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You probably already have a hose for watering lawns and potted garden plants and for flushing sidewalks.Still, if you’re like many people, that hose may have hardened over the years, created kinks that couldn’t be straightened out, and even had some leaks.For those in the market for a new garden hose, the following guide can help you find the best hose for different watering needs and budgets.
Read on to learn more about the new materials that make today’s top hoses and learn about other important factors and considerations when choosing the best garden hose.The following garden hoses are all top choices for a variety of home watering tasks.
Garden hoses come in a variety of lengths, and some are better suited for specific types of watering or cleaning than others.Whether you’re looking to connect multiple sprinklers to create a watering system that covers your entire yard, or you’re looking for a hose that can seep water at the bottom of landscape plants, the right garden hose is out there.Here’s how to find it.
Over the past decade, the types of garden hoses available have grown to include light-duty, inexpensive hoses for limited watering and heavy-duty models for frequent or high-pressure water needs.Buyers can even find retractable garden hoses that stretch to full length when the water is on, but retract a third of their size for storage.Typical watering tasks will determine the best type of hose to choose.
Many garden hoses are 25 to 75 feet long, with 50 feet being the most common length.This makes them suitable for reaching most areas of the average yard.Longer hoses (100 feet or more in length) can be heavy, bulky, and difficult to roll up and store.If moving the hose around is an issue, it’s best to buy multiple hoses of shorter lengths and connect them if necessary to reach greater distances.Also, the longer the hose is measured, the water flow will drop.
For people with low water pressure at the faucet, a shorter hose is usually a better choice.Shorter connecting hoses are about 6 to 10 feet long and are designed to connect a series of sprinklers to create an above-ground watering system.
The most common hose is ⅝ inch in diameter and will fit most outdoor water sources.A wider hose (up to 1 inch in diameter) will deliver more water by volume, but the water pressure will drop as it exits the hose.When choosing a wide hose, make sure there is adequate water pressure at the faucet.Narrow hoses less than ½ inch are ideal for faucets with low water pressure.
Keep in mind that hose connection fittings may not be the same size as the hose diameter – most accessories are designed to fit standard ⅝ inch connectors, but a few will fit ¾ inch connectors.Some manufacturers include a fitting adjuster that allows two sizes of fittings to be attached.If not, regulators are readily available at hardware and home improvement centers.
Water resistance and flexibility are the two most important aspects when choosing a hose material.
Some garden hoses (not all) come with a pressure rating, called “burst pressure,” which indicates how much internal water pressure the hose will withstand before it bursts.The water pressure at the faucet in most homes is between 45 and 80 pounds per square inch (psi), but if the faucet is on and the hose is full of water, the actual water pressure in the hose will be much higher.
Most residential hoses should have a burst pressure rating of at least 350 psi if they are to be used regularly.Inexpensive hoses may have burst pressure ratings as low as 200 psi, while top-of-the-line hoses can have burst pressure ratings as high as 600 psi.
Some hoses list working pressure instead of burst pressure, and these pressures are much lower, from about 50 to 150 psi.They simply represent the average pressure the hose is designed to withstand as water flows in and out.A working pressure of 80 psi or higher is recommended.
Brass, aluminum and stainless steel fittings or fittings have the longest life and can be used with many medium and heavy duty hoses.Lightweight hoses may have plastic fittings, and they usually don’t last as long as high-quality fittings.In addition to screw-on fittings, some hoses feature quick-connect push-on fittings that make connecting and disconnecting hoses to faucets or other hoses simple.
When buying hoses, keep in mind if you need to connect two or more hoses together.Many hoses have fittings at both ends, but some immersion hoses have only one fitting—the one that connects to the water source.If you need to connect a range of soaker hoses, be sure to look for models with fittings on both ends.
Generally speaking, hoses are one of the safest garden and garden tools, but for those who water pets or drink from the end of the hose, a drinking water safety hose is the best option.More and more manufacturers are making drinking water safety hoses that don’t contain any chemicals that could leach into the water, so the water is as safe as it leaves the end of the hose as it entered.These hoses are often labeled “BPA Free,” “Lead Free,” and “Phthalate Free.”
To be a top choice, the following garden hoses need to be strong, flexible, durable, with easy-to-install accessories.Watering needs vary, so the best garden hose for one person may not be the best for another.The following hoses are the best in their class, and some can be used for a variety of purposes.
Those looking for superior durability, safety and service from a standard ⅝ inch garden hose need look no further than this set of 50ft garden hoses from Zero Gravity.Use hoses alone, or connect them in 100-foot lengths (other lengths and diameters may be available).The hose has a soft vinyl inner core that is safe to drink and wrapped in a thick layer of high-density braided fiber that strengthens and protects the hose.
The Zero Gravity Hose has a high burst rating of 600 psi, making it one of the toughest hoses around, yet remains flexible even at 36 degrees Fahrenheit.Connection fittings are constructed of solid aluminum for strength and feature brass inserts for durability.Each hose weighs 10 pounds.
The flexible Grace Green Garden hose is kink-resistant and remains flexible in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for use in cooler climates.Hose is ⅝ inch diameter and 100 feet long (other lengths available).It has a flexible vinyl core that is 30% lighter than rubber and a hardwearing outer shell that is UV, ozone and crack resistant.
Grace Green Garden Hose comes with an anti-squeeze connection fitting.It also features ergonomically padded handles at both ends to reduce hand fatigue when using a hose with a wand or nozzle.As a bonus, the hose comes with a zinc alloy spray gun and adjustable sling to securely hold the hose in the loop when not in use.The Grace Green Garden hose weighs 15.51 lbs.
A decent garden hose doesn’t have to stretch the budget.The GrowGreen Expandable Garden Hose grows to 50 feet long when fully pressurized with water, but shrinks to a third of its length when the water is turned off, and weighs less than 3 pounds.GrowGreen has a latex inner tube and an outer protective layer made of braided fibers.It comes with solid brass connection fittings for tight, leak-free connections.
GrowGreen is a retractable hose and is not suitable for use with most lawn-type sprinklers because the hose is in retracted mode before being filled with water.But the hose comes with an 8-mode trigger nozzle that can be adjusted to various spray patterns for all types of watering tasks.
No need to worry about the Rover biting a hole in the Re Cromtac Garden Hose – it has a protective stainless steel cover to prevent punctures and abrasions.The flexible inner tube is ⅜ inch in diameter, which is narrower than most models.It is suitable for both manual watering and can be attached to a stationary sprinkler.
The Cromtac is relatively light, weighing less than 8 pounds and measuring 50 feet long.If needed, connect two hoses for extra length, or check for extra hose lengths that may be available.The hose comes with durable brass attachments and can be easily reeled on a reel or stored by hand.
For compact storage and expandable convenience, check out the Zoflaro Expandable Hose, which grows from 17 feet to 50 feet long when filled with water.Other sizes may be available.The inner tube features four layers of high-density latex, and the Zoflaro features a sturdy polyester braided overlay that’s both abrasion-resistant and leak-proof.This expandable hose is designed for use with stick or hand sprayers, not stationary sprinklers.
Zoflaro comes with a 10-function trigger nozzle that sprays various water flow patterns such as jet, advection and shower.It features solid brass connection fittings for durable and leak-free connections.The hose weighs only 2.73 lbs.
Fill your pet’s water bowl or stop to drink directly from the hose with the Flexzilla Drinking Water Safety Hose, which won’t leach harmful contaminants into the water.Flexzilla hoses are ⅝ inch diameter and 50 feet long, but some other sizes are available.It’s lightweight at just 8 pounds, making it easy to wrap around and store on a wall hook.
The Flexzilla hose has a SwivelGrip action so the user can unwind the coiled hose simply by twisting the handle instead of the entire hose.The hose is made from a flexible hybrid polymer that stays soft even in cold weather, and the innermost tube is safe for drinking water.The accessories are made of crush-resistant aluminum for durability.
Avoid pesky kinks with the Yamatic Garden Hose, which features an exclusive No Permanent Kink Memory (NPKM) that prevents the hose from kinking and twisting on its own.No need to pull the hose straight out – just turn on the water and the pressure will straighten out and remove any kinks, leaving you with a smooth hose that can withstand up to 600 psi of water pressure without bursting.
The YAMATIC hose is ⅝ inch in diameter and 30 feet long.It’s made from bright orange polyurethane and infused with UV protector to keep the hose flexible for longer.It has solid brass connectors and weighs 8.21 lbs.
Use Rocky Mountain Commercial Flat Dip Hose to deliver water directly to the roots of garden and landscape plants.The hose is lined with flexible PVC and covered with an extra-strength fabric designed for tears.This design provides a constant but gradual water supply where plants need it most – at their roots.
The hose lays flat and is 1.5″ wide when not in use for easy rolling and storage.It weighs only 12 ounces and is 25 feet long.With a metal attachment, gardeners can save up to 70% water by using this soaker hose instead of a fixed lawn sprinkler, which has a higher evaporation rate and greater runoff of wasted water.
For rubber hose durability and long-lasting service, check out Briggs & Stratton Premium Rubber Garden Hose that resists kinking and remains flexible even in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.This industrial style hose is suitable for power washers, sprinklers or hand held nozzles and wands.It can withstand up to 500 psi of water pressure without bursting.
⅝ inch Briggs & Stratton hose is 75 feet long and weighs 14.06 lbs.Other lengths are also available.The hose comes with pressure-resistant, nickel-plated brass fittings for all general watering needs.
For large yard watering, consider the Giraffe Hybrid Garden Hose, which is flexible and designed for heavy-duty use.It is 100 feet long, but shorter lengths are also available, and it comes in a standard ⅝ inch diameter.This hose has a working water pressure rating of 150 psi (no burst rate available).It features nickel-plated brass fittings with ergonomic handles on each end to make hose connection easier.
Giraffe hoses are made from three layers of hybrid polymers – an inner layer that stays soft even in winter, a braid that prevents kinks, and a top layer that is durable and abrasion resistant.The hose weighs 13.5 lbs.
For those looking to purchase a quality garden hose that suits their needs, several questions are to be expected.Anticipating the type of watering will help determine the type and size of hose.
For most homes, a ⅝ inch diameter hose is sufficient for most watering tasks.Standard hoses come in lengths of 25 to 75 feet, so consider the size of your yard when purchasing.
High-quality hoses are less prone to kinking than cheaper models, but all hoses will benefit from stretching the hose straight after use, then wrapping it into a large 2- to 3-foot loop and hanging it on a on the big hook.Alternatively, a garden reel for wrapping and storing hoses can also help reduce kinks.
If you want to water potted plants and other areas of the garden by hand, a spray nozzle is the way to go.You can adjust the flow directly at the plant and turn it off when pulling it around the yard or patio.
Even the most durable hoses will last longer if they’re not left out in the elements.To get the most out of the hose, store it in a garage, storage room, or basement when not in use.
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