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We put hoses on our most cramped spigots and measured any leaks from the connections. And as we whipped the hoses around our properties, we paid attention to the texture of the hose material, as well as the knots and tangles and general maneuverability.

During testing, we drained and disconnected the hoses and re-coiled them, taking note of any memory (the tendency of an unrolled hose to retain its coiled shape) or any other stubbornness we encountered. In a 2019 test in Ithaca, New York, staff writer Thom Dunn dragged the hoses out to the street and drove a two-door Honda Civic back and forth over them several times, making sure to catch the fittings right beneath the wheels.

We also tested the amount of water each hose was capable of moving. We attached each hose to a sill cock and timed how long it took to fill a 5-gallon bucket, confirming a measurable difference in flow rate between different diameters of hoses.

In an even more brutal test, we put the hoses and nozzles in the hands of several children between the ages of 3 and 7. Carried out mostly in backyard pool battles and other mayhem, this test allowed the kids to drop, grab, kick, bury, submerge, jam, and generally use the tools in ways no adult ever would. We probably voided the warranties on everything, but we had to do this to be sure these hoses and nozzles could handle true abuse.

The Eley reel cart is built for a lifetime of use. The majority of the parts are either brass, aluminum, or stainless steel. It comes with a high-quality 6.5-foot leader hose and flat-free tires. Most of the parts have a powder-coated finish, and there is really nothing on the cart that should rust. Eley backs it with a 10-year no-leak guarantee.

Another quality hose-reel option is the Hoselink 82ft Retractable Hose Reel. Unlike the Eley reel, the Hoselink reel retracts the hose automatically, making it not only convenient but also a nice option for people with limited strength or mobility. The hose pulls out easily and returns to the reel with a slight tug, like a window blind. As it reels in, a guide roller moves from side to side as the hose enters the housing, ensuring that it spools on evenly. The reel comes with 6.5 feet of leader hose, a decent enough hose nozzle, and a quick-connect system that makes it easy to detach the hose from the spigot or to remove the nozzle. We also like that the Hoselink can be mounted at any height, eliminating the need for the user to bend over to deal with the hose or the reel. The Hoselink reel attaches to the side of a house or a sturdy fence post with four screws and can rotate from side to side.

The Craftsman Premium Rubber Garden Hose, a former pick in this guide, suffered availability issues for years and now appears to be discontinued. It was almost identical to the Continental hose, with the same flexibility, kink resistance, and durability.

In previous years, we tested and dismissed the GatorHyde Drinking Water Safe Hose and the Scotts MaxFlex Heavy Duty Garden Hose (both discontinued), as well as a rubber/PVC hose from Gilmour. We briefly recommended the Tuff-Guard Perfect Garden Hose, but it ended up leaking during long-term testing.

We also dismissed a number of hoses without testing them, as we determined (during our research or our in-person assessments at various hardware stores) that they did not meet our criteria. This group included the Apex Medium Duty, the Flexon Medium Duty Garden Hose, the Goodyear Maxlite Premium Rubber+, the Plastair Springhose PUWE650B94H-AMZ, the Swan Flexrite Pro (discontinued) and ProFusion, the WaterWorks Flexrite, the Xhose Pro, the GrowGreen and GenLed expandable hoses, and the terrible yet terribly ubiquitous Pocket Hose.

Our favorite garden hose is the Zero-G Lightweight Garden Hose because it's incredibly durable with crush-proof couplings and also surprisingly easy to maneauver. If you're looking for an expandable and easy-to-carry hose, we recommend the TheFitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose. It weighs just 1.8 pounds and is only 9 feet long when empty but expands to offer 25 feet of reach. Longer lengths are available, too.

The material you choose also impacts how often you have to contend with kinks and coils. Master Gardener Debra LaGattuta shares her experience: "I've found that it's impossible to prevent standard rubber hoses from kinking," she says. "To prevent rubber hoses from kinking, I had to walk to the location of the kink and manually straighten out the hose and then go back to watering." So if you choose a rubber hose for its long-lasting durability, keep in mind that you may have to straighten it frequently.

There are lots of different ways to store garden hoses, including hose reels, pots, and holders. But as mentioned above, coiling a hose increases its risk of kinking. For that reason, hose holders are often your best choice, as you can loosely loop the hose over them. However, if you have a kink-resistant hose, you can use any storage solution. Master Gardener Debra LaGattuta shares her strategy for keeping hoses organized and accessible: "During the growing season, I store my fabric-covered lightweight hose on a hose reel, and I store my flexible, retractable hose in a very large nursery container [about 20 gallons] that I saved when I purchased a tree." It's also important to properly store hoses during the cold weather months. "[For] the winter, I drain the water from all hoses in late fall," Debra says, "and store them in my unheated garage. I never leave hoses outdoors during the cold winter months."

The most common garden hose diameters are ¾ inch, five-eighths inch and half inch. These measurements are based on the inside diameter of the hose, not the outside. The bigger the diameter, the more water the hose will carry.

While many hoses come with a washer inserted into the coupling, these are often thin plastic washers that quickly break down. We always recommend that you use a high quality rubber washer (such as this one from Gilmour) at the connection point between the hose fitting and the spigot or nozzle. This will help prevent leaks.

These hoses are generally made from vinyl (sometimes with a reinforcing mesh or multiple plies (layers)) so can kink more easily, often have plastic fittings, and tend to come in thinner diameters but prices are in the lower range.

NeverKink 8844-50 Series 4000 Commercial Duty Pro Garden Hose, 5/8-Inch by 50-Feet>>The company guarantees this hose not to kink. Has a coiled collar at the spigot end, lead-free aluminum couplings, and an anti-microbial to prevent build-up of mold and mildew. Stays flexible down to 45 degrees. Made in USA.

Plastair Marine/RV SpringHose PUWE625B9-M-3-AMZ 25-foot 3/8-inch Drinking Safe Water Hose, Blue>> This lightweight hose is built primarily for marine use (with anti-salt water corrosive fittings) but works well for watering in small areas. Only stretches out to about 15 feet so buy a longer one if you need more reach.

Soaker hoses are typically used for garden irrigation. These hoses are often made of recycled rubber and plastics and have porous walls. When the water is turned on, it oozes out through thousands of tiny holes in the hose, letting water seep out into or onto the surrounding soil.

Soaker hoses can either be laid directly on the ground (preferably below a layer of mulch), buried just under the surface, or even buried 6 or more inches deep (this is commonly done in large vegetable beds).

Miracle Gro MGSPA38050FM Premium Soaker Hose with Fittings, 3/8-Inch by 50-Feet>> This hose has no attached couplings. Instead, you cut it to the desired length and insert the provided friction-fit, plastic male and female fittings. With two of each, you can even cut this into two separate hoses.

A coiled hose is formed into a tight spiral that pulls together when not in use and can be pulled out for use (some to an almost straight length of hose). They generally come in shorter lengths (15-foot and 25-foot lengths are most common, although some companies make longer ones) and a ½-inch or smaller diameter (resulting in lower water flow and pressure compared to a typical garden hose).

Water Right PCH-050-MG-6PKRS Polyurethane Lead Safe Coil Garden Hose, 50-Foot x 3/8-Inch (Olive Green)>> Chrome-plated machined brass fittings with a collar and a 12-inch section of straight hose at both ends to make it easier to attach and use. Drinking water safe. Stretches just over 40 feet. Made in USA.

Flat garden hoses are best used when storage space is an issue and the hose will be used in a straight line over a surface without many snags. In general, these are not the best choice for frequent use in the garden and there are none that we recommend for that purpose.

I double your recommendation: buy a shorter hose! If you need length, buy multiple hoses. If I had a 200-foot run, I would buy eight 25-foot hoses. Two one-hundred-foot hoses are so heavy, they are almost impossible to lift.

I formerly bought short (10 feet) soaker hoses to string around individual bushes, can no longer find them at the big box stores. I preferred fully assembled hoses as the do it your self varieties tended to blow apart (pressure too high?) Does any one still make them? I saw one on your list, buy 50 feet and receive two sets. Were extra fittings available?

Thanks for the reviews.! I have been so frustrated trying to find nontoxic hoses and connectors for my garden. I bought soaker hoses a couple of years ago and now find they use recycled old tires, replete with lead and chemicals. So I guess my yard outside the garden is contaminated! Argghh!

I gave away my heavy rubber hoses when my wife and I downsized to a low maintenance small bungalow style community with minimal storage space. I now need a lightweight easy to store in small space hose for watering the flowers and other light duty watering. I was about to buy the Pocket Flex Hose, but then read several reviews online about the low quality and leaking problems with them. Is there a lightweight hose brand, flex or otherwise, you would recommend for low usage. Have minimal space to store. Thanks, Mark 781b155fdc