Best Garden Hoses

Types of garden hoses

Most garden hoses are categorised by whether they’re retractable or manual, however expandable hoses are an up-and-comer that might make their mark in the gardening world in the future.

Retractable hose reels

Retractable garden hoses are stored in a plastic casing or housing, and can be triggered to draw the hose back in.

Manual hose reels

Manual reels require you to gather the hose and loop it continuously over the reel by hand.

You can also find semi-manual hose reels, which you guide into the reel, while turning a handle that pulls the hose over the reel. Like manual hoses, these also take more effort to use.

A soaker hose is another type of hose that's made of a porous material, letting water seep out of the tubing slowly and steadily. They’re placed around the base of plants, and are used to get water down to their roots.

What to look for in a garden hose

Hose length

To determine how much hose you need, measure the farthest distance in your yard from the tap which you’ll connect your hose to, and look for a hose 1 or 2 metres longer than that length.

Hoses usually come in lengths ranging from around 15m to 30m; 15m is usually suitable for smaller yards, while you’ll often find a 25m hose does the job for most Aussie backyards.

Longer doesn’t necessarily mean better when it comes to hose length - if you have too much length for your yard, the cord might keep kinking and getting tangled.

A longer hose will also cost more, require more storage space, and be heavier to drag around your yard.

Hose diameter

The larger the diameter of your hose, the more water it can carry. Most people will find that a diameter of 12mm is sufficient for typical gardening duties, as it’s a good balance between water flow and pressure while still being relatively lightweight.

For those in need of a higher water pressure, consider opting for a 14mm hose. You can even find 18mm garden hoses (and wider), however these are generally only suited for use in rural areas or for commercial purposes.

Flexibility

A good garden hose is flexible enough to easily store and move around your yard, however isn’t so flexible that it kinks easily. Kinking can slow or stop water flow, and can also cause the hose to split, shortening its lifespan.

Garden hoses will generally kink when you twist them, however reinforced and rubber hoses are less likely to.

When shopping around, bend a hose into a U shape - if it kinks, you may want to keep looking. Some manufacturers will also advertise their hoses as being ‘kink-resistant’ (take these claims with a grain of salt) or having a high kink-resistance rating - this may be useful when comparing different models.

Features

There are some features that make using your garden hose easier and safer.

• Automatic rewind system: An auto-rewind function on a retractable hose neatly coils the hose back into the storage unit, meaning less time spent carefully arranging it.
• 180° swivel: A mounting bracket with 180° of swivel lets the hose easily follow the direction you walk in as you water your garden.
• Locking mechanism: This lets you secure the hose at a length that’s convenient for you, so you don’t have annoying excess that leads to more kinks, more tangles, and more safety hazards.
• Slow rewind: Hoses with slow rewind retract themselves at a slow speed if you accidentally let go of it, making it more safe, especially for the elderly.
• Spring-loaded: A spring-loaded hose snaps back into the casing when you trigger the rewind function, so you can quickly finish up your gardening.
• Child lock: This stops curious little fingers from drawing the hose out of the casing when activated, so you’re not slapped with a hefty water bill and a drenched kid.
• Lockable: Some hose reels can be padlocked to the mounting, giving you extra peace of mind, particularly if you’ve forked out quite a bit of money for an expensive model.

Durability

Water is precious, particularly in a place as dry as Australia, which is why looking for durable, leak-proof garden hose fittings is important.

Solid brass hose fittings are generally the norm for most high-quality garden hoses, as well as some stainless steel fittings. Your fittings will go through a lot - they’ll be twisted, pulled, and exposed to the elements, so opting for metal fittings over plastic will likely let you enjoy your hose for years to come.

Read reviews to see how long a certain hose has lasted for other people, and whether parts have been easy to repair or replace when something goes wrong.

Ease of use

Look for ergonomic, easy to twist (yet still secure) fittings that can be used by people of all ages and abilities, particularly if your hose will be used by someone with mobility difficulties.

You should also consider how easy a water hose reel is to install - look for easy to read instructions that make doing it yourself a breeze, even if you don’t consider yourself much of a handyperson.

Hose storage

You can find wall-mounted hose reels or portable hose reels. While wall-mounted models are generally preferred, you may want a portable model if you want to store the hose in a different place to where your tap is located, or if you want to take it between different yards.

Price

Garden hoses can cost anywhere from $50 to $250 and upwards. You should expect to pay more the more durable you want your fittings to be, and the more features you want your hose to have. Retractable hoses are also pricier than their manual counterparts.

Look for a healthy warranty for your hose - the longer the warranty, the more faith a manufacturer has in the lifespan of their product. Some hoses also come with money-back guarantees, so you can return your hose within a short period of time (usually a month) if it’s not a right fit for you.

The bottom line

There isn’t a single garden hose that’s perfect for everyone and all kinds of yards. The size of the area you need your hose to reach, how you’ll use it, where you’ll store your hose, and your budget will determine what’s well-suited for you.