The best garden hoses of 2025, tested and reviewed

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From watering your garden to filling up a backyard kiddie pool, water hoses are an essential tool for maintaining your lawn or garden. The best garden hoses are lightweight with a strong and steady water stream. They should be flexible, too, so you don't have to deal with annoying kinking when using your hose.

To find out what to look for when shopping for a water hose, we interviewed John Jors, a Florida master gardener and volunteer groundskeeper at the 35-acre Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Jors prioritizes durability and recommends paying attention to the following key features: material (rubber, vinyl, or polyurethane), thickness (two-ply hoses are the least strong and six-ply are the strongest), and the materials used for the fittings, aka the couplings (metal or plastic).  

We tested 13 hoses for durability, ease of use, and efficiency. The Dramm ColorStorm Garden Hose is our top choice overall, with a heavy-duty rubber design that doesn't kink, and it's available in a range of colors. For a budget option, the Continental Black Water Hose is a reliable, commercial-grade design and costs around $50 for a 50-foot hose. For maximum effectiveness, you'll want to pair your garden hose with one of the best garden hose nozzles.

You can read more about how Insider tests home products here.

Top picks for the best water hoses

Best overall: Dramm ColorStorm Garden Hose - See at Amazon

Best budget: Continental Black Water Hose - See at The Home Depot

Best expandable: Flexi-Hose Expandable Hose - See at Amazon

Best heavy-duty: Tardigrade Steel Hose - See at Amazon

Best drinking-water safe: Water Right 500 Series Polyurethane Garden Hose - See at Amazon

Best extra-long: Flexzilla 100-Foot Garden Hose - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Dramm ColorStorm Garden Hose was the clear winner in all of our tests. Although it was the heaviest of all the hoses we tried, it excelled in other areas, from ease of use to kink resistance to flow rate. 

Both material and design make it a high-performing, reliable hose. Jors told us he personally prefers a high-quality rubber hose: "If properly stored, preferably on a reel, and drained after every use, it should last a very long time and make for happy gardening." This hose is made from thick rubber and has angled rather than smooth sides, which prevent it from kinking and bending.

The rubber bounces back easily no matter how you twist it, bend it, or step on it, so all you really have to focus on while watering is dragging the hose in the right direction. After multiple rounds of being slammed against concrete and thrown about, the nickel-plated brass fittings held up well, with no warping or dents. 

It fit very securely and tightly on my water connection, and it had the fastest water flow of all the hose contenders: 10.91 gallons per minute. That makes it especially valuable for tasks like filling up a pool or large bucket. If you have a lot of ground to water, the Dramm hose will make the chore go by quickly. 

While it's more expensive than the average hose, the investment is well worth it. Watering your garden or washing your car becomes significantly more pleasant, and you won't have to replace it because of hose body damage or frequent kinking. On top of that, it comes in bright colors that make backyard chores a little more fun. 

Best budget

It's hard to find a cheap hose that doesn't compromise some features, be it durability, kink resistance, or weather resistance. For the most part, what you pay for is what you get in the hose department. 

There is one exception: the Continental hose. It's not dirt-cheap, but it is more affordable than all of our other picks, and it performs very well. 

The hose is heavy, rugged, and durable. It has a thick rubber body and strong solid brass fittings that held up to repeated attacks against concrete. Overall, it provides a smooth and relatively easy watering experience because it fits tightly over the water connection and doesn't kink or bend. The most difficult part is dragging around the 12 pounds of weight. 

Its flow rate is pretty good — 8.57 gallons per minute — which is a little slower than our top pick, the Dramm hose. While I'd say the two hoses are pretty comparable, the Continental is slightly thicker and less efficient, and it doesn't come in multiple colors (just black). That being said, these flaws aren't insurmountable, and I was still satisfied with this budget option. 

Best expandable

This expandable hose from Flexi-Hose offers a creative solution for those who don't like dealing with long and unwieldy hoses. Its unique accordion-style body on the model we tested extends to 50 feet in length during use and quickly shrinks back down to a third of that length when the water is turned off. Unlike many traditional hard-sided hoses, this fabric-covered hose is soft, lightweight, and flexible. Thanks to its unique construction of a latex interior and polyester fabric exterior, it's also impossible to kink no matter how you twist or bend it.  

A convenient brass valve lets you control the flow of water without a separate nozzle (although it also includes a multi-spray nozzle with eight settings). This lets you toggle between different water flow options or stop the flow completely, so you don't waste water as you carry your hose around. The way the hose expands and contracts in your hand when you switch flow options takes some getting used to and may cause a bit of discomfort at first. Be mindful not to drag the hose too far from the water connection when you use the valve, otherwise you'll be pulled back if the hose contracts. 

These brass fittings are heavy-duty and durable. Unlike the plastic components on some other expandable hoses, they held up fine to our tossing them around on concrete. The fabric exterior isn't as rugged as traditional hoses, though, so you'll need to take extra care not to snag it on sharp or pointed objects or landscaping. 

Overall, this expandable hose is still a smart and effective way to complete all your watering tasks without compromising space.

Best heavy-duty

If you need complete and utter confidence that nothing will puncture or break your hose, get one made out of steel. The Tardigrade hose is heavy-duty, with none of the weight or thickness of a rubber hose. 

I actively and aggressively tried to break it by dragging it across different terrains and jumping on it, but my efforts were futile. Rest assured that common concerns like pets, inclement weather, and thorny, rocky landscapes are no match. 

It's thinner and denser than a traditional rubber hose, but I found it relatively easy to maneuver around my backyard since it didn't twist and tangle. The steel body had a nice cool feeling as the water ran through, which also improved my watering experience. Its flow rate, while not as fast as those of the rubber options I tested, was decent at 7.5 gallons per minute. 

Another pro to consider: The steel construction is UV-resistant, so you can leave the hose outside, and it won't get damaged by the sun and crack. 

For flexibility's sake, the body consists of many rings of stainless steel, which may pinch your fingers as you maneuver the hose. I recommend wearing gloves as a precaution.

Best drinking-water safe

 If you plan on drinking water out of your garden hose, the Water Right 500 Series Polyurethane Garden Hose is a great option. According to this 2016 study by the Ecology Center, polyurethane and rubber were the only hose materials found not to have elevated levels of lead, bromine, or antimony, making this polyurethane model an easy choice. 

It's also extremely lightweight — just 5 pounds for 50 feet of hose — which makes it comfortable to carry and store when not in use. Its sturdy construction provides a really solid, durable feel, and unlike some of the softer, more pliable hoses I tested, it barely lost any flow when stepped on. It also fared well in my abrasion tests, with only some minor cosmetic scuffs after tossing around a concrete walkway. The strain relief collars on either end are always nice to see, protecting the connection ends from harmful and frustrating kinks. 

Keep in mind that the Water Right 500 Series Polyurethane Garden Hose was a bit less flexible than some of the other hoses we tested and kept its coil memory tighter. That said, if your priority is safe and non-toxic drinking water for you and your family, we consider that a reasonable trade-off.

Best extra-long

If 25- or 50-foot hose options are too short for your property or gardening project, consider the Flexzilla 100-Foot Garden Hose. Flexibility is especially important when dealing with longer hoses, and the main reason we chose this ultra-flexible option as our top extra-long hose. Unlike more rigid hoses we've used and tested in the past, the Flexzilla is pliable enough to organize and loop together, maneuver and snake around landscaping obstacles or plants, lay flat without coiling up on its own, and connect to a sprinkler without flopping it over. It also has very little coil "memory," which makes it really easy to coil back up in the shape or style you prefer without excessive kinking. 

The longer your garden hose, the more of an impact its weight has on overall usability. Since any extra weight quickly adds up when coiling for storage — as well as transporting to and from your spigot if you don't have a hose reel — the 14-pound weight of the Flexzilla is another major benefit. This lightweight also requires less effort to drag behind you while watering. 

We also found the hybrid polymer construction to be durable in regard to abrasions and scuffing. Even after tossing it around the concrete ground and "accidentally" stepping on it throughout the day, we failed to notice any measurable abrasions or other wear and tear. That being said, the overall flexibility of this material does result in a hose that's more likely to crimp and pinch around corners, unlike a heavier-duty hose with a harder, more rigid sheath around the exterior. Just make sure you're comfortable compromising a little bit of rigidity in exchange for a lighter, easier to manipulate option. 

What to look for

Type of hose: Several types of garden hoses are available, so make sure to pick the best option for your garden's needs.

• Light-duty: These hoses are ideal for smaller tasks, like watering the potted plants on your patio, or compact flower beds in your yard. They're relatively short and lightweight, and are convenient to coil up and store easily.   

  • Standard: Well-suited for general, all-around watering tasks, standard hoses are sturdy enough to handle the wear and tear of frequent use. They're heavier and typically longer than light-duty options, though, and may benefit from a hose hider or reel for storage. 
  • Heavy-duty: Made of thick, durable material, these hoses are rugged enough to be used effectively with pressure washers. This translates to a more expensive hose but also one with a much longer lifespan. 
  • Expandable: The lightweight, accordion-style design of these hoses allow them to contract when not in use, and easily expand when water flows through. This flexibility makes them very convenient to store and transport, although the fabric exterior is vulnerable to snags and rips.
  • Soaker: Instead of spraying water out of a single outlet, soaker hoses release water through thousands of tiny pores. When laid on the ground throughout your garden bed, they provide a slow, efficient supply of water directly to the base of your plants. These hoses conserve water the best but are less functional than typical garden hoses. 
  • Flat: These compact hoses are made of a flexible material that lays flat when empty and expands to full diameter when filled with water. They roll and coil up easily, although they're not as durable as rigid hoses.

Material: Make sure your hose material is best suited for you and your watering needs. If your property is rough and rocky for example, choose a material that's durable enough to handle frequent wear and tear. If you plan on drinking out of your hose, go with a rubber or polyurethane option.

• Rubber: This tough, durable material is used in high-quality, heavy-duty hoses and is less likely to kink. It's expensive though, and heavier than most hose types.

  • Vinyl: Less durable than rubber, vinyl hoses are the cheapest and best for light-duty watering jobs. If you don't want to compromise quality for affordability, look for a hose with both vinyl and rubber construction.
  • Polyurethane: This non-toxic material doesn't leach contaminants, making it safe for drinking out of. It's also strong and flexible enough to last a long time. 
  • Reinforced:  A mesh lining between the layers of a hose adds extra durability, making them less prone to splitting and better-suited to high-pressure applications. 
  • Stainless steel: Hoses encased in flexible stainless steel coils provide maximum protection while still remaining flexible and easy to coil up.
  • Drinking-water safe: 100% rubber and polyurethane hoses are safe for drinking out of, since they are free of BPA, lead, and other harmful contaminants.

Length: Hose length is important because if it's too long, you'll waste energy dragging around extra weight and valuable time coiling it back up. If it is too short, it won't be long enough to function properly. Consider the size of the area being watered, as well as the distance from the spigot to your sprinkler, car, or garden bed.

Hose diameter: The larger the diameter of your hose, the more water it can provide, but the heavier it gets. If maximum water output isn't a priority, consider going with a smaller diameter hose for convenience. Garden hoses typically range from ⅜ to ⅝-inches in diameter.

Coupling: These are the threaded components that connect the hose to the spigot on one end and the spray nozzle on the other. Metal couplings are preferred, with brass being the best option overall due to its durability. Plastic couplings are cheaper but are easily broken and are not practical for heavy-duty or frequent use. 

PSI (Pounds per square inch): This determines the amount of pressure the hose can safely handle to avoid bursting or splitting. The best PSI for you ultimately depends on the pressure of the water coming out of your spigot, which can vary, but around 350 PSI is a good all-around number for general home use. If you plan on using your hose with a pressure washer, double check that its PSI is compatible with the PSI of the machine you're connecting it to.

How we tested garden hoses

We put all 13 hoses through these same four tests: 

Ease of use: How easy was it to move the hose around, roll it up, and water plants? We rated the difficulty on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being "very easy, barely broke a sweat" and 5 being "very difficult, required significant effort." 

Durability: We dragged each hose 50 feet across both concrete and grass and hit the fittings on the ground at different angles 50 times. Then we noted any abrasion and other durability issues with the hose body and the fitting. 

Kink resistance: We bent each hose in a tight "U" shape and stepped on each hose — repeating this sequence five times — to see how it snapped back or remained bent. 

Flow rate: We timed how long it took for the hose to fill a two-gallon bucket and recorded the flow rate in gallons per minute. 

Garden hose FAQs

What size hose should you buy? 

It depends on the size of your lawn and proximity to your water connection. Coulter Lewis, founder of lawn care subscription startup Sunday, said you should consider at least a 50-foot hose.

"If your lawn is 500-2,000 square feet, look for a hose that's 50 feet long. If your lawn is 2,000-5,000 square feet, look for a hose that's more than 75 feet. For more flexibility, consider buying two shorter hoses or an additional short extension hose to combine when needed," he advised. 

For this guide, we focused on 50-foot hoses. They are also available in shorter and longer lengths. 

What's the best material for a garden hose? 

The most common constructions for the hose body are rubber, polyurethane, and vinyl. Jors said, "Rubber tends to be more flexible, but [it's] also the heaviest. That being said, it's less susceptible to cuts and will stand up to rocky landscapes."

If you want something that's lighter, more kink-resistant, and safe for drinking water, polyurethane and other hybrid composite materials are best. Vinyl is the cheapest but also the most prone to kinking. 

As for the fitting — the part that connects your hose to the water source or another hose — you should look for a metal construction. "Faceted brass, nickel-plated, or stainless steel is always recommended. Plastic couplings, although less expensive, do not stand up to heavy-duty use and tend to crack," said Jors. 

How do you reduce and get rid of kinks in your hose? 

It's important to get a strong and flexible hose to reduce the chance of kinking. Beyond looking for rubber or polyurethane, you should also use a hose reel to wind the hose in a controlled fashion, recommends Jors.

Do you need a garden hose nozzle for your hose? 

We highly recommend adding a nozzle to your hose. A nozzle lets you turn the flow of water on and off, saving you water. It also helps you distribute the right flow of water for your specific task (e.g., power washing a deck vs. watering delicate flowers).

We tested the best garden hose nozzles here.

What's the best way to store and extend the longevity of your hose?

"Proper storage of your garden hose will extend its life," said Jors. "I prefer a hose hanger, or in particular a hose reel. It's important when not in use to keep the hose off the ground, and a hose hanger or hose reel will accomplish this."

Also, drain your hose after each use and before storage. Hot and frozen water can damage your hose. 

How long should my garden hose last?

This depends on how well it's treated and the climate of your area, but a good-quality garden hose should last at least five years. 

How can I prevent kinking and knotting?

The best way to prevent kinking and knotting is to coil your hose up as loosely as possible, or, even better, store it in a hose reel.