7 Best Expandable Garden Hoses in 2022 [Reviewed + Ranked]

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Frustrated with traditional hoses always kinking and leaking? Heavy conventional hoses that are hard to store and move around the house? Expandable water hoses are the answer. We have sought out the absolute best and most popular hoses on the market today and have reviewed them so you can make the right purchase the first time!

What is an expandable hose? And why you need one!

Traditional garden hoses are a nightmare! They are big and bulky. They are hard to store. They are always kinking and getting themselves tied in knots. They are prone to rotting, cracking and leaking. And when not properly stored, they get extremely slimy and dirty! The solution: the expandable water hose!

An expandable water hose is exactly what it sounds like. They are made so that when water is not flowing through them, they contract to be 3 to 4 times shorter than a traditional hose. The material used to make this happen is much lighter and easier to store than traditional rubber hoses.

All the problems we’ve come to just “live with” with conventional hoses are solved by switching to an expandable hose! And because they are so much lighter, smaller and cleaner, instead of having multiple traditional hoses, you can have one or two expandable hoses that you can move wherever you need them!

What to look for in your first expandable hose

The good news for you: almost any expandable hose will be easier to use than the traditional hoses you are used to.

That being said, there are a few key things to consider before you pull the trigger if you want an expandable hose that fits your needs and most importantly lasts for a long time!

Below I will demystify the components that make up a high quality and long-lasting expandable garden hose!

Material

The first thing to look for when choosing an expandable hose is the quality of the materials. What the hose is made with is the key component to how durable, lightweight and how much it can actually expand or shrink in size.

There are a few material types that you will see repeatedly in product descriptions so a quick understanding of each is necessary to make an informed decision.

Also, it is worth noting that there are two main components of your hose: the exterior and the core. These can be different materials and usually are as the exterior must be strong, durable, and mildew resistant while the core must be more pliable and able to expand and shrink easily.

Latex

Latex is one of the more common core materials in garden hoses. It’s a material you are probably familiar with as it is mostly used for balloons, rubber gloves and other household items.

It makes a poor exterior material due to it being easy to puncture, but with the protection of a good exterior material, most manufacturers will use two, three or even four layers of latex core due to its elastic quality.

TPC

Another common core material for expandable water hoses is TPC, thermoplastic copolyester. TPC is the “step up” from latex core hoses and is more commonly found in industrial applications.

It is extremely durable but can be pricier than latex cored hoses. The durability of TPC allows manufacturers to get away with less layers as well so it is common to see single core TPC hoses.

Nylon

Now that we know the two most common core materials for hoses, we need to wrap that core with something to protect it from the regular wear and tear of everyday use.

Nylon is the most common exterior material and for good reason. It has great elastic properties allowing it to expand and contract easily. It is abrasion and puncture resistant, and it dries quickly which keeps mildew from being an issue.

Number of Cores

The number of cores (or layers) that the hose has is another thing worth considering although it is probably most important when looking at expandable hoses with latex cores.

Since latex cores are more prone to puncture than TPC cores, manufacturers will typically use multiple layers. You will see some hoses with up to four layers of latex core.

You would think that more layers might be better but there is a tradeoff. More layers means less flexibility, less expandability, and even more weight.

I would recommend at least two layers with latex core hoses and probably three to be safe especially if you live in a cold area.

Hose Fittings

Let’s talk hose fittings! In particular, I want to focus on the fitting that connects the hose to the spigot. If you have dealt with hoses at all in the past, you know this is the single most common point of leaks and frustration.

You will see aluminum fittings, brass and even plastic on the cheaper hoses. They all have their pros and cons.

Plastic fittings are cheap and lightweight. That’s where the advantages stop. They will crack and gum up so that they are hard to take on and off and get seated correctly on the spigot to prevent leaks. Usually they are only found on the cheapest expandable hoses.

Aluminum fittings are commonly found on some of the mid-tier hoses and are lightweight and easier to use than plastic fittings. They can dent easily and the threading can be damaged making it hard to keep them fully seated on the spigot and prevent leaks.

Brass fittings are the industry standard and solve most of the problems listed above with plastic and aluminum fittings. If you intend to disconnect and reconnect your hose from the spigot a lot to move to different areas, you want a hose with a good, durable brass fitting.

Another thing worth looking out for is the hose material right at the point the hose connects to the fitting. This is a common point of failure and there needs to be a strengthened section here to prevent leaks. 

Hose Length

The length of your expandable hose is purely up to you and your application. Do you need to cover a large garden area from one spigot? Or do you have multiple spigots around the house and can benefit from a shorter, more portable hose?

You will find hose lengths from 10 feet long all the way up to 200 feet! But we are looking at expandable garden hoses so we are not only interested in how long they are at full water pressure, but how short they are when turned off.

A basic rule of thumb for choosing your expandable hose length is to measure the longest distance you would have to cover from your spigots and round up to the next size.

Don’t get a 200 foot hose if you don’t need it. The longer the hose, the heavier it is, the less portable it is and the harder it is to store and maintain.

Nozzle

Most of the expandable hoses on the market will come with a multipurpose nozzle. This is not the biggest decision factor when choosing a hose because you can always buy a separate nozzle that you like for your purpose, but it is nice to have one right out of the packaging.

Firstly, a nozzle will keep the water in the hose until you need it preventing unnecessary waste and mess. And probably more importantly, they allow you to control the water pressure and spray pattern depending on your application.

For gardening and watering plants, low pressure spray patterns are best.

For cleaning patios and other things, you may want a tighter, high pressure pattern.

Most hoses will come with at least a spray pattern and some will come the ability to go from light to high pressure.

Don’t let this keep you from getting hose you like though because you can always buy a more specialized hose nozzle for your particular use and application.

Flow Rate

Flow rate in laymen’s terms means how much water is coming out of your hose and how fast! Assuming the standard pressure of a home spigot being between 40 and 60 psi, the diameter and length of your hose can affect the flow rate.

More isn’t always better, but not enough is really going to frustrate you. All of the hoses we recommend above have more than adequate flow rate for daily household use.

And if you are looking for a gentler flow for watering plants or a high pressure flow for pressure washing your patio, there are different nozzles that can help achieve this without having to buy a specific hose. 

FAQs

How do you use an expandable garden hose?

You use an expandable hose much like any other garden hose. One advantage of an expandable hose is its lightweight and portability so make sure to move it to where you need it, taking care to not drag it against rough surfaces or bushes, before you turn on the water.

What are some of the cons of an expandable water hose?

Despite how cool the ability for an expandable hose to shrink is, the materials and construction needed to achieve this make it easier to puncture than a normal hose and they are inherently more difficult to repair due to the material.

Do expandable garden hoses last?

A high quality expandable hose will last just as long if not longer than its traditional counterpart. If stored properly and used with care around the house, you shouldn’t have to replace it for up to 10 years.

How can I properly maintain my hose?

Maintaining your hose and keeping it puncture free for years to come requires proper storage and careful use. Firstly, you should invest in suitable hose storage mechanism for your use case. Second, and most importantly, take care to not drag your hose on rough surfaces or through bushes when in use. With proper care, a good quality hose can last a long time.

Can I fix my expandable garden hose?

Unfortunately due the material and construction of expandable hoses, repairing holes and punctures is difficult. It is usually easier to purchase a new one and invest in a proper hose storage mechanism to avoid damaging it in the future.

If you do insist on trying to repair your expandable hose, you will have to cut out the section of the hose with the leak and use a hose repair kit like this one to join the two pieces of hose back together.

What’s the best way to store an expandable hose?

First, you should always turn off the water and drain all water in the hose before storing. Make sure the hose is out of direct sunlight and ideally out of extremely cold temperatures. If the hose is going to remain hooked up to a single spigot, a simple hook for hanging will keep your hose dry and off the ground. If you intend to have a more mobile hose set up, consider using a hose reel with a strong handle or wheels for transporting around the house.

Do expandable hoses have low water pressure?

An expandable hose will NOT have lower water pressure than a traditional hose. Water pressure will instead be determined by the diameter of the hose, the water pressure from the spigot and the length of the hose. You can also use different hose nozzles to control the water pressure.

Do expandable hoses freeze?

To be clear, water freezes so just like a traditional hose, an expandable hose can freeze if water is left in it during freezing temperatures. Frozen water will expand and ultimately lead to leaks so remember to drain all water from your hose before storing. It is also worth while to disconnect the hose from the spigot if you are expecting freezing temperatures.

Can expandable hoses be used with hot water?

All hoses can handle hot water to an extent. Typically you are safe up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit although it is worth consulting your manufacturer’s instructions. I wouldn’t recommend using an expandable hose with a heated water source though and would restrict its use to your house’s external spigots.

Can you use an expandable hose with a pressure washer?

Absolutely, you can use your expandable hose from your house spigot to the pressure washer, but NEVER use an expandable hose from the pressure washer to the spray nozzle. They are not built to handle that much water pressure.

And the winner is…