Garden hose that doesn't suck

[OM617YOTA]

Asking this late because I already ordered a replacement, but what's the best garden hose currently?

Just busted an ancient hose that can't be flexed much anymore or it breaks and leaks. Had good luck trying one of the Zero-G super flexible hoses, albeit not long term, so that's what I ordered another of. Probably not as durable as other options, but so flexible and easy to work with.

http://amazon.com/zero-G-4001-100-Garden-Hose-100/dp/B01GHSBKOS

 

[Lionsfan]

The pale green Gilmour flex-o-gen hoses are the best imo.

 

[promechanic]

Get a commercial 7/8 hose from Fastenal or Grainger. They are $$$, but well worth it.

 

[Blue Oaks]

I went big, like Carl from Caddyshack big and got hose like this -->> https://www.amazon.com/Underhill-H1...829439626-B01176O1GE-&hvexpln=73&gad_source=1

I use it in 3 places in my yard after the big water upgrade -->> https://www.arboristsite.com/threads/getting-new-well-tanks-anything-i-should-add.347426/

 

[ZinTrees]

I've been using Continental red rubber hoses for like 7 years, no leaks or anything out of them so far, lasted longer than any other hose I've ever used

 

[lone wolf]

I've been using Continental red rubber hoses for like 7 years, no leaks or anything out of them so far, lasted longer than any other hose I've ever used

I use the black rubber hoses, they last and take hot water too. Vinyl sucks. And only drink out of white RV hoses, the others are toxic.!

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I buy the green flex/non-kink hoses, not sure what the brand is.
I've bought at Walmart and the last two I got at HF and TS
I "test" them in the store by bending/folding the hose. If it creases too easily it's no good.
Those are heavier, but never had a leak... except when it needs a new washer.

 

[ZinTrees]

I believe these are the ones I use, I have 50 footers but same hose

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Contine...-Rubber-Red-Hot-Water-Hose-21174685/328778760

 

[pdqdl]

In general, you get what you pay for in water hoses. I don't like anything less than hoses rated for 500 psi, and I prefer the thick rubber hoses, as they are harder to kink.

If I wanted some seriously reliable water hoses, I'd build my own out of the pressure hoses that come with spray tanks. They are decidedly harder to work with unless rolled up on a hose reel, but much, much longer lasting.

 

[OM617YOTA]

I've tried the heavy duty hoses. Durable and kink resistant, but a pain to manipulate. Not bad moving it around the yard or leaving in one place, but coiling and uncoiling is a huge PITA.

I should just run black poly in a shallow trench and install spigots wherever I want, and then a short super flexible hose from the spigot location to the sprinkler. Maybe a sprinkler system. Never thought I'd be a sprinkler system type of guy, but if it makes yard BS easier in the long run, worth it. Whole thing could be blown out with compressed air at the end of the year, like I do now with all the external faucets.

On the plus side, I watered the yard for 5+ hours and did a bunch of pressure washing this weekend, and every drop of water was pumped with solar power. Pleased with that.

 

[H-Ranch]

Asking this late because I already ordered a replacement, but what's the best garden hose currently?

I bought 5 or 6 Craftsman Best 50' black rubber hoses at least 30 years ago and I'm still using them. I'm not sure if they still available, but I would get another quality rubber hose if I needed more.

 

[ZinTrees]

If I wanted some seriously reliable water hoses, I'd build my own

back when my dad pumped concrete, the water pump on his truck was putting out enough pressure to keep blowing any garden hose he put on it, not sure how much PSI but it was a lot, probably 400 or so


he went to a hose shop and had a custom hydraulic hose made with GHT ends, never had another issue

 

[SCMtnHaul]

In terms of readily available products Gilmour is by far the best I've used. The threaded ends last a long time and they are very resistant to kinking. Prices are reasonable too

 

[ZinTrees]

one thing I've learned with hose coiling issues, the hooks and racks sorta suck, the hose reels aren't the greatest, especially with heavy duty hoses, I lay mine down in a figure 8 on the ground, eliminated twists or tangles and it a lot faster than trying to put the hose on a hook

it does take up a lot of room on the ground tho, and if you have grass up to the house then it will kill the grass, but as a tree guy I'm used to wrecking yards so all's fine (sarcasm)

 

[OM617YOTA]

Maybe two hooks or racks on the wall, so you can figure 8 on the wall. Going to give that a shot.

 

[SCMtnHaul]

one thing I've learned with hose coiling issues, the hooks and racks sorta suck, the hose reels aren't the greatest, especially with heavy duty hoses, I lay mine down in a figure 8 on the ground, eliminated twists or tangles and it a lot faster than trying to put the hose on a hook

it does take up a lot of room on the ground tho, and if you have grass up to the house then it will kill the grass, but as a tree guy I'm used to wrecking yards so all's fine (sarcasm)

I agree that coiling is an issue. When space allows I actually make a large single layer coil working from outside to inside and I've never had kinks using that method.

 

[FarmHand]

The only problem with black rubber hoses are some leave marks on vinyl siding if they brush up against it.

 

[Sidecarflip]

In terms of readily available products Gilmour is by far the best I've used. The threaded ends last a long time and they are very resistant to kinking. Prices are reasonable too

We use Gilmour Flexogen hoses and a couple stay outside, winter and summer and are just fine plus Gilmour offers a lifetime replacement guarantee (that I have used before), you cut the ends off and send them to them with the hose length and they send you a new one or give you a store voucher to get a new one, no charge.

The one that did fail, I cut the ends off, cut out the failed part, went to the hardware store and bought plastic replacement ends and I'm still using the shortened hose to this day plus I received a new one from Gilmour. Hard to beat that deal.

Lots of cheaper ones on the market but cheap usually equates to a short lifetime.

 

[Lionsfan]

We use Gilmour Flexogen hoses and a couple stay outside, winter and summer and are just fine plus Gilmour offers a lifetime replacement guarantee (that I have used before), you cut the ends off and send them to them with the hose length and they send you a new one or give you a store voucher to get a new one, no charge.

The one that did fail, I cut the ends off, cut out the failed part, went to the hardware store and bought plastic replacement ends and I'm still using the shortened hose to this day plus I received a new one from Gilmour. Hard to beat that deal.

Lots of cheaper ones on the market but cheap usually equates to a short lifetime.

Agreed, mine hang outside year around, and most of them were purchased in the late 90's.

 

[ning]

Asking this late because I already ordered a replacement, but what's the best garden hose currently?

Just busted an ancient hose that can't be flexed much anymore or it breaks and leaks. Had good luck trying one of the Zero-G super flexible hoses, albeit not long term, so that's what I ordered another of. Probably not as durable as other options, but so flexible and easy to work with.

http://amazon.com/zero-G-4001-100-Garden-Hose-100/dp/B01GHSBKOS

I'm impressed by the hoses I got a couple months ago from HF - https://www.harborfreight.com/lawn-...-ft-x-34-in-contractor-garden-hose-63336.html

$40 for a 3/4" pretty heavy wall hose, nice connectors (about $20 for a 50').
Heavy.
I've got a shutoff at the end of a 150' length (100+50 hoses) and just leave the hose pressurized at about 70psi and I haven't seen any ill effects.

Liked it enough that I decided to give up on some of my more iffy hoses that I've fixed a few times; a fix-it kit is about $6-8 now and that's getting tough to stomach when I don't trust the rest of the hose much and I can just replace the whole 30-year-old hose at a good price.