The Best Garden Hoses of 2023

The Flexzilla hose is the best garden hose you can buy. It manages to be light and flexible without sacrificing durability or performance, and moves easily at any range thanks to its lightweight construction and smooth surface. Both the male and female ends of the Flexzilla have comfort grips, while the others we tested had only one or none at all.

The grips, called SwivelGrips, allow the hose to twist freely, making it easy to maneuver around the yard.

As its name would imply, it is an extremely flexible hose. That flexibility makes it prone to kinking as we pull the hose taut, however, it un-kinked itself after a moment, so the brief kinks didn’t end up being an issue at all.

To test durability, we smacked the connectors of each hose against the concrete three times as hard as we could.

While the aluminum fittings of the Flexzilla felt more fragile than the brass ones on some of the other hoses, they held up just as well as others that we tested.

The most we could manage was a couple of scuffs. The flexible nature of this hose also made it a breeze to coil and carry from one place to another.

As a standard hose, it can’t touch the portability of an expandable hose, but this coil hose was definitely the easiest to move (coiled or expanded) of the standard hoses we tested. If you have a smaller yard or need portability above all else, you might prefer the GrowGreen expandable hose instead.

The Flexzilla’s neon green color is easy to spot in any landscape, which could be a positive or negative depending on how you want to use this hose.

The color also won’t excessively heat water in the hose to the extent that a darker hose might. The Flexzilla is made from lead-free material, which means it’s safe for all members of the family to drink from.

For a durable, long-lasting hose designed for heavy-duty usage, you've got to go with a rubber garden hose like the best, the Dramm ColorStorm Rubber Garden Hose. The hose's exterior is thick enough that it can stand up to being dragged around the yard and run over by an SUV without causing any damage. It can handle water temperatures up to 160°F and puts out a strong stream of 12.5 gallons per minute.

As you may expect, Dramm’s hose is heavier than the expandable garden hoses, especially when full of water, and you’ll need to give it a good tug while moving about using it. It doesn't come with any storage options like some other hoses in our guide. However, it takes up quite a bit of space, so you may want to purchase a wall-mounted hose holder or hose reel to keep it organized outdoors.

Dramm’s rubber hose is available in several different lengths and colors and comes with a lifetime guarantee. When it comes to the best rubber garden hoses, Dramm’s is a well-constructed, kink-resistant choice.

The Bionic Steel Garden Hose is a sturdy, compact, and flexible option to use outdoors that doesn’t kink. We tested the pro version, which is 100 feet long and has sturdy brass fittings. You may think a steel-made hose would be heavy to move around, but this stainless steel garden hose is easy to carry and drag across the yard. It is more lightweight than a rubber garden hose, which tends to be quite heavy.

The heavy-duty steel material prevents kinking and coiling up. It’s a great alternative to a flexible garden hose, which typically has fabric covers and tends to snag easily.

We tested the garden hose in Florida, exposing it to sunlight for days at a time, as well as passing rain showers. The stainless steel exterior warms up in the sun but isn't scalding to the touch. The hose claims to be rust-resistant and corrosion-proof, and we did not experience either during use.

The water pressure flow is strong and steady, though not as robust as what a rubber garden hose offers. However, with a sprayer head nozzle attached to the hose, we found the water pressure sufficient for giving our plants a drink. It also performs fine when paired with a lawn sprinkler. The garden hose also comes with a well-working, small adjustable spray nozzle.

On the downside, when we rolled a Honda Pilot SUV over it several times a section of the hose flattened right out. Some reviewers say you can bend it back into shape with pliers, however, we didn't notice a change in flow or pressure even when flattened.

Do not drink from the Bionic Steel Garden Hose, as it may contain mold, bacteria, and other harmful substances. The manufacturer also recommends turning off the water supply to the hose when not in use so that pressure does not build up and to let the water drain all the way out to ensure longevity.

For a flexible garden hose made from lightweight materials that does not kink and snag, the Bionic Steel Garden Hose is a great choice. Just be sure to move it in from the driveway to avoid any flattening from being run over by a car.