You can buy a garden hose for $15, or ten times that.Considering the basic task of a hose—carrying water from a faucet to a nozzle so you can water the lawn, wash the car, or water the kids on a hot summer afternoon—it’s easy to choose the cheapest option.But after testing a range of garden hoses, experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute found serious differences in performance, ease of use and durability.While our top pick overall is the most expensive, other affordable options perform nearly as well and may even be better options, depending on your situation.
To get this winner roundup, our experts spent more than 20 hours reviewing technical data, assembling hoses and testing them at our backyard test site.We also got in touch with landscape professionals who have been dealing with hoses.”Every garden has different needs, so you need to choose your hose accordingly,” says Jim Russell, a garden instructor and garden creator who works in the Northeast.
Our hands-on tests focused on usability, including how easy the hose was to connect to the faucet and spout.Testers also assessed maneuverability, noting any tendency to kink or crack, as well as how easy the hose was to get tangled up in storage.Durability is the third criterion, mainly driven by materials and construction.In the end, we’ve selected six top garden hoses.They’re not all suitable for all applications, but somewhere in the mix is ​​the perfect garden hose for you.
If you have a lot of water features — possibly spread across vegetable gardens, foundations, and lots of thirsty perennials — spending $100 on a garden hose is actually a wise investment, especially if it’s from Dramm 50-foot workhorse.Made of ultra-durable rubber, this no-nonsense hose has withstood every abuse our testers put on it: jerking, pulling, irritating, and even stepping on nickel-plated brass fittings (the “no-squeeze” claim is correct).In our usability tests, the 5/8″ hose generated enough pressure, was easy to attach to faucets and spouts, and was easy to unwind and reel back in. But make no mistake, a 10-pound Dramam is a lot of hose in Yard to hang out. However, it is built for those with serious watering and cleaning needs.
This is the cheapest garden hose on our list, and it feels like it, starting with vinyl construction, it’s easier to kink (out of the box, we had a nice curl on one end).Plastic fittings are also less durable than solid brass fittings on premium hose.Still, once our expert hooked up the hose, it sprayed water just fine where we needed it.Of course, the flimsy design makes it harder to maneuver and doesn’t roll up as neatly as other hoses.However, if you take proper care of it (keep it out of the hot sun where it can dry out, and don’t drive your car over it), it should give you a few seasons of service without leaking.
Inflatable garden hoses use the force of the water flowing through them to expand to their full length and then contract for storage.They might look fancy, but our experts were impressed with the overall quality of this version from Knoikos.When not in use, the 50-foot hose shrinks to 17 feet and can be folded into a loaf-sized bundle.The Knoikos is also the only hose we’ve tested with its own nozzle, which is a very convenient and cost-effective hose we’d like to see from more manufacturers.In our tests, the connection was seamless, and the hose produced plenty of power through the nozzle’s ten spray settings.Construction-wise, the solid brass fittings are durable and rust-resistant, while the latex hose has a lightweight, flexible design that can resist temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the manufacturer.
The Flexzilla took Best Overall honor among our testers, giving the Dramam the competition.Both are excellent hoses and you can save some money on the Flexzilla with few trade-offs.Our testers especially liked the Flexzilla’s ergonomic design, including a large grip surface and a swivel action at the connection, which prevents kinking and makes the hose easy to maneuver.The water pressure is impressive, albeit slightly below the dram.The Flexzilla has withstood our durability tests, the black inner tube is lead-free and safe for drinking water, which is great if it keeps you hydrated outside of the lawn, or if you’ll be using it to fill a kid’s pool.One small catch: The distinctive green casing stained quickly in our testing, so don’t expect the hose to look new.
Between its stainless steel construction and solid brass fittings, this hose met Bionic Billing in our tests.Given its durability, the 50-foot hose is lightweight and easy to handle.However, our testers noticed that because the hose is so flexible, it knotted more often than others.In terms of performance, the 5/8″ internal hose provides ample pressure, and like the Knoikos, it comes with its own nozzle. While we can’t confirm this claim, Bionic touts its extreme weather resistance, including sub-zero Temperature. Based on our other experience with 304 stainless steel (the material for the hose), we hope it will meet the requirements, making it a good choice for year-round use in cold climates (just make sure you have an antifreeze faucet, or you may be caught burst pipe stuck).
If your watering needs are minimal – watering a rooftop container garden or bathing your dog on the back deck – a coiled hose is the way to go.Our experts were impressed with this bright blue version of HoseCoil, which starts at a compact 10 inches and stretches to 15 feet when fully extended.It weighs just over a pound and is also very versatile, which is great if you need to take it in your RV, or maybe down to the dock to wash down your boat.The polyurethane construction allows for a flexible, lightweight design, but in our experience with polyurethane materials, HoseCoil may not last as long as the other hoses in our roundup.A 3/8″ house also doesn’t create as much pressure as other top picks.But for the price, our experts still think it’s a great value for your light watering needs.
Our experts first survey the current market to determine which garden hose you are most likely to find on store shelves and online.We’ve been testing lawn and garden products for decades, so we look for brands with a proven track record.
Hands-on testing took place in the homes of various testers, which allowed us to evaluate the hose in real-world conditions.When reviewing specific models, our engineers and product testers spend more than 12 hours reviewing hundreds of technical and performance data points, including hose dimensions, materials (including lead-free claims), temperature resistance, and more.
We then ran a series of tests on the hose for another 12 hours.To measure ease of use, we connected each hose to the main faucet and spout multiple times, noting any difficult connections or signs of degradation.We also measured maneuverability, which is how easy each hose was to unwind and reel in, and whether kinks occurred.Performance depends primarily on flow rate and spray force, using the same nozzle for each spray.To determine durability, we repeatedly dragged each hose across rough surfaces, including the edges of brick posts and metal steps; applying the same pressure and angle, we checked for early signs of housing wear.We went over and over on the hoses and fittings and rode them with bike tires and wooden recliner wheels to make sure they didn’t crack or split.
Our durability tests consisted of pulling the hose over the sharp corner of the brick pier at the same angle and pressure.
Testers also looked for signs of kinks, as this hinders water flow and can also lead to premature cracking.
To find the best garden hose for your needs, consider the size of the property and how much the hose is likely to be used and abused.✔️Length: Garden hoses range in length from 5 feet to over 100 feet.Of course, the size of your property is the deciding factor.Measure from the outdoor faucet to the furthest point in the yard that needs to be watered; remember, you’ll pick up at least 10 feet away from the hose spray.The biggest regret we hear from consumers is that they buy too many hoses.”A heavy or extra-long hose can be more pain than fun,” says professional gardener Jim Russell. “Hold up the hose and ask yourself if you want to haul it around.”
✔️ Diameter: The diameter of the hose affects the amount of water that can pass through it.Garden hoses range from 3/8″ to 6/8″ inches.A wider hose can move several times more water in the same amount of time, which is especially helpful for cleaning.It will also provide extra distance on the spray so you can escape with a shorter hose.✔️Material: This factor affects the cost, availability and longevity of the hose.Here are the most common options:
Let’s start by talking about the wrong way to store hoses – in a mess under the faucet.This puts extra wear and tear on the hose and turns it into a trip hazard.Plus, it’s an eyesore.”No one wants to look at a hose, so the easier it goes away the better,” says professional gardener Jim Russell.He prefers retractable hose caddies, such as this version from Frontgate.”The hose was out of sight and it was a treat to put it away,” he said.A hose hanger, whether wall mounted or freestanding, is a more affordable solution to keep your hose organized and out of the way, although it is still visible.Some hangers have a crank mechanism that aids in coiling and unwinding, which is helpful if you have a long hose of 75 feet or more.Otherwise, a manual hanger will do the job for just $10.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement Lab offers expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including lawn and garden appliances.As Director of Home Improvement and Outdoor Labs, Dan DiClerico brings more than 20 years of experience to the institute, reviewing thousands of Good Housekeeping products, as well as brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports.He also wielded a variety of garden hoses over the years, tending to the patio and back garden of his Brooklyn home.
For this report, Dan worked closely with Rachel Rothman, the Institute’s Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering.For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing, and writing about products in the home improvement space.