Rubber Vs Vinyl: What's the Better Type of Garden Hose?

What's the Better Kind Of Garden Hose?

Rolling out the garden hose to water the lawn, your flowers and landscaping is rather of a rite of spring. But do you understand what kind of hose is best for you? Yes, even the most apparently simple gardening tools have a variety of options for homeowners to pick from. In regards to garden hoses, there are things like thickness, length and material that need to be considered. The latter element is one of the most essential to consider and typically boils down to whether a rubber or vinyl/plastic garden hose is best for your situation.

So what will it be for you - plastic or rubber? Here's a take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Plastic/Vinyl

Typically speaking, plastic or vinyl garden hose pipes are the more affordable of the two previously mentioned hose options. They're also better for more fundamental gardening needs, as these tubes tend to be lighter in weight and much easier to manage, yet less resilient than their rubber counterparts. Here's a take a look at more pros and cons of plastic or vinyl pipes:

PRO: Great for mild climates. Plastic has a tendency to warp when exposed to prolonged hot temperatures. Typically, the more mild climates are perfect for this hose type. While it can still be used in more extreme conditions, house owners are typically encouraged to save it when not using it to avoid warping and early wear in such conditions.

CON: Kinks. Plastic or vinyl hoses kink much easier than rubber ones.

CON: Damage much easier. Plastic/vinyl tubes don't roll up as easy as rubber ones and are most likely to split and develop leaks in winter.

Rubber

Rubber tubes are a more pricey option than plastic/vinyl tubes and therefore come with a higher up-front cost. But they are also more resilient and ideal for more intensive gardening operations. Here's a better look at some pros and cons of rubber hose pipes:

PRO: Long lasting. Rubber hose pipes are better quality than plastic/vinyl, implying they last longer, are much easier to save and more resistant to kinks. They are also better able to endure more extreme weather than plastic or vinyl tubes. They can also be bought with an enhanced lining that makes them more resistant to kinking and cracking.

CON: Heavy. Rubber hose pipes are more resilient than vinyl hoses - that's excellent. But they're also much heavier and more labor extensive to navigate, which can be off-putting for many. If you're still not sold on either of the previously mentioned choices, why not consider a hose that's the best of both worlds? That's right, rubber/vinyl hose mixes are available that combine the light-weight of plastic pipes with the toughness of rubber tubes. Nevertheless, one con to this kind of hybrid hose is that they are typically priced more than standard rubber pipes, which are the more costly option in the rubber vs. plastic garden hose arena. So a rubber/vinyl hose will likely be the most expensive choice you can obtain.

So what will it be for you and your gardening requires - plastic, rubber or hybrid?

Visit Best Garden Hose To Use With Pressure Washer to learn more.