@upup_and_away How does this one look?

One thing that also confuses me on the hoses is the thickness (3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4"). Are the twist knobs at the end of the hose the same size regardless of the hose diameter, or do I need to go measure the exact hose diameter I already have and replace it with the same?

The thread tells you; it specifies "hose thread," so it'll fit a hose-threaded item.

I haven't seen any issues with that, but reports are that sometimes it can get a tad confusing. Again, no problems here. The ID (inside diameter) just tells you how much friction the water's going to experience and your pressure loss over the length of the line. Theoretically, larger ID is better. Practically speaking, over reasonable run lengths and reasonable output rates on a single sprinkler or hose head, it doesn't matter.

I have resisted posting this to this thread, but could not resist any more.

I have found the hose that holds up to wear and sunlight best is the one that performs the worst. If it kinks when you look at it it will out last your need for it in your yard.

I buy Craftsman hoses from Sears with a lifetime guarantee. I've replaced many hoses for free since the 1970s.

@dchall Watch out- it has been a while since sears gets their hoses from china now. They are more flimsey than the last ones i got that were made in US. The brands i mentioned i saw at HD\Lowes and they seem to be like the old sears hose and made in US.

I need to be careful because if\when mine break IM sol as the nearest sears is very far. Hopefully mine last as long as my parents' hoses - about 40yrs and counting.

Just wanted to remark that I have never had a hose wear out or deteriorate from sun. And I am sometimes not very good about coiling it up after use and leave it exposed, sometimes for several days. But I tend to buy or use high grade hoses to begin with and not the very inexpensive, flimsy ones.

If I could only get my water wands or sprinkler attachments to last as long, I'd be happy!

I was just visiting and helping in the garden of my sister in law. She has an old hose that needed a new end piece. It was so stiff I nearly got blisters poking the new repair parts on. I would say it was sun damage.

It depends on the sun. Here in PA, not so much. The fourteen minutes of it we get from September through March don't do much, and even the summer sun isn't that strong. Some weaker plastics wear out fast in sunlight, but other than that, I've never had hose problems.

Desert Southwest? I would have no doubts. :-)

So anecdotal reports will vary and mean little and I certainly don't doubt and wouldn't dream of badmouthing the OP's reports of damage in sun further south than I've got; my 'rents used to live in Hawaii. Now that's serious sun that does some freaky things that I've seen first-hand during visits there. Ask me about my ears after thirty minutes without sunscreen.

OP lives in SF Bay area. Summer sun is not HOT nor very intense...likely not much different from PA. Or here in the PNW.

I just don't think it is much of an issue.........

I live a bit south of SFB. ... In the Mojave Desert. When I bought my first house it had an opposite water pressure problem, too much. City provided off mainline. 100+ PSI. That and the weather had me bursting typical vinyl hoses about 2x per summer and once more rest of the year until I got solid rubber hoses.

So, yes, hi temps made a considerable difference. Side note: hi pressure has me replacing every type of valve at least once a year. Finally got correct pressure regulator.

I have a flexon brand hose that's marked commercial 1020899 that has lasted 12 years. it has a kink free warranty. while I do drain it in November it hangs a wall mounted reel year round. one thing that's queer about this hose is that even after 12 years if I'm filling a bucket the water foams like it's soapy. I hung the reel a bit higher than normal so the hose hangs in large loops. I bought some Gilmore hoses that were not cheap & sometimes only last one season. they do carry a lifetime warranty & so far Gilmore has had no issues with replacing them. the 1st time the customer service guy replaced them with an upgrade & threw in a red rubber 'farm' grade hose to see if I liked it. that hose has held up well. the upgraded hoses are a gray vinyl. those have been replaced twice & I could not talk them into giving me the farm hose when they did. the gray hoses also swell if left under pressure even for short periods of time & are bad about kinking.