Which Is the Best Garden Hose: Rubber or Vinyl?

When spring is in the air, it's time to visit the garden center to gather everything you'll need for planting season. While you're caught up in the excitement of a warming Earth and surrounded by brightly colored flowers and the intoxicating smell of fertilizer at the nursery, you may be tempted to grab a new garden hose without giving it much thought -- but when it's time to actually use your new hose, you may find yourself wishing you had given the choice a bit more consideration. Both rubber and vinyl hoses can be excellent choices, but which one will work best for you depends on your individual needs.

Rubber hoses provide the best option when you're looking for durability and versatility. Hoses made of rubber last the longest and are the only ones rated to carry hot water. While hot water may not be something your plants need when you water the garden, it is convenient when you're using the hose to wash the car or perform other outdoor cleaning tasks. Rubber hoses also resist kinking, cracking and ozone deterioration better than those made of other materials.

All these features come at a price, however, making rubber hosing the most expensive option. Rubber hose is also heavy, making it harder to drag around the garden than lighter options.

Vinyl hose is an excellent choice for gardeners who need to be mobile and cover a lot of ground. Hoses made of vinyl are lightweight and are much easier to maneuver than rubber hoses. Vinyl hose is also much less expensive than rubber hose. Unfortunately, kinks and holes are much more common in vinyl hoses than in their rubber counterparts, meaning they need to be replaced more often. Vinyl hoses are not recommended for applications that involve hot water.

If you lack much space to store your hose, you could also opt for a flat version of a reinforced vinyl hose. These hoses have less depth when drained of water and can be tightly wound.

Whichever type of hose you choose, try to get the longest life possible out of it with proper care. Drain the hose prior to the onset of winter to avoid breaking or damaging it. Don't drag the hose around sharp objects. And coil the hose properly when not in use, and keep it out of direct sunlight whenever possible.

For most gardeners, vinyl hoses are a go-to choice. They are inexpensive, lightweight and easy to move around the lawn or garden. If your hose pulls double duty, however, and is frequently used to wash cars or perform other tasks best performed with hot water, opt for the rubber hose better suited to these tasks.