Marketed as the original expandable hose, the Xhose Pro Garden Hose is one of the few without a nozzle included, which may account for its bargain price. Instead of a woven polyester cover, this hose has a DAC-5 Fiber cover that gives it a distinctive look.
Expandable to three times its length with durable brass fittings, this hose is lighter than most, suggesting a more lightweight core. That may be another reason for the lower price.
Another workhouse with a quadruple layer core, the Zoflaro Garden Hose is rated for 175 psi internal pressure and comes with a durable, abrasion-resistant polyester cover. It expands to three times its original length, with durable solid brass connectors and a shut-off lever.
Despite its reinforced core, this hose is a little lighter than the rest. The 50-foot version comes in at two pounds instead of 2.7 pounds, a more common weight for this length. It ships with a 10-pattern rotary nozzle.
The European entry in our list, the Mueller Armorflow Heavy Duty Expandable Garden Hose is manufactured in Austria. It has a triple-layer core, durable 3750D polyester cover and expands to three times its length.
At 3.23 pounds, this 50-foot hose is the heaviest on this list. It features a nine-pattern rotary nozzle, not eight or 10 like almost every other one. It also comes with a storage bag, wall hook and three spare hose gaskets.
What to Consider When Buying an Expandable Garden Hose
There is a lot to like about expandable hoses. Their shrink-ability and ultra-flexibility make them easy to store, reduce tripping incidents and lawnmower accidents and make kinks disappear. Most expandable hoses come with easy-to-use solid brass fittings.
However, because expandable hoses constrict as they expand, pressure from the spout increases and the flow rate decreases. This means you can reach plants farther away, but it takes longer to water them. When the hose shrinks to its normal size, it becomes more manageable, but it will also pull any sprinklers you’ve left on the lawn out of position.
There are several great options if you’re shopping for an expandable hose. Here are some considerations to help you find the best expandable garden hose for your purposes:
- Fittings: Top-quality hoses have solid brass fittings that won’t rust, break or wear out. “Select hoses equipped with high-quality fittings, such as brass, to ensure secure connections and prevent leaks,” says Johnson. “Additionally, consider hose nozzles that offer adjustable spray patterns to enhance versatility in various watering tasks.”
- Shut-off lever: On the male connector, this prevents the hose from discharging and shrinking when the water is off and you remove the nozzle. You’ll find this feature helpful when you need to lengthen the hose by adding a section.
- Number of cores: Some hoses feature double, triple and even quadruple cores. Additional cores prevent bursting, but there’s a tradeoff — the thicker material isn’t as flexible and requires more water pressure to expand fully. If you have low water pressure at the spigot, you may notice inadequate pressure at the nozzle with a thick-core hose. On the other hand, a thin-core hose could burst if you have high pressure.
- Length: Expandable hoses come in 25-, 50-, 75- and 100-foot lengths when fully expanded. Get one long enough but not too long, or you’ll find yourself tripping over it.
- Cost: Expandable hose prices range from $20 to $75. Price doesn’t necessarily correspond to quality, but for the most part, you get what you pay for.
Why You Should Trust Us
I have been building and designing homes, and writing about the process, for over four decades. I have worked as a flooring installer, landscape builder and residential remodeler. Since becoming a writer, I have published or consulted on more than 10,000 articles and served as an online building consultant for ProReferral.com as well as an expert reviewer for Hunker.com.
For this piece, we consulted Ken Johnson an online merchant at The Home Depot. He’s worked with outdoor living products for over five years. He knows how customers interact with products and what separates a quality one from one that isn’t worth it.
How We Found the Best Expandable Garden Hoses
When it comes to gardening, it’s important to choose high-quality products that will last season after season. We looked for products made from durable materials and that fell within a reasonable price range. Then, we narrowed the list by looking through real reviews to see which hoses worked best for real gardeners.
FAQ
What is the biggest downside of expandable garden hoses?
Because expandable garden hoses are made from a lightweight, softer material than a typical garden hose they can tear more easily. If you know that you use your garden hose often or that you’ll be dragging it over rough surfaces, look for models with multiple layers.
Do expandable hoses reduce water pressure?
Yes, expandable garden hoses tend to have reduced water pressure compared to traditional garden hoses. The light material, multiple layers, longer hose length and nozzle type are all factors that can lead to reduced water pressure with expandable hoses.
Can you leave an expandable garden hose outside?
Yes, you can leave an expandable garden hose outside. To extend the life of your hose make sure to drain it after each use, store it in a shaded area or use a storage container or hose hook, protect it from extreme temperatures and disconnect it from the water source if you’re not going to be using it for an extended period of time.
