Collapsible hoses

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have a hose bib right on the sidewalk in the middle of the garage wall where you walk past. There's not really a good place to put a hose hanger on the wall, because any 25ft hose coiled up would stick out in your way, and same with a hose reel.

I've seen the collapsing hoses that get small enough to put in a basket or a small bucket or something when they are collapsed. I'm thinking that could work, but are they any good? What's the best one?

 

[Firebrick43]

They are great and terrible. They do not last long at all if you leave them outside and especially if you leave them pressurized but are light and handy.

We use them in the winter to water the horses as the drain quick and can be easily. Arrived into the heated garage. But we don’t get more than a year or two if we are careful with them

 

[RTM]

And in low supply pressure applications they are awful, you need pressure to inflate them. Don't try to use them as a pump discharge, no matter how convenient.

But for regular house pressure, watering plants etc, nice n lite n flexible. I think ours say do not leave outside or in bright light. We are lazy and leave them on the shady side of the house.

Think they are bullet hose, as pushed by Richard Karnes (Al from tool time)

 

[four.cycle]

My oldest sister loves them.
I absolutely hate them.
You cannot leave a standard hose nozzle on the end of one and leave the water turned ON for any length of time - the hose will burst or the end will blow off.
The fittings on the ends are NOT brass and will GALL on your exterior BRASS hose bib. (There's a thread on it here somewhere.) You have to chisel them off or replace the hose bib.

That said, I used one just a few days ago to wash Mom's van. No spray nozzle - I just used my thumb and left the damn thing running the entire time, sending God-only-knows how many gallons of water down the driveway and into the street. (I tried kicking the end over into the flower beds to water the vinca and peonies, but those things kind of have a mind of their own - they'll wander around if left unattended.)
I'd prefer not to waste so much water.
I'd also prefer my oldest sister buy REAL hoses.

Just my two cents.

YMMV

 

[KnurledNut]

The ones I have used will continue to drain out after shutting the water off as they deflate. That instantly turned me off on them.

 

[The Cobbler]

I think they are OK for a temporary hose, but for long term use... I'll pass .
I'd consider running a leader hose to another location that won't be in the way as much & use a decent quality hose & reel/hanger /whatever

 

[Cheesy1]

Put some quick connects on your faucet and hose you’re going to use. Easy on and off to get it out of the way.

 

[four.cycle]

If you have raccoons around:

Raccoons will chew up soaker hoses and those collapsible hoses if they cannot find a water source anywhere else.
I used to have to replace my oldest sister's hoses on a regular basis. Took her YEARS to figure out why the hoses would suddenly all be in tatters.

 

[mike93lx]

I picked up this one recently

Hydrotech 5/8 in. Dia. x 50 ft. Expandable Garden Water Hose 8989 - The Home Depot

Provide a stunning look to your garden space by choosing this wonderful Hydrotech Dia x Burst Proof Expandable Garden Water Hose.

www.homedepot.com

It saves a lot of space. It's annoying to use, but so was the big coil of hose sitting on the ground as I didn't have space for a reel. 6 of one, half dozen of the other.

Has a 10 year warranty, which I plan to use if/when it fails.

I wouldn't use more than a 50 footer as they expand a ton, so a 100 feels like it would be really awkward, plus take twice as long to bleed down. And I would only put it a place where it's used infrequently. Regular use justifies a real hose, IMO

 

[PackagingSea]

They’re convenient, especially in tight spaces like what you’re dealing with, but durability can be hit or miss. I’ve burned through a couple cheap ones (Amazon specials) in less than a season. The key is not dragging them over rough concrete and not leaving them in the sun fully expanded. Look for reinforced ones with brass fittings

 

[PCustoms]

I have an aqua joe.

Left outside all summer, perfect to have coiled next to the deck for water bowls and planters. First one leaked at the crimp to the fitting, can't recall if that was after year one or year 2. They sent me a new one under warranty, this is year 2. Had it hooked to a sprinkler for a week or so so far so good.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

Back when I was a generator tech I kept 120 gallons of water in a tank on the truck to wash enclosures. I used the collapsible hoses exclusively. I was using a sprayer diaphragm pump to pressurize the water and it worked well.

The hoses lasted about 6 months but they lived a rough life. This would've been 2014-2015'ish and I was buying the hoses that advertised metal ends. It was almost always a tear in the hose that ended their life but they lived in a toolbin on the truck.

 

[rust in the eye]

I'm a convert. Mrs Rust was always struggling with winding 50' of 3/4" rubber hose back onto the reel, given it IS heavy. I bought a collapsible one from Menards three (4?)years ago, I'd state the brand if I remembered. It's been great, she can easily stow it into a large-ish plastic flower pot I cut a hole in the bottom of for the feed. We have no need to make it into an extremely small package, it's here because it is easier for her to handle. A short length of conventional hose connects this to the hose bib. No problems with it so far, it's been left "on" by accident for days. My water pressure is substantial.

 

[bonneyman]

While working at Ace Hardware we sold many of those collapsible hoses. Can't remember the brand off the top of my head. But we got alot of them returned for warranty due to leaks in the fittings and hose itself. I personally wouldn't buy them.

 

[Lorydr]

After our first one died a couple of years ago, I cut the ends off and pulled all the braiding and such off of the inner core hose. I clamped one end, filled my compressor tank, and shot air into the open end. Kind of like a long balloon is how it was filling up. It's diameter was about 3" around. It started to fill fast, but only for the first 3-4 feet. Then BOOM! it blew. That was the intention. I had to repeat that part. Could be a good prank someday hehehe.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I thought about buying one as an emergency hose for the car trailer. . . need water and a hose for "something" out the ordinary.

I never quite convinced myself to buy one as I figured about as much as the above mentioned failures.

 

[sparky 1971]

My wife has a couple and loves them because they are easy to get out. Of course, she is the artistic type that doesn't think about putting anything away, that's my job. They are easy to roll up by just coiling them on the ground, but I don't use them. I have 150 or 200' of real 3/4" hose on a cart at each of three hose bibs. When I'm using water, I'm using a lot of water.

 

[Skiff Builder]

After our first one died a couple of years ago, I cut the ends off and pulled all the braiding and such off of the inner core hose. I clamped one end, filled my compressor tank, and shot air into the open end. Kind of like a long balloon is how it was filling up. It's diameter was about 3" around. It started to fill fast, but only for the first 3-4 feet. Then BOOM! it blew. That was the intention. I had to repeat that part. Could be a good prank someday hehehe.

I also save the inner core hose for my tool kits. Great on the boat for all sorts of things- one man steering sys bleeding- recirc, small pump discharge hose, diesel filter drains, fluid transfer, large screwdriver insulating sheath, bungee cord, fishing lure ( tube style for Bluefish) etc. 30' takes up no space. Fits multiple size fittings.
Never throw a busted hose out!

 

[PlanB]

They seem to be a love em or hate em thing.

They aren't for me.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Doesn't seem to be any middle ground on this one.

Kind of like a "ketchup on hot dogs" thing.