Hi all,

I do a lot of hand watering and am looking for a new hose. My favorite is more than 20 years old and is showing signs of age lately. I love it - it's flexible but never kinks -  and would get another but the current hoses put out by the company (Colorite) do not get very good reviews.

What brand of hose would you recommend?

I like the ones from Walmart. They won't last 20 years, but have been going for 5 years, or so. They are relatively inexpensive. All the ones from HD have been really expensive, or poor quality. I used to have ones called waterworks which were great but their newer offerings were not of the same quality. I have never seen a hose that didn't kink, unless it was a steel pipe.

I like this 3/4"x100' hose with a lifetime warranty from Tractor Supply.I paid $50ea for the two that I've been using for 2 years.These hoses are heavier than the cheaper hoses so some people....like my mother complain about the hose being too heavy.

They appear to be on sale now.No shipping to CA,but maybe they are in stock at your local stores.


http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/groundworkreg%3B-pro-series-contractor-hose-black-100-ft-l

I've always had the best results with Flexogen hoses.

there are things i would buy for life.. hose isn't one of them. main reason being i occationally forget to put them away and ride over it with my john deere. so i get $20 hose from sam's club and they go anywhere between 2-4 yrs.. depends on when i ride over them.

OMG Pete, I am laughing so hard! I don't generally run over the hoses with the John Deere but I have taken out the well and the BBQ. I almost got the septic and that one scared me a little. Septic sprinklers are a steady lunch for the mower.
I asked my husband why the neighbor put solar lights right beside his septic sprinklers and my son piped in and informed me that he probably didn't want them eated by the mower so it was more like a marker flag. Oops.

I was going to start a thread on this.  Check your hose label.  Very few are labeled safe for drinking water.  Most are labeled "not safe for drinking water"  Some have anti-microbial linings.  I decided I don't want to water my figs with a hose that's not safe to drink out of.  I always end up at Home Despot for hoses.  They have 2 100 footers that are safe for drinking water ($49 & $59 here).

I've had good luck with the 100 footers at Costco for $20.  They have a lifetime warranty.  I've bought six of them over the last several years -- big yard - and only one has failed (some bulging).  I got the defective one replaced with no problem.

I like the Sears all rubber hoses.  They have stainless steel fittings and a lifetime warranty.  They put them on sale fairly often.

I have 2 of the 120' hoses from Sam's Club (grey with a red stripe).  They have been spread out across the field in the hot central Texas sun for 4 years and still do not have any issues with them.  They are inexpensive and very good quality.  I think they have a lifetime warranty as well.  Fortunately for me, I need the length.  For those who don't, I have not seen a shorter version of this hose.

I dread the kinks in the hose each time I move the hose around the backyard and the side. This thread will give some consolation and hopefully some (economical) solution other than drip system.

I have no recommendations as I buy whatever is on close-out or if possible any hoses made out of really bright colors as I tend to have the same problem as Pete and all of my hoses have between one and 7 patches due to "unforeseen spinning blade mishaps".

I agree with Bob's post and caution all about being very carefull about which hoses they do bring home.
It seems a large fraction of the hoses available these days are not safe to use on food products.

Buyer beware.

Anyone ever use these self-expanding and self-shrinking "Pocket" hoses?   TV is loaded with commercials showing these hoses that look like they might be a gimmick, and, too good to be true.  I was thinking about buying one, and I will really only use it to mater my fig trees.  So, it will get very light use.

So, fact or fantasy, re: these expandable hoses?



Frank

Thank you all for the hose recommendations. I looked up some, and some aren't available locally. I think I'll just have to see what's available in my area. Costco is a definite option, but I've had mixed results with their hoses over the years. 

I also don't want to have to do a lot of hose repairs since that decreases the diameter of the hose, and hence the effective stream of water. I just ordered a 'full flow' Y divider for the hose bib in back, and 'full flow' on-off thing for the end of the hose. Some of the really cheap ones greatly restrict the amount of water that can get through. Water pressure at the front of the house is great, but not as much in the back - it all adds up.

I second the Sears (craftsman)....lifetime warranty.  I ran over the end one time with my truck and they replaced it no questions asked.  In fact, it was 50' one and they did not have one, so they said take a 75'.