Petrified air hose

[M_George]

I have a PVC air hose that came with my compressor. It gets so stiff in cold weather it's unmanageable. Used it outside today while changing the brakes on the wife's car, looks like I won't be able to roll it back up until next spring.
Who makes a good air hose that will remain flexible at cold temperatures?

 

[Road Wrench]

I've been using smart flex by legacy on my service truck, its a hybrid hose and very easy to work with in all temperatures.

 

[noid]

Goodyear rubber hose, costs less then it sounds.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Flexzilla. Relatively cheap, easy to obtain, stays flexible.

 

[dogdog]

Flexzilla ? it says temp "EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE - All weather flexibility (-40 Degree to 150 Degree F Ambient) "

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QV1UDW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or HD / HF / Milwauikee both have a version of their extreme duty air hose both about the same price and might be from same factory.. look the same... my next one would be one of these...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-8-in-x-50-ft-Premium-Rubber-Air-Hose-578-50A-HOM/205226638

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-premium-rubber-air-hose-63047.html

 

[rlitman]

It is the PVC hoses that turn to stone when cold. Rubber stays relatively flexible, as does urethane.

 

[scubadoober]

I have flexzilla with no complaints. Almost feels like a rope, but it wont twist when coiled like a rope.

 

[dogdog]

It is the PVC hoses that turn to stone when cold. Rubber stays relatively flexible, as does urethane.

I think the inside of the rubber hose is still PVC of sort.... just the outer shell is rubber...

 

[flushcut]

I have flexzilla with no complaints. Almost feels like a rope, but it wont twist when coiled like a rope.

As a guy who coils a lot of rope daily twists and kinks are operator error. As coiling a rope or hose properly is a lost art. Flexzilla hoses are nice I have two.

 

[PWC Repair]

I'm on board with the others on the Flexzilla, I'll never go back to rubber!!

 

[racingtadpole]

What is it scared of?

 

[M_George]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just ordered the Flexzilla.

 

[mrjaw14]

So does Flexzilla crack and wear out like rubber does? I've gone through rubber hoses like a consumable. no mechanical damage, all cracking and degrading. Seem to get a few years out of them. I take care of my hoses, so if Flexzilla doesn't degrade over time it may be the ticket

 

[M6erfan]

I've had my Goodyear hose for about 15 years, always flexible and still holding up. But it only gets down (rarely) to the 20's here in the winter.

 

[bwringer]

Is Bluebird still around? Their air hoses are fantastic. Nice and flexible even in the cold.

Flexzilla is great, too, of course.

 

[plinker]

So does Flexzilla crack and wear out like rubber does? I've gone through rubber hoses like a consumable. no mechanical damage, all cracking and degrading. Seem to get a few years out of them. I take care of my hoses, so if Flexzilla doesn't degrade over time it may be the ticket

I've got a couple hoses that are 4-5 years old, no real issues. They would get wiped down with brakekleen and/or put in a cuda parts washer when dirty.

They will sun fade and any heat like welding bb's will put holes in them. Never had a problem with mine getting holes from BB's until I loaned one out.

They also do not like control arms being dropped on them from 4' .

 

[The Cobbler]

the best hoses I use are Tundra by Kuritec . a close second is BluBird. FLexilla are lower on the list , but compared to regular cheapo PVC, they are good

 

[HenryAZ]

I use Goodyear rubber for all hoses (air and water). They hold up for ages and remain flexible even in freezing weather (AZ freezing, at least).

 

[Tonyuk]

Any rubber hose should see you well, mine is from a supplier called Bergen, it was bright green when it came, more olive now.

Does fine in the cold.

 

[M_George]

I'm facing Pennsylvania cold. It was 20 deg F yesterday when I needed it, but we often see single digit temperatures or less. So, I like to get it done and back inside.

 

[Provincial]

At those temperatures you need dry air, too!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Flexzilla IS the most flexible hose you can buy if that is your top priority.

Goodyear Rubber is not as flexible but it is about 60% of the cost. Plenty flexible for coiling even when the temps are well below freezing.

 

[rlitman]

I have an orange Goodyear Pliovic that I picked up at HF back when they sold them. It's more flexible than the rubber variety, and quite a bit lighter.

 

[JJ99SS]

Goodyear rubber hose, costs less then it sounds.

I've had this hose for years and it's pretty inexpensive. Get the red hose, if I recall correctly it's chemical resistant.

 

[plinker]

I've used The Flexzilla hoses in temps well below zero, probably average -25* or so. remained fairly flexible compared to the regular rubber hoses being stiff as a rock.

 

[HenryAZ]

The Goodyear (now Continental) rubber water hoses will lay in the torrid AZ sun for 10 years or more without deteriorating, and remain flexible. I have not found any other hose that will take that kind of treatment. Most things in the AZ sun tend to deteriorate rather rapidly (a year or two).

 

[senlow]

the best hoses I use are Tundra by Kuritec . a close second is BluBird. FLexilla are lower on the list , but compared to regular cheapo PVC, they are good

That's interesting. I had never heard of Kuri Tec until now. I would expect a hose manufacturer in the great white north would make hose that works well in low temps. I see that it is available in the US from (surprise, surprise) United States Plastics. The prices are reasonable. I just may have to try some.

 

[M_George]

I received my new Flexzilla hose today. It's 27 F outside today and it's still just as flexible as it was when I took it out of the box.