Metal Garden Hose Reviews

Have you had trouble with your hoses bursting or wearing down over time? Have you ever wondered how to prevent your dog from chewing on your garden hose? If so, metal garden hoses might be the solution to you questions. Typically made out of stainless steel, these hoses are designed to be the most durable hoses on the market. If you want a garden hose that will last over a very long period of time, a metal garden hose is what you need. You can also use it for a large number of backyard DIY projects. Today, we offer 5 different metal garden hose reviews and tips on what to look for when you are shopping around for a new hose:

Types of Hoses

First, let's take a look at the different types of hoses that are available on the market and their main characteristics.

The Metal Hose

Metal garden hoses are a great choice for durability and they do not kink or get tangled very easily. Typically made from 304 stainless steel they are some of the most durable hoses on the market. Bionic steel typically has a pressure resistant inner lining with stainless steel on the outside. Oftentimes powder coating, or the process of applying an organic coating to a metal substrate, can be performed yielding powder coated steel, making the finish product more durable.

The Vinyl Hose

​Vinyl hoses are the most lightweight option for garden hoses and are the least expensive but can be prone to kinking, splitting and will degrade with the sun or exposure to the elements. A vinyl hose can also leak chemicals into the water so this is important to consider for any animal that may be consuming the water from the hose.

The Rubber Hose

Rubber hoses are also very strong but are also relatively expensive compared to other types of hoses. A major downside is that they can be very heavy to transport and move around, so they may not be suitable for commercial use.

The Fiber Mesh Hose

Fiber Mesh hoses are very lightweight and flexible but are not as durable or powerful compared to metal or rubber hoses.

The Layflat Hose

Layflat hoses are very flexible hoses that essentially lie flat when they are wound and stored making them easy to store and transport.

Benefits of a Stainless Steel Garden Hose

Metal hoses carry with them a number of different benefits. The most obvious benefit provided by a metal garden hose is supreme durability. Microfiber and vinyl hoses may have metal hoses beat in some areas, but when it comes to withstanding the wear and tear, the metal garden hose is the king. This ultimately increases the longevity and lifespan of the hose.

In addition to being uber durable, metal hoses are also quite flexible, and typically kink-free. Because they’re only capable of bending so much, they’re virtually incapable of tangling, which is a great advantage over other types of hoses if you have to transport your hose quite often. This makes them easy to use, easy to attach to your faucet, and easy to wind back in after you’re done with them.

Another major benefit of a metal garden hose is its very light weight. While microfiber hoses are typically lighter, metal hoses do not weigh much more and have the added benefit of extreme durability. A strand of hose typically weighs around 3 pounds in total, making them very easy to transport from place to place.

Metal hoses are also safer to drink from than vinyl or rubber hoses, as these hoses can leak unsafe chemicals into the water. This is important if you have pets or if you work on farms where animals will be consuming drinking water from your hose. Here’s a closer look at a metal hose and what you should consider when purchasing one:

Who Would Benefit the Most from Using a Metal Hose?

While metal hoses could conceivably be used by anyone for any purpose, there are certain people who can benefit from them more than others. Because they possess such excellent durability, more than for those who are only interested in watering their lawn and garden, metal hoses are terrific for those who use hoses commercially. They can withstand the wear and tear that occurs from them being dragged around all over the place.

They’re also great hoses for people with dogs and people who live in places with lots of vegetation and those that are around farm animals and the like. Dogs, like rodents (and a number of other animals), love to chew on things. It’s in their nature. Hoses are certainly not the exception. But whereas a dog would absolutely gnaw apart a vinyl hose, it wouldn’t be able to make a dent in a metal hose. In fact, most dogs will avoid or quickly grow tired of biting on a hard material like metal.

Essentially, people who have a need for maximum durability could greatly benefit from a metal hose. Compared to fiber mesh hoses and vinyl hoses, they’re are not as flexible , and powerful respectively, but they will certainly get the job done with their added benefits.

What to Consider When Choosing a Metal Hose

While metal hoses might look the same to the average consumer, they are actually all quite different and can have several different characteristics. There are a number of things you should take into account before you decide on which hose to purchase. By considering these things carefully, you’ll make the purchase that is best suited for your needs and budget. These considerations include the hose’s length, construction, durability, water pressure, flexibility, and ultimately the cost.

Although there are several types of hose nozzles metal hose nozzles are great choices for metal hoses as they are extremely durable and are able to withstand pressure and exposure to the sun and other elements. Many of these nozzles also come with different spray patterns which is great for several types of jobs required and some can even be a high pressure nozzle which is beneficial since the water flow at the end of the hose is located in a low pressure area.

Hose ferrules are designed to slide over and are crimped onto hold the hose. They can be made from brass, stainless steel, aluminum or other types of metal. You should choose the type of ferrule based on what you will be doing with the hose.

There are several ways to store a hose in particular a metal garden hose. First, a hose can be wound on a reel to prevent a garden hose kink. Usually, a reel is placed on a wall mount to that it is easy to wind the hose for easy storage. There are also metal garden hose reels that are designed to be a bit more durable for a metal garden hose.

This also includes a suncast hose hideaway which essentially includes a reel that is covered making it look appealing and protecting your hose from the elements. A hose cart also provides a way to store a hose with the benefits of being able to transport the hose easily. Another option is a hose hanger. You typically mount these on a wall and are able to wind your hose around them.

Compatible with ¾ inch water fixtures, it possesses fairly standard water pressure for a metal hose. It possesses a max PSI level of around 120. This allows it to easily handle the majority of water pressures it encounters. As far as flexibility goes, this hose shines. It’s capable of rolling up into a tight, compact circle which can be easily stored and transported. Weighing just 5 pounds for every 50 feet of hose, it's one of the lightest hoses on the market. It is suitable for the average consumer or for commercial use.

Weighing in at just 60 pounds for each 50 feet, it’s ridiculously lightweight and easy to carry. Making it easy to store is its superb flexibility. It folds up into a circle with minimal effort, and does not even possess the ability to kink. Possessing a maximum PSI level of 120, this garden hose is built to last over many, many years of use. It can handle just about as much water pressure as you can throw at it. Although it is prone to leaks at its ends, all in all, it’s one of the best metal hoses on the market today.

Resistant against dog bites, inclement weather, thorns, and other forms of abuse, it’s designed not to kink. It’s flexible, but not so flexible that it’s constantly getting tangled. All in all, this is a very solid metal hose that’s comparable to the previously reviewed hoses on our list. Though it’s only available in one size, its one size shines. With a max PSI level of 120, it can handle any water pressure distributed by a standard fixture.

Weighing in at 6 pounds for each 50 feet of hose, this is a fairly lightweight hose that’s easy to transport from place to place. Due to internal latex design, it’s capable of quite a bit of flexibility. However, it’s not so flexible that it easily tangles either. It possesses a nearly flawless amount of flexibility. The diameter is on the narrow size compared to some of the other hoses. Overall, this hose from Bionic Steel is an excellent hose. Available for a fairly reasonable price, it’s just a small step below the three hoses reviewed above.

The last metal hose we’ll review is the Hercules Hose. available in lengths of 25, 50, 75, and 100 feet, this hose is large or small enough to suit the majority of purposes.

Made out of tough and durable stainless steel, this hose is designed to withstand years and years of abuse. Tear-resistant and rust-resistant, it stands up against dog bites, inclement weather, thorn damage, and more.

Weighing in at around 6 pounds for each 50 feet of hose, it’s very lightweight and easy to carry from place to place. Though it’s a flexible hose, it doesn’t flex so much as to tangle constantly. Its kink-free design ensures that it’s always running as smoothly as possible.All in all, the Hercules Hose is an above-average metal hose. Though it’s not quite on par with the absolute best metal hoses, it’s not far behind. It is, unfortunately, prone to leaking at its ends and is a bit pricier compared to some of the other hoses.