Couplings. Also called fittings, couplings are what attaches your hose to the spigot/outdoor faucet and other attachments. They’re made of brass, aluminum and plastic. Brass is the most expensive option but considered the best for performance and longevity. Plastic is the cheapest and least durable choice. Lightweight or heavy-duty? Standard or coiled? Flat or expandable? Who knew there were so many types of garden hoses? Here are some of the most common types of hoses you’re likely to find at your local garden center: If your worried about leaks forming in your 50 foot garden hose, the most common place for the hose to leak is around the spigot. This is often due to a loose or improper connection between the hose and spigot. Some garden hoses have pressure rating (burst pressure) which is the amount of the internal water pressure a hose handles before bursting. For residential homes, the water pressure should range 45-80 pounds per square inch (psi). If you frequently use your residential hose, make sure that the burst pressure rating is at least 350 psi.

The most common lengths of garden hoses are 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet. Yes, there are even longer lengths if you need it. Hose Material Rather than spraying water, which can evaporate before it reaches the ground, this soaker hose releases water slowly and steadily through its pores to give a deep, even soak to plant roots. Our testers took note of what looked like condensation on the outside of the hose as the water began seeping through the pores. According to the manufacturer, this flat soaker hose can release an impressive two gallons of water every two minutes. A reinforced and rubber hose that is sturdy enough does not kink. First, make sure the hose is made of multi-layer latex/rubber. It is even better if the exterior is made of abrasion-resistant fabric (3300D polyester fabric is the best) so that the hose won’t get damaged when being pulled across driveways or around corners. A flat hose means it will be completely flat when empty and tubular when filled with water, so it’s straightforward to roll up and store. This type goes well for basic watering and sprinkling use. Some of them can also work as soakers.

Garden hoses don't last forever. When you're in the market for a new one, these tips will help you make an informed purchase.

Couplings, or fittings, are the end pieces that connect the hose to the water supply. "End fittings are just as important as the hose material," says Schenan. "Look for brass or plated brass alloy fittings for the longest life, something that's especially important if you are investing in a hose you expect to use for several years. Aluminum and plastic fitting are unlikely to last as long, but are lighter." More Garden Hoses to Consider To compile this list of the best garden hoses across all different types, we tested 30 garden hoses in our Lab, evaluating them on design, ease of use, durability, and value. For expert advice on what to look for in a garden hose, we turned to Erin Schanen, creator of The Impatient Gardener, as well as Gary McCoy, store manager at Lowe's. Water early or late in the day when it’s cool outside. Using your garden hose during the heat of the day causes some of the water to evaporate, resulting in wasted water and a higher water bill.

Next, testers used the couplings to connect each hose to a water spigot—and again to a feeder hose—to evaluate whether the hose had a tight seal or if any leaking occurred. We then unwound the hoses all the way out from the reel and dragged them across different surfaces including grass, cement, and even a garden rake with its tines turned up, pivoting 180 degrees and maneuvering around three large pots in our testing area. During this portion of the testing, we took careful note of any punctures or signs of wear on the hose.Waterproof and flexible features play an important role in choosing a good garden hose. So, learn more information about each material below: This heavy-duty hose is best for those of you who absolutely hate fighting kinks, and need something durable enough to handle a rugged environment. Although it might make sense for some homeowners, this is definitely a commercial grade hose. Like many manufacturers, Gilmour claims the hose is kink resistant and able to unkink itself. We were able to kink the AquaArmor hose in use, dragging it out from a coil, but we discovered that if pulled taught, kinks would “pop” out. So, if pulled to half-length, kinks could occur and inhibit water flow, but reaching full length, under tension, they disappear. The hose has internal kink protection at both ends to prevent collapse when pulled tight at an angle. Standard hoses are a great choice for all-purpose watering and cleaning: "Standard hoses are the most popular choice because they do the job well, but they have to be coiled and can be prone to kinking," says Schanen. You can find both lightweight and heavy-duty standard hoses, the latter of which may be better suited for hot water and heavy, continuous use, according to McCoy: "Hoses should always be used with ambient water temperatures, so hot water should only be used in hoses specifically designed for hot water use!"

Show more The Expert: I’m a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, BBC, Sierra, Popular Science, and tons of other national and international publications. I’m also a constant DIYer on my mini-homestead in rural Pennsylvania. My expertise on garden hoses developed out of necessity. On my wooded property, the only sunny spot to put a vegetable plot is a considerable distance from my house. That means no easy access to the thing a garden needs most: water. So, I’ve had to get creative, and over the seasons I’ve tried a few different systems and a lot of different hoses. The good news is, my garden now gets all the water it needs, and I can use my insight to help you get the hose that best fits your needs. What to Consider When Buying a Garden Hose For this article, we combined results from our test team in The Lab in Des Moines, Iowa, with our writers' and editors' own research to bring you this roundup. We tested 30 hoses at The Lab and rated them across a number of top categories, including usability, design, value, size, and durability. We also used 13 hoses in our own home gardens to determine their long-term durability and practicality in real-world scenarios. Those 13 hoses were tested over an additional period of 3 months and we recorded our thoughts on what could be improved and whether we'd continue to reach for the hose after the end of the testing period. KM: Finding a hole in a hose doesn’t automatically mean it’s destined for the dumpster. Small (and even not-small) leaks can be easy to fix. If you’ve made a considerable investment on a high-end model, spending a little extra time on a repair is worth it. To test the crush resistance of these 50 foot water hoses, we ran these hoses over with a Jeep Patriot to see if the end fittings would crush. To test ease of use, we took into account kink-resistance, maneuverability, and how easy it was to connect to a spigot. Although ease-of-use is subjective, we include as many photos and videos as possible to help you draw your own conclusions.

Reinforced hoses are usually made from vinyl hose material. The inner hose is encased with solid rings or covered with rugged woven fibers to add extra strength, so it is designed for commercial uses or can meet the requirement of cleaning many equipment, furniture, and sharp objects. Overall though, this is a great soaker hose that allows you to deliver water right to the roots of your vegetables, flowers, or shrubs without lugging a hose to and from storage. If you need a garden hose for different tasks, consider a ⅝-inch model as well. Most attachment accessories like hand sprayers fit onto this size in the United States. Meanwhile, the ¾-inch hoses are designed for more professional uses like watering a large area such as public parks and gardens.

Nozzles. Garden hose nozzles can give you a pistol-like jet of water for cleaning, or be adjusted to a wide gentle spray that’s good for watering a large area of delicate plants. Like couplings, nozzles are made of plastic, metal or a combination of both. Metal nozzles weigh more, last longer and are less prone to breaking if they’re dropped on a hard surface. Although it is lightweight, we found this to still be a durable hose. The fittings are made with heavy-duty aluminum that did not crush when we ran them over with an SUV. Photo 3 in the section above shows the fitting after we ran it over. Garden hoses typically range in length from 25 to 50 feet (although the Eley Polyurethane Garden Hose offers more size variety, ranging from 6.5 feet to 200 feet long). While you want a hose that's long enough to reach wherever you're looking to water, the water pressure will diminish with length: "Buy a hose that's long enough to reach where you'll be using it and no longer," says McCoy. "If you occasionally require a long hose, buy two shorter ones and combine when needed." The diameter of the hose affects how much water can move through it. Garden hoses range from 3/8" to 6/8" inches. Wider hoses can move several times as much water in the same amount of time, which is especially helpful for cleaning. It will also deliver extra distance on the spray, so you might be able to get away with a shorter hose.

Below is the raw testing data for the 50 foot hoses we tested for this article. We tested a total of 27 hoses. The 50 foot water hoses that we recommended at the top of the article are bolded in the table below. Hose For daily watering needs, the Flexzilla Garden Hose is a great all-purpose hose. Made from a flexible hybrid polymer, it is extremely malleable, so you can maneuver around patio furniture or any other obstacles that may be in your way. Our testers found the manufacturer's claim that this hose is kink-resistant to be true, and noted that it straightened out nicely when unwound from the reel. However, this is one of the heavier hoses on our list, especially when full. We will point out that this hose is not best for colder climates as it is only rated for above 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which is slightly higher than other hoses in this roundup. However, whether it was full of water or empty, this hose proved to be easy to handle, use, and store. This heavy-duty hose also scored high marks for not kinking during our garden testing. The hose is reinforced with high-tensile threads that resist kinking and also provide a defense against the hose bursting under high water pressure. As you’d expect of a heavy-duty hose, you can use the Eley in temperatures down to minus-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The crush-proof brass fittings are lead-free and corrosion-proof. All of these features contribute to the hose’s longevity but mean that you pay a premium price compared to a light-duty or budget garden hose. A flexible hose is easier to handle and less likely to kink or twist during use. If you want a flexible hose, look for an expandable garden hose or any hose that’s advertised as “kink-resistant” or “no-kink.” Couplings