Goodbye Traditional Garden Hoses: There's A Kink-Free Alternative From Home Depot

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Steady and reliable watering is imperative to garden and lawn health. If you have been using a traditional rubber hose and are becoming tired of how difficult it is to move around the yard, now may be the moment to consider a kink-free alternative: extendable hoses. The Hydrotech Pro Series Expandable Garden Hose, available at Home Depot, is a well-reviewed model that could make routine property chores easier, especially if you're tired of dealing with the kinks that can develop in traditional hoses.

The Hydrotech Pro Series Expandable Garden Hose retails for just over $69 for the 50-foot long version. It is made to be super light compared to traditional garden hoses, with this one weighing less than 5 pounds. Its expandable nature utilizes a soft inner body that allows it to contract and expand easily. When it is not filled with water, the Hydrotech hose's length shortens to just 18 feet, making it far easier to store. Additional features include a wide Max-Flow design that allows the hose to move more water in less time, as well as a jacket and latex liner to protect the delicate hose. If you're concerned about spending this much on a hose, the Hydrotech Pro Series does come with a 10-year warranty to help protect your investment. 

At the time of writing, customers had given this expandable hose a 4.2-star rating from around 6,500 reviews. One five-star review on Home Depot's website states, "Excellent hose that we're truly pleased with owning. It takes the strain of winding up hose off of you. All you have to do is turn the water off and the hose will come to you."

Perhaps you're drawn to the idea of a hose that can't get kinked up, but you're not fully convinced — learning more about the pros and cons of this design can help you decide if you should invest in an expandable hose. Expandable hoses come with a number of benefits; in addition to being kink-free, lightweight, and easy to move around your property, they are also easier to store in the winter since they can be compactly bundled up then placed in a bucket for storage. But, they are, on average, less durable than traditional garden hoses, especially when comparing them to heavy-duty rubber ones. 

How long your expandable hose will actually last will come down to a number of factors, including whether you store it properly when not in use, as well as how closely you follow water pressure guidelines for your specific hose. In order to give your expandable hose the best shot at a long lifespan, lift and carry it where you need to go rather than pulling it behind you. This will help to protect the materials from being punctured. When it's time to stow the hose, drain the water and collect the now-collapsed garden hose for storage in a bucket, like the EMSCO Expandable Hose Hider ($34.99 on Amazon). An alternative storage method includes looping it on a hose hook in the shade so that the sun's UV rays don't damage it. You could also try this genius hack to store the hose in your yard and out of sight by drilling a hole in a cheap planter. Expandable hoses can be a great option, particularly if you're struggling with the physical toll of hauling and storing a heavy, less pliable traditional hose.