The Importance of Flexible Garden Hoses

Pros:
Watering the garden is considered to be a tedious job for most people. Imagine having to stay outside in the blistering sun in the middle of a summer afternoon to take care of your lawn and flower beds when you could be inside, in the shade, with the air conditioning unit on.

Top Picks: Best Flexible Garden Hoses

Pros:
Here is the GrowGreen expandable garden hose, a product with a polyester and latex construction, and quite a few impressive features. It’s a hose available in four different length options, with each of these delivered contracted and expanding to up to three times their length once water pressure is detected. When you turn the water off, the hose returns to its compact length in a matter of seconds. It comes with a spray nozzle with 8 different spraying patterns for you to choose from. Some other features of interest include:  operating water pressure of up to 145PSI/10 Bar, quality brass connectors, and flexible latex construction.
Pros:
Garden hoses may seem like a basic thing, but there actually right and wrong ways to use them and to store them, so maybe this list of tips will actually help you make the best out of the one of the most useful lawn and gardening tools:
“I got the 75 foot length, and unlike my other, shorter hoses, it is so lightweight that I can easily move it around with no difficulty at all.” (customer review)
Most Lightweight: GrowGreen Expandable Garden Hose
Pros:
Equipped with a 9-pattern spray nozzle, the Zalotte expandable hose is an underrated product with plenty of strong features to look forward to.
The Sunrich garden hose offers quality features and ease of operation without costing you a small fortune.
While it’s true that “best” is a pretty subjective term, there are a few features that make some hoses better than others. For instance, when it comes to the materials used to make the hose, rubber is, by far, the best choice. They are stronger and have a longer lifespan, but they are less likely to kink. Hoses that have metal connectors are better than those with plastic ones.
Just like with basically every other product on the market, choosing a garden hose is a process that requires a little bit of research up front. Here are the main things one has to check out before choosing to buy one hose over another:
The zero-G 4001-50 is another viable option for those of you looking for a quality flexible garden hose. It promises to deliver effortless handling because it’s 50 percent lighter in weight, but also assures us that it has a compact design which makes it easy to store. It is designed with a woven fiber jacket that makes sure the hose is resistant to punctures and leaks. It is 600+ psi burst rated and has a flexible construction that aims at allowing the user to manipulate the hose even in temperatures as low as 35° F. 

“This is a Superior product in every regard, I love it! When I finally manage to wear it out or break it I will purchase another without hesitation.” (customer review)

How to Choose Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose

• The length of the hose is important because you need it to be long enough to water as much of the garden as possible, while also making sure that it’s short enough for it to be easy to store. Long hoses tend to be heavier and more difficult to move around, but you’re also more likely to trip over them if they’re left thrown out in the yard. Plenty of gardeners choose hoses with lengths between 50 and 75 feet, but a lot of them recommend opting for two shorter hoses coupled together rather than a really long one.
• The hose diameter is also a feature to look out for, especially since you want it to fit your outdoor faucet or whatever you plan on coupling the hose to. The most common diameters are 5/8″, 3/4″ and 1/2″, and they refer to the interior width of the hose.
• The materials that are used to make a hose play an important part in determining its other attributes, like flexibility or durability. There are three common materials that you are going to find in garden hoses: vinyl (typically combined with some radical cord for reinforcement purposes), rubber (best material overall, can withstand water at high temperatures, but is heavy and expensive), and reinforced (some garden hoses have mesh lining reinforcements to make them more resistant to splitting).
• If you come across something called “burst pressure”, that is a reflection of the strength of the hose. For those of you using nozzles and sprinklers: look for a hose with a rating of more than 350 psi.
• The flexibility of the hose is also an important factor. A flexible garden hose will easily turn around corners, not to mention the fact that it is easier to store.
• Take a look at the couplings of a hose before you buy it. Avoid garden hoses with plastic couples because they tend to break fast, and choose those that have metal couplings (brass is the most popular option).

Related: Zero-G Hose Review – For More Than Just Your Garden

Tips for Using & Storing Garden Hose

When it comes to choosing a flexible garden hose, the NGreen hose is a product you want to look out for. It’s available in four different length options, with the shortest one measuring 25 feet and the longest one, 100 feet. It has a triple latex layer that’s covered in interwoven elastic fabric, to make sure that you benefit from a durable and flexible product throughout its entire lifespan. When water pressure starts to rise, the hose will also expand its length, making sure that you enjoy stress-free garden watering every time. The brass connector promises a leak-free experience, while the 8-way spray nozzle delivers multiple spraying patterns for you to choose from.

• Make sure that you turn off the water after trying to coil a hose.
• When you’re done watering the yard/garden, make sure that you drain the hose without relying on the nozzle to cut the water. This helps avoid water pressure inside the hose.
• When you’re using the hose, never drag it by the spray nozzle. These are usually made from cheaper materials and the nozzle connection can weaken and become prone to leaks.
• Never leave your garden hose outdoors in freezing temperatures. If you store it in the shed, make sure it’s a shed with at least some form of heating.
• If you ever use your hose and notice that it’s leaking, you want to repair those leaks as soon as possible. Rubber patches and super glue will often do the trick.
• Never leave the house in direct sunlight for too long. If the hose doesn’t have a UV coating, then it’s likely to crack or rupture when exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.

The Best Flexible Garden Hoses

1. Zalotte Expandable Garden Hose with 9 Function Nozzle

Cons:
Cons:
Cons:
High-end Option: zero-G 4001-50 Garden Hose

• Two length options.
• 9 patterns spray nozzle.
• Rotating bezel for easy pattern selection.
• Thick latex construction.