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 14 grams carbs

The next time you buy some of this old standby, really concentrate on your first swallow. Notice the salty finish? Every bit of that 110 mg of sodium gives its all. This is an eminently drinkable concoction, with titular citrus flavors combining with the saltiness to make a quart bottle seem too small. However, it's almost a null set nutritionally, with no significant amounts of any vitamin or mineral aboard. Taken together, that gives the granddaddy of them all a grade of B-.

Capri-Sun Sport Berry Ice: (6.75-ounce serving) 60 calories, 0 fat, 55 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 16 grams carbs.

This one's very sweet, tasting more like a kids' fruit drink than a real sports drink. Note that it's got more calories and carbs than the Gatorade with a smaller serving size. That extra sugar does make it tasty if you're looking for a sugar rush, but given the flat-line nutritionals, it gets a final grade of D+.

VitaminWater Energy: (1 cup serving) 50 calories, 0 fat, 0 sodium, 0 cholesterol, 13 grams carbs.

According to the ingredient label, this isn't just made with water, it's made with "vapor distilled, de-ionized and/or reverse osmosis water." Sadly, that refinement did not affect the flavor, which is very fuzzy and indistinct. Nutritionally, the news is better, with 40 percent of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and good numbers for several B vitamins. Final grade: C+

Life Water Blackberry Grape: (1 cup serving) 40 calories, 0 fat, 35 mg sodium, 0 cholesterol, 10 grams carbs.

The remarkable thing about this drink is that it conveys massive flavor with the lowest calorie count of the test. Both the blackberry and the grape are completely evident, and the overall sweetness is just right. Combine that with 100 percent of your daily vitamin C and a smattering of other vitamins, and the final grade is a test high score of A.

Remember when you look for a sports drink that your primary need is for hydration, and that can be accomplished with water. If you are concerned about your salt intake, some of these might need to be left off your list. Beyond that, let your palate be your guide and just drink what tastes best to you.