Tampa Bay Homes Guide

>


Courtesy Amazon

Expandable garden hoses do all of the work of a traditional hose, but they shrink down into lightweight, portable tubes for easy storage. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the four best expandable garden hoses on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.

Expandable garden hoses grow to their full length when they’re filled with water and shrink when they’re no longer in use, making them easy to store and maneuver around your yard. To help you find the right hose for your home, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best expandable garden hoses on the market. In this review, we break down our top picks as well as give advice on how to choose the model that’s right for your needs.

Most Lightweight: TBI Pro Expandable Garden Hose

Weighing a quarter of a pound, this hose is lighter than other options on the market. However, its lightweight nature doesn’t impact its effectiveness or durability, as it has a 3750D fabric exterior and four-layer latex core.

Key Features

Available in 50- and 100-foot lengthsBrass connectorsBlack and orange color combinationFive-year warranty

What Customers Are Saying

The TBI Pro’s 4.6-star average rating comes from close to 2,000 customer reviews. Ninety-one percent of these customers gave the hose 4 or 5 stars. Only 6% rated it 1 or 2 stars.

Satisfied customers praised the durability of this hose, particularly in regards to the brass fittings, which prevented leaks at the connection points. However, some customers had problems with punctures developing in the tubing and found that the company was unresponsive to their complaints.

Best Nozzle Grip: Flexi Hose Lightweight Expandable Garden Hose Kit

The Flexi Hose Lightweight Expandable Garden Hose Kit comes with an eight-pattern spray nozzle. This nozzle has a textured rubber handle for better gripping. The hose can also withstand water pressures up to 12 bars and water temperatures between 41 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Key Features

Available in 50-, 75-, and 100-foot lengthsBrass connectorsAvailable in black, black and blue, green, black and green, black and orange, and black and red color combinationsLifetime warranty

What Customers Are Saying

Over 20,000 Amazon customers have reviewed the Flexi Hose, awarding it an average rating of 4.4 stars. Approximately 84% gave it 4 or 5 stars, while 11% gave it 1 or 2 stars.

Customers who liked the Flexi Hose found it lived up to its promise of being easy to use and store, remaining kink-free even when coiled. Unfortunately, some customers said that the spray nozzle felt a little flimsy. They also had difficulty finding information on the lifetime replacement guarantee.

Best Spray Patterns: Gardguard Expandable Garden Hose

This garden hose comes with a nozzle that has nine spray patterns, allowing you to change how the water comes out of the hose every time you use it. The 3300D polyester fabric cover and triple-layer latex core also make for a lightweight and durable hose, while the included hanger and bag allow for easy storage.

Key Features

50-foot lengthAluminum connectorsAvailable in black and blue; blue and orange; blue, orange, and yellow; black and green; and black and gray color combinationsOne-year warranty

What Customers Are Saying

The Gardguard hose’s 4.4-star average rating comes from over 10,000 reviews. About 86% of customers gave it a rating of 4 or more stars, while 10% gave it 1 or 2 stars.

Customers liked the low weight of this expandable hose, especially when compared to a traditional rubber or vinyl hose of the same length. They also liked the affordable price relative to similar products. However, some reported that the low weight and price was achieved by using aluminum hose fittings instead of more durable brass connectors.

Most Customizable: Flexi Hose Lightweight Expandable Garden Hose

This expandable garden hose is available in four sizes and seven colors, allowing you to choose a model that fits your watering preferences. Like the other Flexi Hose model in this review, it can withstand water pressures up to 12 bars and temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit for long-lasting use.

Key Features

Available in 25-, 50-, 75-, and 100-foot lengthsBrass connectorsAvailable in black, green, black and red, black and blue, black and gray, black and green, and black and orange color combinationsLifetime warranty

What Customers Are Saying

The Flexi Hose without the nozzle received a slightly lower average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 from around 7,000 customer reviews. About 82% gave it 4 or more stars, while 12% gave it 1 or 2 stars.

Most customers felt that this hose delivered on the company’s promises, with a few even saying that the most recent design was an improvement on earlier incarnations that had less sturdy tubes and connectors. However, some customers also reported low water pressures or leaks during use.

Buyer’s Guide

Before buying an expandable garden hose, it’s important to consider what features you require out of your model. In this buying guide, we will break down length, material, and other factors that will inform your purchasing decision.

Length

Choose a hose that’s long enough to water your entire lawn and all of your plants. If you have a large yard, you may want a longer hose, but if you only need to water a few plants on your deck, a smaller hose will suffice. Common hose lengths are 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet. However, keep in mind that a hose may not expand to its advertised length if your water pressure is low. For example, a 75-foot hose may only expand to 65 feet when hooked up to your spigot.

Fitting Material

The connectors that attach your hose to the water supply and to the nozzle can be made of different materials.

Plastic: Plastic is affordable, but it isn’t as durable as the other materials.Brass: Brass won’t corrode or rust and is more durable than plastic.Aluminum: Aluminum tends to last longer than plastic but not as long as brass.

Core Material

The outer layer of your hose will likely be made of fabric. However, the hose’s core can be made of one of two materials.

Latex: Hoses with a latex core usually have two, three, or four layers. A core with more layers will give you more protection, but it also makes the hose less flexible.Thermoplastic copolyester: This material is heat-resistant and more durable than latex, but it’s also more expensive.

Nozzle

Some expandable hoses come with nozzles that allow you to change the spray pattern. Pay close attention to the product description of your hose to ensure you know whether a nozzle is included. Some features to look for in a nozzle include an ergonomic design, durability, and several spray patterns. Although it costs a little more to buy a hose and nozzle separately, it may be worth it to find the right model of each one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some of the disadvantages of purchasing an expandable garden hose?

Here are some of the biggest drawbacks of choosing an expandable hose:

It doesn’t last as long as a regular garden hose.Its material is easier to puncture than the material of a regular garden hose.It’s difficult to repair holes because of its fabric covering.

How can I maintain my garden hose?

To maintain your hose, follow these tips:

Turn the water off when the hose isn’t in use.Store the hose out of direct sunlight.Keep the hose away from sharp objects.Drain the hose after using it.

Can I fix my expandable garden hose if it has a leak?

Most expandable hoses can’t be fixed once they start leaking because of the material they’re made of. If you notice that your hose has a leak, consider purchasing a new one.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at [email protected]

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.tampa-bay-homes-guide.com/?p=110