Backyard hoses are unremarkable after they work nicely, but when they underperform, they’ll drive you insane.
After a number of years of testing—washing automobiles, gardening, pressure-washing driveways, and doing different hosey dwelling chores—we’ve concluded that the Continental Industrial Grade Rubber Hose (50 toes) is the all-purpose backyard hose we’d spend money on.
It isn’t completely kink-proof, however its sturdiness and reliable efficiency go far past these of the twisted, knotted, nugatory rubbish hoses that most likely impressed you to seek for one thing higher.
Lots of the hoses we’ve used, examined, and beneficial through the years work nice for a yr or two however then begin to kink simply or in any other case degrade.
Via this time, the Continental has remained a workhorse. It isn’t a flashy backyard hose, however it’s one we’ve come to confidently depend on.
Our choose
This robust rubber hose isn’t low cost and will be heavy to wrangle, however its sturdy fittings and sturdy physique ought to final for years—and it has a lifetime guarantee, simply in case.
The Continental Industrial Grade Rubber Hose (50 toes) is much from being the most cost effective hose you’ll ever discover, however after testing the cut price fashions and the midrange choices, we’re satisfied that one of the best worth in a backyard hose is the one you should purchase as soon as and use indefinitely. Though the lifetime guarantee is reassuring, we’re assured (after doing our personal exams and studying buyer anecdotes about long-term use) that you could be by no means have to take Continental up on it. Sturdy and versatile, this hose is ideal for all types of utility work (regardless that it may be a little bit of a beast should you’re simply shortly watering a small patio backyard). Availability shouldn’t be a difficulty, because the Continental hose now has almost ubiquitous availability at dwelling facilities and {hardware} shops.
Additionally nice
The Dramm hose has quite a lot of the excessive factors of the Continental hose, but it surely sometimes prices extra, and it kinked extra simply in our exams.
We additionally just like the Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Hose (50 toes). It provides most of the identical options because the Continental and a few that the opposite hose doesn’t have—like nickel-plated brass couplings—but it surely sometimes prices extra, and in our exams it kinked extra simply and held a reminiscence of the kinks (as soon as it kinked, it was vulnerable to kink in the identical spot once more). We like that it is available in a wide range of colours, however that’s not sufficient to offset the kinking challenge or the excessive worth. The Dramm was our earlier prime choose on this information, however its rising prices, coupled with the outcomes of our long-term testing, have led us to see the Continental as the higher possibility.
Improve choose
The Eley is lighter, simpler to make use of, and extra sturdy than our different picks. It’s one of the best hose we’ve ever examined.
The Eley 5/8-inch Polyurethane Backyard Hose was a revelation to us. It’s one of the best hose we’ve ever dealt with, and after utilizing it for some time, we got here to see all different hoses, together with our different picks, as cumbersome, primitive, and dysfunctional. In contrast with high quality rubber hoses just like the Continental and the Dramm, the Eley is lighter (a lot lighter), simpler to loop, and extra sturdy, and it appears proof against any sort of folding or kinking. The brass fittings on the ends are giant and simple to tighten by hand or wrench, and it comes with a 10-year guarantee (twice so long as the protection that Eley provided on its discontinued rubber hose). With all of those excessive factors, this Eley hose doesn’t come low cost—costing roughly $110 for a 50-foot size, it’s definitely an funding. However when you have hassle hefting a heavier hose or should you simply wish to simplify and remove as most of the every day micro-frustrations of a backyard hose, this Eley hose may be very a lot price contemplating. It’s accessible in a wide range of sizes, and Eley may even make customized lengths.
Additionally nice
Manageable, light-weight, and simple to retailer, this coiled hose is ideal for a small patio, the place you don’t want a ton of vary or absolutely the most water quantity.
The HoseCoil ⅜-inch Self Coiling Backyard Hose (25 toes) is neither as robust nor so long as our different picks, however for a small patio, balcony, or yard—the place dragging round a giant 50-footer looks like overkill—it’s a wonderful different. The HoseCoil’s essential promoting level is its retractable corkscrew design, which works as marketed in making the hose simple to increase, recoil, and retailer. In contrast with our larger picks, this ⅜-inch-diameter hose loses a quarter-inch of capability, which translated to barely decrease water stress in our side-by-side trials. Though the HoseCoil’s whole size is 25 toes, in observe it’s actually good for under about 17 toes earlier than it begins to pressure. As with our heavier-duty picks, the HoseCoil’s nozzle finish has flat sides for a wrench to seize. Its two-year guarantee is reassuring, too; although we’ve heard of some HoseCoils lasting longer, hitting the two-year mark is about what we’d count on. We have now a check unit that has been doing wonderful after a number of years of intermittent use and every day Southern California solar publicity.
Our choose
The Gorilla GRS-175H is simple to reel and roll across the yard. It comfortably holds 150- toes of rubber hose and is much better, in each method, than any cheap reel we’ve tried.
Our expertise is that cheap hose reels are riddled with so many frustrations—poor high quality, iffy stability, and small wheels—that they’re simply not well worth the problem. The Gorilla GRS-175H 175 ft. Cellular Hose Reel is extra of an funding, but it surely’s a hose reel that does every part proper. The aluminum construct is sturdy, the reel spins with little or no friction, it’s simple to maneuver round a yard, and two of the toes have prolonged pads the place you possibly can place a foot for added stability as you wind a hose in. It comfortably holds 150-feet of hose, which must be greater than sufficient for many lawns. There’s not quite a lot of pizazz to the Gorilla, however its performance is spectacular.
Improve choose
The Eley hose reel provides top-notch sturdiness, total high quality, and ease of use. It’s not low cost, but it surely’s a pleasure to make use of.
All the things that’s good concerning the Gorilla reel is best on the Eley Moveable Backyard Hose Reel Cart (or should you choose a wall-mounted model, the Eley Wall Mounted Backyard Hose Reel). The construct high quality is outstanding, the sturdy steel body gives unmatched stability, the large tires simply bounce over an uneven garden, the handles are comfy and nicely positioned, and the reel itself pulls in a hose with minimal effort. It’s an costly hose reel, however the elements are heavy-duty, and it’s an merchandise that we count on would final a lifetime with correct care. The Gorilla reel is a superb selection, however the Eley simply takes every part to the subsequent stage. On this planet of hose reels, Eley fashions have a stellar status, and after testing one, we absolutely perceive why.
Additionally nice
The Hoselink hose pulls out simply and retracts by itself, making it an incredible selection for many who want the size however need minimal problem.
The Hoselink 82ft Retractable Hose Reel provides a easy approach to handle quite a lot of hose with minimal effort. It’s 82 toes of hose on an enclosed reel that pulls out simply and retracts by itself after a slight tug, like a window blind. A information curler on the reel strikes backwards and forwards because the hose retracts, guaranteeing that the hose spools on evenly, not multi function lump. The set comes with 6.5 toes of chief hose, and a quick-connect system on each the chief hose and the primary hose makes attaching and detaching the connections simple. The fast-connect piece on the finish of the primary hose even has its personal shutoff, additional simplifying a nozzle swap; this quick-connect piece additionally freely rotates, so you possibly can shift the spray nozzle round with out twisting the hose. As a result of you possibly can mount the Hoselink reel at any top, it eliminates any bending over or again pressure related to knee-level reels or hose spigots. We have been skeptical of the Hoselink reel at first, however after having used it every day for a month, we’ve discovered that it’s an environment friendly approach to hold a hose off the garden. Up to now the one draw back we’ve seen is that the hose is barely ½ inch in diameter—not ⅝ inch just like the others—so jobs like filling buckets take longer.
