Best Lightweight Garden Hose for Watering Lawns

Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Lightweight Garden Hoses

1. Type of hose

When shopping for the best garden hoses, it is important to consider the type of hose best for particular watering tasks. These garden hoses come in different models, including soaker, sprinkler, flat, standard, coiled, and expandable.

• Soaker garden hoses- these hoses have thousands of pinholes that allow water to flow through the sides of the hose. You can either bury these hoses under the soil or lay these hoses in a garden bed to provide a source of hydration. Soaker hoses slowly leak water into the ground.
• Sprinkler garden hoses-these hoses have fewer holes than soaker hoses and operate more like horizontal sprinkler systems. As water is released from the hose, the water pressure reduces the water travel farther from the water source.
• Flat garden hoses-these hoses help minimize kinking over long distances of about 25 feet or more. When empty, the hose tends to be flat; however, it takes on a rounded shape when filled with water. These hoses are mostly used to fill drain hot tubs and pools and supply water to RVs. Some are rated particularly for drinking water; therefore, they can be used as a supply line.
• Standard lightweight garden hoses-these hoses have a male and female hose metal or plastic coupling. The hose shape is straight and round. These lightweight hoses may kink, so they are better for small areas.
• Coiled lightweight garden hoses-these hoses resume to a more compact shape when not in use. They are easier to loop and store; however, they don’t exceed 50 feet in length. They can be overwhelming to use in larger yards due to the complexity of pulling the hose to its full length.
• Expandable garden hoses-these lightweight hoses are compact; however, when they fill with water, they expand along the length of the hose to about two or three times their length. Nonetheless, with time, these hoses lose their flexibility. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight.

2. Hose material

Lightweight garden hoses are made from different materials, including latex, rubber, plastic, vinyl, polyurethane, and metal.

• Latex- This material is used to make expandable hoses; sometimes, it features a polyester fabric exterior to help the hose against punctures, thorns, and sharp corners.
• Rubber-This material makes the hoses durable and resistant to extreme temperatures, although they are more expensive and heavier than vinyl hoses.
• Plastic- is often used for hose couplings, although it is more prone to breaking and cracking than metal.
• Vinyl- forms the authentic hose portion of the garden hose. It is lightweight and flexible; however, not as durable as rubber. It is usually labeled “polyvinyl chloride” (PVC).
• Polyurethane- resins occasionally cover a hose’s exterior to offer a sleek appearance and a more durable finish to help in protecting against leaks.
• Metals—brass, stainless steel, and aluminum—are often used for hose fittings. Some hoses even use metal for the authentic hose portion.

3. Size and Ply

Lightweight garden hoses are usually measured by the material’s ply and hose’s diameter. Therefore, when shopping for the best lightweight garden hose, consider the diameter size measured across the hose’s opening. The diameter regulates the space available for water to flow. The regular diameter for a residential hose is ⅝ inch; however, hoses also come in 1-inch, 3/4-inch, 1/2-inch diameters. Even larger diameter hoses are usually used in commercial applications.

Conversely, ply shows the number of layers used in constructing the hose, ranging from one to three for lightweight hoses. Thicker garden hoses endure a higher water flow rate and the damage that might happen when the hose is pulled over rough decking or rocks. Nonetheless, you will not find the hose ply mentioned on the packaging.

4. Hose length

Consider the hose length before buying the hoses since you want the hose to reach into the garden yard to perform various watering tasks. Mostly the length for a garden hose is 50 ft; however, they also are made in 10-foot, 15-foot, 25-foot, 75-foot, 100-foot, 125-foot, and 150-foot hose lengths.

Nonetheless, as the hose’s length increases, so does the drag and friction on the water flowing through it, causing lower water pressure as the distance from the water source raises. Therefore, you should balance the desired length with the optimum water pressure needed for adequate watering. If you want a long hose, you need to consider one with a wide diameter, which helps maintain consistent water pressure from the nozzle to the end of the hose.

5. Fittings

The fittings, also known as couplings, are the parts at both ends of a hose. They usually thread to an outdoor faucet, attach to a nozzle, or connect to a sprinkler. The fittings may be made of less pricey plastic. Female fittings consist of a wide piece of plastic or metal that spins freely at the end of the hose. This fitting fits over a male coupling, which treads down to create a tight seal. Conversely, the male fitting is a fixed piece of plastic or metal that must thread into a female coupling to connect properly. We, therefore, recommend you consider an octagonal-shaped female fitting since it is easier to turn and tighten than a completely round one.