Why There's Simply No Need For An Expandable Garden Hose

There are plenty of great hands-off ways to water the plants in your garden, but while they have the potential to save you time and effort, it's unlikely they'll remove the need for you to get the hose out completely. Unfortunately, traditional garden hoses are notorious for being heavy and awkward. The expandable garden hose was introduced as a solution to all that wrestling around, but they have their own drawbacks, and some argue that there's simply no need for them. Let's look at the pros and cons.

Expandable garden hose first appeared in the early 21st century. Rather than using thick rubber or vinyl that can be stiff and take up a lot of room, expandable hose has a pliable inner tube and a fabric cover. As a result, it can be very compact when not in use. There are some very stylish garden hose storage hacks for the traditional type, but expandable hose typically only needs half the space, so it is easier to hide away. It is also much lighter. Yet when you connect one to a spigot and turn on the water, it can expand to three times its length.

If you have a small garden or reduced physicality, these features would seem to make an expandable hose the ideal answer. Yet they do have their drawbacks, and alternatives like lightweight and coil hoses can mean there's no need to choose an expandable garden hose at all.

Tough, traditional hose can put up with all kinds of harsh treatment, but the same is not true of the expandable type. You can't leave them out in all weathers because both extreme cold and strong sun make them brittle. You shouldn't drag them over rough surfaces because it will wear the fabric. They can also be sensitive to water pressure. Even when you look after them, with only moderate use, they can fail in just two to five years. There's another issue. In practice, they may not be as light as claimed. The hose will swell in diameter, as well as length, so it feels larger and contains more water, which makes it heavier.

There are two practical alternatives. Lightweight garden hose is made with hybrid materials that are hard-wearing and can handle just about any climate conditions, while weighing as much as 40% less than standard hose. Most are kink and tangle-resistant too. Coil (or spiral) hoses are the other option and ideal for small gardens because they curl up out of the way when not required. There are lightweight versions of these too.

There are a number of invaluable hacks that mean you never have problems with your hose again. Choosing either lightweight or coil hose should give you the right product for your yard, whatever its size, without the drawbacks of expandable garden hose.