Homoze 50ft Expandable Flexible Garden Hose Pipe with 3/4" 1/2" Fittings Leak Proof with Spray Nozzle, 8 Watering Modes Black

Product Information

There are three factors to consider when looking at the size of a garden hose: diameter, length, and weight. According to Schenan, a 5/8-inch diameter is the standard size for a garden hose and works best for most purposes. "A 3/4-inch hose will offer great water pressure, but will be quite heavy," says Schenan. "Half-inch hoses are a delight to use because they are light, but you won't be able to run most sprinklers with them and you might not even get spray from a hose-end sprayer." Coil garden hoses may run even smaller, usually about 3/8-inch, given they are meant to water a smaller area. Once you’ve assessed the kind of damage your hose has sustained, you can determine whether or not it needs fixed or replaced. Repair kits for garden hoses are available at your local hardware store. Just be aware that some holes are too large to repair with these kits. A 25-foot garden hose may be too short if your spigot is located more than 25 feet away from the area you intend to water. Homeowners with large yards should opt for at least a 50-foot garden hose, if not a 75- or 100-foot hose. How long will my garden hose last? This coil hose in particular stands out for two reasons: its material and design. Like our best heavy-duty hose, it's made from UV-stabilized polyurethane, an extremely durable, flexible, and lightweight material that's resistant to punctures and abrasions. The couplings are made from lead-free brass. "I can see this lasting for many years," says one tester. In terms of design, this garden hose has unique straight tail ends as opposed to being coiled all the way through, which makes it easier to direct the flow of water and attach it to the spigot. Plus, it's drinking water-safe. This hose does have a rather small diameter at 3/8 inch, which can restrict the water flow, so it's best reserved for low-pressure watering. Water early or late in the day when it’s cool outside. Using your garden hose during the heat of the day causes some of the water to evaporate, resulting in wasted water and a higher water bill.

But the strength of this hose is ease of use. It is very easy to maneuver and avoids kinking. Here is a video of me straightening this hose.

Garden hoses typically range in length from 25 to 50 feet (although the Eley Polyurethane Garden Hose offers more size variety, ranging from 6.5 feet to 200 feet long). While you want a hose that's long enough to reach wherever you're looking to water, the water pressure will diminish with length: "Buy a hose that's long enough to reach where you'll be using it and no longer," says McCoy. "If you occasionally require a long hose, buy two shorter ones and combine when needed." Teknor Apex uses patented “Reflex Mesh” technology to ensure hoses retain form and structure during use, and don’t kink. Not only does the extra layering in this hose help deter kinks, it also improves the durability of the hose. The flexibility of this garden hose really impressed us, and the rare kinks that occurred were easy to shake loose. Even in cold-weather climates, you can expect this hose to stay limber and durable down to temperatures of minus-25 degrees Fahrenheit. The hose's durable EPDM rubber is available in a number of colors beyond the usual green hue associated with garden hoses. We tested the purple version, which we thought was fun and attractive. Expandable garden hoses typically have a latex core and a polyester covering. This combination of materials allows the hose to expand and contract without sacrificing flexibility and durability. Flexibility Rubber: Rubber hoses are second only to polyurethane in durability, and much more affordable. However, they can be quite heavy when filled with water.

Couplings are the fittings on the end of a garden hose. Aluminum or brass couplings are the most common type, but some manufacturers use plastic fittings instead. Couplings are important because they allow users to connect the end of the hose to the spigot as well as pressure washers, sprayers, sprinklers, and other garden hose nozzles and accessories. Additional Features Kinks, knots, and rips begone! We were wowed by how durable and easy this garden hose is to use: "This was the easiest hose I have ever used," said one tester. "Impossible to kink, easy to roll up when done, easy to maneuver around plants or trees, and never got tangled." You can also choose to hang your hose from a hook, which needs to be wide enough to distribute the weight evenly. Make sure the hose doesn’t have any dry kinks in it when stored. Yes, there may be some rubber hoses that are more durable than this hose, and there are certain types of heavy-duty reinforced hoses that are better at resisting kinks, but this hose finds a nice middle ground between flexibility, durability, and kink resistance, and is just a good all-around hose. Here I am straightening this hose: One of the biggest benefits of using a rubber hose, including this hose, is flexibility. This hose is very easy to maneuver. It won’t wrestle against you as you work and move around the yard. Just remember with that flexibility can also come occasional kinking.If you plan to drink from your garden hose, it's important to note that not all garden hose materials are safe for drinking: "If you take an occasional drink from your hose on a hot day, get a hose that's designated boat, marine, or recreational," says McCoy. "Their plastic lining makes them safe for transmitting drinking water. It's important to remember that the components used in standard hoses aren't always safe for ingestion." Size Although this hose is ultra-lightweight and easy to use, we did not see a sharp decline in flow rate. This Tuff Guard hose has a flow rate of 9.2 gallons per minute, putting it just below the average flow rate (9.3) for a standard design 5/8″ 50 foot hose that we tested. Most (but not all) 50 foot garden hoses on the market will have crush resistant fittings. We tested all of these hoses and found many hoses that claimed they had crush resistant fittings, that did not pass our crush test. It has polypropylene double helix coils around the outside of the hose (blue coil in video above) that provides dimensional stability that makes it kink-resistant. I also found this hose to be reasonably easy to connect to my water spigot (video below). Couplings, or fittings, are the end pieces that connect the hose to the water supply. "End fittings are just as important as the hose material," says Schenan. "Look for brass or plated brass alloy fittings for the longest life, something that's especially important if you are investing in a hose you expect to use for several years. Aluminum and plastic fitting are unlikely to last as long, but are lighter." More Garden Hoses to Consider

Rubber hoses are often the most durable and the most flexible, but they are also prone to kinking. Hoses designed to be kink-resistant usually accomplish this by adding extra layering, which results in a stiffer hose. Metal hoses are pet-proof and puncture-resistant. Expandable hoses are ultra lightweight and great for simple tasks. Overall, this hose has a lightweight, easy-to-use design in combination with certain heavy-duty features. If you are a contractor, there are probably better options. But if you are a homeowner that needs something that is both heavy duty and easy to use, this Stanley Fatmax 50 foot hose finds that nice middle ground. A garden hose’s size is measured by its length, with most models being between five and 100 feet long. If you have a small lawn, a hose such as the Giraffe Tools Five-Foot Garden Hose may be a good option. If you have a larger yard or need your garden hose to weave through a variety of objects, a long hose such as the Flexzilla Garden 50-Foot Hose is a better option. Diameter

If you’ve ever struggled to use or move a bulky, heavy hose around your outdoor space, you'll especially appreciate the Zero-G Garden Hose. Earning the best overall spot on our list, this hose stood out during our testing for its ease of use and durability. The lead-free couplings are designed to be crush-proof under loads up to 900 pounds. Plus, we loved how easily the hose connected to the spigot and we felt that its overall design was sleek compared to other options on the market. This hose comes with high-quality brass fittings and includes a spray nozzle with eight different settings, so you don't have to worry about purchasing one separately.