There is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing the right garden hose. Whether you want to use a garden hose for lawn care, small container gardening, or even cleaning, you need to determine which features are most important to you.
To compile this list of the best garden hoses of different types, we tested and rated 30 garden hoses in our lab based on design, ease of use, durability, and value. We asked Erin Schase, creator of The Impaent Gardener, and Lowe’s store manager Gary McCoy for expert advice on finding a garden hose.
“There is no perfect pipe for every application,” says Schanen. “Buyers should weigh practicality against durability, price and longevity, and then think about what special features they might like. A good pipe may cost a little more than a hardware store, but you’ll probably last a lot longer and have less frustration with it.”
Our top choice is Forever Steel 304 stainless steel tubing because it’s virtually impossible to twist, knot, or puncture and has the highest breaking strength of any tubing on our list. And because it’s made of 304 stainless steel, it stays cool to the touch even in the blazing sun and won’t freeze in the snow.
Below you will find more of our best garden hose searches as well as expert tips and advice on choosing the right garden hose for your needs.
- Material: Hybrid polymer
- Length: 50, 75, or 100 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Material: Polyester/latex
- Length: 25, 50, 75, or 100 feet
- Diameter: 6/10 inch
- Weight: 1.8 to 4.5 pounds
- Material: Stainless steel
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
1. Best Overall Garden Hose: Forever Steel 304 Stainless Steel Hose
Who it’s for: People who want a kink-free, leak-free garden hose that stays out of the elements.
For those who aren’t: People who want an extendable garden hose or a safe drinking water hose.
Buttons, buttons and hooks and eyes disappear! We were amazed at how durable and easy to use this garden hose is: “This was the easiest hose I’ve ever used,” said one tester. “Impossible to flip, easy to roll when ready, easy to move around plants or trees and never tangled.”
This pipe has a stainless, corrosion and UV resistant 304 stainless steel outer jacket. It stays cool to the touch if left in the sun and won’t freeze if left in the snow. Durability is second to none in our tests – it slid easily through grass and rocks without damage. But despite its durable construction, the 50-foot hose weighs just over four pounds and has a flexible construction that’s easy to maneuver around backyard obstacles. It has a burst strength of 500 PSI, the highest of any hose on our list, so you can apply more water pressure without damaging the hose. Plus, it’s cheaper than the average price of all garden hoses we’ve tested. Keep in mind that this hose isn’t expandable, but since it’s so easy to pack, you probably won’t want a retractable hose anyway.
Product Details:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 4.4 pounds
- Couplings: Stainless steel
- Maximum Pressure: 500 PSI
2. Best Expandable Garden Hose: The Fit Life Expandable Garden Hose
Who it’s for: People who want a retractable hose for a small garden or patio.
For those who aren’t: people who have to haul a hose over rough terrain, like gravel.
Expandable hoses swell when you fill them with water and shrink when you flush them. This helps to save storage space while maintaining the standard pipe size length. In our test, Fit Life’s expandable garden hose was the best of all the expandable hoses we tested. Our testers found it incredibly light and flexible, even when full. After you finish using, open the valve on the brass fitting to let the water out and watch the tube shrink to its original size (about one-third of its fully expanded length). Once the tube returned to its original size, it was very easy to pack.
The main disadvantage of expandable garden hoses is that they are less durable because they are made of fabric that allows them to expand when the hose fills with water. Our testers were impressed with the durability of this model, as it caught the least of all the expandable tubes we tested. It is made of a three-layer latex bladder and durable polyester coating. However, since this is an expandable tube, we doubt it will be damaged with long-term use.
This hose features high quality brass fittings and a spray head with eight different positions, so you don’t have to worry about buying one separately.
Product Details:
- Material: Polyester/latex
- Length: 25, 50, 75, or 100 feet
- Diameter: 6/10 inch
- Weight: 1.8 to 4.5 pounds
- Couplings: Brass with nozzle
- Maximum Pressure: 300-350 PSI
3. Best Flexible Garden Hose: Flexzilla Garden Hose
Who it’s for: People who want a flexible garden hose that won’t bend under pressure.
For those who are not: those who want a lightweight garden hose.
For everyday watering, the Flexzilla garden hose is a great universal hose. It’s made from a flexible hybrid polymer and is highly malleable, allowing you to maneuver around patio furniture or other obstacles. Our testers satisfied the manufacturer’s claim that this tube is kink resistant, noting that it performed beautifully after unwinding. However, this is one of the toughest snakes on our list, especially when loaded.
Made of anodized aluminum, the couplers have an easy-grip coating that testers say is easy to attach to the pin and drag across the lawn. Its lime green color makes it easy to spot, even in the garden. The hybrid polymer bladder material is safe to drink whether you are filling your pet’s food bowl or drinking straight from the tube. It doesn’t have the highest tensile strength of any hose on our list, but for daily irrigation it shouldn’t be a problem.
Product Details:
- Material: Hybrid polymer
- Length: 50, 75, or 100 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 8 pounds
- Couplings: Anodized aluminum
- Maximum Pressure: 150 PSI
4. Best Heavy-Duty Garden Hose: Eley Polyurethane Garden Hose
For whom: People who want a strong, flexible and lightweight hose.
For who’s not: People who can’t spend a lot on a garden hose.
Polyurethane is the newcomer in garden hoses, but it is fast becoming the gold standard as it is light, flexible and extremely strong. Described by the manufacturer as “the most durable garden hose available,” Eley polyurethane garden hose resists punctures, kinks, crushes and abrasions, so you can slide it against rocks or asphalt without worry. Fun fact: it is made of the same material used in roller skates.
In our test, the tube didn’t bend at all and was significantly lighter than rubber, another material praised for its durability. It has a lead-free brass connection and is resistant to drinking water. However, it costs nearly three times as much as our best overall selection, but comes with a 10-year warranty.
Product Details:
- Material: Polyurethane
- Length: 6.5, 12, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, or 200 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 1 to 28 pounds
- Couplings: Brass
- Maximum Pressure: 150 PSI
5. Best Rubber Garden Hose: Craftsman Hot Water Rubber Hose
For whom: Those who want a garden hose for hot water use or a hose with a high breaking load.
For who’s Not: People who want a simple garden hose.
With heavy use, the rubber hose offers long-term durability at a much lower price than polyurethane. And despite the rubber’s reputation for being bulky, our testers found this hose to be easy to maneuver around pots and not too heavy. The bright red color is easy to spot on the lawn and the high quality brass connections are easy to screw onto the pin and remove.
This garden hose does not pretend to be kink-free and bent slightly during testing, although not much compared to other rubber hoses we have tested. We like that it has a bursting force of 300 PSI, which is enough for the high water pressure needed for tough jobs or hard-to-reach places from a distance. Plus, it can handle hot water up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Product Details:
- Material: Rubber
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 8.5 pounds
- Couplings: Brass
- Maximum Pressure: 300 PSI
6. Best Soaker Garden Hose: H2O Works Flat Soaker Garden Hose
Who is it for: People who want a slow and constant release of water for their flower bed or vegetable garden?
For Who it’s not: People who want a garden hose for more than just gardening.
Instead of spraying water that can evaporate before it reaches the soil surface, this dip tube slowly and steadily releases water through the pores, immersing the plant’s roots deep and evenly. Our testers noticed what appeared to be condensation on the outside of the tube as the water started seeping through the pores. According to the manufacturer, this flat dip tube can dispense a full two liters of water every two minutes.
We found the hose to be light and easy to use around obstacles such as flower beds or pots. It also resisted being dragged through the rocks and into the rake pit. The PVC material is treated with UV inhibitors so that it can be used for years even under the scorching sun. However, we had trouble loading the tube back onto the reel due to the bends. And be careful not to increase the water pressure too high (no more than 60 PSI) as this can cause the hose to split.
Overall, though, this is a great weekly hose that lets you feed water directly to the roots of your vegetables, flowers, or shrubs without having to haul the hose to and from storage.
Product Details:
- Material: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Length: 25 or 50 feet
- Diameter: 1/2 inch
- Weight: 1.8 pounds or 3.9 pounds
- Couplings: Brass
- Maximum Pressure: 60 PSI
7. Best Coil Garden Hose: Water Right 300 Series Coil Hose
Who it’s for: People who want a self-closing hose for watering small areas.
For those who aren’t: People who want a garden hose that can withstand high water pressure.
Spiral hoses are the solution for watering small areas, such as small flower beds or vegetable gardens, porches, terraces or even urban gardens, because you do not need to carry a standard hose with you for these activities. We found this tube very easy to carry, and our testers found it particularly easy to use. Plus, it returns to its original shape for easy storage without the worry of wrapping it around the coil.
This spiral tube stands out from the crowd mainly for two reasons: the material and the design. Our best heavy duty hose is made from UV stabilized polyurethane, a highly durable, flexible and lightweight material that is puncture and abrasion resistant. The connections are made of lead-free brass. “I can see this lasting many years,” says one tester. In terms of design, this garden hose has unique straight ends instead of being completely rolled down, making it easier to direct the water flow and connect to the faucet. In addition, it is safe for drinking water. This hose is quite small, 3/8 inch in diameter, which can limit water flow, so it’s best reserved for low-pressure irrigation.
Product Details:
- Material: Polyurethane
- Length: 25, 50, or 75 feet
- Diameter: 3/8 inch
- Weight: 2, 3.4, or 4.6 pounds
- Couplings: Brass
- Maximum Pressure: 50 PSI
Final judgment
Our top choice is Forever Steel 304 stainless steel pipe because it’s impossible to drill or twist, but still lightweight and flexible on the job site. Plus, it has the highest burst strength on our list at 500 PSI. If you’re willing to pay a little more, our strong choice is the Eley Polyurethane Garden Hose, as it’s made from polyurethane, a nearly indestructible material that’s lightweight and safe to drink.
Our test process
We put 30 garden hoses through a series of tests, keeping in mind that not all garden hoses serve the same purpose and are not intended to perform exactly the same way. First, our testers collected each coiled tube and judged whether it felt bigger or lighter based on its size and material.
Testers used fittings to connect each hose to the water faucet and back to the supply hose to assess whether the hose was tight or leaking. We then completely uncoiled the tubes and dragged them across various surfaces such as grass, concrete and even a garden rake with the prongs pointing upwards, turned 180 degrees and maneuvered around three large pots in our area. During this part of the test, we carefully looked for punctures or signs of wear on the tube.
For our final test, we sprayed water from each tube for two minutes and then turned off the water without draining the tube. Then we tried to wind the tube back onto the reel and noted how easy or difficult it was to do when the tube was full. We ended up repeating the previous tests, but this time we pressed the nozzle of the hose to release the water and tried to wind the hose back onto the reel. Each garden hose is evaluated for design, ease of use, durability and value.
Buy garden hoses like a pro
Son
There are several different types of garden hoses that go beyond a standard hose, but each has its pros and cons: “Choosing a garden hose is a compromise because there is no such thing as a perfect hose,” says Schanen.
Standard hoses are an excellent choice for irrigation and general cleaning: “Standard hoses are the most popular choice because they do their job well, but they have to be twisted and can bend,” says Schanen. You’ll find both light and heavy standard hoses, the latter of which may be better suited for hot water and heavy continuous use, McCoy says, “Hoses should always be used at room temperature, so hot water should be used. Only with hoses specially designed for hot water. ” ! ”
Extendable hoses are lightweight and compact, but can expand 2-3 times in size when filled with water and shrink when not in use. Unfortunately, their flexible material has a trade-off: they are more prone to snags and snags than other hoses (Fit Life’s expandable garden hose was the least prone to entanglement of all the expandable hoses we tested).
Soaking pipes are best for slowly and deliberately bringing water to the roots, but Schanen notes that they often need to be attached to keep them in place. They can also be buried under a layer of mulch, according to McCoy, who says that “the hose will drip small amounts of water directly into the garden or bed at the roots with little waste.”
Spiral hoses are designed to irrigate small areas without the need to attach an extra-long hose or rewind it onto the coil while winding into a neat coil. Threaded tubes, however, are generally very short and can get tangled from time to time.
Material
Polyurethane: According to Schasen, polyurethane offers “a good combination of durability and weight savings and is less likely to bend”. It is considered the most durable material and is lighter than rubber (but also more expensive).
Rubber: Rubber hoses are second only to polyurethane in terms of durability and are much more affordable.
Vinyl: Vinyl is a lightweight and inexpensive alternative to rubber, but it is generally not as durable and more prone to bending.
Stainless Steel: These tubes usually have a waterproof interior surrounded by stainless steel coils for extra durability. Garden hoses are usually made of 304 stainless steel, as they are less likely to rust and corrode (like our most common ones).
If you are planning to drink from a garden hose, it is important to note that not all garden hose materials are safe to drink: “If you occasionally drink from a garden hose on a hot day, get a hose suitable for boating, at sea or for recreational activities,”McCoy says. “Their plastic coating allows them to transport safe drinking water. It is important to remember that the components used in standard pipes are not always safe to swallow.”
Company
When considering the size of a garden hose, there are three factors to consider: diameter, length and weight. According to Schenan, a 5/8 inch diameter is the standard garden hose size and works best for most purposes. “The 3/4-inch hose provides a lot of water pressure, but it’s pretty heavy,” says Schenan. “Half-inch hoses are a joy to use because they are lightweight, but most sprinklers don’t work with them and you may not even get a spray from the sprayer at the end of the hose.”
Garden hoses are generally 25 to 50 feet long (although Eley polyurethane garden hose offers multiple sizes, ranging from 6.5 to 200 feet). While you want a hose that is long enough to reach where you want the water, the water pressure decreases with the length: “Buy a hose that is long enough to reach where you will use it, but no further,” McCoy says.
Finally, he considers the weight of the tube you choose. As mentioned, rubber hoses are usually the heaviest. In general, weight and durability go hand in hand (with a few exceptions), so look for a hose that is safe to check, but that will last for years.
Explosive power
The “burst strength” of a garden hose is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) and indicates how much water pressure the hose can withstand before cracking. The higher the PSI, the more durable the pipe. Water Hoses and Threaded Hoses generally require less pressure to function properly, so it is best to keep the water pressure low to avoid damage to the hose.
Links
Connections or connectors are the ends that connect the pipe to the water line. “The head fittings are just as important as the hose material,” says Schenan. “Look for brass or brass-alloy fittings for maximum durability, which is especially important if you’re investing in a pipe you plan to use for many years. Aluminum and plastic fittings probably won’t last as long, but they’re lighter.”
More garden hoses to consider
Briggs & Stratton Premium Heavy Duty Rubber Garden Hose: This is another premium heavy duty rubber hose that didn’t hold up against the competition mainly because the black color got extremely hot when exposed to sunlight.
Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Garden Hose: Dramm is a trusted garden supply brand and this rubber garden hose lived up to our expectations. We especially like that it’s available in several bright colors that stand out on the lawn.
Questions you can ask
How do you prevent garden hoses from twisting and knotting?
Because garden hoses are often kept in tight coils for long periods of time, they can quickly become twisted and knotted, which in turn can restrict water flow. “If you can store it without rolling it (laying it flat), that’s great, but if you have to roll it, start by stretching the hose and then roll it,” suggests Schenan. Thicker materials, such as rubber or heavy garden hoses, tend to resist kinking better.
What is the best way to store a garden?
Although arranging flat pipe into three or four long sections is ideal to avoid bends and knots, we understand that this is not always practical. There are many different storage mechanisms for garden hoses, including trolleys, pots, hooks and more. For tube storage, Schenan suggests stretching the tubes directly before coiling and never forcing the spool into place: “Sometimes you may need to switch spools with one hidden under the previous spool (don’t worry, he’ll keep pulling out… good).
You also have to be careful not to leave the tube in direct sunlight, because hot water in the tube can expand and “UV rays can weaken the material,” says McCoy.
Do you need a garden hose nozzle for your garden hose?
A nozzle is attached to the other end of the hose, which controls the flow and distribution of the water. Some sprinklers allow you to switch between different spray patterns, while others have a preset water flow. The hose nozzle helps prevent water wastage by perfectly adjusting the flow direction and stopping the flow when not in use.
Take our word for it
This article was written by Melanie Fincher, associate editor at Real Simple, with three years of experience writing product reviews and lifestyle content. To compile this list, we tested 30 garden hoses in our lab and rated them based on design, ease of use, durability and value. For expert advice on what to consider when shopping, we asked The Impatient Gardener creator Erin Schase and Lowe’s store manager Gary McCoy.
What are the really simple choices?
You may have seen the Real Simple Selects seal of approval next to each product on this list. Every product that appears next to that seal has been inspected, tested and evaluated by our team based on its performance to earn a place on our list. Although we source most of the products we test, we sometimes receive samples from companies when purchasing the product ourselves is not an option. If so, we’ll test the product just like we buy it, but we’ll also disclose that we got it for free so we can be as transparent as possible with you.
