Melanie Fincher has been with Dotdash Meredith since 2019 and is currently an Associate Business Editor at Real Simple. She previously wrote SEO-focused content for Allrecipes, including product reviews, cooking classes, culinary news, and more. Former SEO writer for Allrecipes.com. Nearly three years of experience writing over 40 verified product reviews. Study journalism and international relations at the University of Georgia.
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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, gardening in small containers, or cleaning, you need to decide which functions are most important to you.
To compile a list of the best garden hoses of all types, we tested 30 garden hoses in the lab for design, ease of use, durability and value. For expert advice on what to look for in a garden hose, we turned to Erin Shahnen, creator of The Eager Gardener, and Gary McCoy, Lowe’s Store Manager.
“There is no perfect hose for every application,” says Schanen. “Customers should weigh convenience and durability, price and durability, and then consider the special features they might like. A good hose can cost a lot more than the one you buy at the hardware store, but chances are you’ll have it longer. time, less frustration.
Our top pick is Forever Steel 304 Stainless Steel Hose because it is virtually impossible to kink, knot, or puncture and has the highest tear strength of any hose on our list. And because it’s made from 304 stainless steel, it stays cool to the touch even in the hot sun and won’t freeze in the snow.
Find more of our top garden hose selections below, plus expert tips and advice on choosing the right garden hose for your needs.
Who it’s for: People who want a kink- and puncture-resistant garden hose that is weatherproof. Not for: People who need an expandable garden hose or drinking water safety.
Kinks, knots and breaks begin! We were blown away by the durability and ease of use of this garden hose: “This is the easiest hose I have ever used,” said one tester. “Impossible to twist, easy to roll, easy to move through plants or trees, and never tangle.”
The hose has a 304 stainless steel body for rust, corrosion and UV protection. It stays cool to the touch under the scorching sun and doesn’t freeze in the snow. In our tests, its durability was unsurpassed, gliding over grass and rocks with ease and not taking any damage. But despite its rugged construction, the 50-foot hose weighs just over 4 pounds and has a flexible design to easily get around obstacles in the yard. It has a burst strength of 500 psi, which is the highest of any hose on our list, so you can use more water pressure without damaging the hose. Best of all, it’s below the average price of all the garden hoses we’ve tested. Note that the hose doesn’t retract, but you probably won’t want to use a retractable hose anyway given how easy it is to reel in.
For the crowd: people who want to use a retractable hose in a small garden or patio. Not for the crowd: people who need to drag the hose over rough terrain, such as gravel.
The inflatable hose expands when filled with water and contracts when flushed. This helps save storage space while maintaining the length of a full length hose. In our testing, the Fit Life retractable garden hose proved to be the best retractable hose we tested. Our testers found it to be very light and agile even when fully loaded. After use, simply open the valve on the brass fitting to release the water and watch the hose return to its original size (about a third of its fully extended length). Once the hose returned to its original size, we found that it twisted easily.
The main disadvantage of inflatable garden hoses is that they tend to be less durable as they are made of fabric and can expand when the hose fills with water. Our testers were impressed with the durability of this model, which was the shortest of any expandable hose we tested. It is made of a 3-layer latex inner tube and a durable polyester coating. However, given that this is an inflatable hose, we suspect it will suffer from prolonged use.
The hose comes with high quality brass fittings and includes a nozzle with eight different settings so you don’t have to worry about buying one separately.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a flexible garden hose that won’t kink under pressure. Not for the crowd: people who want a lightweight garden hose.
The Flexzilla Garden Hose is ideal for everyday watering. It’s made from a flexible hybrid polymer that’s extremely pliable so you can move garden furniture or any other obstacles that might get in your way. Our testers confirmed the manufacturer’s claim that the hose is kink resistant and noted that it straightens well when unrolled from the reel. However, this is one of the heaviest hoses on our list, especially when full.
The couplers are made from anodized aluminum with a grip finish that testers said was easier to attach to the spigot and drag across the turf. Lime green is also easy to spot in the yard. The hybrid polymer material of the inner tube is safe to drink, whether you’re adding water to your pet’s plate or drinking straight from the hose yourself. It doesn’t have the highest tear strength of any of the hoses on our list, but for everyday watering, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Who it’s for: People who want a flexible, lightweight, durable hose. Not for the crowd: people who can’t spend a lot of money on a garden hose.
Polyurethane is new to garden hose, but it’s quickly becoming the gold standard because it’s lightweight, flexible, and extremely durable. Described by the manufacturer as “the most durable garden hose out there,” Eley polyurethane garden hose is puncture, kink, crush and abrasion resistant so you can drag it over rocks or asphalt without fear. Fun fact: they are made from the same material as inline skates. Our testers commented that it “seems to hold up well for extended extended use.”
In our tests, the hose didn’t kink at all and was much lighter than rubber, another material renowned for its durability. It comes with lead free brass fittings and is safe to drink. The hose is also available in 10 different sizes from 6.5′ to 200′. However, it costs almost three times as much as our top pick, but it comes with a 10-year warranty.
For intensive use, rubber hose provides a long service life at a much lower cost than polyurethane. While the rubber is notoriously bulky, our testers found that the hose moved easily around the can without being overly heavy. The bright red color is easily recognizable on the lawns, and the high quality brass fittings make it easy to screw and unscrew the faucet.
This garden hose doesn’t claim to be kink-free, and it did kink a little during our testing, but not much compared to other rubber hoses we’ve tested. We love that it has a breaking strength of 300 psi, which is enough to withstand the high water pressure required for tough jobs or working in tight places from a distance. In addition, it is capable of handling hot water up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Who it’s for: People who want a slow and even release of water into their flower beds or vegetable gardens. Not for the crowd: people who need a hose for more than just gardening.
Instead of spraying water that evaporates before it reaches the ground, this wetting hose releases water slowly and evenly through its pores, ensuring deep and even soaking of plant roots. Our testers noticed what looked like condensation on the outside of the hose as water began to seep out of the pores. According to the manufacturer, this flat wetting hose can release an impressive two gallons of water every two minutes.
We found the hose to be lightweight and easy to get around obstacles such as flower beds or pots. It can even be dragged over rocks and raked well. The PVC material is treated with UV inhibitors so it can withstand years of use even in the hot sun. However, we had some difficulty getting the hose back on the reel due to the kink. And be careful not to set the water pressure too high (no more than 60 psi), as this can cause the hose to burst.
Overall, this is a great wetting hose that allows you to deliver water directly to the roots of vegetables, flowers, or shrubs without lugging the hose in and out of storage.
Who it’s for: Anyone who needs a self-storage hose for watering small areas. Not for the crowd: people who need a garden hose that can withstand high water pressure.
Spiral garden hoses are the solution for watering small areas like small flower beds or vegetable gardens, porches, patios or even urban container gardens because you don’t have to lug around a full size hose for these tasks. We found this hose to be very easy to carry around and our testers found it to be particularly easy to use. Plus, it snaps back to its original shape for easy storage – don’t worry about rolling it up on a spool.
This reel stands out for two reasons: its material and its design. Like our best heavy-duty hoses, it is made from UV-resistant polyurethane, an extremely durable, flexible and lightweight material that resists punctures and abrasion. Couplings are made of lead-free brass. “I’ve seen it go on for years,” one tester said. In terms of design, this garden hose has a unique straight end rather than a fully coiled end, making it easier to direct water flow and connect it to a faucet. In addition, it is safe for drinking water. The hose is quite small, 3/8 inch in diameter, and restricts the flow of water, so it is best used for low pressure irrigation.
Our top choice is Forever Steel 304 stainless steel hose because it won’t kink or kink and is light and flexible enough to be moved around the yard. Plus, it has the highest tensile strength on our list at 500 psi. If you’re willing to spend more, our heavy-duty choice is Eley’s polyurethane garden hose, as it’s made from polyurethane, a nearly indestructible material that’s lightweight and safe to drink.
We ran a series of tests on 30 garden hoses, keeping in mind that not all garden hoses are created equal and not all work the same. First, our testers took each coiled hose and judged how bulky or light it was, depending on size and material.
The testers then use a fitting to connect each hose to a faucet and then to an inlet hose to assess whether the hoses are leaking or leaking. We then completely unwound the hoses from the reels and dragged them over various surfaces, including grass, concrete, or even a garden rake with the teeth raised, turning them 180 degrees and wrapping them around three large pots. During this part of the test, we carefully recorded any punctures or signs of wear on the hose.
In our last test, we sprayed water from each hose for two minutes and then turned off the water without emptying the hoses. We then tried winding the hose back onto the reel, noting how easy it was to fill the hose. Finally, we repeated the above test, but this time we pressed the hose nozzle to release water, and then tried to rewind the hose onto the reel. Each garden hose is judged on design, ease of use, durability and price.
There are several types of garden hoses that aren’t just standard hoses, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages: “Hose choice is a compromise because there is no perfect hose,” says Schanen.
Standard hoses are a great choice for multipurpose watering and cleaning: “Standard hoses are the most popular choice because they do the job well, but they have to be twisted and can kink,” Schanen says. You can find light and heavy standard hoses, McCoy says, the latter may be better for hot water and heavy continuous use: “The hose should always be used at ambient water temperature, so hot water should only be used for hot water. And designed in a hose!”
Inflatable hoses are light and compact, but can expand two to three times when filled with water and contract when not in use. Unfortunately, their flexible material has the disadvantage of being more prone to tearing and snags than other hoses (of all the expandable hoses we tested, the Fit Life expandable garden hose was the least likely to get stuck).
Soak hoses are best for bringing water slowly and purposefully to the roots, but Chanen notes that they usually need to be held in place. According to McCoy, they can even be buried under a layer of mulch, which says that “from the hose, a small amount of water seeps right into the roots of your garden or flower bed with little to no waste.”
The spiral hose is used for watering small areas without having to drag too long hoses or wind them back onto the spool when it is spooled into a neat spool. However, coils tend to be short and sometimes get tangled.
Polyurethane: According to Shanen, polyurethane provides “a good combination of durability and weight savings, as well as being less likely to kink.” It is considered the most durable material and is lighter (but also more expensive) than rubber.
Rubber: Rubber hoses are second only to polyurethane in terms of durability and are more affordable. However, they can be quite heavy when filled with water.
Vinyl: Vinyl is a lightweight and affordable alternative to rubber, but is generally less durable and more prone to kink.
Stainless Steel: These hoses usually have a waterproof inner construction surrounded by stainless steel coils for durability. Garden hoses are usually made from 304 stainless steel because it is less prone to rust and corrosion (as is our best overall choice).
If you plan on drinking from a garden hose, it’s important to note that not all garden hose materials are safe to drink: “If you occasionally drink water from a hose on a hot day, use a special boat, sea or recreational,” McCoy. said. “Their plastic lining allows them to safely pump drinking water. It is important to remember that the components used in standard hoses are not always safe to swallow.”
There are three factors to consider when choosing a garden hose size: diameter, length, and weight. According to Shenan, 5/8-inch diameter is the standard garden hose size and is best for most applications. “A 3/4-inch hose can provide high water pressure, but it can be heavy,” Shernan says. “Half-inch hoses are fun to use because they’re lightweight, but you can’t use most sprinklers with them, and you probably won’t even spray water from the sprayer at the end of the hose.” , usually about 3/8 inch because they are designed for watering small areas.
Garden hoses are typically 25 to 50 feet long (although Eley polyurethane garden hose offers a wider range of sizes, from 6.5 to 200 feet). While you need a long enough hose to get to where you want to water, water pressure decreases with length: “Buy a long enough hose to get to where you’ll be using it, and don’t use it again,” McCoy said. “If you sometimes need a long hose, buy two shorter ones and connect them if necessary.”
Finally, consider the weight of the hose you choose. As mentioned earlier, rubber hoses tend to be the heaviest. Generally, weight and durability go hand in hand (with a few exceptions), so look for a hose that you know you can handle but that will last you for years to come.
The “bursting strength” of a garden hose is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) and indicates the water pressure the hose can withstand before it bursts. The higher the PSI, the stronger the hose. Soak and coil hoses generally require less pressure to function properly, so it’s best to keep the water pressure low so you don’t damage the hose.
A fitting or fitting is an end piece that connects a hose to a water supply. “The end fittings are just as important as the material of the hose,” Shenan said. “Look for brass or brass-plated alloy fittings that will last the longest, especially if you are buying a hose that is expected to last for years. Aluminum and plastic fittings are less durable, but they are lighter.”
Briggs & Stratton Premium High Strength Rubber Garden Hose: This is another durable and high quality rubber hose that is slightly inferior to the competition mainly due to its black color which can get very hot when exposed to sunlight.
Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Garden Hose: Dramm is a trusted gardening brand and this rubber garden hose lives up to our expectations. We especially like that it comes in a variety of vibrant colors to make it stand out on lawns.