Garden hoses are unobtrusive when they work well, but when they work worse, they go crazy. After several years of testing – washing cars, gardening, pressure washing driveways, and other household chores – we’ve come to the conclusion that the Continental Commercial Grade Hose (50 feet) is the multi-purpose garden hose we’re investing in. not completely twist-proof, but its durability and reliable performance far surpasses twisted, knotted, and shoddy waste pipes, which will probably inspire you to look for something better. Many of the tubes we’ve used, tested and recommended over the years work well for a year or two, but then they start to bend or deteriorate easily. During this time, the Continental remained a workhorse. It’s not a flashy garden hose, but we’ve come to trust it with confidence.
- EASY TO USE
- GREAT DURABILITY
- COMPACT STORAGE
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
- DRINKING WATER SAFE GARDEN HOSE REEL
- HEAVY DUTY GARDEN HOSE
- EXTREME DURABILITY & USER-FRIENDLY FEATURES
- WEATHER-RESISTANT FINISH
- Premium quality rubber hose
- Hot water resistant up to 160 Degree F
- Resists kinking
- Coils easily even in cold weather
1. Continental Commercial Grade Rubber Hose (50 feet)
The best garden hose
About this item
- Assembled dimension: 0.9 in. W x 0.9 in. D x 0.9 in. H
- Commercial-grade rubber hose suitable for heavy usage in all weather
- Abrasion and kink-resistant rubber with crush-proof brass fittings
- Flexible in cold weather
The Continental Commercial Hose (50 feet) is far from the cheapest hose you’ll ever find, but after testing budget models and mid-priced options, we’re confident that it’s the best value for money in a garden hose. Once and use unlimited. While the lifetime warranty is reassuring, we’re confident (after conducting our tests and reading customer anecdotes of long-term use) that you may never get the Continental to do that. Durable and versatile, the hose is perfect for all kinds of household chores (although it can be a beast if you’re quickly watering a small patio garden). Availability should not be a problem as Continental hose is now widely available in home centers and hardware stores.
2. Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Hose (50 feet)
Similar, but more expensive
About this item
- Premium quality rubber hose
- Hot water resistant up to 160 Degree F
- Resists kinking
- Coils easily even in cold weather
- Crush proof, nickel-plated coupling
- 50 ft by 5/8 inch diameter and available in six brilliant colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and berry
- Lifetime guarantee
We also like the Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Hose (50 feet). It offers many of the same features as the Continental, and some other hoses don’t, such as nickel-plated brass fittings, but it generally costs more and in our tests it bent more easily and kept a reminder of knots (twisted once, prone to buckling again in the same place). We like that it comes in a variety of colors, but it’s not enough to fix the knot problem. The Dramm was our first choice in this guide, but the increased cost combined with our long-term test results made us consider the Continental the best option.
3. Eley 5/8-inch Polyurethane Garden Hose
Extraordinary, expensive, snake-like
About this item
DRINKING WATER SAFE GARDEN HOSE REEL: Backed by an industry-leading 10-year No-Leak, No-Rust, No-Break guarantee, this commercial-duty garden hose reel combo comes with a 6.5′ x 5/8″ polyurethane inlet hose, and all necessary hardware for mounting to wood-stud, masonry or stone walls. Our metal hose reel is 100% drinking water safe and can be configured to pull the hose out parallel or perpendicularly from the wall.
The 5/8-inch Eley Polyurethane Garden Hose was a revelation to us. It’s the best snake we’ve ever handled, and after using it for a while we found that all other snakes, including our other choices, were bulky, rudimentary, and dysfunctional. Compared to quality rubber hoses like Continental and Dramm, the Eley is lighter (much lighter), easier to roll and more durable, and feels immune to any kind of bending or flexing. The brass fittings on the head are large and can be easily tightened by hand or with a wrench, and are backed by a 10-year warranty (double the coverage Eley offers for a discarded hose). With all these highlights, this Eley hose doesn’t come cheap – at around $110 for a 50-foot length, it’s definitely an investment. But if you struggle to lift a heavier hose, or just want to simplify and eliminate as much as possible the daily micro-cracks of your garden hose, this Eley hose is worth considering. It comes in a variety of sizes, and Eley can also make custom lengths.
4. HoseCoil ⅜-inch Self Coiling Garden Hose (25 feet)
Best for small spaces
About this item
- EASY TO USE – HoseCoil Self-Coiling Hose is lightweight and flexible, making it easy to handle. Say goodbye to the kinks and tangles of your old hose. The standard 3/4″ GHT brass connectors are compatible with standard American outdoor faucets.
- GREAT DURABILITY – Hoses can take a beating, so HoseCoil PRO hoses are made from high quality materials. Built with newly upgraded High Performance Polyether material and anti-corrosion brass fittings.
The Retractable HoseCoil (25ft) garden hose is not as strong or long as other hoses, but for a small patio, balcony or yard – where a large 50ft tow is superior – it’s a great option. HoseCoil’s main selling point is its retractable corkscrew design, which works as advertised by easily extending, rolling and storing the hose. Compared to our larger picks, this ⅜-inch-diameter tube loses a quarter-inch of capacity, which resulted in slightly lower water pressure in our side-by-side tests. Although the HoseCoil has a total length of 25 feet, in practice it is only good for about 17 feet before it starts to cock. As with our heavier forks, the nozzle end of the HoseCoil has flat edges that can be gripped with a wrench. The two-year warranty is also reassuring; while we’ve heard of some HoseCoils that last longer, reaching the two-year milestone lives up to our expectations. We have a test device that performed well after two years of intermittent use and daily sun exposure in Southern California.
5. Melnor XT451 Metal Nozzle
A simple and well-made mouthpiece
We recommend the Melnor XT451 metal nozzle for the perfect hose nozzle that can spray delicate flowers and blow mud off a truck tire. There are many similar sprayers, but this Melnor model stands out for its durable construction and good selection of spray patterns, as well as its nice spray. The XT451 has a sturdy metal frame with a hard rubber pad in the grip area (the mouthpiece itself is plastic). It has seven jets ranging from a car wash to a mist that can water even the most delicate plants. Compared to the other six sprayers we tested recently, the XT451 not only felt the most durable, it just had a better spray – the spray setting was the perfect shape without spitting, the spray setting continued to water and we never did. . I saw something drip from the front of the mouthpiece. This pickup replaces Melnor’s 301-416 5 cartridge sprinkler sprinkler, which in our experience had many leak problems (including one specific incident where it leaked and drained the Wirecutter Staff Senior Writer’s well. Doug Mahoney completely dry).
6. Gilmour Full Size Zinc Pistol Grip Nozzle
Excellent, but limited
About this item
- Metal construction built for frequent use
- Threaded front for attaching cleaning tools
- Classic rear control
- Flow control dial customizes force of water stream
The classic Gilmour full-size zinc gun nozzle is a Wirecutter recommendation that further proves that six or seven bucks is enough to spend on a satisfying hose nozzle, as long. This tool does not contain any of the plastic parts typical of competitors in its price range and does not have the well-known spray adjustment wheel. Instead, when you pull the trigger, you get different sprays: from a misty cloud with minimal pressure to a powerful spray when the trigger is fully pulled. You can tweak this area a bit with the adjusting screw, but it’s not as focused as the settings on the Melnor XT451. It doesn’t matter much when you wash your car (which the Gilmour nozzle is perfect for), but using Gilmour can be frustrating if you’re trying to water small plants in containers – you’ll likely be spraying water everywhere and when you you could shoot a jet of water at the base of the plant, blowing up debris and damaging the roots. We’ve been using versions of this tool for over ten years and have always taken good care of it (they still work great). And we confirmed in 2021 testing that the new Gilmour mouthpiece was still as robust and reliable as the units we bought years earlier.
7. Melnor R301 RelaxGrip Metal Thumb-Control 8-Pattern Nozzle
Excellent ergonomics
About this item
- RelaxGrip handle designed to minimize stress on the wrist and hands and help alleviate joint pain
- Approved by the Arthritis Foundation for their Ease of Use Commendation
- Smooth operating thumb control eliminates the need to squeeze a handle or keep a trigger lock in place
- Quick connect adapters requires the Quick Connect Product End Connector – sold separately
- Durable metal threads in an ultra-light design to reduce fatigue
The 8-Pattern Melnor R301 RelaxGrip Metal Thumb-Control Mouthpiece has a similar design to the Melnor XT451, but replaces the trigger control with a thumb-operated valve, which should be easier to use for those with limited hand strength. . We usually prefer a trigger lever as it can be turned on and off quickly, but the thumb valve doesn’t work at all in terms of holding power – the valve opens at the desired flow and just stays in place. On. In our testing, we were also able to turn it on and off by sliding it against our hips. We like that you don’t have to heat a clip or dial to maintain the spray, and because the thumb valve has fewer moving parts.
8. Eley Portable Garden Hose Reel Cart
Buy it for life
About this item
- Perfect for professional/commercial garden/landscaping needs, Functional and durable
- Holds up to 250-feet of 5/8-inch hose (hose not included), Non-slip handle, Storage basket for frequently used tools
- Features 13 gauge steel construction, durable powder coat finish that is weather resistant, Brass/galvanized fixtures, 90 degree brass swivel connector
You can find many cheap hose reels, but in our experience we’ve seen too many limitations and frustrations—poor quality, questionable stability, and small wheels—to recommend one. We recommend the Eley Portable Garden Hose Rolley, which is a far superior hose reel, or if you prefer a wall-mounted hose reel, the Eley Wall-Mounted Garden Hose Reel. In the world of hose reels, Eley models have an excellent reputation, and after testing them, we can totally see why.
The build quality of the Eley reel is good: the sturdy metal frame provides stability, the giant tires bounce easily on uneven grass, the handles are comfortable and well-placed, and the reel itself pulls in the tube with little effort. The components are durable and it’s an item we expect to last a lifetime with proper care.
9. Hoselink 82ft Retractable Hose Reel
Retractable reel
About this item
- With a short pull on the hose, the lock releases and the hose is drawn into the box-no bending over or cranking
- An integrated steel spring provides even, powerful retraction; The integrated hose guide prevents twisting and tangling of the hose
- Includes a Hose Guide bracket to mount on wall or corner mount; Nozzles, sprayers and wash brushes can be stored on the wall bracket, ready for use
The Hoselink 82ft Retractable Hose Reel offers an easy way to handle many hoses with little effort. It’s an 82-foot tube with a closed coil that easily extends and retracts on its own after a light tug, like a blind. The guide roller on the reel moves back and forth as the tube is pulled so that the tube is wound evenly and not all in one piece. The kit comes with a 6.5-foot main hose, and a quick-connect system on both the main and main hose makes connecting and disconnecting connections easy. The quick coupler at the end of the main pipe also has its own lock, which further simplifies changing nozzles; This quick coupler also rotates freely, allowing you to slide the spray head without kinking the hose. Because you can mount the Hoselink reel at any height, it eliminates the bending or back strain associated with knee reels or hose taps. At first we were skeptical about the Hoselink reel, but after a month of daily use we found it to be an effective way to keep the hose off the lawn. The only downside we’ve found so far is that the hose is only ½ inch in diameter – not ⅝ inch like others – so it takes longer to fill the buckets.
Who is this for?
The ruins of Roman aqueducts have demonstrated humanity’s need to transport water quite well, so there’s no need to list the many uses for the humble garden hose, from farming to gardening (we can’t think of a word). Instead, let’s focus on who this guide will be useful to. This guide is for anyone who has heard the helpless drip of a hopelessly tangled hose, squeezed a flimsy joint under a car wheel, seen an inexpensive hose twist and bend like a deflated balloon, or seen water leak from a splined link that you turn even tighter. If you’ve ever been sweaty in your driveway and yelling at your garden hose, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help. Our goal is to recommend a versatile setup with all the spray patterns you need. With a setup that’s so easy to use, you’ll have to buy something else to spray from the garden.
How we chose
To find snakes worth testing, we began scouring all the popular models off the shelves and online, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, and some local Ace franchises, and headed into the wider ocean of Amazon’s offerings. . We talked to experts at the local garden center, asked our neighbors and friends what they use, discussed specifications and materials with hose manufacturers, and researched equipment at the best car washes in East Los Angeles. We’ve also used snakes all our lives: Wirecutter editor-in-chief Harry Sawyers is a former professional landscaper who has now thrown several snakes into his Los Angeles home; author Thom Dunn grew up with his father’s meticulous lawn care, the stuff of legend in Connecticut’s New Haven County; and senior writer Doug Mahoney raises sheep, cows, pigs and chickens in New Hampshire, making him a year-round snake user by keeping all of these creatures hydrated.
This experience led us to meet only two strict criteria, both of which were indicative of overall quality and reduced our test pool to a manageable number.
Flats on connectors: We wanted the tube connector to have a hexagonal metal tip shaped like a nut, the part that attaches to the pin. This quality, more than any other, separates the good from the waste. If the manufacturer has specified this detail (rather than a round slotted connector like a soda bottle cap), it usually also means the hose connector has other desirable properties – it’s less likely to break or form under the heel. The car. A wheel that is less likely to rust or lose surface, less likely to leak and less likely to get stuck – the purpose of these flats is to give you a wrench to loosen the tube when it’s screwed on too tight. Your hands are too wet or you are just too tired to work in the garden all morning to disconnect the hose without a little mechanical advantage.
Made in the USA: This was not a requirement when we started our research, but it has become a reliable quality barometer, not for nationalistic reasons. If the tube is made in the United States, it almost certainly means the company is based in the United States, turning customer service from an abstract concept into an entity you can turn to if you have a problem. Plus, garden hoses have more than most product categories, with many made-in-the-USA options. We weren’t excluded from the options, but given the large pool of candidates in this category, we didn’t feel the need to search under every rock around the world for a slightly better option.
There were also some common features that we didn’t prioritize. We have not taken the claims of “irreversible” or “pair resistant” seriously. Furthermore, we have not attached much importance to the claims that the pipe is “safe for drinking water”, although in theory the materials could be safe for drinking water use. Drammi’s packaging sums it up nicely: “Garden hoses can come into contact with harmful chemicals commonly used in sprinklers, garden sprayers or lawn chemicals. The inside of the hose is dark, damp and hot. This causes bacteria to build up.” The store clerk we interviewed about snakes recalled fond memories of the summer days of her childhood pulling the water out of her parents’ snake, and while the Rockwell-style statue was beautiful, we’ve got recommendations for better ways to use water. Drink nature.
We didn’t need a specific pipe size, but our research pointed us to a standard 50-foot length for general use. A 25-foot pipe can barely go around the car and vice versa, and a 30-foot pipe can be difficult to handle, but a 50-foot pipe is enough to cover most suburban backyards. If you need more than 15 meters, the experts we spoke to recommend buying multiple tubes and linking them together – if one breaks or leaks, all you have to do is repair or replace a part rather than buy another long, expensive tube. Most garden hoses are ⅝ inch in diameter, so width wasn’t a factor, although our testing revealed subtle differences between the standard size and the smaller threaded option we considered.
As we tested
We have been testing garden hoses in many places for years. Our most recent tests include months of routine housework with Los Angeles editor-in-chief Harry Sawyers: pressure sanding driveway and patio furniture, car washing, watering plants, filling kiddie pools and backyard irrigation. July 4 (Cross your fingers so that stray embers don’t set fire to the Bougainvillea). We also tested at senior author Doug Mahoney’s farm in New Hampshire. Between watering the yard, watering the animals, and general use, Doug estimates he uses seven to ten hoses during the summer. During the winter months, this number drops to two, but the task becomes more challenging as the hoses must be turned after each use to prevent freezing.
We put the pipes in tighter fittings and measured any leaks from the joints. And when we wrapped pipes around our properties, we paid attention to the structure of the pipe material as well as the branches and general handling.
During testing, we emptied, disconnected, and rewound the tubes, noting any memories (the tendency of an open-wound tube to maintain its spiral shape) or any other stubbornness we encountered. In a 2019 test in Ithaca, New York, staff writer Thom Dunn dragged the pipes down the street and drove a two-door Honda Civic back and forth several times to make sure the connectors were right under the wheels.
After each flattened tube is removed from the curb, we all go through the same set of tests for the front and rear connections, checking for leaks, improper connections, or other damage.
We also tested how much water each pipe could move. We connected each hose to a gate valve and timed the time it took to fill a 5-gallon bucket, confirming a measurable difference in the flow rate of the different diameter pipes.
In an even more brutal test, we put hoses and syringes in the hands of several 3- to 7-year-old children. This test was mainly conducted in backyard pool fights and other riots. Bury, sink, jam, and generally use tools in a way that no grown-up would ever do. We probably voided the warranty on everything, but we had to do this to make sure these pipes and mouthpieces could really take the abuse.
In addition to our ongoing tests, we have evaluated the long-term durability of all the products we recommend in this guide. Torture tests are fun, but nothing compares to the real rigors of wrapping, unrolling, stretching and storing a snake, or the long-term deterioration of a snake after years of seasonality and sun damage. We have also collected tips to maximize the life of the pipe.
