Top Picks for Expandable Hose Repair Kits and Owner Tips
There are so many options on the market for different ways to be able to care for your garden. There are many businesses and manufacturers that supply us with option upon option for the best materials we can use to take care of the yard and gardens that we slave over. With something as simple as a container to hold and pour out water, or a tube that runs from your water supply onto the rest of your garden, you would think that picking one out, taking it home and using it with ease should surely be a given. But with the opportunities for leaks, breaks, rips, and countless other hardships that people will be quick to recount, it can be rather difficult to find the product that is going to work well for you, fit your needs, and last for as long as you feel like your money paid for! Many manufacturers get away with keeping their prices considerably lower than market average by using cheap materials in their products. This will inevitably cause you to spend more money in the long run by causing you to have to buy something new every season that comes by! No matter if you are just trying to grow a nice stand of grass for the aesthetic value of your lawn, a hobby gardener, or someone who’s aim is to grow their own produce entirely, it is still important to have products on hand that are easy to use, durable AND that don’t break the bank. The products that we are reviewing below are ones that run about middle of the line in terms of pricing that pack a good punch when it comes to their value.
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In this article we are going to take a detailed look at one family of products in particular and the supplies that are made to accompany them. We are going to talk about expandable hoses, how to care for them, review several of the best repair kits that are currently on the market for them, give a couple of great options you can look for when trying to buy a good one that will help you avoid ever needing to fix them, as well as some of the best practices for ways to increase the longevity of the hoses themselves.
Breakdown of an Expandable Hose and Areas to Care For
Before we get into the reviews for the top repair kits currently on the market, let’s take a look at areas of the hoses themselves that may need some special attention. Paying attention to these may help a great deal with proactively avoiding any need for a repair kit and taking the time to fix the hose. This section also serves as a breakdown of the hose to get an idea of what you might be looking for when going to repair it. An expandable hose serves the same purpose as a traditional hose will, but is made out of very different materials, making it a little bit of a different story than when fixing the traditional hoses that everybody is normally used to.
Nozzle End
On any hose, there will be two ends that should have the capability to connect themselves to whatever water supply you are going to be using, as well as screw on to whatever nozzle you will be using to spray the water out. These will be made out of different materials depending on the company; either metal or a hard plastic should be used. Some of these will have switches at the end installed underneath the nozzle that can control the amount of water that comes through. These will generally be made of a similar material that the nozzle is made from. Since the hose is made of two layers, talked about next, there should also be some sort of wire clamp that will securely fasten both of the layers around the outside or inside of the nozzle to ensure that it stays attached. Being careful with the nozzle will means that it shouldn’t be cracked against anything, stepped on and it isn’t meant to be pulled on, away from the actual hosing of the hose.
Fabric Covering
Next, there is the fabric covering that is unique in the design of an expandable hose. This can be made of all sorts of fabric materials but is generally a sort of durable polyester. There are multiple different designs that include the fabric just being bunched up around the inner hose to allow it to stretch as far as the maximum stretching point is. Another newer design is made so the fabric is a little bit stauncher and is coiled around the inner tubing and the coils themselves will stretch out. Even though the fabric should be durable, be sure to watch out for tearing or splitting of the fabric as it helps to protect the important inner layer. If the fabric tears, it won’t immediately cause a leak but will indicate a weak spot on the hose to watch out for during future uses.
Latex Interior
The interior of the hose is what can differ the most from hose to hose offered on the market. There can be multiple layers of the hose that makes up the entirety of the tubing itself. These are normally made out of a sort of hardy latex material. It is this material that is what allows the hose to be expandable and to contract back to its original smaller size, as well as what makes these types of hoses so much lighter generally. Obviously, the more layers, the more durable the hose will be, but also the more expensive. Tears or cuts that develop in this layer are what will create a leak and should be protected more than the other parts of the hose.
Quick Guide
Brass Garden Hose Joint Male Pipe Adaptor Repair Kit
This is the only product that we are reviewing in this article that is made of brass. Many of the tutorials and articles that are available out there for a guide on how to fix an expandable hose will feature brass connectors to do it, as they are going to be very durable and generally made of a better-quality material.
GardeningWill Expanding Hose Female/Male Repair Kit
This product is a very simple version made from plastic and sold by the same manufacturer as our top choice is. Even though it is made from plastic, it is still very durable and should hold up through any fix-up job. The set features both male and female connectors to make it inclusive for everything you should need.
SPEQUIX Garden Expandable Hose Repair Kit
Finally, the last featured product is from a different manufacturer, but still well-known for its quality and ease of use. This product also features both the male and female adapters and is also made out of a durable plastic. The main difference between these last two are the price, this one being slightly more expensive, but not by much.
Brass Garden Hose Joint Male Pipe Adaptor Repair Kit
Breakdown and Pros:
This is the most heavy duty of the products on this list, mostly because of the materials that it is made from. It is made up of a rust-proof brass, as the main problem that many people will have with using some kind of metal while fixing a hose is the rusting that can inevitably happen and will cause the fix to slowly begin to leak again in the weakest spots. This product ensures that this won’t happen. The kit is made at a size that will fit the majority of expandable hoses and comes with two female quick connectors along with one male connector to use for one area that needs to be fixed. Online, the company has pictures of exactly how to use the product when it is received to make it easier for those that haven’t had to fix something like this before. It is made primarily for fixing the nozzle ends of the garden house and may need to be adapted a bit to fix cuts or holes in the center of the hose.
Cons:
The big downside to this set of connectors is that they are slightly more expensive, because of the materials that are used to make them, than the other plastic options listed below. They are also mostly used for fixing nozzle ends and not for splicing in. This makes them a little less versatile than other products might be.
GardeningWill Expanding Hose Female/Male Repair Kit
Breakdown and Pros:
The next product that we are featuring is actually produced by the same company as the brass ones before. This option is made from a durable plastic and buying from the producer or Amazon will allow you to select if you would like them with on/off valves included in the make. This is a great option if you are fixing a nozzle end or splicing them into the middle of the hose somewhere to fix a leak, they are made for the convenience of buyer. There are three sets of connectors that are included in this package deal, female, male and an O-ring washer to act as a seal. They are made for a standard ¾” US thread garden hose. The product is pretty cheap, especially when considering that there are three sets in the pack, making it possible to use for three different fixes if needed.
Cons:
This product does not come with any sort of instructions or pictures on how to make this work for you. However, they are reportedly relatively simple to use and there are plenty of DIY-ers online that have made instructions and videos to show you how to make your own repair easily.
SPEQUIZ Garden Expandable Hose Repair Kit
Breakdown and Pros:
This is another product that is made with plastic, this time offered from a different company. Although it can be seen to have some mixed reviews, it is still one of the better repair kits that is on the market currently for the expandable hoses. This product also comes with three connector sets, male and female parts along with a rubber washer to allow for a seal where the leak was. This is a great multifunctional option as well as it can be used to fix leaks or cuts that may develop in the middle, or fix a nozzle end, as well as function to attach two hoses together if a longer hose is needed than the one originally purchased. This is also a fit for a standard ¾” US thread garden hose. A plus of this product in comparison to the last one is that there are very useful pictures online, especially if purchasing the product from Amazon, that function as great instructions for how to use them instead of needing to look up different videos to match to the product you have bought.
Cons:
This product, like other kits, does not come with a clamp and this tends to be one of the bigger complaints about it. When purchasing, it is simply something to be aware of and have on hand before the fix is going to be done. Also, this product is slightly more expensive than the plastic one before it, but much less expensive than buying a new hose altogether!
Best Expandable Hoses to Avoid Fixes
One of the best ways to avoid needing to fix an expandable hose is to buy a quality hose in the first place. Many times, a hose will snap or cut easily because of the materials that go into the make of it. Looking for hoses that are made of quality material as well as those that include more layers in the inner tubing than just one or two will exponentially decrease the chances of the hose being damaged. Time is money and being able to save time fixing the hose can be just as valuable as saving money when buying a lesser-valued hose. Below are just a couple of great products to consider when looking to buy a new hose.
TheFitLife Expandable Garden Hose
This expandable hose is great fit for most because it is a great quality expandable hose that runs about middle of the market on just about everything. The price is still pretty cheap for those that aren’t looking to break the bank yet has a good reputation of holding up for a long time.
TBI Pro Expandable Garden Hose
This hose is loved by just about everyone that has invested in it. It is a heavy-duty expandable hose, ready to take any abuse that may be thrown at it and comes with plenty of accessories to make it even easier to use along with helping to offset the price.
TheFitLife Expandable Garden Hose
Breakdown and Pros:
This hose is only first in order because of its viability for many different gardeners. If you are just looking to try out an expandable hose for the first time, looking into this product is a great place to start. There are ordering options of 25, 50, 75 and 100 feet, making it a great size for any needs the buyer might have. The hose is considerably lighter than normal garden hoses will be, at 2.7 pounds for the 50 feet you are getting. It has a triple layer of latex inner tubing that allows it to withstand harsh yard treatment for much longer than a hose that is normally offered at this price. It also comes with a spray nozzle that includes eight different patterns to fit your preference. The company offers 180 day guarantee to be able to return and get your money back, also a great quality for those looking to try expandable hoses out for the first time. The fabric around the outside is a newer design that is coming out in expandable hoses now, making them more resistant to punctures from sharp corners or jagged rocks.
Cons:
Although this hose is great starter for many new gardeners, if the length of it is of utmost importance to you then it may be worth it to get the next size up. People said that because of the tightness of the newly designed fabric layer, it causes the hose to not readily stretch out to the size that it is advertised at.
TBI Pro Expandable Garden Hose
Breakdown and Pros:
The other hose that we have selected for this short list of quality, durable products is one that, although more expensive, packs a great bang for the buck. This hose has four layers of latex that make up its inner layer, making it incredibly strong. The sizing options are 50 feet and 100 feet. The design for this garden hose also includes an innovative anti-leak system that helps to stop leaks when moving around corners and over edges. This hose comes with a set of other accessories that help to soften the cost a bit, including the garden hose, a 9-way zinc alloy sprayer, a 2-way splitter, storage bag, and a hanger. For many hoses, these accessories need to be bought separately and will quickly hike up the price. The spray end is also fitted with an on/off nozzle that allows you to have even more control over the flow of water. This product is known for its durability and functionality, easily being one of the best expandable hoses on the market.
Cons:
In this product, although the accessories can be a very convenient add, the majority of the work on durability was put into the hose and connections themselves. The accessories are known to be a little more iffy in terms of durability. The price can also be a bit steep unless you know you want to invest in a great long-term expandable hose.
Considerations When Buying
Finally, we are going to take a quick look at what to consider when looking at buying any hose, especially an expandable one. These are a few basic ideas to have in mind that may help you to get more out of your product in the end than if deemed unimportant.
1. Size
Always consider what length and width you are going to need, both for connectors, to make it easy to attach to a specific nozzle and water source, as well as how big your yard is.
2. Flexibility
Although expandable hoses are known for their flexibility because of the material that they need to be made with, it is important to consider this when looking into the reviews of any specific product. Flexibility is very important when considering a hose because kinking and crimping can be one of the most prolific and irritating problems when pulling a hose around while watering your yard. It can greatly increase the time that it takes to do such an easy task.
3. Weight
Flexible hoses are also known for being much more lightweight than many traditional hoses are, again because of their material. If this is one of the reasons that you may be gravitating towards an expandable hose, keep this characteristic in mind when trying to find the hose that is right for you.
4. Warranty
Lastly, it is important to consider the manufacturer and their customer service when getting something like a garden hose. Unlike many products that people look at buying every day, a hose will get dirty, yanked, dragged, and back again day after day. Even if research is done to find the right durability for you, it is always worth looking into the return and warranty policy that the company has in place. This will only end up saving you time and money in the end!
Here’s to hoping that this short guide has given you a more comprehensive idea of what an expandable hose is, what goes into fixing it, as well as the best materials needed to get the job done. With so many options out there, this should have served to help narrow your search a little bit more!
