At Hoselink, we offer a wide variety of watering solutions that come in different shapes and sizes and offer a variety of features. As such, we are frequently asked which garden hose is best. However, the answer isn't so simple, as there's no 'one size fits all' solution. What works best for you will depend on the size of the area in which you'll be using your garden hose, what you'll use the hose for and where you'll store it, as well as your budget. But when it comes to the hose itself, there are three things you should consider:
1. Length
To give yourself an idea of the length required, measure out your garden and envision how far you'll be unwinding the hose to water all areas; you'll then give yourself a greater chance of choosing the right length. We sell our standard 12mm Retractable Hose Reels in 20m and 30m lengths and our Hi-Flow 14mm Retractable Hose Reel in 25m. It may be tempting to buy the biggest hose to cover off every watering situation you may come across but think twice!
Not only will a longer hose cost you more, but they're also heavier to move around, take longer to drain before putting away and can result in lower water pressure coming out of the spray end. Hence, you should only opt for the 30m option if you have that much space to cover.
When determining the right length of hose for your backyard, you'll want to measure the farthest distance from your tap and buy a hose that goes just beyond that. You don't want to buy the exact size as any tug on the hose to stretch will likely cause snags and damage over time. If you need a longer hose length than 30m, consider buying two Superflex Hoses and joining them together, but only when you need to go beyond 30m. That way, you're not lugging around a long, heavy garden hose all the time. Our hoses all come pre-fitted with a Hoselink no-burst Hose Connector at either end, making them easy to connect with a simple 'point and twist' manoeuvre, which results in a 100% watertight connection.
If you have a Retractable Hose Reel, you may wish to consider buying an Additional Bracket & Tap Connector, enabling you to move your reel between more than one location, i.e. the front and back yard. Just bear in mind the weight of your reel, as they range from 9.45kg to 13.95kg without any water inside the hose.
2. Hose Diameter – Width = Water Flow
We sell garden hoses with a diameter of 12mm and Retractable Hose Reels with a choice of either 12mm or 14mm in diameter. These measurements are based on the internal diameter of the hose, not the external, and the bigger the diameter, the more water the hose can carry.
A hose width of 12mm is generally the most practical and most common garden hose diameter, and you'll find that it's a good combination of water flow and pressure without being too heavy. The majority of hoses sold by Hoselink are 12mm.
The only 14mm hose we currently sell is the 25m Hi-Flow Retractable Hose Reel in both beige and charcoal colours. This hose is the perfect option for those with lower water pressure at their property but would still like to have a retractable hose. Often with Retractable Hose Reels, there is a slight reduction in water pressure; this occurs because the hose is coiled up inside the reel's casing, meaning the water has further to travel to get to the sprayer than it would with a regular garden hose. The Hi-Flow Reel is designed to provide a higher flow of water, providing better pressure overall.
3. Flexibility – Kinking
Kinking is probably one of the most annoying things a hose can do, and it goes hand in hand with how flexible your hose is. The softer and more flexible the hose, the more prone it is to kink.
Our Retractable Hose Reels rarely kink, not only due to the high-grade, durable material they're made from but because of how you use them. You would typically only pull out the length of hose required for the job at hand and then retract it back inside once you finish watering. This should mean a minimal chance of kinking. The hose inside the reel has been designed specifically for use with an auto-rewind reel; therefore, it is softer than any of our other garden hoses to allow it to rewind neatly. A standard garden hose cannot be fitted inside our Retractable Hose Reel because it would not rewind correctly.
On the other hand, our Superflex Hose is sold individually or within our Metal Hose Reel Box or Cart, it has a kink-resistance rating of nine out of ten and features a thicker, more durable wall than most typical garden hoses.
Overview of our hoses
Whether it's for washing the car, watering the garden or cleaning windows, a garden hose is essential to every home.
The right garden hose can make any watering task a pleasure. Our range of quality hoses is available in various lengths and options to ensure you find the right one to suit your needs. Rest assured that no matter what type you choose, you'll be receiving a watering solution that's made durable, especially for Australian conditions, and comes pre-fitted with Hoselink's no-burst, no-leak Hose Connectors.
Here are some key points about each option to help you make a decision:
Retractable Hose Reel
The ideal watering solution for any avid gardener! Hoselink's Retractable Hose Reel is a wall-mounted hose storage unit with a high-quality spring-loaded hose inside.To use the reel, simply pull the hose out to the desired length and pause, allowing the 'stop-anywhere' locking mechanism to lock the hose into place. All that needs to be done to lengthen the hose is to walk it out to wherever you need to water. Once you've finished watering, lightly tug the hose to engage the automatic rewind system, and the integrated self-layering mechanism neatly coils the hose into the reel as you walk it back.
Check out all the key information below:
- Retractable Hose Reels are available in two colours, beige and charcoal.
- Hoselink Hose Reels are available in three sizes: 20m, 25m Hi-Flow and 30m. The Hi-Flow Reel uses a 14mm internal hose diameter that allows for a higher water flow, ideal for those with lower water pressure.
- The hose is less likely to kink because it's tidied away after each use rather than being left in a tangled mess.
- The Reel can pivot 180° on its bracket to face wherever you are in the garden, giving you greater freedom to move and flexibility as you switch positions or directions in the garden.
- The Reel can be padlocked to the bracket for added security.
- The Hoselink Retractable Hose Reel comes with a two-year warranty.
Superflex Garden Hose
Hoselink's Superflex Hose is designed with strength and durability in mind. With a Kink Resistance Rating of 9/10 and available in 20m or 30m lengths, this hose is characterised by its three-layer material knit and a thick outer layer that works to prevent kinks and twists from occurring. With its high-quality assemblage, you'll be enjoying the hose summer after summer with no worries about replacement.
The Superflex Hose has been tested to 500psi, which means you can rely on it to hold its shape and structure under pressure. Additionally, with its high abrasion endurance, the hose can withstand any damage from pests, dirt and debris.
Even the harshest weather conditions aren't a match for the Superflex Hose. It is suitable for climates ranging from -5°C to 50°C and has been UV stabilised to protect its exterior from the harsh Australian sun. From the height of summer to the frosts of winter, your garden is in good hands with the Superflex Hose.
Weeper Hose
Our Weeper Hose offers the ultimate hands-free watering experience, available in 7.5m and 15m lengths. The point of difference with the Weeper Hose is that it slowly weeps water directly into your soil and plant roots to reduce wastage from evaporation or a misdirected sprinkler.All you need to do is lay the hose out in a straight line across your garden bed or in gentle curves to suit your garden's shape, connect to your Hoselink-fitted hose and turn the water on lightly. The internal hose will fill up and let water seep through the hose's nylon outer layer, which runs along the entire length of the hose. It can be used above ground or buried under a light layer of mulch.
There are just a few things to note:
- Make sure you stick to a straight line or gentle curves when laying it out; sharp corners or bends in the hose impact it's ability to weep water.
- The Weeper Hose works best with low water pressure, so we advise only having the water running lightly.
- Do not attempt to bury the hose underground. A light layer of mulch is suitable but nothing deeper than 60mm.
Soaker Hose
The Hoselink Soaker Hose is another fantastic option for hands-free watering! Perfect for watering small pockets in your garden, ideally 5m wide, the hose comes in a choice of 7.5m and 15m lengths. Simply place the soaker hose in your garden, connect it to your hose and turn on the tap for easy, convenient watering while you get on enjoying the rest of the garden.
The soaker hose features small holes along its length, which allow the water to shoot out, similarly to a small sprinkler. This ensures even watering and coverage across the entire length of the hose. You've got the option to face the jets downwards to act similarly to a weeper hose and water deeply, directly to the soil, or face the jets up and allow water to shoot out into the air like a traditional sprinkler.
For a longer length, you can also connect two soaker hoses together. The hose has been designed with an internal thread at one end and an external thread at the other. After removing the stop cap, you can connect the two without needing any additional accessories.