Many people find joy in gardening. But when it comes to watering their plants, it can be a battle with the water hose. The traditional type is usually bulky and tend to tangle up. Thus, storing and uncoiling it can be a hassle. The water flow will also get disrupted as the hose gets twisted while in use. Fortunately, there are hoses now that are much lighter and easier to manage. You can get a garden hose that shrinks when not in use which makes storing a breeze.
Basically, these are expandable garden hoses. It expands when water is running through them and contracts when the tap is off. So, once you are done watering your plants, the hose will shrink to a compact size. This smaller size will naturally makes it lighter and more convenient to keep it away.
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3 Best Garden Hose That Shrinks When Not In Use
There are quite a few expandable garden hose brands in the market today. They have a range of prices with the more well-known brands selling their hoses at a premium. If you have no idea what hose shrinks when turned off, below are 3 of the best expandable garden hose models for you to choose from:
Lefree Garden Hose
Lefree Garden Hose is expandable to 2.5 times its compact size when the tap is turned on. You can get this in various lengths with the longest at 125 ft. At the time of writing, this is being sold as a revolutionary and breakthrough design with a total of 40 layers of nano rubber technology. The inner tube has 28 layers of compressed nano materials which is covered by nylon mesh weaving for better support and protection. This is then reinforced by 12 layers of high density nano rubber. Altogether the layers measure 0.12 inches thick.
The outer layer is tough and durable which makes it less likely to puncture. So, you can drag this round corner pillars and through stones without a problem. This is where the upgraded version significantly differs from the older models as the latter mainly uses fabric as covering.
The Lefree Garden Hose is lightweight too with the 100 ft hose weighing only 4 lbs. It is also marketed as a no kink hose. With sufficient water pressure running through it, the kinks will automatically disappear as the hose straightens out any twists.
LazyHose Flexible Garden Hose
The LazyHose expands up to 3 times its size with water pressure. How fast it will gain its full size will depend on the water pressure and air temperature which is true for all expandable garden hoses. The Lazyhose has 5 layers of latex for quick expansion and combines rubber and high quality fabric to ensure a greater resistance to bursts.
It is also another kink proof garden hose to give you seamless water flow. What sets it apart from its competitors is its spray nozzle with 8 different type of sprays available. On top of that, there is a retainer lock so that you don’t have to keep pressing the valve to have the water flowing. This feature is great when you have a big area to water or clean and you need a continuous steam of water.
In addition, you can also control the water pressure with a knob on the nozzle. If you want reduced water strength coming out from the nozzle, you can simply adjust the knob. This is a practical feature as different pressure will suit different uses. For instance, you won’t need a strong jet to fill a bucket but would need one to clean off dirt.
Flexi Hose Upgraded Expandable Garden Hose
Flexi Hose is another garden hose that shrinks when not in use. This one also expands up to 3 times its original length with 3 available sizes of 50, 75, and 100 ft. The inner tube is covered by an elastic fabric made with 4 layersddd of latex. The inner tube has 2 layers with a total thickness of 2 mm.
This expandable hose is also marketed as being lightweight and kink free. It has 100% solid brass fittings with premium rubber seals to prevent leaks.
While the Flexi Hose works as intended, the outer layer is prone to tear due to its fabric material. So, you may need to exercise a bit more care with the Flexi Hose and avoid dragging it over rough patches and thorny bushes.
Are Shrink Hoses Good?
Generally, garden hoses that shrink when not in use do work. They are definitely more compact and hence, much lighter. Being less bulky and light, it also means carrying it in and out of storage is incredibly easy to do compared to traditional hoses. Maneuvering them as you water your plants becomes smooth and easy with their kink resistant properties.
However, the downside is they are more expensive and yet, may not be more durable than normal garden hoses. So, you are just paying extra for the user-friendliness and convenience rather than the durability. For some, this is more than enough to justify the higher price point. After all, it can be hard to handle a garden hose that is heavy and tends to twist especially for kids and older folks.
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