After Testing 20 Expandable Hoses, We Found 5 Worth the Money

Expandable hoses are self-draining alternatives to standard garden hoses. Made with inner cores that stretch up to three times their resting length and outer fabric shells that protect the inside from punctures and abrasion, these twist- and kink-resistant hoses are strong, lightweight, and easy to store. Turn the water on, and they expand to their maximum size. Turn it off, and they shrink all the way back down. 

Unfortunately, there are dozens of low-quality expandable hoses on the market, so we put 20 highly reviewed options to the test to see which are worth the money. The Pocket Hose 75-Foot Copper Head Expandable Garden Hose came out on top for its durable construction (surviving everything from our dogs using it as a chew toy to our daughter backing over it), high-quality connectors, and useful 10-setting sprayer. Read on to learn about the Pocket Hose and the rest of the best expandable hoses to find the right one for your lawn care needs.

1. BEST OVERALL: Pocket Hose 75-Foot Copper Head Expandable Garden Hose 
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Black+Decker 25-Foot Expanding Garden Hose 
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3. BEST COIL-STYLE: Orbit 25-Foot Coil Garden Hose With 8-Pattern Nozzle
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4. BEST FOR LARGE YARDS: J&B XpandaHose 150-Foot Expandable Garden Hose
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5. BEST FOR COLD WEATHER: Flexi Hose Expandable Hose With 8-Function Nozzle
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Expandable Hoses Comparison

Our Top Picks

The following hoses are lightweight, strong, and durable, and each one connected easily to spray nozzles and spigots without leaking in our tests.

Our Ratings

Don’t call it a comeback: After crowning the 25-foot Pocket Hose the best overall in last year’s best expandable hoses guide, the expanded 75-foot version takes the title this year. Made with a tear-resistant polymer blend exterior, a three-layer high-strength latex interior, and copper-anodized aluminum fittings, it’s as durable as it is user-friendly. It comes with a convenient 10-pattern spray nozzle and has an on/off switch that lets you control the flow no matter where your watering has taken you.

In our tests, we were sincerely impressed with everything about this pick. We have quite a large yard, and even though it’s been unseasonably warm this spring, it’s too early to turn our sprinklers on. That means we’ve been lugging massive hoses around the yard for weeks, trying to turn our dust bowl of a lawn into something the dogs won’t tear up every time they scramble after a ball. In that time, we haven’t found a single thing about the Pocket Hose we don’t like. It’s super lightweight, easy to connect to a sprinkler or the included spray nozzle, and convenient to store between uses. It survived being driven over without issue and showed no signs of our pups briefly mistaking it for a new toy. Plus, it comes in sizes ranging from just 25 feet all the way up to 150 feet.  

What our tester says: “Winter and early spring have been super dry, and after hauling heavy rubber hoses around our large yard for the last few weeks, the Pocket Hose has made moving sprinklers way easier. We haven’t used our old hoses since!”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Pocket Hose expandable hose at Amazon, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Walmart.

Our Ratings

Excellent expandable hoses don’t have to be expensive. If you need a hose for a small space but don’t want to waste your time with one that leaks or kinks, this budget-friendly 25-foot model from Black+Decker is worth a look. At just over a pound, it features a soft yet strong fabric covering that won’t scuff surfaces, along with helmet-grade ABS quick-connect couplings that attach and detach in seconds. Should it hit a sharp snag that results in a mid-hose spray, it’s easy to fix by simply cutting off the damaged section and reattaching the plastic fittings.

Although this pick contracts from 25 feet when filled with water down to just 12.5 feet when empty, it doesn’t really self-drain like other expandable hoses. Instead, once the pressure inside begins to drop, it simply starts to contract down to its ready-for-storage size. It doesn’t have an on/off switch like many options on this list, and it’s also the only one that doesn’t come with a spray nozzle. That said, the price is right for the convenience its lightweight body offers, and it still looked brand new after being left out in full sun and getting backed over by a car. 

Get the Black+Decker expandable hose at Amazon.

Our Ratings

Rather than expanding both length-wise and width-wise like standard expandable hoses, coil garden hoses work much like springs, stretching when full of water and recoiling when empty. expand only in length. Out of the box, this version from Orbit measured just 14 inches long, but when filled with water, it grew to almost 25 feet. That means this collapsible garden hose is compact enough for even the smallest of storage spaces: in a garage, closet, or even a camper.

This pick comes with an 8-pattern trigger-style spray nozzle that’s perfect for everything from misting plants to spraying off patio furniture, but the trigger does get a bit uncomfortable to squeeze during long projects. Also, the PVC hose body and plastic connectors don’t feel quite as durable as other hoses we tested, but the Orbit is still a good value for the price—especially for those needing a small, lightweight hose that recoils itself.

Get the Orbit expandable garden hose at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Walmart, or Orbit.

Our Ratings

It’s not easy to find quality expandable hoses that exceed 100 feet, which is why we were so impressed by this 150-foot option from J&B. It weighs just a fraction of what a traditional rubber garden hose of the same length would, which made it incredibly easy to pull around our yard, through the grass, to our back patio, and over our concrete steps in our tests. 

The connectors were easy to attach to our spigot, and once this extra-long water hose became fully filled with water, we never experienced any tangling or kinking. The solid brass connectors survived our drop tests without issue, and we appreciated the versatility of the 10 spray patterns on the included nozzle. Liking the spray nozzle was actually a bit of a surprise, as trigger-style models like this tend to get uncomfortable to squeeze for extended periods, but this one felt comfortable in hand. The J&B XpandaHose also comes with a storage bag and storage hook, making it easy to stash away between uses.

Get the J&B expandable hose at Amazon.

Our Ratings

It’s never a good idea to leave an expandable water hose outdoors during the winter months, especially in harsh conditions. But gardeners living in colder climates may still want a hose for outdoor chores, and this garden hose with durable brass fittings is an excellent choice. In our tests, the Flexi Hose’s solid-brass fittings connected snugly to the spigot and didn’t leak. When filled with water, the lightweight watering hose expanded just beyond its listed maximum length to 50.5 feet. 

This pick’s four-layer latex core is 10 millimeters thick, which the manufacturer claims provides extra protection against cold temperatures. We left the Flexi Hose outside for 24 hours—and it just happened to get rained on—and it didn’t seem any worse for it. It withstood a car driving over it and having its connectors banged on the concrete without even a scuff. Its eight-setting spray nozzle features an ergonomic, slip-resistant handle that’s especially nice, but the sprayer is slightly smaller than competing models. 

Get the Flexi Hose expandable hose at Amazon or Flexi Hose.

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Expandable Hoses

To get from 20 popular expandable hoses down to the five we recommend, we put each one through a series of consistent tests. We began by pressurizing them with water, leaving them out in the elements for at least 24 hours, and backing over them with a car. To ensure the fittings were strong, we banged them on the concrete, reconnected the hoses, and checked for leaks. We then watered trees, shrubs, and planters in our yard, noting how comfortably the sprayers fit in our hands and how easy it was to pull the hoses around the yard. At the end of our efforts, we tallied the results and assigned each worthy product an award.

Our Testing Scores

What to Consider When Choosing an Expandable Hose 

Expandable hoses do all the jobs that conventional garden hoses do, and they’re an excellent option in tight spaces where other hoses kink and twist. As with an automatic retractable hose reel, they’re ideal for homes with limited storage space and for anyone who’s tired of lugging around heavy traditional rubber hoses. 

The best expandable garden hoses swell under moderate water pressure, drain themselves, and resist wear and tear. The quality of this type of shrinking garden hose varies based on construction, hose length, fittings, weight, and attached spray nozzles. Most of the hoses we tested came with multifunction spray nozzles, although virtually any spray nozzle will fit.

Material

Hose materials can make the difference between a long-lasting, high-quality expandable hose and one that’s dead in the water. The exterior of the hose, which protects the core from damage, should be tough enough to resist abrasion and punctures yet quick-drying enough to resist mildew growth. To expand to full length under pressure and shrink back to its original size when not in use, it must also be extremely pliable. 

Expandable hoses come in two different core materials: 

• Latex: A natural rubber, latex is used in rubber gloves, balloons, and many other common rubber items, including the core of an expandable hose. Rubber hoses typically feature a double-layer latex core, though some manufacturers offer triple- and quadruple-layer cores.
• TPC: Thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) is commonly used for industrial tubing. Because TPC is so tough and durable, hoses made with it come at a premium. 

For the most part, protective shells are made of nylon. Rugged and resistant to mold and mildew, nylon stands up to the rigors of lawn and garden care. 

Number of Cores

The core of a flexible garden hose designed to shrink and expand has to be both stretchy and strong. Though these retractable hoses have protective shells, grit can work its way in over time, leading to punctures and abrasions. For this reason, most hoses feature at least a double-layer core, though some have as many as four layers.

The downside of extra layers is that they add resistance, meaning the bendable water hose needs more pressure to expand to its full advertised length. Multiple hose core layers also absorb some of that pressure in order to stretch the hose out, which reduces the amount of water pressure the hose propels. 

Hose Fittings

Hose fittings, which connect hoses to outdoor water faucets and spray nozzles, may be made of brass or plastic. Plastic fittings are inexpensive and relatively durable, but they can cross-thread after repeated use, which leads to leaks. Solid brass connectors hold up to repeated threading and unthreading much better, but they’re heavier and more expensive.

Quick-connect fittings that let you attach the hose to the water spigot or hose splitter without threading are available separately.

Hose Length and Weight

The approximate hose length listed on the manufacturer’s packaging corresponds to the length of the fully extended hose. A 50-foot extending garden hose, for example, may only extend 17 feet without water pressure. Longer hoses allow for increased mobility, and multilayered cores combined with weak water pressure can shorten the operational hose length, so it doesn’t hurt to buy the next size up. 

Weight is almost a non-issue with expandable hoses, as these lightweight hoses typically weigh only 1.5 to 3 pounds (about one-fifth that of a conventional hose). That means fixtures and nozzles have more impact on weight, with brass fixtures and nozzles being heavier (but more durable) than plastic ones.

Nozzle

Most expandable hoses come with either plastic or metal nozzles with different spray patterns, such as gentle mists perfect for watering seeds and high-pressure jet streams strong enough to rinse caked mud off sidewalks. 

Other common patterns include:

• Shower: Designed for watering the garden and individual planters
• Flat: Designed for fragile plants and young seedlings
• Cone: Designed for greater coverage, like watering the lawn before a fertilizer application
• Soak: Designed for watering large trees and shrubs

Since most expandable hoses have standard ¾-inch fittings, you can purchase a standard nozzle or a high-quality hose-end sprayer separately if needed.

Flow Rate

An expandable garden hose’s flow rate depends on your home’s water pressure (the EPA recommends a service pressure between 45 and 60 PSI) as well as the hose’s dimensions (a longer hose has a lower flow rate, but a wider diameter increases that rate).

Standard garden hoses measure ⅝ inch in diameter, resulting in a flow rate of 17 gallons per minute (in ideal conditions) when attached to a 40-PSI spigot. Thicker hoses with a ¾-inch diameter, however, push out up to 23 gallons per minute. Since some homes have high water pressure, garden hose specs typically include a rating for the maximum pressure they can withstand without blowing out.

If your spigot’s water pressure is over 50 PSI, consider attaching a flow reducer to keep the water from exerting too much pressure in a hose that expands. Similar to a soaker hose, a quality expandable hose is not as durable as a standard garden hose and won’t withstand as much internal water pressure.

The Advantages of Owning an Expandable Hose

Thanks to advances in materials and technology, expandable garden hoses have become enormously popular over the past few years. Because they’re so lightweight, compact, and flexible, they’re easy to move and simple to store. They’re also durable enough to last, surviving abrasions, punctures, and changing weather conditions. Many also come with solid-brass connectors and convenient adjustable spray nozzles. 

Here are some of the main advantages of expandable hoses:

• Expandable hoses are very lightweight, which makes them easy to use and transport.
• Expandable hoses self-drain and shrink to about one-third of their full length for compact storage on a shelf or hose hanger.
• Expandable hoses don’t kink, twist, or tangle the way conventional hoses often do. 

FAQs

Since using an expanding garden hose is a bit different from what you may be used to with a traditional model, some additional information may be useful. 

Q. How do you use an expandable garden hose?

Attach the nozzle to the hose and the hose to the water supply. Then, turn on the water and set your hose timer. Although we did so during testing, use care not to drag the hose over rough surfaces or drive over it to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Q. How do you repair an expandable hose?

To repair an expandable hose, cut cleanly through it at the damaged area and use a hose repair kit to reconnect the cut ends.

Q. What’s the best way to store an expandable hose?

To store an expandable hose, disconnect it from the water supply and allow it to drain. Store the hose out of extreme temperatures and direct sunlight, placing it on a hanging hook or in a carrying bag.

Q. What is the downside of expandable hoses?

The continual expansion and contraction of a collapsible hose​ can cause leaks, especially near fittings. Their outer fabric layer is also vulnerable to snagging on rocks or sticks, which can lead to tears.

Q. Can you leave expandable hoses outside in winter?

No, you shouldn’t leave expandable hoses out during the winter. Even the most durable garden hoses can develop cracks or leaks if water inside them repeatedly freezes and thaws. 

Q. How long should an expandable hose last?

With proper care, a good expandable hose can last up to 10 years.

Q. What size hose gives the best pressure

Standard ⅝-inch hoses are usually the best all-around choice, but actual pressure depends on both hose diameter and hose length. Smaller hoses tend to lose pressure over their length but are easier to handle, while larger hoses maintain better pressure but are heavier and less convenient.

Meet the Testers

Michelle Larson spent her childhood drinking from hoses, attaching them to Slip n’ Slides, and using them to fill water balloons. As an adult and seasoned product tester, hoses have definitely become more synonymous with work than fun, but she did do a little dance of delight watching the picks in this list shrink down to their more minute sizes. 

Katie Barton has spent hundreds of hours watering flowers at her family’s greenhouse business, giving her insight into what makes a quality garden hose. She extensively tests products to help readers find the best bang for their buck.

Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She reviews a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.

Additional research provided by Mark Wolfe and Savannah Sher.

 

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