A garden hose can help to make light work of those yard chores. With a hose you can water beds and irrigate your landscaping without needing to carry heavy watering cans around your yard.
Our team of researchers considered more than 40 garden hose products to find the best models on the market. We’ve compiled a list of our top picks and our editor’s choice, the J&B XpandaHose features corrosion resistant fittings, multiple spray patterns and lightweight, while delivering excellent performance. We’ve also ranked other garden hose models at different price points with different characteristics to ensure a top pick for everyone.
Our research team has deliberated for hours to research the very best options to find the best garden hose that offers the best design and features. First and foremost, we assessed the types of garden hoses to determine which hoses fulfil the most functions around your yard. We’ve also evaluated the hose length, diameter and material, which all impact the durability and functionality, in addition to the max pressure. We’ve presented our research as a basic overview table, coupled with a list of detailed reviews. You’ll also see that at the end of our reviews, we’ve included a buying guide to walk you through the purchase decision making process.
Other features: expandable hose, 3/4 inch brass connectors + steel assembly clamps, comes with spray nozzle, lifetime warranty, kinks free
The J&B XpandaHose 75ft is our editor’s choice, it may be the best no kink garden hose on this list and it can expand from 25ft up to 75ft easily. This makes this lightweight hose easy to maneuver around every corner of the garden and its flexible design makes untangling a breeze. The spray nozzle has 10 different patterns to choose from to ensure your get the exact water delivery you need for a wide variety of situations.
The J&B XpandaHose 75ft has a 43.5-87PSI/3-6Bar normal water pressure. This is a high quality hose, there are corrosion resistant steel assembly clamps and high quality solid brass fittings supplied with this product. The core is triple layered making this a durable hose that will last for years to come. The entire hose only weighs 2.5 lbs. making it easy to move around when setting up or taking down.
Other features: drinking water safe, kink-free, no memory, abrasion resistant outer cover, crush resistant aircraft aluminum fittings with bend restrictor, 2-year warranty
The Flexzilla Pro Water Hose is the top of the range line of hoses designed for professional landscapers and contractors. This is our premium pick because this hose has a unique feature; the fixtures at both ends can be replaced and removed at any time. So, if you purchased the 100 ft. long hose and it became ruptured 20 ft. in, you could cut the hose down to create an 80 ft. long shorter hose. The 20 ft. long section could also be turned into a short hose if you buy a new set of connectors. This field repair capability is a key selling feature for professionals that get frequent breaks or damage as they work.
The Flexzilla Pro Water Hose is the best lightweight garden hose on our list. The 50 ft., 75 ft. and 100 ft. models weigh 9 lbs., 12 lbs. and 16 lbs. respectively. There are excellent O-ring gaskets for easy coupling and spiral bend restrictors to make this hose more flexible. This hose is rated for a water pressure of 165 PSI making it an excellent choice for other tasks.
Other features: heavy-duty metal coupling with O-ring, kinky-free, lifetime warranty
The Gilmour 840501-1001 Comm RBR/Vin Hose is a 50 ft. long hose for the garden and general cleaning duties. This hose may be the best rubber garden hose on our list because it has a simple design and it’s easy to use. The hose has a smart red color making it easy to locate anywhere and the 3/4″ diameter has a metal spring cover to prevent kinks. The heavy duty coupling provide a tight seal and this reduces water waste as you work.
Gilmour has a 50-year reputation in this business and their attention to detail is evident in this particular hose. The hose has a burst strength of 400 PSI to ensure that it will last for years to come. If you need a lightweight and tough 50 ft. hose with no frills the Gilmour 840501-1001 Comm RBR/Vin Hose will fit the bill.
Other features: automatic rewind function, metal 7-function spray gun, 180-degree swivel wall bracket and hardware set, no-leak, easy-connect hose fittings, 1-year warranty
The Australian made HOSELINK Automatic Retractable Garden Hose Reel is the best retractable garden hose on our list. Deploying this hose for water and cleaning and putting it away again is easy thanks to the automatic rewind system. This is an easy to install unit for most surfaces and it only weighs 32 lbs. This hose has a useful 180º swivel bracket to make access even easier and it’s easy to tuck it out of the way when you’re finished.
The HOSELINK Automatic Retractable Garden Hose Reel has an 82 ft. reinforced hose with a 9/16” diameter. A seven function spray gun gives the user plenty of patterns and settings to use for watering and cleaning duties. The hose and external housing tough and durable and the hose feeding is smooth and even making this hose a joy to use.
Other features: drinking water safe, lightweight, 12 inch tails on each coil, kinks-free
The Water Right Professional Coil Garden Hose is the best coiled garden hose on our list and it’s available in three sizes, 25 ft., 50 ft. and 75 ft. The hose is manufactured from polyurethane with solid machined brass fitting for a long lasting seal. The diameter of the hose is ⅜” which is narrower than many other hoses on our list and as a result the water flow is lower. This is an attractive products and it’s available in a wide variety of colors, such as: Forest Green, Olive Green, Eggplant, Cranberry, Rosemary and even Espresso!
The Water Right Professional Coil Garden Hose can handle temperature extremes including freezing. One customer used the hose at 6ºF to supply water to his motorhome and it still worked well. Each end of the hose has a specially engineered strain relief to prevent annoying kinks and the entire hose is lead, BPA and Phthalate free. This makes this an excellent choice for those that may want a hose for potable water.
Other features: rust-resistant end cap, two extra washers, 2-year warranty
The Melnor 65062-AMZ 75 ft. Flat Soaker Hose is the best collapsible garden hose on our list. This hose flattens when stored making it easy to store when it’s not in use. This is not a standard garden hose and professionals would refer to this as an irrigation hose. This hose has a permeable exterior; this design allows the water to seep out along the entire length. Multiple hoses can easily be connected together and it’s an ideal way to gently water raised beds and rows of flowers or vegetables.
Given the modest price, this hose delivers a great deal of plant water flexibility and multiple hoses can easily create an extremely effective irrigation network. Unlike a sprinkler system, the hoses can be rolled up, moved to different locations and deployed very quickly. This is a less invasive way to water your plants and the hose has a mesh construction making it very durable.
Other features: kinks-free, rust-resistant, 9 patterns spray nozzle, 3/4” inches USA standard brass fittings; can withstand temperature of 41℉-113℉, 1-year warranty
The Life Be Free Expandable Garden Hose may be the best 100 ft. garden hose at this price point. This hose is light, flexible and easy to store when you need to store it. The hose is manufactured with a layered latex core for extra flexibility and the outer casing is a tough woven material. The brass fittings are standard and the ¾” diameter can handle 3-4 bars of pressure. This is hose that you can use all year round at temperatures in the 41ºF-113ºF range.
The Life Be Free Expandable Garden Hose is 33 ft. long, but it easily expands to 3 times that size. The ergonomic hose nozzle has 9 different patterns to select and it has a slip-resistant surface. This is a highly portable hose, it comes with a hanger and a storage bag so you can take it with you. This hose is designed to minimize kinks and it’s very easy to use in the garden or for other tasks.
Other features: solid food grade brass connectors, rust-resistant build, kinks-free, double-seal design, includes 9-function spray nozzle
This is probably the best expandable garden hose at this price point with no compromise on the quality of the product. This is a very handy 50 ft. hose for those for people that have a smaller yard or garden and it’s a tough and durable item that’s built to last. At the heart of this hose is a triple dura-flex core that’s sheathed in a hard wearing material cover. Many rival hoses only use a double layered core and this significantly reduces their useful lifespan.
The Rolio Expandable Garden Hose with Hose Reel is extremely portable and it comes on its own reel for extra flexibility. The hose reel can be transported around the outdoor spaces or the user can hang it in a handy location using the supplied hanger. Although this is technically a budget offering it has features that you would find on more expensive hoses, such as: brass fittings, no-slip handles and 9 nozzle settings.
Other features: drinking water safe, lead-free brass fittings, kink-resistant, 10-year warranty
The ELEY Drinking Water Safe Polyurethane Garden Hose is kink-resistant and drinking water safe. This hose is available in a wide variety of lengths from 12 ft. right up 200 ft. so there’s a size to feet virtually any application. This is the 100 ft. variant and it’s certainly a sleek and sturdy hose with a ⅝” diameter for a volume of great water flow. This hose can be used in temperatures of -40ºF up to 165ºF and it’s rated to 150 PSI.
The fittings are made from lead-free brass, they are crush proof and offer full flow for potable and non-potable water supplies. This hose weighs 14 lbs. and it will not leak or corrode like many other hoses of this type. As far as the price goes this isn’t a cheap option, but you get what you pay for and this is a premium grade product that’s likely to outlast many of the available alternatives.
Other features: for hot (180°) or cold water use, rigid sleeve, leak-proof and crush resistant couplings, lifetime guarantee
This hose may be the best garden hose for pressure washer use on our list. The Apex 8695-25 Commercial Hot and Cold Water Hose is made from 100% rubber and this makes it ideal for hot water temperatures up to 180ºF. The high quality brass fitting offers a tight connection that’s likely to last for years. A rigid sleeve prevents any kinking that could occur at the faucet end and it can be left out in the sun without any problems.
This is an industrial grade hose that can be used to water the garden, pressure wash the car and clean a commercial area. The shorter hoses in the lineup can be easily connected together to create a longer hose as required. After all, any long hose can develop a kink at time, but shorter hoses are less prone to kinking and you can choose the length of hose that you need. This is a more expensive option, but it may be useful for people that need drastically different lengths of hose for various cleaning tasks.
Other features: fittings include 1 male connectors with cap and 1 female connectors
The Hydrofarm JS90037BK Flat Soaker Hose is our best value pick on this list of hoses. This is also a soaking hose to create your own custom irrigation system to water your flowers beds and vegetable rows. In this package you get a flat 75 ft. hose, a female connector and a male connector with cap. The hose has a ½” diameter when filled and the entire length is permeable to deliver the water to your plants and dry areas. The hose can be used across the top of the beds for temporary watering or it can be buried under the roots systems for a more permanent installation.
This is a great alternative to a conventional sprinkler system because less water is wasted. The soaker hose is made from lead-free recycled materials making it a safe and environmentally sound solution for your plant watering needs. The hose can be cut to specific sizes and the fittings are then connected to get the exact length that you need.
Other features: can withstand temperatures from -25 degrees up to 160 degrees, a concave hexagonal shape, a crush-proof brass coupler
The Craftsman Premium Rubber Garden Hose may be the best flexible garden hose on our list considering the modest price point. This is a very capable and rugged 50 ft. hose that should sell for more and it’s quite the bargain. The rubber stays flexible and is resistant to cracking down the 25ºF and it can handle water with a temperature up to 160ºF. The crush-proof brass hardware is nickel plated with octagonal shape to make it easier to twist the hose on and off the tools and plumbing fixtures.
Thanks to the thickness of the rubber hose, the Craftsman Premium Rubber Garden Hose is extremely resistant to kinks. This is also another reason why this particular hose is so durable and hard wearing. This hose has a burst strength of 500 PSI, so unless you run over it with your lawnmower this products should last for a long time.
A garden hose can help to make light work of your outdoor chores. However, with such a wide variety of models, making your purchase decision can feel a little tricky. So, here we’ve compiled a buying guide with the things you need to consider, the features to look for and answers to some common questions to help you to choose the product best suited to your needs.
Garden hoses save you the back-breaking work of needing to carry heavy watering cans from a water connection to various areas of your yard. The right garden hose can not only allow you to water your beds and lawns, but also connect to your garden shower and take water from your rainwater storage tank. Additionally, a hose can make cleaning garden furniture, sports equipment and garden tools a quicker and easier task.
With so many garden hose products, it can be a little overwhelming to choose the best model for your specific requirements. Here we’ll explore the features you should consider to narrow down the options and find the one best suited to your needs.
There are a number of different types of garden hose. These include:
Expandable: These hoses can expand up to three times the length when filled. Typically, they are lightweight and can last for years with proper care, like the J&B Xpandahose.
Drinking Water Safe: If you need to fill your child’s pool or your pet will drink from the hose, you need to ensure that it is drinking water safe. This means that it is made with materials that will not leach potentially harmful chemicals into the water.
Soaker: These are designed for garden irrigation, as the water oozes from thousands of tiny holes to allow water to seep into the soil. This type of hose can be laid on the ground, buried just under the surface or covered in a layer of mulch.
Coiled: These are spiral hoses that pull together when stored and can provide a longer length when needed. These can provide a good solution for smaller areas and many like the Water Right Professional Coil Garden Hose are available in different sizes.
Flat: These are round when full, but flatten when empty, making them easy to roll up. Many types of flat hose are sold on a reel for even greater functionality.
Garden hoses are available in a variety of sizes, but the most common are 25, 50, 75 and 100 feet.
It is a far better idea to measure the distance from your water connection to the farthest point in your yard and buy a hose that will reach just beyond this point. You don’t need to tug the hose to try to stretch it out, as this may cause leaks or snags.
Most garden hoses have a ¾-inch or half-inch diameter. This measurement is based on the inside of the hose rather than the diameter of the outside. The larger the diameter, the larger the water volume the hose can carry.
If the hose weight may be an issue for you, you may prefer to choose a narrower hose. While this will not carry as much water, it will be lighter weight. A half inch hose can be sufficient for light gardening tasks including watering containers, but if you need higher water pressure for washing your car or sprinklers, this size of hose diameter is not likely to be appropriate for your requirements.
Typically, hoses are made from rubber, a rubber hybrid, polyurethane or vinyl. Rubber is usually the most flexible, but it can be heavy. Hybrids and polyurethane ted to be lighter and more resistant to kinks. Vinyl is the cheapest option, but it can be heavy, prone to kinking and often has a “memory” for coiling. Finally, polyurethane will lay flatter even if used in warmer temperatures.
There is also a newer variety of hose material that involves a woven fiber jacket with a flexible, thin lining inside. A great example of this is the Life Be Free Expandable Garden Hose, which offers a highly flexible hose with no coil memory and minimal kinking. This type of hose can also be very convenient to store, as they collapse when the water pressure is released.
The strength of a garden hose is measured with “burst pressure”. This refers to the water pressure at which the hose is likely to rupture. If you need a hose for a sprinkler or nozzle, you should look for hoses with a burst pressure of 350 psi or more, but pressure washers may require an even higher psi.
The dimensions and weight of a hose can not only affect how much water the hose can carry, but also the movement and storage of the hose. If you have a 100-foot hose, it is going to be harder to move around your yard and require more storage space compared to a 25-foot model.
However, you also need to consider durability. There are lightweight hoses that are usually made from vinyl, but these tend to be prone to kinking and damage. So, you will need to find a balance between weight and durability.
Hose fittings attach to sprinklers, nozzles and spigots. The least expensive hoses typically supplied with plastic fittings, but these are prone to leaks and cracks. You may also find that plastic fittings are difficult to properly tighten.
Metal fittings tend to have an octagonal shape, which makes it easy to turn the fitting using a wrench. Metal fittings tend to offer greater leak resistance and are more durable.
It is also worth looking to see if the hose has a collar that extends up the hose from one of the fittings. This can reduce the chances of splitting or kinking near the spigot.
Practically all hoses will kink. This can not only reduce or even stop the water flow, but can increase the chances of the hose becoming cracked or split. The most effective way to prevent kinking is to use a reel. A hose reel allows rolling or unrolling of the hose without twisting.
Garden Hose Parts and Accessories
If your animals drink water from a hose or you want to use it to fill your child’s swimming pool, you will need to ensure that your hose is suitable for potable water. These types of hoses are approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and provide the assurance that the hose will not leach BPA, lead or other potentially harmful contaminants into the water.
When properly maintained, garden hoses can last for years. There are some simple measures to ensure that you prolong the lifespan of your new hose. These include putting your hose away after use to reduce the likelihood of it becoming kinked, rotting from soil moisture or otherwise becoming damaged.
For this reason, many people employ a hose reel or hose hanger that can store a hose safely and keep it properly coiled. These devices are designed to evenly spread the weight of the hose. However, you need to ensure that you avoid mounting a hose hanger or keeping a hose reel in direct sunlight, which could damage the hose.
Before you put the hose away for winter, ensure that all the water is emptied out and you remove any attachments. While the open ends to allow for contraction and expansion of freezing water, freezing and thawing will weaken the hose fabric. You should also replace the washers as soon as they start to leak or drip. In addition to wasting water, a dripping hose can create a real mess in your yard.
Advice and Tips
In conclusion, we’ve discovered some fantastic garden hose models. From the Gilmour 840501-1001 that offers strength, durability and a reduced risk of kinking to the Flexzilla Pro with a no kink design, we’ve rated some excellent products.
However, the stand out as the best garden hose has to be our editor’s choice, the J&B XpandaHose. This hose can expand from 25 feet to 75 feet, making it suitable for most outdoor spaces, but is also offers corrosion resistant fittings, triple layered core and lightweight. The flexible design makes it easy to untangle and the hose offers 10 spray patterns to suit any garden chore.
