6 Best Garden Hoses (original) (raw)
The 6 Very Best Garden Hoses
- Best overall
- Best lightweight
- Best premium
- Best retractable
- Most stylish
- Best soaker
- Best drip-irrigation kit
- Best hose-reel cart
- Best quick-connect system
If you tend a garden, a reliable hose is essential for keeping your shrubs lush and your flowers blooming. But finding one that doesn’t leak or kink and is easy to store can be a recurring source of frustration. It’s hard to know ahead of time whether a hose will hold up to seasons of heavy-duty use, so in addition to our own testing we spoke to seven experienced gardeners and horticulturalists about the models that have served them well over the years, from heavy-duty hoses built to last for a decade and stay kink- and leak-free, to stylish options for the at-home vegetable gardener, to a retractable model that is durable enough to handle reeling in many feet of hose.
You’ll want to choose a hose length based on the size of the outdoor space you’re regularly watering. “Don’t buy something that isn’t big enough to reach around your garden,” says botanist, ecologist, and kitchen gardener Becky Searle. But don’t overcorrect in the other direction: “If you’re dragging a really long hose around the garden, it will get very heavy, especially when full of water, and it may cause damage to your plants,” she says. If you’re not sure about the right length, measure from your spigot to the spot you’ll need to stand to water your furthest-outplants. “For the average homeowner, I’d recommend a hose length of no more than 75 to 100 feet,” says Curtis Atkinson, founder of Sunline Landscapes design firm. “If you have a very small yard or only need it for a small area, like a side yard or patio, don’t go more than 50 feet.” Not sure what to buy? Hose performance doesn’t suffer if you thread two together, so you can, for example, get two 50-foot hoses (the length we tested to allow for apples-to-apples comparisons) and only connect them when you need maximum reach.
Both the length and the interior diameter of a hose impact the flow rate, or how many gallons of water per minute a hose can put out. (The third variable is water pressure, which can vary from home to home but is usually around 50 psi.) A hose with a thinner interior diameter has a slower flow rate — it will get less water to your plants in the same time as a wider hose — but may be lighter weight and easier to manage. The right option for your garden depends on how large an area you’re covering. In general, a larger interior diameter makes more sense for a larger garden; a lighter, lower-profile hose may beworth a few extra minutes spent watering a smaller space. When shopping for a hose for general use, look for one that’s 5/8 inch in diameter — these deliver plenty of flow and most sprayer attachments are designed for 5/8-inch hoses. Narrower, 1/2-inch hoses generally don’t deliver enough flow for bigger jobs and are best reserved for light-duty tasks like watering plant containers on a patio or deck. Larger 3/4-inch hoses can be useful for occasional high-volume jobs, like filling a pool, but they’re too heavy and cumbersome for everyday use around the yard.
While hose material gets most of the attention, many hose failures happen at the fittings. Heavy-duty cast or forged fittings, made from brass, brass alloys, or aluminum, resist corrosion and can even survive being run over by a car or dropped from waist height when swapping attachments. But these tend to cost more and can be hard enough to chip patio pavers or stone. Thinner, stamped brass or aluminum fittings are more prone to bending or crimping, which can lead to leaks and require repairs. A handy way to gauge a hose’s quality is to look for a hexagonal shape at the fitting. That design is meant to be gripped with a wrench when tightening hoses together or attaching to a spigot, and it’s often a sign of a more durable construction.
Most hoses are made from durable, synthetic materials like PVC and latex — they’re built to hold up under heavy outdoor use. But some of the materials used — like fittings that may contain lead, or plastics that contain phthalates — make them unsuitable for drinking.
You’ll see many premium hoses advertised as being “drinking-water safe, ” and we mention below whether each hose’s manufacturer has made such a claim about their product. You’ll want to keep in mind that, as premium hose manufacturer Eley points out, the FDA and NSF don’t have specific testing programs for garden equipment, so manufacturers are basing their claims on the use of materials that have been certified for other purposes, or, like Water Right, they are consulting with independent labs to test their products.
Buying a drinking-water safe hose can give you some peace of mind if you’re buying something to water your vegetable garden. But even if standard hoses do leach some compounds into the soil (especially if they are allowed to degrade in sunlight), there isn’t a lot of scientific evidence that anything unwanted is actually going to make it into your vegetables, even from irrigation hoses like soakers and drip lines that are in close and constant contact with your garden.
“The crumb rubber used [to make many soaker hoses] has some significant effects on soil contamination, but I’m not too worried about it in our raised garden beds,” says Linda Chalker-Scott, professor emerita and extension urban horticulturist at Washington State University. “The rubber content is fairly low, and we protect them from degradation by keeping them covered with arborist wood chips.”
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 5 to 100 feet | Interior diameter: 5/8-inch | Material: Drinking-water-safe PVC and rubber hybrid with aluminum fittings
This garden hose is a pleasure to use, and the small upcharge — about $5 — for the swivel end makes it a no-brainer compared with our previous winner, the standard version of this hose. The rotating fittings make it much easier to connect to a spigot without the entire hose twisting around your feet. At the other end, attaching sprayers, oscillating sprinklers, or another hose is also easier. And Flexzilla claims that its proprietary “flexible hybrid polymer” lining is drinking-water-safe for worry-free general watering, gardening, and more.
Flexzilla is known for its bright green color, though if neon isn’t your thing, the SwivelGrip comes in four more muted options. While no hose is truly kinkproof, this one resisted buckling during testing, and the cast aluminum fittings feel substantial enough to hold up through multiple freeze-thaw cycles (and the car). At about 8 1/2 pounds for 50 feet, it’s not a bear to move around and easier to deal with than a rubber hose.
The grippy jacket feels comfortable in hand, though it does tend to pick up dirt when dragged across the ground — something that’s less noticeable in darker colors. Available in six lengths, my only quibble is repairability: Because of the non-standard swivel fittings, any damage to the ends would require cutting off that section and installing a traditional replacement fitting.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 6 to 100 feet / Interior Diameter: 7/16 inch / Material: Drinking-water-safe virgin polyurethane with chrome brass fittings
After years of trying to solve the lightweight hose problem — using fragile expandable “As Seen on TV” styles and Water Right’s frustrating-to-handle coiled hose — we’ve found that the better approach is simply a well-built, lightweight hose that’s compact to store and capable enough for occasional use or smaller spaces. The Everyday Hose uses a 7/16-inch internal diameter, so it won’t move as much water as a standard 5/8-inch hose and isn’t ideal for weekly, high-demand use. But at just three pounds for 50 feet, it’s the perfect option for watering container plants or washing the car a few times over the summer from a driveway.
We used it to water a handful of containers near the patio and then, once emptied, tucked it into an empty planter we keep by the back door. Made in the U.S., it still connects cleanly to standard sprayers despite the smaller diameter. The fittings are chunky and secure, and the outer jacket has a comfortable, grippy feel in hand. The hose comes in ten colors and six lengths.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 6 1/2 to 200 feet / Interior Diameter: 5/8 inch / Material: Drinking-water-safe virgin polyurethane with lead-free brass fittings
This hose is a beast — expensive, but a strong alternative to traditional rubber hoses, which usually dominate the durability category. Made in the U.S., the Eley weighs about 8 pounds at 50 feet, putting it in line with many conventional hoses. Its polyurethane construction allows for higher burst pressure with thinner walls, which helps keep weight down. The real surprise is the flow: When used without a sprayer, which can constrict flow, more water floods out of this hose. That’s largely due to Eley’s fittings, which maintain a true 5/8-inch internal diameter instead of narrowing at the connection point like many other hoses, avoiding the usual bottleneck.
In kink testing, the Eley hose consistently sprang back to its original shape rather than holding creases. The outer jacket is a tough polyurethane material similar to what’s used in sports equipment. The fittings are heavy-duty and built to withstand years of abuse. It’s a premium option, but the ten-year no-leak warranty helps justify the cost.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 115 feet / Interior Diameter: 5/8 inch / Material: PVC, polyurethane, and rubber hybrid with nickel-plated brass fittings
This spring-loaded reel system feels very intuitive. After a single use — pulling the hose out, pausing to feel how it locks with a light tug, and watching it retract more than 100 feet — it becomes second nature. The housing feels solid and has a UV-resistant finish. Like most retractable reels, the unit detaches from its wall mount (leaving the bracket in place) for winter storage in a garage or shed. If you plan to leave it outside year-round, the manufacturer’s cover is cheap insurance. As with any retractable system, it’s best to fully extend the hose and then walk it back toward the reel to push out excess water before storing it. The Giraffe weighs about 40 pounds when fully detached.
Retraction is smooth and controlled — not so fast that it poses a risk to pets or kids — with a carriage that moves back and forth to lay the hose neatly inside. The mounting bracket swivels 180 degrees, offering a wide range of coverage when installed on a wall or post. It also includes about five feet of leader hose to connect from the spigot to the reel. If you rent your space or just don’t want to mount the reel you might want to look at a standalone hose cart, but otherwise the main drawback here is the included spray nozzle, which feels like inexpensive plastic and doesn’t seem likely to last.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 50 feet, 100 feet | Interior diameter: 7/16-inch | Material: Drinking-water safe virgin polyurethane; free of BPA, lead, and phthalates; chrome-plated brass fittings
Lauri Kranz, a co-author of A Garden Can Be Anywhereand the founder of the garden-planning and organic-food-delivery service Edible Gardens LA, recommends this hose from Terrain, which she appreciates for being built with materials free from BPA, lead, and phthalates, like the other premium hoses we recommend.
Materials aside, the Terrain hose is also the most stylish option on our list, available in trendy colors including an orange-clay, light yellow, and soft violet. One thing to note: It’s on the narrower end, with a 7/16-inch interior diameter like our lightweight hose pick, so it has a flow rate of around four to five gallons per minute — plenty for occasional tasks but it won’t give you the performance of a standard 5/8-inch hose like our top pick.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: 25 or 50 feet / Interior diameter: 5/8 inch / Material: Recycled rubber
“Having a soaker hose buried in planted beds is a great approach that can help keep root zones hydrated without excessively wetting leaves,” says Deep Roots Restaurant Group farm manager Dominique Kline. “Many plants benefit from water directly at the base, whereas overhead watering can cause fungus and disease to spread.”
Cheap soaker hoses with thin walls tend to fail quickly — either splitting or developing weak spots that spray water upward, which defeats the purpose of slow, even watering. The Dramm has thick-walled, porous rubber that delivers a more consistent seep that drips down along its length and is far more resistant to developing pinholes over time. Because it’s buried under mulch and exposed to freeze-thaw cycles, you don’t want to skimp on a cheap hose you’ll have to dig up in a few seasons.
At 50 feet, the Dramm hose is designed for use in ornamental beds, borders, and foundation plantings, ideally buried under a light layer of mulch to even out distribution, reduce evaporation, and to protect the hose itself from sunlight. The Dramm hose is made in the U.S. from recycled rubber, which is widely used in and recommended by the manufacturer for vegetable gardening, even if it is not certified by the FDA or the NSF as a drinking water-safe material.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Length: Up to 50 feet / Material: Polyethylene, acetal, high-impact plastic
If you’re interested in trying out drip irrigation, garden blogger and YouTuber CaliKim recommends this raised-bed kit because it’s “easy for beginners and has everything included to get started.” It includes different types of nozzles (from drips to mini-sprayers) that you can arrange based on your garden’s requirements. It’s big enough to cover 50 feet, which should handle ten rows of vegetables, but if that’s not enough, you can also connect multiple kits. And it’s UV-resistant, so it’ll hold up through hot summers. Drip irrigation is great for providing just the right amount of moisture to beds with fewer, larger plants (you place a nozzle at each point where you need water), but it can get tedious if you have a large, dense garden with many plants — in that case, one of our soaker hose recommendations may make more sense.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Capacity: 200 feet / Material: Anodized aluminum and plastic with brass fittings
If you water often or use a lot of hose — especially heavy rubber — the sturdy, easy-to-maneuver Gorilla cart can make the job a lot easier. And if you can’t or don’t want to mount a retractable hose reel but still need to cover a large yard, it’s a great choice. Its tubular aluminum frame is low-maintenance and bolted to plastic components with stainless-steel hardware; the assembly process feels a bit like putting together a kid’s bike. The chunky seven-inch wheels roll smoothly on hard surfaces, though the cart requires a bit more effort over grass when fully loaded.
The built-in shelf adds rigidity and provides some storage, best suited for small, flat items like sprayers, brushes, or hand tools. With a full load of hose, you’ll have roughly six inches of vertical clearance beneath it. The connection to the reel can be snug if your hose has a bulky grip, but once attached, it stays secure. Assembly is straightforward, and the included six-foot leader hose feels durable. The hose guide is manual; you’ll need to slide that back and forth to load the hose evenly as you reel it in. The 17-inch handle height is comfortable for pushing or pulling and doubles as a convenient spot to hang a sprayer between uses.
Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale.
Yes
New! You can now save this product for later.
Inner diameter: 3/4-inch / Material: Lead-free brass
Most quick-connect systems are made of plastic and, frankly, aren’t worth using — especially at the spigot-to-hose connection, where you’re often bending awkwardly and putting stress on the fittings. Eley’s lead-free, forged brass two-part system is in a different category entirely. One end attaches to the spigot, the other to the female end of the hose, and during testing, we didn’t see a single leak thanks to tight-sealing O-rings and steel pins that also produce a clean, satisfying snap when connected. And it’s all one-handed without any struggling.
The openings are a full 3/4 inch wide — likely larger than the internal diameter of most hoses — so there’s no flow restriction. It’s worth having a set for each spigot, plus a few extras if you regularly switch between hose-end sprayers.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
• CaliKim, garden blogger and YouTuber
• Lauri Kranz, co-author of A Garden Can Be Anywhereand founder of Edible Gardens LA
• Becky Searle, botanist, ecologist, and kitchen gardener
• Dominique Kline, Deep Roots Restaurant Group farm manager
• Curtis Atkinson, founder of Sunline Landscapes
• Linda Chalker-Scott, professor emerita and extension urban horticulturist at Washington State University
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.
The 6 Very Best Garden Hoses Your product is saved! You’ll receive emails when your saved products go on sale. Manage preferences.