Best Garden Hoses

Learn about Garden Hoses and the Best Options on the Market

Updated August 21, 2019

With so many options available in garden hoses, it can be confusing to choose the right one. Manufacturer claims of durability and innovative features certainly don’t make the task any easier, and you will likely find yourself awash with marketing hype without having a clue as to what hose represents the best value for the money.

There are a whole plethora of different reasons why you may be looking to purchase a garden hose, and before you actually buy one, that is an important factor to fully have determined before you make any type of final purchase of a garden hose. Not all garden hoses are created equal, and you absolutely need to have a designated purpose in mind at the outset of your search. Otherwise, you may end up purchasing a garden hose that is not right for you.

Despite the title that it has, a “garden hose” does not have to exclusively be used for the purposes of maintaining a garden. It is also a great implement for the purposes of filling up a pool, especially those of the inflatable variety, which you very likely may have if you have children at home, or are even just an aunt or uncle who happens to host your nieces and nephews a lot. In that case, you are going to want a hose that can fill up the pool quickly and is not more design oriented towards fine misting, which is what gardeners, experienced and novice alike, tend to be looking for when they purchase a garden hose, as their plants need to be watered delicately.

In this guide, we clue you in to three of the best garden hoses available, each in a different segment of the price scale. Any one of these should provide you with quality features and reliable performance so choose your price point and take your pick!

This review comes to you from our other expert Ben
Published January 8th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben has owned and operated a hardware store for over three decades. In addition to his hardware store he also operates a pool maintenance business and takes on multiple roles in groundskeeping advisory committees for a number of organizations. Ben is also considered one of the top safe crackers in most of his home state, and is an expert locksmith. In the little spare time he has from these day jobs he renovates and repairs vaults, safes, appliances, and a number of other lawn and garden products.

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Garden Hoses

Our Top Choices for Garden Hoses.

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Editor's Choice

Flexzilla

Flexzilla HFZG575YWS Garden Hose

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Bottom Line

The Flexzilla HFZG575YWS aims to provide a simple and effective solution for the care and maintenance of your lawn.

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An innovative garden hose that combines a flexible hybrid polymer material with unique SwivelGrip fittings, it comes with both male and female connectors for increased versatility. With this system, you could connect the hose to spigots and attachments with very little effort. The SwivelGrip ensures easy attachment of either end of the hose, enabling it to be stretched out without being twisted. This is especially suitable for sprinklers, allowing you to position them flat on the ground without reducing efficiency. The HFZG575YWS is also fitted with a specially designed O-ring that ensures zero leaks and lasting durability. Combined with the hybrid polymer material, you get a superior quality garden hose that will last a long time even with heavy regular use.

Editor's insights

Users of the HFZG575YWS commonly praise the ruggedness and durability of this hose. Despite its light weight, it is actually a more durable than similar hoses made of vinyl or rubber. The hybrid polymer material has also proven to be a huge hit among users, many of whom praised the hose’s ability to remain free of twists and kinks even with heavy use. One user reported being able to pull it all over his yard without issue, as the flexible material caused the hose to follow along dutifully. Some users did find the HFZG575YWS to be a bit costly. But the superior performance and kink-free operation made the cost justifiable for the majority of users.

Value Pick

Gilmour

4 Ply Reinforced Vinyl Hose

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The Gilmour 15 Series is a 4 Ply Reinforced Vinyl Hose that delivers performance far above what you would expect for its price.

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Made from innovative Flexogen material, it is a light yet durable hose that handles most tasks with ease. Further adding strength to the material is the vinyl reinforcement, which–when combined with the Flexogen material–results in a flexible and durable hose that is fairly resistant to kinking. Matched with the crush-resistant material are precision machined metal couplings that ensure tight and secure connections. These couplings minimize leaks while allowing for the unimpeded flow of water. The Gilmour 15 Series can be used in all types of weather and environmental conditions. The abrasion resistant finish also keeps it looking new even after several months of regular use.

Editor's insights

Many users of the Gilmour 15 Series were pleasantly surprised to find it to be a lot lighter and more flexible than other hoses. The quality of the hose and the couplings was also a bit of a revelation for some, especially considering its low price. Some users initially thought that the hose’s somewhat small diameter would result in a modest water flow. This wasn’t the case, however, and many users found the flow more than adequate with varying amounts of water pressure. As expected, the price-to-quality ratio of the Gilmour 15 Series was one of its most endearing traits. Many simply could not believe that such a quality hose could be purchased for this price, and they were even more satisfied with it after actually putting it to use. The Gilmour 15 Series does have a tendency to kink on occasion, but most users found that this wasn’t a significant issue for such a thin and light hose. In any case, the leak-free operation and easy handling more than made up for any minor drawbacks in this area.

Contender

Teknor Apex NeverKink

Extra Heavy Duty Garden Hose

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From Teknor Apex, the NeverKink 8642-75 promises to deliver a kink- and tangle-free experience that greatly simplifies lawn care and maintenance.

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This innovative hose comes with a manufacturer guarantee that inspires confidence, and it is in fact one of the few manufacturers that can offer such a reassurance to its customers. Central to the kink-proof performance of the hose is a patented technology known as the Non-Torsion System (NTS). This system essentially relies on a translucent strip of material that stretches the length of the hose, effectively doing away with kinks. Also ensuring kink-free operation is the Reflex Mesh technology that utilizes a reinforcing mesh network. This prevents twists, kinks, and tangles from occurring in the first place, greatly adding to the long-term durability of the NeverKink 8642-75. The hose’s material is coated with MicroShield, an antimicrobial layer that prevents the formation of mold and mildew. This makes the NeverKink 8642-75 ideally suited for tasks for which most other hoses would be less feasible.

Editor's insights

Users are generally pleased with the quality and performance of the NeverKink 8642-75, citing its ability to remain kink- and tangle-free even with rough usage. The material itself has been noted to remain flexible, even in cold temperatures that would make most other hoses stiffen up. The cost-to-performance ratio of the hose also makes it an attractive choice for many users, a number of whom have been unable to find a similar quality hose at the same price. Combined with the secure end fittings that ensure leak-free operation, these qualities make the NeverKink 8642-75 a great deal for the money. Some users did find that the hose has a tendency to kink on occasion, despite the manufacturer's claims to the contrary. In general, however, most users find that the NeverKink 8642-75 lived up to the hype, and that it provided excellent value for its price.

What to Look for When Evaluating Garden Hoses

One of the first things you should consider when evaluating garden hoses is strength. Garden hoses are subject to pretty rigorous use in all types of weather conditions, and they are often handled very roughly. At the very least, you will want a hose that is made of material durable enough to withstand heavy usage without cracking or buckling.

This goes for the couplings as well. A lot of strain is placed on the connectors during use, and this is often where hoses fail even if the material holds up. A good quality hose will have secure fittings that continue to provide leak-free operation even after prolonged use.

Kink-free or tangle-free operation is always a plus when comparing the relative merits of garden hoses. However, you should be aware that manufacturer claims are often at odds with the reality, so don’t really solely on marketing copy. In general, it would be best to read reviews by actual users, which often provide a much more accurate assessment of the performance of a particular hose.

Shopping Guide for Garden Hoses

Hoses are something that you definitely won’t want to skimp on. You don’t necessarily have to go out and buy the most expensive hose you can find. But settling on the cheapest model available probably isn’t a wise decision. A good way to go about shopping for a garden hose is to decide on the price that you are willing to pay, and then get the best quality hose you can find at that price.

User reviews on sites such as Amazon are always good sources of information on garden hoses and other consumer items. Those with a majority of positive reviews are likely good choices, but do pay attention to follow up reviews as well. In some cases, users may be quite impressed with a particular hose upon purchase, only to find disappointing faults later on.

Why a Garden Hose?

The best lawn and garden care takes regular watering. Buying a garden hose makes this task much easier, and the best garden hoses will provide a reliable method for watering your favorite plants.

What Are the Benefits of a Garden Hose?

A good garden hose is a joy to have. It can make tasks such as garden irrigation, plant watering, and even clean up much easier, and it can greatly simplify lawn care and maintenance. They can allow you to water even hard-to-reach areas, and get in places that you wouldn’t normally be able to access.

A good hose will last you a good long time, and it will provide plenty of benefits over the course of its lifetime. Although a quality hose can be quite costly, the expense will pay for itself many times over in the coming years.

Keep your lawn and garden in great shape when you have the right outdoor accessories. Read more about our favorites on our outdoor accessories page.

Best Garden Hoses