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Best* garden hose nozzle

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cheechi

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I realize the best may be a very pricy item, so I'm asking for suggestions both of the best and the best value garden hose nozzles. I want one of the multi-in-one like soaker/spray/mist etc. I have one of these on one hose and it's great, but I don't want a second one.

I find I'm replacing them every year and sometimes twice a year when I get them from Lowes & HD. Not buying plastic garbage, but maybe I'm just not choosing wisely on my own. Haven't been paying attention to brand or anything like that.

It's not just the o-ring either these are breaking within the nozzle gun, either the part that turns to change the setting, the trigger rusts out, leaks out of every potential place and even a few surprises.

Thanks in advance.
 
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scooby074

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I have a Dramm thats a little more delux than the one above. Model is the "1 Touch".
It has an adjustable head and comfort handle. Its available in a couple models, different colors, different number of patterns. Been very good in the garden.
wot370-web.jpg



Another good one that is basically indestructible is the Lanes car nozzle. Great multipurpose but doesnt have a gentle rain setting like youd use for a garden.. Sold as a detailers nozzle for carwash. Snapon even carries it but so do lots of other places.. Bend the end to activate.
fastlanemwd-store_2270_3654283__78112.1410326713.jpg
 
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6PTsocket

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I prefer the " fireman" style nozzles (thumb lever on top) to the squeeze trigger. They are far more reliable and that lever is opening a ball valve in the nozzle so you get more water and they do not depend on leaky O rings. There is a Dramm like this with the selectable spray you are looking for. A lot if garden centers carry them. My favorite is an Orbit that appears to be exclusive to Lowes (silver and blue). There is one with a plain spray nozzle and one with the selectable spray. That is the one I just just bought second one of. They call it the Orbit Max Max. It was in sale for about 12 bucks but I see it is back to $15. It lay out all winter with no damage, does not leak and has a large flow of water.

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theoldwizard1

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Very difficult to find,but look for something with a separate flow control valve even if it is only a 1/4 turn ball valve. Very handy to be able to adjust flow without changing the pattern.
 
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Tallpilot

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Wamsutta said:
Dramm 12380 Solid Brass - USA. Look no further.

Adjustable-Hose-Nozzle-12380-450x450.png


https://rainwand.com/model/adjustable-hose-nozzle/
Click to expand...

M6erfan said:
That's the one.

Those plastic bodied jobs seem to last about a season before they're useless.
Click to expand...

I understand the durability argument but there is little variance in spray pattern and I find them difficult to actuate with wet hands.

theoldwizard1 said:
Very difficult to find,but look for something with a separate flow control valve even if it is only a 1/4 turn ball valve. Very handy to be able to adjust flow without changing the pattern.
Click to expand...

I agree. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-P...PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-205650189-_-300210106-_-N

I bought this one after a recco in another thread. It’s metal construction and has a ball valve plus nozzle selection. We will see how it holds up. I do put my hose away instead of leaving it outside.
 
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Aaron_W

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My nozzles must lead a pampered life, I've had a couple of those 5 or 6 pattern generic nozzles about 6 years now and they are still working fine. They are so generic they don't even have a brand name on them but I think I bought them at Ace Hardware.
 
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M6erfan

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ducksface said:
These are Nelson but there are many brands.
Not so wimpy, not hard to handle for the arthritic amongst you.
Definitely positive shutoff, definite. Infinite pattern.
Your quick connects throttle your water volume.
10 to fifty bucks depending Sam's Club or Griots.
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Re; quick connects...perhaps it restricts flow somewhat, but I'm not trying to put out a fire, just watering the garden lol. Anyway, after trying seemingly all that's out there (including the type you show), I really like my set up. The 'shut off' valve is there to throttle back the volume, not for the positive shut off. (I don't have an issue with the Dramm nozzle positively shutting off) We have really strong water pressure here, I had to add a another pressure regulator for our sprinkler system several years back for blowing heads.

On the 'fireman' type you show, I found that sometimes when I laid or dropped it on the ground that big lever would move and water would start spraying everywhere. Same if you're dragging the hose and the nozzle lever catches on something... Pros and cons to everything I suppose.
 
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M6erfan

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ducksface said:
I pulled my post so as to not fuel the argumentative amongst us.
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No argument. I just laid out why I prefer my set up over the others I've tried over the years. Like I said, pros and cons to everything...

I can see the advantage of the big lever type you showed for those that may have limited mobility due to arthritis, etc.
 
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cheechi

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Took a look at the max max at lowes today and found out by accident they sell Dramm at Ace. She's content with the one no name one we still have left and wouldn't let me buy either one for her today but I've ordered the brass & gun Dramm ones.

Thanks again guys.
 
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Socket Pounder

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My wife is hard on them so I don't buy the expensive ones. She takes them on and off constantly for some reason and loses the washers and I find the nozzle half buried in the yard full of dirt. I buy 2 new ones every spring.
 
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WWheeler

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scooby074 said:
[...] Another good one that is basically indestructible is the Lanes car nozzle. Great multipurpose but doesnt have a gentle rain setting like youd use for a garden.. Sold as a detailers nozzle for carwash. Snapon even carries it but so do lots of other places.. Bend the end to activate.
fastlanemwd-store_2270_3654283__78112.1410326713.jpg
Click to expand...
I have one of these, a 'Lonn water saver', the 'jet' version, that's got to be 20 years old now. Best nozzle ever. It's been run over by cars and trucks in the driveway countless times. Can't tell it though. I luv it because it's so easy to use and really puts out a stream of water for washing a car or whatnot. No dials or knobs to turn. Just drop it. It shuts itself off.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DpFsU3Cysvw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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scooby074

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WWheeler said:
I have one of these, a 'Lonn water saver', the 'jet' version, that's got to be 20 years old now. Best nozzle ever. It's been run over by cars and trucks in the driveway countless times. Can't tell it though. I luv it because it's so easy to use and really puts out a stream of water for washing a car or whatnot. No dials or knobs to turn. Just drop it. It shuts itself off.
Click to expand...

Yeah theyre great. Basically unknown compared to whats in the big boxes however. Essentially indestructible. Ive gone through 2 but only because I lost the first one!
 
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6PTsocket

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M6erfan said:
That's what I have with my Dramm brass nozzle...

Screen Shot 2018-06-09 at 12.43.43 PM.jpg

I also have a quick disconnect (https://www.garrettwade.com/solid-brass-quick-change-garden-hose-fittings-gp.html) between the shut off and nozzle so I can attach hose end sprayers, sweeper nozzles, etc.
Click to expand...
I finally went with shut off valves and open quick disconnects. I tried cutoff quick disconnects, like on my air hoses, and found I could not operate them under load and it definitely reduces water flow. The open quick disconnects don't reduce flow and the valve is a ball valve so it does not restrict either. I didn't know Dramm made brass cut off valves. I have had a number of failures with the cheap brass colored pot metal ones from the big box stores. I just picked up a brass Gilmour QD at my local hadware store, after returning the cheap pot metal one to Lowes, that leaked like a sieve, even with a better QD washer. It is getting impossible to find real brass fittings locally. People would rather pay half the price for brass colored garbage that barely makes it through a season.

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skruft

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I have found various types to work but generally like the triggers, just for convenience in washing cars etc. where I want to turn them on and off quickly. The fire hose types are a good idea but either they are not easy to turn on and off or they seem to need more water volume than a regular garden hose has.
 
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WWheeler

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skruft said:
I have found various types to work but generally like the triggers, just for convenience in washing cars etc. where I want to turn them on and off quickly. The fire hose types are a good idea but either they are not easy to turn on and off or they seem to need more water volume than a regular garden hose has.
Click to expand...

You'd luv a Lonn Water Saver 'jet' version then. Made in USA. Super-durable (no doubt the reason it's also sold by Snap-on at a marked up price) and nothing is easier on/off. When you hold it it's on and when you let go it's off. Uses less water than other types but really puts out a stream for washing cars (if you want one for watering the lawn or garden probably want a 'fan' or 'medium' spray version).

We've been using one for somewhere around 20 years now. Not sure how we got it. Don't ever remember buying it. I think maybe it got here via a nephew who had a summer job washing cars for a local dealership but not really sure about that. I only now know what brand and model it is after having to look it up so many times now after everyone who has seen me using it wants one of their own. I have several friends and family who now have one.
 
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McFarmer

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Thanks for the suggestions, can anyone direct me towards a USA made hose splitter ?
 
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cheechi

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On air hose reels, there is a ball that prevents the hose end from going into the reel. Does anyone make something similar for garden hoses? I have a reel for the front garden that likes to devour the hose end.
 
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X1 Mike

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This thread is one of the best things about GJ. I had never heard of Dramm before. I just assumed that all nozzles sucked and I'd never have one that didn't leak. Now I get to go buy a made in USA beautifully machined brass nozzle.


:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
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scooby074

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tjpavlov

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Bumping and old thread, but I read through this before settling on another hose nozzle through Amazon. COO is China, but the product seems solid.

It's a pistol-style nozzle and is all zinc and brass. It came in a box with a foam cutout for it. The nozzle itself is very solid.

So if you are in the market for a pistol-style nozzle, check this one out:

ESOW Garden Hose Nozzle ~$20 on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JG2Q6PF/?tag=atomicindus08-20
 
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