Choose a vinyl hose for easy handling. If you live in a mild climate and plan to use the hose to water your lawn or garden, vinyl is a suitable option. Vinyl hoses are light and easy to handle. They often cost less than rubber or reinforced hoses and are a good choice for basic watering needs.

Choose the length based on the size of your property. Garden hoses range from 10 feet (3.0 m) to over 100 feet (30 m) in length. If you have a small lot and simply need to water your grass or flowers, a short hose, such as one that’s 25 feet (7.6 m), should work well. If you have several acres of property, you’ll need to opt for a longer hose, like 100 feet (30 m). You can also connect two garden hoses together to reach a farther distance.

Let your pressure needs determine the diameter. A hose with a 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) diameter will deliver about 9 gallons (34 L) of water per minute. This is sufficient for basic lawn and garden watering. A hose with a 5⁄8 inch (1.6 cm) diameter will deliver about 17 gallons (64 L) of water per minute. A hose diameter of 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) will deliver about 23 gallons (87 L) of water per minute. The wider the diameter, the less pressure is lost over distance. So choose your size and length accordingly.

Look for cast brass fittings. Solid, crush-proof fittings are a must for your garden hose. Choose cast brass, rather than stamped brass, to ensure that you won’t need to replace the hose due to damaged fittings. Cast brass fittings also indicate that the hose is high quality. Avoid using Plastic / Rigid PVC Fittings and connectors.

Pick a brass nozzle to reduce leaks. Attaching a nozzle to the end of the hose changes the way that water is delivered. The nozzle can be twisted to produce a fine spray or a strong stream of water. For the most flexibility in your watering, choose an adjustable nozzle. A brass nozzle will fit better and last longer than a plastic one.

Store your hose on a reel to reduce damage. Coil your hose on a reel to prevent bends or kinks from forming. Reels can stand alone on a cart so that you can tote it around your property, or they can be mounted to the wall. Reels are available at the same places you will find garden hoses