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 yard, your flowers and landscaping is somewhat of a rite of spring. But do you know what type of hose is best for you? Yes, even the most apparently simple gardening tools have a variety of choices for property owners to select from. In regards to garden pipes, there are things like thickness, length and material that must be considered. The latter aspect is among the most essential to consider and typically comes down to whether a rubber or vinyl/plastic garden hose is best for your scenario.

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

Plastic/Vinyl

Typically speaking, plastic or vinyl garden tubes are the cheaper of the two aforementioned hose alternatives. They're also better for more standard gardening needs, as these tubes tend to be lighter in weight and simpler to handle, yet less resilient than their rubber equivalents. Here's a take a look at more advantages and disadvantages of plastic or vinyl pipes:

PRO: Good for moderate environments. Plastic has a tendency to warp when exposed to extended hot temperature levels. Typically, the more moderate environments are ideal for this hose type. While it can still be used in more extreme conditions, property owners are often advised to keep it when not using it to avoid warping and early wear in such conditions.

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

CON: Damage much easier. Plastic/vinyl hoses don't roll up as easy as rubber ones and are more likely to break and develop leakages in cold weather.

Rubber

Rubber hose pipes are a more pricey choice than plastic/vinyl tubes and therefore included a greater up-front cost. But they are also more long lasting and perfect for more extensive gardening operations. Here's a closer take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of rubber hose pipes:

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

CON: Heavy. Rubber hoses are more long lasting than vinyl hoses - that's excellent. But they're also heavier and more labor extensive to maneuver, which can be off-putting for many. If you're still not sold on either of the abovementioned alternatives, why rule out a hose that's the best of both worlds? That's right, rubber/vinyl hose combinations are offered that combine the lightweight of plastic hoses with the sturdiness of rubber tubes. Nevertheless, one con to this kind of hybrid hose is that they are often priced more than standard rubber pipes, which are the more expensive alternative in the rubber vs. plastic garden hose arena. So a rubber/vinyl hose will likely be the most expensive alternative you can acquire.

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.