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The Importance of Flexible Garden Hoses

Watering the garden is considered to be a tedious job for most people. Imagine having to stay outside in the blistering sun in the middle of a summer afternoon to take care of your lawn and flower beds when you could be inside, in the shade, with the air conditioning unit on.

Flexible Garden Hoses

On top of everything, imagine being frustrated with an expandable garden hose that you can barely manipulate. Well, one of the solutions to make this chore less frustrating is to invest in a good flexible gardening hose, so let’s walk you through the research process.

Top Picks: Best Flexible Garden Hoses

Editor’s Choice: Zalotte Expandable Garden Hose

Equipped with a 9-pattern spray nozzle, the Zalotte expandable hose is an underrated product with plenty of strong features to look forward to.

Bargain Buy: Sunrich Expandable Garden Hose

The Sunrich garden hose offers quality features and ease of operation without costing you a small fortune.

High-end Option: zero-G 4001-50 Garden Hose

“This is a Superior product in every regard, I love it! When I finally manage to wear it out or break it I will purchase another without hesitation.” (customer review)

Best Value: NGreen Garden Hose

The NGreen garden hose is a product that offers great value for the money, delivering a quality construction and streamlined watering experience each time it’s used.

Most Durable: Bionic Steel PRO Garden Hose

The Bionic Steel PRO garden hose is made from lightweight and durable stainless steel, so it will withstand the test of time even when you drag it non-stop across the ground.

Most Lightweight: GrowGreen Expandable Garden Hose

“I got the 75 foot length, and unlike my other, shorter hoses, it is so lightweight that I can easily move it around with no difficulty at all.” (customer review)

Customer’s Choice: TheFitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose

“It’s well built, with brass connectors, giving the impression that it will last quite a while–because the material is of greater quality, and heavier, and the internal core is stronger.” (customer review)

Complete Kit: TBI Pro Store Expandable Garden Hose Kit

This hose is delivered with a complete kit that includes a carrying bag, a two-way splitter, and a zinc alloy sprayer.

How to Choose Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose

Just like with basically every other product on the market, choosing a garden hose is a process that requires a little bit of research up front. Here are the main things one has to check out before choosing to buy one hose over another:

  • The length of the hose is important because you need it to be long enough to water as much of the garden as possible, while also making sure that it’s short enough for it to be easy to store. Long hoses tend to be heavier and more difficult to move around, but you’re also more likely to trip over them if they’re left thrown out in the yard. Plenty of gardeners choose hoses with lengths between 50 and 75 feet, but a lot of them recommend opting for two shorter hoses coupled together rather than a really long one.
  • The hose diameter is also a feature to look out for, especially since you want it to fit your outdoor faucet or whatever you plan on coupling the hose to. The most common diameters are 5/8″, 3/4″ and 1/2″, and they refer to the interior width of the hose.
  • The materials that are used to make a hose play an important part in determining its other attributes, like flexibility or durability. There are three common materials that you are going to find in garden hoses: vinyl (typically combined with some radical cord for reinforcement purposes), rubber (best material overall, can withstand water at high temperatures, but is heavy and expensive), and reinforced (some garden hoses have mesh lining reinforcements to make them more resistant to splitting).
  • If you come across something called “burst pressure”, that is a reflection of the strength of the hose. For those of you using nozzles and sprinklers: look for a hose with a rating of more than 350 psi.
  • The flexibility of the hose is also an important factor. A flexible garden hose will easily turn around corners, not to mention the fact that it is easier to store.
  • Take a look at the couplings of a hose before you buy it. Avoid garden hoses with plastic couples because they tend to break fast, and choose those that have metal couplings (brass is the most popular option).

Related: 7 Best Water Timer for Garden and Lawn and Do You Need an Oscillating Sprinkler? Find Out Here!

Tips for Using & Storing Garden Hose

Garden hoses may seem like a basic thing, but there actually right and wrong ways to use them and to store them, so maybe this list of tips will actually help you make the best out of the one of the most useful lawn and gardening tools:

  • Make sure that you turn off the water after trying to coil a hose.
  • When you’re done watering the yard/garden, make sure that you drain the hose without relying on the nozzle to cut the water. This helps avoid water pressure inside the hose.
  • When you’re using the hose, never drag it by the spray nozzle. These are usually made from cheaper materials and the nozzle connection can weaken and become prone to leaks.
  • Never leave your garden hose outdoors in freezing temperatures. If you store it in the shed, make sure it’s a shed with at least some form of heating.
  • If you ever use your hose and notice that it’s leaking, you want to repair those leaks as soon as possible. Rubber patches and super glue will often do the trick.
  • Never leave the house in direct sunlight for too long. If the hose doesn’t have a UV coating, then it’s likely to crack or rupture when exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.

The Best Flexible Garden Hoses

1. Zalotte Expandable Garden Hose with 9 Function Nozzle

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

 

The Zalotte garden hose expands from 9 to 25 feet, being perfect for those of you who are tired of having to trip over the hose every time you’re trying to water the garden. It comes equipped with a spray nozzle that has 9 patterns, including mist, jet, soaker, shower, and cone. It’s made with quality brass connectors and shut-off valves to prevent leaks and make sure that the fittings are corrosion-resistant. The hose itself is made with three layers of latex and has a retractable lightweight construction that delivers portability and ease of storage, being useful for everyone with limited storage space. It can withstand 12 bars of water pressure and about 113 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature.

Pros:

  • 3 layers of latex.
  • Corrosion-resistant brass connectors.
  • 9-function spray nozzle.
  • Lightweight construction.

Cons:

  • Nozzle feels cheap.

2. Sunrich Expandable Garden Hose  – 50ft

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

 

The Sunrich hose is available in a 50 and 100-foot version, depending on the square footage of the yard you have to cover. It is a versatile watering hose that can expand from 17 to 50 feet in length once the water is turned on, allowing for a hassle-free watering experience. It comes with a spray nozzle with 9 different patterns, and includes a rotating bezel that will allow you to easily switch between the available patterns. The hose itself is made from 4 layers of latex and is nicely wrapped up in an extra-flexible 3750D polyester fabric cover. The ¾” brass connectors are there to offer you a leak-free experience every time you use the hose.

Pros:

  • Two length options.
  • 9 patterns spray nozzle.
  • Rotating bezel for easy pattern selection.
  • Thick latex construction.

Cons:

  • Leaks at spray nozzle connection.

3. Zero-G Lightweight Hose

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

The zero-G 4001-50 is another viable option for those of you looking for a quality flexible garden hose. It promises to deliver effortless handling because it’s 50 percent lighter in weight, but also assures us that it has a compact design which makes it easy to store. It is designed with a woven fiber jacket that makes sure the hose is resistant to punctures and leaks. It is 600+ psi burst rated and has a flexible construction that aims at allowing the user to manipulate the hose even in temperatures as low as 35° F. 

Related: Zero-G Hose Review – For More Than Just Your Garden

Pros:

  • Works at low temperatures.
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Lead-free construction.
  • Easy to store.

Cons:

  • Tangles easily.

4. NGreen Garden Hose Flexible and Expandable

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

When it comes to choosing a flexible garden hose, the NGreen hose is a product you want to look out for. It’s available in four different length options, with the shortest one measuring 25 feet and the longest one, 100 feet. It has a triple latex layer that’s covered in interwoven elastic fabric, to make sure that you benefit from a durable and flexible product throughout its entire lifespan. When water pressure starts to rise, the hose will also expand its length, making sure that you enjoy stress-free garden watering every time. The brass connector promises a leak-free experience, while the 8-way spray nozzle delivers multiple spraying patterns for you to choose from.

Pros:

  • 8-way spray nozzle.
  • 4 length options.
  • Quality brass fittings.
  • Corrosion-resistant.

Cons:

  • No power spraying.

5. Bionic Steel PRO Garden Hose

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

Also available in four different length options, the Bionic Steel PRO garden hose has “pro” in its name for a reason. It is a stainless steel hose that promises extra durability and is constructed in such a way as to resist in the face of rust, corrosion, and leaks. The  commercial-grade 304 stainless steel is surprisingly lightweight and allows you to drag the hose across the ground without having to worry about puncture. The hose is not expandable, but it can easily be coiled to take up as little storage space as possible. It is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and comes with solid brass fittings for a longer lifespan. The inner diameter is ⅝” and offers a 500 psi burst strength.

Pros:

  • Quality metal construction.
  • Resistant to dragging.
  • Easy to coil.
  • 4 length options.

Cons:

  • Not expandable.

6. GrowGreen Expandable Garden Hose

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

Here is the GrowGreen expandable garden hose, a product with a polyester and latex construction, and quite a few impressive features. It’s a hose available in four different length options, with each of these delivered contracted and expanding to up to three times their length once water pressure is detected. When you turn the water off, the hose returns to its compact length in a matter of seconds. It comes with a spray nozzle with 8 different spraying patterns for you to choose from. Some other features of interest include:  operating water pressure of up to 145PSI/10 Bar, quality brass connectors, and flexible latex construction.

Pros:

  • 8 spray pattern nozzle.
  • 4 length options.
  • Quality brass connectors.
  • Easy to roll up and store.

Cons:

  • Questionable long-term durability.

7. TheFitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

Another great contender for the title of “best flexible garden hose” goes to TheFitLife hose. It has a retractable construction and four length options to choose from, ranging from 25 to 100 feet. With only 4.5 pounds, its lightweight construction is one of the main attractions that got customers convinced to invest in this product. It’s made with three layers of latex that are protected by an interwoven elasticated fabric, which is pretty much the standard choice of materials, as you might have guessed from the previous hoses we looked at today. It comes with the standard 8-pattern nozzle that you saw in some of the other products. It operates at 145 psi water pressure, comes with ¾” standard brass fittings, and promises up to 2,000 uses.

Pros:

  • 4 length options.
  • Easy to coil and store.
  • 8-pattern spray nozzle.

Cons:

  • Leaks after 1 year of use.

8. Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50-100

Expandable Garden Hose Kit 50 100

Our last suggestion for today is this amazing flexible hose kit that comes with a bunch of features we’ve come to know and love. It’s available in two length options, 50 and 100 feet. It is designed with four layers of latex that are wrapped up in a strong and flexible fabric. Thanks to its compact size, the hose expands from 17 to 100 feet when water pressure is detected and quickly returns to its original length when you turn the water off. It is designed to offer an anti-leak system delivered by quality connectors. The hose is delivered together with a zinc alloy sprayer, two-way splitter, a hanger, and a nifty storage bag. 

Pros:

  • Includes multiple accessories.
  • 2 length options.
  • Durable 4-layer latex construction.
  • Anti-leak system.

Cons:

  • Poorly-made nozzle.

FAQ

What is the best garden hose?

While it’s true that “best” is a pretty subjective term, there are a few features that make some hoses better than others. For instance, when it comes to the materials used to make the hose, rubber is, by far, the best choice. They are stronger and have a longer lifespan, but they are less likely to kink. Hoses that have metal connectors are better than those with plastic ones.

How do you store hoses outside?

During warmer seasons, you can leave your garden hose outdoors, but there are two important rules to keep in mind. First of all, never leave the hose in direct sunlight unless you’re actively using it to water the garden. If that’s not an option, then opt for products with UV coating. The second important rule is to always drain the hose after use, especially in colder temperatures. This way, there will be no residual water that can freeze inside the hose and cause it to split.

What is the best way to store a garden hose?

Coiling the hose is the best way to store it. You want to do this before the winter, and make sure you store the hose in the garage or a heated shed. Also, make sure that you seal the ends of the hose to avoid any bugs from getting in.

Bottom Line

In the end, when you’re choosing an expandable and flexible garden hose, the need-to-know information is pretty straightforward: steer clear of plastic as much as you can (rubber is king in this situation), look for quality connectors (preferably ones made from metal), and look for products that are efficient even under higher water pressure, so it doesn’t take forever for you to water the garden.