The Benefits of Expandable Garden Hoses: A Consumer Reports Review

As anyone who has struggled with traditional garden hoses can attest, they are often heavy, cumbersome, and prone to tangling. But what if you could have a hose that was lightweight, expandable, and never kinked? Enter the expandable garden hose, which promises to make watering your flowers and washing your car easier than ever.

Consumer Reports put three different types of expandable hoses to the test: the Dap X Hose, the Flexible Hose, and the Pocket Hose. Each hose was 50 feet in length and claimed to be lightweight, expand up to three times their size, and never kink. But how did they really perform?

The testers, including Consumer Reports' Bernie Dietrich, weighed each hose and found that all of them were about a pound as promised. Then, they turned on the water and watched in amazement as each hose grew and expanded to just about three times its original size. "It's like magic," said Bernie. "These hoses are so light and easy to handle, watering your flowers or washing your car has never been easier."

But how did these hoses perform when it came to water flow rate and volume? The answer was a resounding yes - they were just as good as traditional garden hoses in both categories. In fact, Bernie tested the water pressure drop by fully opening one of the expandable hoses, which typically shrinks significantly under high pressure. But the Pocket Hose held up surprisingly well, shrinking only slightly.

Of course, there are some caveats to consider. If you use the hose fully opened, like when filling up a kiddie pool, it may shrink significantly due to the drop in water pressure. Additionally, using a sprinkler with an expandable hose can be messy, as the hose will shrink and need to be set back into place each time. And while the Pocket Hose couldn't kink if you wanted it to, some users may still find that it becomes twisted or bent.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Consumer Reports' Bernie Dietrich was enthusiastic about the results of their tests. "These three hoses deliver on their promises," he said. "If you want to hand water your garden or wash your car, they'll get the job done." And for those with low water pressure at home, the Pocket Hose is a particularly good bet.

In conclusion, expandable garden hoses are a game-changer for anyone who struggles with traditional hoses. With their lightweight design, ease of use, and impressive performance under high pressure, it's no wonder why Consumer Reports was impressed by these products. So next time you're in the market for a new hose, consider giving an expandable one a try - your garden or car (or both!) will thank you.

As I'm Sula Cola, reporting for Consumer Reports, we hope this review has given you a better understanding of the benefits and limitations of these impressive hoses. Whether you're a gardener, car owner, or just someone who loves to stay hydrated, an expandable garden hose is definitely worth considering.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: eninfomercials for as seen on tv expandable garden hoses show how much better they are than a regular hose tired of tugging and lugging your hose it's heavy it tangles as everyone knows black and white melodrama aside i do hate wrestling with my garden hose turn on the water and watch this mini hose grow and grow and grow to maximum length to this long full-size hose consumer reports tested three the dap x hose the flexible hose and the pocket hose all 50 feet in length the hoses claim to be lightweight expand up to three times their size and never kink so washing your windows or spraying off your gutters has never been easier tester bernie dietrich weighed each one yep all were about a pound as promised then he turned on the water and sure enough each one grew and grew and grew to just about three times the original size and because it's so light watering your flowers and garden or washing your car has never been easier bernie also tested the water flow rate and volume and guess what they were just as good as a regular garden hose now here comes the butt if you use the hose fully opened like when you're filling up a kiddie pool the hoses may shrink a lot that's because the water pressure drops though the pocket hose didn't shrink as much and if you use a sprinkler things could get kind of messy because you'll have to set it in place when the water is on and the hose shrinks when you turn the water off so your sprinkler can go with it watch out for those delicate flowers now back to those infomercials traditional garden hoses seem to always kink but the pocket hose couldn't kink if you wanted it to a hose that doesn't kink bernie twisted bent even knotted each hose and guess what the water kept flowing nothing we did could make it stop as it drains the hose retracts back to its original shape yep those hoses shrank right back down so these three hoses do deliver on their promises so if you want to hand water your garden or wash your car they'll get the job done and if you have low water pressure at your house the pocket hose is your best bet i'm sula cola for consumer reports youinfomercials for as seen on tv expandable garden hoses show how much better they are than a regular hose tired of tugging and lugging your hose it's heavy it tangles as everyone knows black and white melodrama aside i do hate wrestling with my garden hose turn on the water and watch this mini hose grow and grow and grow to maximum length to this long full-size hose consumer reports tested three the dap x hose the flexible hose and the pocket hose all 50 feet in length the hoses claim to be lightweight expand up to three times their size and never kink so washing your windows or spraying off your gutters has never been easier tester bernie dietrich weighed each one yep all were about a pound as promised then he turned on the water and sure enough each one grew and grew and grew to just about three times the original size and because it's so light watering your flowers and garden or washing your car has never been easier bernie also tested the water flow rate and volume and guess what they were just as good as a regular garden hose now here comes the butt if you use the hose fully opened like when you're filling up a kiddie pool the hoses may shrink a lot that's because the water pressure drops though the pocket hose didn't shrink as much and if you use a sprinkler things could get kind of messy because you'll have to set it in place when the water is on and the hose shrinks when you turn the water off so your sprinkler can go with it watch out for those delicate flowers now back to those infomercials traditional garden hoses seem to always kink but the pocket hose couldn't kink if you wanted it to a hose that doesn't kink bernie twisted bent even knotted each hose and guess what the water kept flowing nothing we did could make it stop as it drains the hose retracts back to its original shape yep those hoses shrank right back down so these three hoses do deliver on their promises so if you want to hand water your garden or wash your car they'll get the job done and if you have low water pressure at your house the pocket hose is your best bet i'm sula cola for consumer reports you\n"