You might think choosing a garden hose is the easiest possible decision and that you should just grab the first one you see in your price range.
Do this and you might get lucky. Much more likely, though, you’ll get a hose which is too long or too short for your needs, causing you complications when you’re watering your yard.
If you take the time and trouble to find the best hose for your requirements, it could last anywhere from 5 to 10 years, if properly maintained and winterized. Buy a cheap and shoddy garden hose, though, and it’s likely to start perishing before the season is out.
We appreciate that while garden hoses are simple pieces of kit, you may have no idea at all what to look for. If you consider the following aspects when you’re comparing the best hoses, you should have no snags picking the right one:
- Length: Most hoses measure 25, 50, 75, or 100 feet long. 50-foot hoses are perhaps the most popular of all sizes. You should think closely about the total area you need to water. Think also about how far away the car or birdbath are from the outdoor spigot, and choose the right length of hose in line with these requirements
- Diameter: Hoses range from 3/8-inch to ¾-inch in diameter, the bulk of them 5/8-inch. While a hose with a larger diameter is capable of carrying more water, the hose will also be correspondingly heavier
- Flow rate: The flow rate of a garden hose is expressed in terms of PSI (pounds per square inch). The tougher the hose, the greater the PSI rating
- Material: Most hoses are made of rubber or vinyl, sometimes a blend of the two. Vinyl hoses are cheaper and lighter, but they lack the durability of rubber hoses. You can also find stainless steel hoses, but these are obviously much heavier
- Flexibility: Flexible hoses are easier to coil and uncoil. If you get a hose that’s too flexible, though, you’ll find it kinks easily. This will lead to the hose splitting and breaking prematurely
Now, if you keep these pointers uppermost in mind and you get the length you need dialed in before whipping out your credit card, you should find navigating our hose reviews is a piece of cake.
Jump in!
I. The 17 Best Garden Hoses
1. Our #1 Pick: Flexzilla Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Polymer blend
First up and our overall favorite in today’s quest for the best garden hoses comes from Flexzilla, so how does it shape up?
Firstly, you can choose from a wide variety of lengths, including this 50-foot hose ideal for most medium gardens.
The hose has a 5/8 inch diameter and it’s lightweight enough for you to easily handle while durable enough to give you plenty of faithful service. Designed to work in extreme heat and cold, the hose shouldn’t kink under pressure either, although we found a few complaints in this area from disgruntled consumers.
Flexible yet also extremely hardwearing, you’ll find it super-simple to maneuver this hose around any garden obstacles.
Overall, user reviews of this hose are overwhelmingly positive, though, and you’ll get a leak-free approach to watering your garden with a hose built to last for years. As an added bonus, the bright green colorway ensures you can always see your hose at a glance.
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2. Dramm Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Rubber
Dramm’s garden hose is another worthy contender that’s well worth a place on your shortlist. There are several configurations available, including this 50-foot hose that measures 5/8 inch in diameter.
Choose from a wide range of bright colors to mesh with the design scheme of your garden. This iteration is finished in bright blue.
The rubber construction of this hose is designed to minimize the kinking that becomes remarkably frustrating if you don’t have a well-made hose.
You’ll find the hose is straightforward to coil up, even when it’s freezing cold outside.
The hardware is made from a rugged and crush-resistant nickel-plated metal, so you’ll have no concerns about build quality or lifespan.
The only gripes we found in a sea of positive user testimony for this hose concerns the way the colors are reported to fade over time. Aside from this minor niggle, you’re getting one of the best garden hoses out there, so all that remains is to choose the right length and color.
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3. TheFitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 3/4 inch
- Material: Latex, fabric, and brass
Next up comes the first of several expandable hoses on our shortlist.
TheFitLife has a deep bench of these effective and efficient hoses in a range of sizes to suit all gardens. This hose is 50 feet long, ideal for the average garden and the most popular of all hose sizes.
The key selling point of this hose, though, is the fact is starts out at just 17 feet and then triples in length under water pressure.
Once you’re done watering your garden, just rewind the hose into a basket or onto a hose hanger.
The spray nozzle bundled comes with a choice of 8 different spray patterns, ideal for providing all your flowers and shrubs the type of watering they need.
Made from a robust triple-layered latex, the hose is endurance-tested to withstand up to 2000 uses. Kiss goodbye to rust, cracks, and kinks, and usher in seamless irrigation at home. The best part? This hose is quiet reasonably priced, too, so what are you waiting for?
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4. Flexzilla Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Polymer hybrid
Flexzilla enters the fray once more with this simple but effective 50-foot hose finished in bright green. If this length doesn’t suit, there are multiple other options, spanning from a dinky 10-foot hose through to a much lengthier 100-foot beast.
The hose is lightweight and designed to lay flat, so you should eliminate most of the kinking that can blight watering your garden with the wrong hose.
Covered with a rugged material that’s abrasion-resistant and built to last, the hose will cope with extremes of weather without letting you down.
The ends of the hose are finished in aircraft-grade anodized aluminum, so you’ll have no build quality or lifespan concerns with this hose.
Designated safe for drinking water, you’re getting one of the best garden hoses out there from a brand you can trust.
While most user reviews of this hose are positive, we found some isolated complaints about mold issues developing, so do your due diligence here. In most respects, consumers sing the praises of this 50-foot hose.
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5. Water Right Garden Coil Hose
Features
- Length: 25 feet
- Diameter: 3/8 inch
- Material: Polyurethane
If you need a small garden hose, this 25-foot model from Water Right is worth a second look. If you can get away with a larger hose, though, we would recommend upgrading to the 50-footer. This is much easier to use and coils up more efficiently, too.
One of the primary selling points of this hose is the UV-stabilizing treatment, making the polyurethane fit to withstand sun damage and weathering without letting you down.
You won’t get any toxins or phthalates in this hose, and it’s also safe for drinking water.
The bright purple color adds a nice touch of fun to the yard, although if you don’t like the look of this, there are several other colorways to choose from.
To reiterate, cut this short the hose is a little challenging to use at times. If you feel you could get away with a bigger variant, we strongly recommend doing so.
The lightweight nature of this 25-foot hose means it comes into its own for smaller watering jobs on the patio or deck.
Overall, though, you’re getting a decent hose that’s built to last. Not only is the pricing quite competitive, but it’s also currently available at a steep discount, so grab yourself a bargain for the coming summer season.
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6. Flexi Hose Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 3/4 inch
- Material: Latex
For anyone who needs a garden hose equipped with a variety of different spray patterns, the Flexi Hose is a must.
The hose comes in an impressive range of colorways so there is something for everyone.
Regardless of your preferred shade, the hoses are all made from a flexible, lightweight, and hardwearing latex. This material is puncture-resistant and won’t fade after exposure to the sun either.
In addition to this 50-foot hose, you can find a smaller 25-foot hose and three larger hoses catering for all outdoor spaces.
One of the primary benefits of this hose is the expandable nature. When it’s filled, it plumps up to three times the size it occupies when unfilled. This allows the hose to shorten to a length that’s much easier to store between uses, but without compromising the strength and integrity of the hose.
The other main draw is the choice of 8 different spray patterns you get, allowing you to confidently handle multiple watering applications without lifting a finger. The spray nozzle is especially easy to use by rotating it.
All hardware is made from brass and designed to give you plenty of service without rust or corrosion. You won’t get any leaking from the connectors.
Coming in at the ideal sweet spot in terms of size, this is one of the best garden hoses out there.
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7. Tardigrade Garden Hose
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Stainless steel
If you’re looking for something more robust than the average rubber garden hose, Tardigrade serves up a stainless steel hose that’s built to stay the distance.
Choose from a range of lengths, including this 50-feet hose ideal for most gardens.
If you have considered a metal hose but been put off by the idea of the weight, you might be surprised at how easy it is to handle this hose.
Durability is the key selling point of this hose. The stainless steel casing is animal-proof and built to withstand the elements. It won’t rust out and it won’t leak either, giving you a complete solution that weighs less than you might imagine.
The high-pressure hose works well with sprinkler systems, and it will also give you plenty of firepower when you’re cleaning your car.
You’ll be entitled to a no-quibbles money-back guarantee during the first month of purchase, so you have absolutely nothing to lose by giving this hose a try.
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8. Cromtac Stainless Steel Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 3/8 inch
- Material: Stainless steel
We have another stainless steel hose up next, this time from Cromtac and broadly similar to the hose we review above.
The Cromtac is a lightweight stainless steel hose that won’t rust out. The one reported issue with this hose is that leaking can develop over time.
The rugged nature of this hose means you won’t end up needing to replace it prematurely if your dog starts nibbling into it.
With connectors on both sides, you can easily hook the hose up to other equipment if required.
Inside the hose, you get no lead, no BPA, and no phthalates, allowing you to buy with a clean conscience.
You shouldn’t encounter any undue issues with kinking thanks to the efficient design of this garden hose from Cromtac.
If any faults arise during the first year, the manufacturer will send you a no-quibbles replacement, meaning there’s no reason not to buy this great garden hose. Not only is this one of the best garden hoses out there, but you also get great customer service from this brand.
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9. Zoflaro Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 3/4 inch
- Material: Latex and brass
As we hit the midway point of our showcase of the best garden hoses, we have a 50-foot latex hose from Zoflaro that rates a mention.
This flexible and expandable hose is designed to extend to triple its original length, giving you up to 50 feet of hose at your fingertips, and without eating up too much space storing the hose.
Once the hose comes under water pressure, it will expand from 17 feet to 50 feet in length.
Made from a four-layer latex, durability is uppermost with this hose. You’ll get lifespan in line with what you would expect from a stainless steel hose here, but in an even more lightweight form factor.
The extendable hose comes with a spray featuring 10 patterns. This gives you the latitude to water delicate flowers, more robust plants, lawns, and vehicles using the optimum spray pattern and water flow.
This hose can withstand water pressure to 175 PSI, and you can comfortably use the hose in almost any weather conditions, making this one of the most versatile garden hoses on our shortlist, while also remaining one of the most affordable.
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10. Bionic Steel Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 100 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Stainless steel
Next in line is a great stainless steel hose from Bionic Steel, so how does this beast shape up?
The primary benefit of this hose is the 100-foot length, perfect for anyone with a much larger garden, or the requirement to wash vehicles around the front of the house. By no means everyone needs a hose this long, but if you’re looking for a monster, this is one of the best options at your disposal.
Made from rugged commercial-grade stainless steel, this hose might not be the cheapest option at your disposal, but you can expect plenty of life in return for digging deeper.
Despite the robustness, the hose is surprisingly lightweight and easy to maneuver. You’ll have no snags navigating obstacles or tight corners when you’re watering your garden with this hose.
Durable crush-resistant hardware ensures the hose doesn’t let you down at the usual weak points, and completes a winning package from one of the most reputable brands in this vertical.
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11. Briggs and Stratton Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 25 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Rubber
Briggs and Stratton are best known for their lawnmowers, and they bring all their expertise to bear on this garden hose.
This is a straightforward and no-nonsense rubber hose that’s 25 feet long. While this makes a great choice for smaller yards, if you have a larger outside space, you may want to choose one of the other options on offer from Briggs and Stratton (50 feet, 75 feet, or 100 feet).
The couplings and hardware are made from crush-resistant nickel-plated brass, so you’ll enjoy seamless connections and a long-lasting hose.
Rubber washers ensures no water leaks out and you get an unbroken connection.
We found several complaints from users about this hose leaving a black, sticky residue on the hands after use, so we would advise looking into this for yourself to decide whether or not it’s a deal-breaker.
Whether you need a garden hose at home or for use in a commercial settings, you can rely on Briggs and Stratton to give you everything you need and nothing you don’t.
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12. Zero-G Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 100 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Vinyl
Zero-G delivers a lengthy and long-lasting garden hose that’s worth a place on your shortlist.
We’ll lead off with the leaking issues reported with this hose. We’re here to save you time as well as money, so we never shy away from highlighting where products fall down. Several disgruntled consumers report being initially delighted with this hose, only to find it start leaking after about a year.
Made from vinyl, this hose is designed with maneuverability uppermost. Lightweight and easy to handle, you can tackle even the most demanding terrain with this hose without feeling burdened or restricted.
Puncture-proof up to an impressive pressure, the hose is also designed not to kink.
This hose is not retractable, and it’s not expandable either. This ensures that you get a consistent and even flow of water without any interruptions.
For anyone looking for a long and durable garden hose that’s also a cinch to maneuver, this is one of your strongest options, so let us know what you think if you invest in the Zero-G.
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13. Giraffe Hybrid Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 100 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Polymer rubber blend
As we push through our garden hose reviews, we have another excellent long hose in the form of this 100-feet Giraffe Hybrid. If you like the idea of this hose but you don’t need that much length, there are several much shorter variants at your disposal.
Made from a blend of rubber and polymer, this hose has no memory, so you should get any kinking. It’s also built to withstand plenty of punishment, and it’s neatly abrasion-resistant, too.
The brass fittings are nickel-plated and designed to cope with the stress placed on them from continuous water pressure.
With a working water pressure of 150 PSI, use the standard residential water supply and you’re good to go.
Do not make the mistake of going for this 100-feet hose simply because it’s the longest. Getting a hose that’s too long can cause you just as many problems as shortchanging yourself with length.
With a near-leak-proof build, this is one of the most durable and efficient garden hoses we review, and it’s tough to find any meaningful faults here.
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14. J&B Expandable Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 75 feet
- Diameter: 3/4 inch
- Material: Polymer blend
If you find a 50-foot hose leaves you wanting, but you’re not sure you need an oversized 100-foot hose, this expandable hose from J&B splits the difference. At 75 feet long, this is ideal for medium-sized and large gardens.
While the hose starts life at just 25 feet, when it’s subjected to water pressure, it will expand to triple the length, giving you all the flexibility you need to water all corners of your garden.
Despite this generous length, the expandable nature of the hose means it’s very compact when it comes to storage. As an added kicker, the hose is also lightweight and maneuverable.
The spray nozzle bundled comes with a choice of 10 different patterns to cater for all your watering needs.
Brass hardware eliminates the weak points from this hose and ensures you’ll have a welcome addition to your yard for many years to come.
While the lifetime limited warranty looks good on paper, we found several complaints from customers unable to make good on this guarantee.
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15. TheFitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 25 feet
- Diameter: 3/4 inch
- Material: Latex
As we near the end of our search for the best garden hoses, we have another offering from the highly reputable TheFitLife.
This is the smallest of the four hoses in this line, measuring up at 25 feet. You have a 50-foot, 75-foot, and 100-foot hose available if the length of this iteration doesn’t make the right fit. Don’t get this part of your buying decision wrong, or you’ll end up with a hassle-filled watering experience.
The expandable nature of the hose means it will extend under water pressure to triple its original 9-foot length. The inbuilt benefit of this arrangement is the minimal storage space required for the hose when it’s not in use.
The spray comes with a choice of 8 patterns so you can take care of a variety of watering tasks in the garden the easy way.
Made from triple-layered latex, this is a hardwearing and long-lasting hose, and it’s also priced keenly considering the build quality and expected lifespan.
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16. Camco Garden Hose
Features
- Length: 50 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: PVC
This Camco garden hose is a mid-sized model measuring 50 feet long, making it perhaps the most popular choice of length when it comes to residential hoses.
Now, this is a flawed hose with some reported hardware issues. That said, we also found many more positive reviews of the hose, so we would advise handling the connections with care and looking after them to prevent any mishaps.
Made from a BPA-free plastic, the hose is also UV-stabilized, so you won’t find the sun’s rays discoloring it or perishing it over time.
The main bugbear of hoses is kinking, and Camco has ironed this problem out effectively. Focus on the therapeutic aspect of watering your garden without getting bogged down by your equipment.
While we can’t claim this is the best garden hose out there, it’s well worth a look if you’re stuck for a 50-foot hose.
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17. Suncast Reel Cart Hose Caddy
Features
- Length: 175 feet
- Diameter: 5/8 inch
- Material: Plastic
We have saved the biggest for last with this 175-foot hose from Suncast, so what do you get for your money here?
The first thing that will surprise you is the price: considering what you get in return, this hose costs much less than you might think.
The lengthy hose is installed on a highly maneuverable cart, so you won’t need to worry about lugging a heavy hose around the garden, perfect for seniors still looking to take care of yard duty.
Given the length of hose on offer here, this is the perfect choice if you have a large garden and most regular hoses leave you lacking.
Watertight seals allow for efficient and consistent watering with no leaks and no waste.
Using the hose couldn’t be easier thanks to the smooth crank handle, and you’ll find you start looking forward to watering the garden rather than dreading the task. This is hands-down one of the best garden hoses out there in a very crowded market segment.
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II. FAQs
1) When should I consider an all-purpose garden hose?
This type of hose is a great all-rounder for both watering and cleaning. You’ll get both jobs done reasonably well. You can find all-purpose garden hoses in a variety of materials and sizes. They can be very lightweight or fairly heavy-duty, so take your time choosing the right one for your needs.
2) What is a flat hose?
Flat hoses are both compact and easy to coil. This type of hose expands when you fill it with later, but it will lay flat when it’s not being filled. This kind of hose needs to be flexible so it can collapse when it’s empty. As such, most flat hoses are typically made of lightweight material that won’t last as long as some other types of hose.
3) What are the benefits of a coiled hose?
If you are severely restricted for space, or even if you’re just looking for the most seamless watering experience overall, a coiled hose will retract into a neat and tidy coil when it’s not being used. These hoses are normally shorter, so they make a better fit for small gardens.
4) Why should I consider getting an expandable hose?
The benefit of an expandable hose is that it will expand to triple its original length when not subjected to water pressure. This allows you to store the hose in one-third of the space. The lightweight nature of these hoses means they won’t last as long as some other types, though.
5) What’s the difference between a sprinkler hose and a soaker hose?
The whole length of a sprinkler hose is flat. The top is perforated with small holes. As soon as you turn on the water, it will spray out of these holes like a sprinkler system, but without the cost or the hassle involved. A soaker hose, by contrast, is covered with pinholes so water slowly drips into your garden beds in a controlled fashion.
6) Do I need a drinking water-safe hose?
This is your call. Some hoses contain toxic plasticizers, but any labeled drinking water-safe will be free of lead, phthalates, and BPA.
7) How should I maintain my garden hose to prolong its lifespan?
You should always put your hose away after each use. If you leave it stretched out on the ground, it can easily get kinked, and it is also exposed to damage from the UV rays of the sun. Always wind your hose up rather than leaving it in a heap. Use either a reel or a caddie to keep kinks to a minimum. The least you should do is coil your hose up if you don’t have either a reel or caddie. Store the hose over winter. Disconnect it when gardening season is done and stash it in the garage until the following year to avoid unnecessary exposure to cold weather.
III. Conclusion
While most garden hoses are broadly similar, they vary considerably in terms of quality. We hope today’s guide to the best garden hoses in all sizes has allowed you to formulate a shortlist of suitable hoses.
The most important element of your buying decision is getting the length right. Beyond this, with the right build quality and hardware, you should enjoy a seamless and enjoyable experience when you’re watering your lawn and flowers.
If you stick with any of the hoses on our shortlist, you’ll have a clear understanding of both their benefits and drawbacks. If you run across a hose we didn’t review today, we hope the brief buying guide above helps you choose the right one the easy way.
We have a super-busy content calendar as we move into fall here at Wild River Country. We update our content daily so we would suggest you bookmark our blog before you head off, and be sure to pop back soon.