The most durable garden hoses to buy this summer, according to Consumer Reports
Garden hoses that resist cracking can last for years. Consumer Reports tested five models for flow, strength and kink resistance to find top picks
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Garden hoses face constant strain from kinks, cracks and daily drags across the yard. A hose that fails partway through summer means a sudden trip to the store and a wasted afternoon of watering.
Consumer Reports tested standard and expandable hoses for flow, strength and kink resistance to find the ones built to last.
1 / 5
Eley 50-Foot Polyurethane Garden Hose
Credit: Eley
At $113, the Eley 50-foot polyurethane hose costs more than any other model in this roundup, and Consumer Reports gave it the top score in its evaluation of standard garden hoses. It delivered the strongest flow and pull-test results of any standard hose CR examined, with brass fittings built to handle rough handling. The hose weighs 7 pounds, doesn't include a nozzle and carries a 10-year warranty. Eley says the fittings are lead-free and safe to drink from, though CR didn't test that claim, and the hose scored a touch lower on flexibility than on strength or flow.
2 / 5
Teknor Apex Zero G 50-Foot Flexible Hose
Credit: Teknor Apex
The $42 Teknor Apex Zero G finished just a few points behind the Eley in Consumer Reports' testing, at less than half the price. It matched the Eley's strength score and edged past it on flexibility and kink resistance, though CR measured its flow a step behind. The hose weighs 4.2 pounds, uses aluminum connectors with brass inserts and doesn't include a nozzle. Teknor Apex says the hose is lead-safe for drinking water and backs it with a five-year warranty.
3 / 5
Flexzilla 50-Foot Garden Hose
Credit: Flexzilla
Flexzilla's $40 hose comes in five colors, including neon green and a shade the company calls red clay, an option none of the other hoses in this roundup offer. Consumer Reports found its flow and strength results matched the Eley's, but the hose lagged in kink-resistance testing. The hose is made from a hybrid polymer with aluminum connectors, weighs 7.2 pounds and doesn't include a nozzle. Flexzilla backs it with a lifetime warranty and says it's lead-free and safe to drink from, a claim CR didn't independently test.
4 / 5
XHose Pro 50-Foot Expandable Garden Hose
Credit: XHose
None of the expandable hoses Consumer Reports tested performed as well as the standard models, but the $32 XHose Pro topped its category and cost less than any other hose in this test. It posted only a middling flow score, but CR found it among the strongest performers in the expandable category for flexibility, strength and kink resistance. The hose weighs 2.2 pounds, is made of polypropylene and includes an on-off valve at the spigot end. XHose backs it with a five-year warranty, but the company doesn't claim the hose is lead-free or safe for drinking water.
5 / 5
J&B XpandaHose 50-Foot Expandable Garden Hose
Credit: Amazon
The J&B XpandaHose costs $68 and is the only model in this roundup that includes a nozzle. Consumer Reports rated its flow performance mediocre, similar to the XHose Pro's, though it turned in strong results for strength, flexibility and kink resistance. The hose is made of latex, measures three-quarters of an inch in diameter and weighs 2.3 pounds. J&B backs the hose with a lifetime warranty, though the company doesn't claim it's lead-free or safe for drinking water.
