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Trying to choose the best garden hose may feel too complicated, because every manufacturer places too many demands on the flexibility, maneuverability, durability, etc. of their hoses. Add in the claims of anti-kink, anti-twist, anti-extrusion, and anti-algae, and it's hard to know where to start.
But which garden hoses are actually the easiest to use and can be used for more than a year or two before they need to be replaced?
We have tested 10 garden hoses from leading brands such as Hozelock, Gardena, B&Q and Wickes so that we can tell you which ones can last and are pleasant to use.
The price was last checked on December 1, 2021.
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Which one to log in only? Members can view the garden hose test results below. If you are not a member yet, you will see an alphabetical list of the hoses we have tested. Which one to join? Now access our test scores and Best Buy recommendations below.
The cheapest price: £7 for B&Q exclusive.
This ultra-cheap garden hose promises easy installation and comes with an attractive five-year warranty. But how does a cheap hose compare to a hose that is almost 10 times more expensive?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £11.75. Available on Amazon.
Available length: 15 meters, 30 meters, 50 meters
This Amazon's Choice hose is one of the cheapest hoses we have tested, and it is expected to be kinking resistant and easy to clean. But how resistant is this hose to bending and squeezing? How many times did it kink in our tests?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £23.99 available at Screwfix.
Available lengths: 15 meters, 20 meters, 30 meters, 50 meters
Fitt said the hose has technology to prevent common problems such as kinking, twisting and folding. But is this what we experienced in the test?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £29.99 available at the Gates Garden Center. Amazon Marshalls is also available (out of stock).
This attractive hose has a long-term guarantee. It is made of four layers of flexible material and is expected to prevent kinks and twists. But how does it perform in our durability test?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £43.29. Available at Amazon Gardena.
Available length: 20 meters, 25 meters, 50 meters
This expensive hose has a warranty of up to 30 years. But even though Gardena is confident in its durability, how does it perform in our rough press, twist, and tensile tests? Is it worth spending so much money on garden plumbing?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £18.50. Available on Wickes and Amazon.
Available length: 15 meters, 30 meters, 50 meters
Hozelock says the wear-resistant braided structure of this hose guarantees quality and durability. But how does it cope with our rigorous durability tests?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
The cheapest price: £17 for B&Q.
Available length: 15 meters, 25 meters, 50 meters
Hozelock Ultramax has a longer warranty period than Hozelock’s starting hoses, but will the claimed extra durability affect the flexibility of the hose and its ease of use?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £10.15. Available on Amazon.
Silverline said the hose is kinking resistant, durable and easy to use. We tested this relatively inexpensive hose to see how it stacks up compared to more expensive hoses.
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £15 available at B&Q (out of stock).
This vibrant green garden hose does feel sturdy and has a long-term guarantee. But how does it withstand some severe rough handling in our durability test, and is it easy to kink?
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
Cheapest price: £7 exclusively for Wickes.
This is one of the cheapest hoses we have tested, it still promises to be kink resistant and comes with a 10-year warranty. We conducted a series of usability and durability tests on this hose to see if it is really worth the money.
Which one to log in now or join? Unlock our test results.
You may be surprised to find that there are various types of hoses. Here is a quick summary of what they are best suited for:
While we were testing ordinary garden hoses, we also tried Hozelock's expandable hoses.
which one? Members can log in to read our views on the following types of hoses. If you are not a member, please register now.
You just bought a new Best Buy hose and want to take care of it. Here are some tips to help you get started:
The best garden hose should be easy to install, roll up, and tow in your garden.
However, the challenge for a decent hose is to be flexible enough to be easy to use and strong enough to withstand years of rough handling.
We designed our test to find the easiest to use and most durable hose.
We rated each hose based on how easy it is to set up and connect to the standard reel, including attaching the spray gun to its end and firmly connecting the hose to the reel.
We also evaluated how easy it is for each hose to roll onto the reel from the front and at a 90-degree angle. Each hose is wound on the reel 10 times from different angles.
We drag each hose from the reel in the back garden of the house to the front to wash the car.
The hose was then bypassed a wide obstacle course, including stretching the hose upward and over the raised bed, between two wheeled bins, around a child’s swing, and finally spraying the garden at the bottom of the garden quickly. The tree ends.
All these mobility tests were completed five times, and we noticed how many times (if any) each hose was kinked during these tests.
Each hose is bent back and forth 15 times in rapid succession to check whether it is damaged, twisted 15 times to check, and then twisted and stretched 15 times in rapid succession and checked again.
Finally, each hose is crushed under a heavy-duty cricket roller for 24 hours. After that, check each hose for damage and evaluate how quickly it can return to its original shape (if any).
After each durability test, reconnect the hose to the water supply system and check for any leaks.
We have selected 15-meter or 20-meter hoses from the largest brands, as well as cheaper alternatives. Prices range from £5 to nearly £50.
We purchased all tested products.