This hose is incredibly lightweight, weighing less than 2 pounds when collapsed. When the water is turned off, this foot model is just 9 feet long, making it easy to move and store—water pressure stretches it out to more than twice its original size. After using it for a total of three hours over the course of a few weeks, this hose worked great and was powerful enough for our tester's gardening needs.
She noted that for washing the car, patio, or other cleaning tasks, she would use a more powerful hose. Length : 25 feet Weight : 5. This Briggs and Stratton Rubber Garden Hose is extremely durable and designed for commercial and residential use. It can be used with hot water up to degrees, resists kinking, and comes with a lifetime warranty against material and workmanship defects, to boot.
If you tend to be rough on your hoses, you may want a product like the Bionic Steel Garden Hose, which is made from lightweight stainless steel for unbeatable durability. It has crush-resistant aluminum fittings, and it offers a PSI burst strength. After a total of 10 hours of testing, including driving over it with her car, our tester especially appreciated the durability of this hose. She particularly recommends it for those that live in cold climates and want to leave the hose out all year long.
It was particularly great to get to all aspects of my raised bed garden. Length : feet Weight : 8. A foot hose like the Zero-G Kink-Free Woven Hose will allow you to water further from your faucet, and this particular model is designed to be lighter, making it less of a hassle to move around your yard. It has a flexible inner core covered by an abrasion, leak, and puncture-resistant outer cover, and it remains flexible at temperatures down to 35 degrees.
It has a PSI burst, and its inner core is designed to help minimize kinking for uninterrupted water flow. If you have plants that need daily watering, it might be worthwhile to invest in a product like the Rocky Mountain Goods Flat Soaker Hose.
Instead of having water come just out of one end, this soaker hose allows water to seep out slowly along its entire length, so you can lay it near your plants for hands-free watering. This popular soaker hose also comes in 50 and foot lengths, and it has a heavy-duty double layer design with a PVC liner.
The hose is backed by a lifetime guarantee, and it can actually help save water by delivering moisture straight to the root of your plants. The foot Craftsman Premium Rubber Garden Hose is a great choice for most homeowners, as it has a durable rubber design that can be used in temperatures as low as 25 degrees below 0. For this article, our testers used some of the top hoses on the market to see how well they worked in their own gardens and backyards.
They put these hoses to the test, in some cases, dragging them all over their yards, twisting and tangling them if possible to see how they held up.
They used them for tasks large and small and in cold and warm climates. Our testers then rated these hoses across a number of top categories including usability, design, value, size, and durability. We combined their testing results with our writers' and editors' own research to bring you this list. Rubber and reinforced hoses are less likely to snag, kink, or break, plus they hold up to extreme temperatures.
If strength is a concern, check the ply too. Ply usually ranges from one to six, with six being the strongest. Hoses come in a variety of sizes, ranging from a few feet all the way up to feet. Water pressure also decreases as the hose lengthens. If you only need a long hose occasionally, consider buying two shorter hoses and combining them for the times when you need to reach further. Coupling refers to the point at which a hose connects to its water supply. Generally, there are two options: brass, which is stronger and lasts longer, and plastic, which is easier to maneuver but is less durable overall.
Some hoses have aluminum couplings, which last longer than plastic but may break down faster than brass. Many hoses list a burst strength, which is the amount of water pressure the hoses can handle before they tear. A higher number means the hose will be more durable, so if you're working with higher water pressure for some reason, look for a higher-than-average burst strength. During our research, we were suspicious of the high cost, but once we began testing one, we can see the investment being justified for those who want to solve all of their hose reel problems long-term with a single purchase.
The Eley is built for a lifetime of use. The majority of the parts are either brass, aluminum, or stainless steel. Most of the parts have a powder-coated finish, and there is really nothing on it that should rust.
In action, the reel is very easy to use. When pulling in feet of hose, we still needed to brace the frame with our foot, but only for the first 25 feet or so. After that, it just reeled right in. In contrast, the Suncast needed to be braced in at least two spots for about the first 50 feet.
The Eley moves around the yard with no problem. Even on a very uneven section of lawn, the Eley bumped its way around and got to its destination with no issue. The Eley reel is not for everyone. But some—whether through an appreciation of high-quality gear, an impatience with inexpensive plastic goods, or just daily use of their garden hose—will find that the durability, features, and overall usability make the Eley a worthwhile investment.
A hose stored off the ground, out of the elements, and drained between uses will last longer. Ultraviolet rays can deteriorate even a properly drained and coiled hose, so some kind of shelter is a good idea. The effort-to-satisfaction ratio is off the charts with this fix. If you have a hose with a leak, you can cut off the damaged area and fix the rest with one of these kits.
The Craftsman Premium Rubber Hose , a former pick in this guide, is the basis of our expectations for what a good, long-lasting hose should offer. We removed it as a pick in this guide because its availability was inconsistent through , as was the price. We had originally named the Hospaip Expandable Garden Hose as an expandable-hose pick. The Gilmour Flexogen Super Duty handled well enough, but the steel spring coils on the end—intended to prevent kinking on and near the fittings—made us bleed when we tried to unscrew the hose from the spigot.
No thanks. The Teknor Apex NeverKink Heavy Duty felt great to handle, and the sleek yellow racing stripe down the middle made me feel like a gardening champion. The Water Right Series seemed almost too good to be true. It was durable, sturdy, and remarkably easy to maneuver—but once this hose finally kinked which they all do, eventually , it was so sturdy that it was difficult to undo the knotting. We briefly recommended the Tuff-Guard Perfect Garden Hose , but it ended up leaking during long-term testing.
For hose reels, we also looked at ones made by Liberty, including the hose reel cart and the Decorative Garden Hose Reel Cart. Even though the Eley costs more, we think the quality backed by the year warranty makes it the better purchase.
During testing, water often dribbled out of the front of the Gardenite while we were using it, getting our hands—and sometimes our pants—needlessly wet. We also tested the Bon Aire Original Hose Nozzle , which was particularly limited in spraying options, going only from a stream to a messy shower.
He previously worked at This Old House and Popular Mechanics magazines; before that, he restored historic houses and mowed lawns for a living. He lives in a house in LA with his wife, three boys, a dog, and a lot of Wirecutter recommendations. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor.
He lives in a very demanding year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. I formerly bought short 10 feet soaker hoses to string around individual bushes, can no longer find them at the big box stores. I preferred fully assembled hoses as the do it your self varieties tended to blow apart pressure too high? Does any one still make them?
I saw one on your list, buy 50 feet and receive two sets. Were extra fittings available? I have purchased several types of hose over the decades and can confirm that the recommendations above are good ones. Rubber is best and I have 2 rubber hoses, one 50 ft and one 25 ft, which I join when necessary. So, if you are planning to need a hose for a long time say more than years, invest in a good quality rubber hose.
Too bad my rubber hoses are finally starting to crack after 30 plus years! Thanks for the reviews.! I have been so frustrated trying to find nontoxic hoses and connectors for my garden. I bought soaker hoses a couple of years ago and now find they use recycled old tires, replete with lead and chemicals.
So I guess my yard outside the garden is contaminated! Investing in all new hoses and connectors this year. So from your experience reviewing the soaker hoses, did I miss comments about lead-free, chemical free brands? Because I need several, the Armadillo hose is out of my budget. Any suggestions? Dogs are so funny. Good luck! I gave away my heavy rubber hoses when my wife and I downsized to a low maintenance small bungalow style community with minimal storage space. I now need a lightweight easy to store in small space hose for watering the flowers and other light duty watering.
I was about to buy the Pocket Flex Hose, but then read several reviews online about the low quality and leaking problems with them. Is there a lightweight hose brand, flex or otherwise, you would recommend for low usage. Have minimal space to store. Thanks, Mark. At the National Hardware Show last month we saw new hoses from Stanley Aeroflex and Swan that lay flat when not in use and expand when full of water. Is this safe to use on my veg garden?
But not of potentially ingesting lead via my produce I could exchange for other hose they have — the Xhose. Thanks for any input. You may also want to scrub or peel any veggies before eating them.
Thanks so much for the feedback. I did that and it was the only time I used the hose. My back yard faucet is not near my garage. I only really water a couple of fruit trees, trickle for few hours a month. I need a hose for a rain barrel. Not concerned about water pressure. Hi Belinda. With a smaller diameter and lower water pressure i.
In any case, start with those hoses listed above in the Drinking Water Safe category and see if any meet your needs. Well researched and excellent recommendations. Keep up the good work. I was searching for perforated sprinkler hoses, sprinkler, not soaker. Nobody seems to know …. Two people with exactly the same hose could find that the area watered by the hose is very different for each of them.
Hi Mr. The big problem over the last handful of years is that the couplings are now almost all made out of aluminum instead of brass. Those 2 metals form a major amount of galvanic corrosion that literally makes them impossible to get apart. Then a screwdriver or small chisel with a hammer is able to get the 2 halves freed from the faucet.
Then the faucet threads have to be cleaned up to get the traces of aluminum out before attaching anything else to it. Also, the aluminum couplers corrode badly internally after being on a hose only a few years. One of ours had almost corroded completely through from the inside. There is no way replacement aluminum couplers would last that long. I wish the hardware stores would stock real brass replacement couplers next to the aluminum ones now on the shelves and clearly mark what metal each is made of.
Everyone needs to help spread the word. I personally prefer the Dramm heavy duty hoses because I love the colors! Is it worth buying the more expensive contractor hoses or sticking with the middle of the road stuff? As for contractor vs mid-range, that all depends on you. I prefer to go for contractor grade hoses that last a long time with proper care , rather than replacing hoses every year or two.
I have had a 75 foot rubber hose for as long as I can remember — it has served me well! A few days ago the end of the hose flew off.
Does anyone repair these or is the strength of permanently compromised? Do I call it a day and simply buy a new one? Thoughts and advice? There are fittings you can buy probably at your local garden center or hardware store that are used to repair the end of the hose.
But sure to buy a solid brass one with a metal clamp to keep it firmly in place. And cut a few inches off the end of the hose before installing the fitting so it will fit snugly. It has held up very well with the exception of the black color starting to rub off on my hands during watering.
I was wondering if anyone has heard of coating it perhaps with an automotive product that they sell to use on tires or plastic-silicone based. Any ideas? But from experience I can tell you that I changed a tire on my RV that had a UV protectant on it that stuff that makes the tire look new and nice and shiny. The moment I touched the tire to change it my hands were coated with a black rubber-like material.
Automotive or marine UV protectant may work differently on a rubber hose than a rubber tire. A bottle of UV protectant is less expensive than a new rubber hose … so nothing ventured nothing gained. Let me know how you make out. Does anyone make them? No sprinkler system because of layout so needs watering by hose. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. During the warmer summer months, maintaining your outdoor space might be a priority.
But with so many options on the market — and the different features and accessories that can be paired with them — finding the hose that fits your specific outdoor needs can be tough. To simplify your search, we consulted gardening experts to determine how to shop for a garden hose and rounded up some highly rated and expert-recommended options. Hoses are usually made from one of three materials: vinyl, which is a more affordable and lightweight choice, polyurethane, which is lightweight, kink-resistant and is typically found in coiled hoses, and rubber, which is the tougher, more flexible and heavier option.
Certain hoses are also made from a combination of vinyl and rubber, according to Reser. According to the experts we spoke to, length and kink resistance — which depends on the material — are among the most important considerations.
Polyurethane and rubber are fairly kink-resistent, while vinyl is more prone to kinking. She said that the most popular length is typically 50 feet, but feet can be a better option if you have a larger yard or rely on just one water spigot — the device used to turn water on and off.
Hoses can be categorized as light-, medium- or heavy-duty — each has its own specific uses and outdoor needs.
In addition to specific features and attachments, there are various types of hoses that can be used for different outdoor tasks and needs. These include standard hoses, which are all-purpose hoses made from various materials, coiled hoses, which form a spring shape when not in use and are light-duty enough to water small areas, and soaker hoses that have tiny holes and are gentle enough to keep your garden healthy, especially when set with a timer.
Couplings also called fittings are the end pieces that connect the ends of the hose with water supplies like spigots, sprinklers and nozzles. They can be made of metal — typically brass, but also sometimes zinc and aluminum — and the metal ones are usually more durable than plastic couplings. However, metal hose couplings can be harder to tighten on the spigot, while plastic fittings can attach easier due to their nylon or thermoplastic materials, according to Reser.
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