Have you been hosed? Of course you have. You love them or you hate them, but you mostly hate them just like the rest of us. And mostly what we hate are the cheap ones — you know the hose that didn’t look so bad on the shelf, was bright green and super shiny and even came with a 5 year warranty? Those beauts often break down in weeks and kink up on the first day.
So my question to Chris Roy, manager and hose expert at Orange County Farm Supply in Orange was “is there a way to get a cheap hose to behave?”
Not really, it turns out. When it comes to hoses you get what you pay for. But Roy says his Gilmour Flexogen is the last hose you’ll ever buy. The sturdy 8-ply 100 footer that is 5/8 diameter is only $56 and worth every penny.
Even though that is plant money he is talking about, one of my 4 hoses is very good and I get what he is saying. A good hose is a godsend and makes hand-watering a pleasure. And the Flexogen comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee too - meaning if a flaming meteorite lands on it, it’s still covered.
But what about those cute curly jobs that cost about $10? Grrrr…..since I’ve been strangled by a few myself. Are construction grade hoses worth the extra weight? Share your horrible hose stories and answer this: What really matters when it comes to hoses?
Click comments below.
One of my dogs likes to attack and bite my hoses so I don’t buy nice ones. Even when they are rolled up in a hose reel, he pulls it out to it’s full length to wrestle and chew it. Argh!
Double the frustration cause cheap hoses don’t roll up that easy either. My experience with cheap hose vs. hose reel is you’ve got a snake pit on your hands.
Let me guess, your dog is some kind of terrier?
I agree with the Gilmore hose I have two of them now. I left the water on with a spray nozzel and the 6 yr old hose got a big bubble in it. I cut off the end with the Gilmore logo and sent it to the company. They sent me a new hose at any length I requested. They stand behind there product.
Wow. That’s really good to know. Chris Roy says Gilmour is a great company and has sold their hoses for 35 years.
I was about to give up on hand watering my lawn, or for that matter, giving up using a hose at all because of the kinking until I bought a black rubber hose from the Sears store located off of Tustin Ranch Rd. here in Tustin. It’s called a Craftsman rubber hose, heavy duty, with crush-proof couplings, and withstands hot water to 160 degrees.
When I first used it, it was smelly, like rubber tires, and so heavy in comparison to my other hoses. But after having this hose for awhile I absolutely love it. My hose is in the sun all day and it softened quickly, but IF it kinks you just shake it and the kink is gone, plus it doesn’t seem heavy at all anymore. It’s finally such a joy to water the lawn again, or just simply using a hose for whatever reason, AND NO KINKING !! I paid about $12.98 for a 50 ft. x 5/8 in. hose.
Now that you mention smell…..here is something I forgot to mention. Chris says that you CANNOT drink from the Gilmour hose. It contains carcinogens. Something that never occurred to me.
So apparently, if a hose does not state on the label that you can safely drink from it, better not.
I was in construction for many years, and noticed the plastering crews all used a reddish colored heavy duty hose. They are really abused and punished at work. When I retired and moved to Huntington Beach I bought several of these type hoses from a large company that sells all things for plastering and building. NOT Lowe’s or Home Depot. I have used them for 19 years and they look like they will be family heirlooms. After trying maybe 8-10 cheap hoses of all types and makes, I looked up in the yellow pages, and bought another hose of this type about 8 years ago at Orange County Hose Co. I don’t know if they are still in business. They had various sizes and would cut to any wanted length and add heavy duty brass fittings. Cost a little more than normal, but would HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking to buy garden hoses to buy one of these type hoses. Slightly heavier, but well woth it.
I’ve got one of those red ones, you can’t kill it.
A good hose is a no brainer. Get a Sear’s Craftsman Rubber Hose. Brass Couplings, Coils Easily and is flexible to -25 F. The best part of all is that it is guaranteed forever. Full Lifetime Warranty means it is the last hose you will ever have to purchase. Read the fine print and enjoy.
Will do.
I bought the Ace Hardware brand hose, labelled “The last hose you will ever buy”. It Is exactly like the Gilmore hose, but with the Ace Hardware store name on it. The base of the hose has a Black guard grip, with the Ace name right on it, so years to come when the hose might need replacing, you will know where it came from. The employee said that if the hose fails for any reason, just bring it in and they will replace it. That beats having to look up the reiciept, and address and mail in the damaged part of the hose with each hose end, then waiting for a return response. The hose is priced the same as the Gilmore hose, too.
With money tight, and a large yard, I just bought the 100 foot hose at costco for $20. It is a great mid-range quality hose, and is not quite so heavy to move around as the ACE/Gilmore. This hose also has a lifetime warranty,
“This hose is fully waranteed against defects in material or workmanship for the time period shown on the reverse side(Lifetime warranty). If such defect should occur in normal lawn and garden use, return the hose with your dated sales receipt (proof of purchase) to the store where purchased for a free replacement. You may also cut-off both male and female couplings and the defective section and mail to: …….”
I filed away the reciept and Proof of Purchase, for whatever it is worth. As long as Costco continues to carry this hose, It will be easy to replace if it ever fails. It is not drinking water safe.
My Husband bought a red rubber hose last year. It was all rubber, like the red washers you put in the female end of the hose. After one year in the sun, it cracked and exploded under pressure, and we tossed it. You gotta be sure the red hose you buy is a contractor grade!
We also have had a grey hose, labelled “Contractor grade” along its entire length. We have had it for about 12 years or more, and it is finally worn out, from the friction of beint dragged along the ground. This summer I cut out a section that was bubbling out and leaking, and inserted a plastic repair coupling. It still works, but I do not know for how much longer! The coupling keeps leaking when under pressure, and has popped apart a couple of times when under pressure. I am debating whether to buy a heavy duty brass repair coupling to replace the plastic coupling that is not tight enough, or to just toss the hose and buy another Ace/Gilmore or Costco Hose!
By the way, our property is over 1/2 acre, with no automatic sprinklers, so I have a lot of hoses!
A Black Widow made her web in one of those curly hoses at my parent’s house in Cypress. I stuck my hand in the web and was inches away from touching the spider when I reached for the hose without looking. YUCK and YIKES!!!
There is something about a black widow web that is recognizable to me….if I am ever digging under a rock or reaching into a tight spot, if I feel that “crackle” (black widow webs seem to have a crackly consistency) I pull my hand back quick.
Creepy.
When we moved into our current home 14 years ago, I ask my kids to buy Gilmour Flexogen hoses for my birthday, so I had 4 - 14 year old hoses that still look and work like brand new. Only one problem developed and that happened fairly quickly, one of the hoses had a defective coupling that leaked, so I cut it off, sent it in to Gilmour and they sent me a new hose no questions asked. I cut the hose with the missing coupling in half, added new couplings on the ends and attached them to 2 of the other hoses so I now have 2 - 50ft. hoses and 2 - 75ft hoses, and yes, I have 4 hose bibs around my house because I have lots of plants in pots that need regular watering so I had extra hose bibs put in so I didn’t have to drag hoses so far to water everything! The 75 footers are in locations where I actually need and use the extra 25ft.! I’m planning on putting the hoses in my will so the kids will get them back (just kidding), but they definitely are going to last me through my lifetime. Would recommend them to anyone.
Ron, theplantman.
OK - that settles it. I’m asking for Gilmour hoses for birthdays and xmas gifts. Didn’t think of it, but since you gave me the idea, I’d much rather have a hose than perfume and powder. Brilliant!
Hi all, I am the one that gave Cindy her first “Ultimate” hose nozzle that comes with a “Lifetime” Warranty and started all the nozzle news in Orange County. Well, if you all hold on, in about 3 weeks, we will have the “Ultimate” Hose. Yes, it will come with a “Lifetime” warranty! It will withstand hot water up to 200 degrees or below temps of 25 degrees. It is an 8 sided rubber hose that is MADE IN THE USA!!! Kink resistance, heavy duty, nickel plated, with machined brass cuplings (avoid leakage). This hose will be loved by the gardener, the recreational person, or even the commercial gardener. As soon as I get them into inventory, I am sending one to Cindy and they will be on our website. Happy Watering~
I agree with Tee Taylor.
I have a 100′ red heavy duty construction hose like his.
I have had mine for 7 years, and had bought it at a garage sale for a shocking $5.00
Ha ha I got a deal there!
Those hoses do work VERY WELL, they can temporarily kink if twisted, and pulled on.
No hose is perfect.
Roxanne we will be waiting to hear Cindy’s article on the Ultimate hose.
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Hello CAN, I am patiently waiting for the hoses to arrive into our warehouse. You can always check our website as I will get them up and posted as soon as possible. We have been flooded with people that have purchased the “Ultimate” Hose Nozzle asking for a “Real” hose that won’t rot, crush, kink or leak. YOU will love it…….Roxanne http://www.ShopDePalma.com