I have hose troubles too. I have had really bad luck with every hose I have bought from OSH recently. The regular hoses kink horribly. The "Kink-free" hoses sprout leaks in them after just a few months. They are also stiff and hard to handle. For storage, I have one of those boxes where you turn the handle and the hose reels itself in. I also use a nozzle on the end of the hose where you can turn the nozzle to shut off the water. I think the water must build up pressure in the hose when I turn the nozzle to 'off.' Maybe that is stressing the hose fabric too much, so it develops leaks? (And it is not like we have good water pressure either). I'm taking the hose I have now back to OSH because it developed leaks after only 3 or 4 months. It is supposed to have a lifetime guarantee, so I want my money back OSH!

Found what seems like a pretty good site for garden hose info at... http://www.irrigation.learnabout.info/guide-hose-reels.htm (see info below followind email) Sounds like not only the hose, but the method of storage is important. Also sounds like rubber, 6 to 8-ply, with brass fittings is the better choice. Now just need to find the brand. Not sure about the ultra-violet effect on rubber, but guess thats where the storage method comes in. Would rather not get into a reel type storage (just another mechanical device to deal with and maintain), but would rather hand coil and keep under cover, so need hose that could handle being handled ! Other thoughts ? --------------- http://www.irrigation.learnabout.info/guide-hose-reels.htm Because it is used often, if not every day, a garden hose must be durable, kink free and easy to store. Hose reels, although equally unglamorous, must be sturdy, rust-proof, and designed to discourage kinking. When choosing a garden hose, the most important characteristics to consider are: Material the hose is made from, such as rubber, vinyl, or a combination of both. Hose strength reflected in the number of plies or layers. The more plies, the stronger the hose. Usually, garden hose or household hoses have 3 to 6 plies. Diameter of the hose, which indicates the amount of water the hose can deliver. Usual diameters are 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4". Length of the hose25 to 100 feet is common. Of course this sounds obvious, but how many times have you gone to wash or water something and the darn thing just won't reach! Fittings made of brass are the most durable. Plastic fittings are also available and are sometimes easier to tighten or turn when attaching to the hose. Correct storage is the most important part of keeping your garden hose in good condition. Exposure to the sun, hot water, folding or bending can all cause the hose material to weaken, and encourages kinking and cracking. The best way to store a hose is in large coils hanging on a hose reel or bracket, or lying in a hose pot or bucket. There are lots of hose storage solutions out there, so choose the best one for your situation by looking at the length of hose (a long hose needs a bigger bracket or hose reel), and the location of the water supply before making your decision. Garden Hose Showdown: Rubber vs. Vinyl Really, it's no contest. One hundred percent rubber hoses are considered to be the best quality, but they are also slightly more expensive. 4-ply garden hose: A medium duty hose, perfect for home gardens. Reinforced vinyl or rubber/vinyl construction. 5-ply garden hose: A heavy duty hose perfect for a large gardens and frequent use. Reinforced vinyl or rubber/vinyl construction. 6-ply to 8-ply commercial hose: A super heavy duty, non-kinking hose for commercial or farm applications. Usually rubber construction. Wall mount hose reel: Attaches to the wall and feed the hose out either parallel or perpendicular to the wall. Cart or wagon hose reel: A portable hose reel on wheels. Ideal for large gardens with multiple water faucets.

FIP (female iron pipe) threads are tapered. Garden hose threads are straight (non-tapered). There are dimensional and pitch differences between pipe threads and garden hose threads as well. The link below shows these differences. Note that the garden hose threads are 1-1/16" OD x 11.5 threads per inch and do not match any pipe thread size. . http://ppt-hose-tech.com/Downloads/Thread%20Dimensions.pdf

Spider webs are stronger then steel, in fact it is 5 times stronger than steel by weight. If you were to spin a web into a 1/4" rope it would lift a 7000 pound truck off the ground, or 21 sumo wrestlers of an average weight of 330 pounds. So you think you can wash off a spider web with a garden hose? Ah yes.