The Complete Garden Hose and Reel Cheat Sheet

 

A beautiful lawn and gorgeous garden are a source of pride. However, they take some serious TLC with fertilizer and careful maintenance, and when the plants get thirsty, they need water. Lots of water. The tried-and-true way to get water from spigot to sprout is an old-fashioned garden hose. But what type of garden hose is best? Go shopping and you’ll find an incredible assortment to choose from. Since a good garden hose and hose reel can last a long time, grab this cheat sheet so you can choose the best one.

 

Garden Hoses

Length, materials, fittings, use—all of these should be considered when choosing the best garden hose for your purpose. How much water do you need? That will help you figure out the diameter of hose. How about the way you spray? A light mist, a powerful jet, or a wide-area soak use different nozzles and/or different nozzle settings. Let’s find your perfect garden hose.

Common Garden Hose Characteristics

Length: What is the distance from the spigot to the area that needs water? Measured in feet, common hose lengths are 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet. But they can come in shorter and much longer lengths, anywhere from 6 to 600 feet! Measure the distance you need, then add a few feet.

Materials: Garden hoses are available in a variety of flexible materials. These three are the most common:

  • PVC/vinyl—Also known in garden hose material terms as simply “vinyl.” PVC hoses are often the most budget-friendly, good for everyday light-duty tasks such as watering a lawn or garden.
  • Rubber—A little heavier-duty than PVC, rubber hoses are more durable, more flexible, and less prone to kinking than PVC hoses. They tend to be the most expensive.
  • Rubber and PVC composite—These are the best of both worlds, combining the durability of rubber with the flexibility of PVC.

Diameter: Typically ranging from as small as ¼" to as large as 1", hoses come in a variety of sizes. The larger the diameter of a hose, the more water it can carry. However, larger hoses are heavier.

Fittings: Fittings are the connectors that attach a hose to a spigot. There are two main types of fittings: metal and plastic.

  • Metal—Many metal fittings are brass, though aluminum and zinc are sometimes used. They can be more difficult to tighten than plastic but are more durable.
  • Plastic—The most economical choice, plastic fittings are more prone to wear than metal fittings.

Durability: Garden hoses come in different levels of toughness, depending on the use.

  • Light-duty—These are lightweight and easy to coil or wind on a hose reel but lack the resilience of heavy-duty hoses. They are great for general use in small home gardens.
  • Standard-duty—When you think of a hose for general garden work or for watering your lawn, you picture a standard hose. They’re useful for everyday projects and roll smoothly on a hose reel.
  • Heavy-duty—If your hose will be stepped on, tossed around, or left exposed to the elements, a strong heavy-duty hose will best fit your needs. They are more durable, last longer, and are less prone to damage than other hoses, but they can be very weighty.

 

Garden Hose Cheat Sheet 

These hoses are a sampling of the many different versions available and provide a great place to start your search.

25' Rubber Garden Hose 75' Rubber Garden Hose 100' Polypropylene Garden Hose
This rubber garden hose can carry both hot and cold water at high pressure and works well in commercial settings like landscaping and washing equipment and facilities. With a larger ¾" interior diameter, this abrasion-resistant rubber garden hose carries a greater volume of water. It has heavy-duty fittings and can handle water pressure in excess of 400 psi. Some hoses are made of a combination of materials, such as this blend of rubber and plastic. It’s much lighter and more flexible than similar-sized rubber hoses, and the material greatly reduces kinking.

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ⅝"
  • Hose length: 25'
  • Hose material: rubber
  • Kink resistant: no

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ¾"
  • Hose length: 75'
  • Hose material: rubber
  • Kink resistant: no

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ⅝"
  • Hose length: 100'
  • Hose material: rubber and plastic
  • Kink resistant: yes
100' PVC Garden Hose 100' Polymer Garden Hose 100" EPDM Garden Hose

Made for cold water, this heavy-duty hose features crush-proof aluminum fittings and can handle 400 psi water pressure.

Lightweight and kink-resistant, this hose lays flat when unrolled. It’s drinking-water safe, and has anodized aircraft aluminum fittings. Hoses made with EPDM rubber are UV-resistant and are used for landscaping and grounds maintenance. Brass fittings add to durability and long life.

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ⅝"
  • Hose length: 100'
  • Hose material: rubber/plastic
  • Kink resistant: no

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ¾"
  • Hose length: 100'
  • Hose material: polymer
  • Kink resistant: yes

Specifications:

  • Hose diameter: ¾"
  • Hose length: 100'
  • Hose material: EPDM 
  • Kink resistant: yes

 

Garden Hose Reels Cheat Sheet

A solid hose reel provides more than just a place to hold a garden hose. It keeps hoses untangled and unkinked, off the ground, and reduces wear otherwise caused by laying on the ground. Some reels hide hoses from view, some are portable, and others are permanently mounted to a wall or post. Check out these options for examples of the best garden hose reels.

Garden Hose Reel Cabinet Wall-Mount Hose Reel Portable Garden Hose Reel Cart Freestanding Garden Hose Reel
Hand-crank hose reels keep garden hoses secure and hidden from view. The hose is pulled out when needed, then the hand crank winds it back inside. They are used anywhere a hose is needed but must be stored out of sight, such as decks and patios, nurseries, gardens, and landscaping. Keep garden hoses mounted securely on the wall and off the ground with plastic hose reels. A hand crank winds the hose for simple storage. Tote up to 300' of hose to your garden, landscape project, or backyard pool with this wheeled cart. A hand crank quickly rolls the hose back onto the spindle. Like a wall-mounted garden hose reel, this is attached to a dedicated pole with a base or stake set in the ground and placed anywhere it’s needed. Since it’s on a spinner, the reel can rotate to face the user for faster unwinding and rolling of the hose.

Specifications:

  • Reel material: resin
  • Hose capacity: 225'
  • (⅝" diameter)
  • Maximum operating pressure: 150 psi
  • Features: storage bin for accessories

Specifications:

  • Reel material: polypropylene
  • Hose capacity: 100' (⅝"diameter)
  • Maximum operating pressure: 85 psi
  • Features: hose guide allows for 180° arc

Specifications:

  • Reel material: steel
  • Hose capacity: 200'
  • (⅝" diameter)
  • Maximum operating pressure: 150 psi
  • Features: 4 pneumatic tires

Specifications:

  • Reel material: steel
  • Hose capacity: 300'
  • (⅝" diameter)
  • Maximum operating pressure: 150 psi
  • Features: heavy-duty bracing and 360° swivel

 

Nozzles

There are many different nozzles that deliver water in many different ways. Some let you control the amount of spray, while others direct the spray in a certain way. Some do both. Some have brass fittings, some have plastic. There are short nozzles, long wands, and everything in between, so there’s a nozzle just for you.

Pistol Grip

Twist Wand Fan

Sometimes called a spray gun nozzle, they have a pull handle you squeeze, letting you control the amount of water and the type of spray.

A simple classic style, these nozzles open and close with a twisting motion that controls the volume of water. Designed to water areas that are hard to reach, these provide a rigid extension to the end of a flexible hose. A wide mouth gives off a low-pressure spray that covers a large area, perfect for watering delicate plants.

 

From basic light-duty hoses for the backyard to heavy-duty, high-pressure hoses that clean the grimiest equipment, there’s a garden hose for your every need. Customize your setup with an everyday nozzle, some specialized ones, and a reliable hose reel for storage. The most important thing is to grab this guide and gear up with the complete watering and irrigation lineup at Zoro.

 

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Product Compliance and Suitability

The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness, or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand, and follow all manufacturer instructions.