I use the Zero G and buy it at Lowes.

We have several in place of conventional hoses. They're lighter, collapse to a smaller size without kinking and for those reasons are easier to handle and store.

I don't doubt that regular hoses last longer but these hoses are useful. I'll gladly replace them more frequently to have the ease of use and functionality they offer.

I switched to metal hoses. They are lightweight, easy to coil and compact when hung on a hose hook/holder. They don’t kink. I love them.

I was given 2 of these hoses as a gift and they worked ok for a while. Within 2 years the rubber gizmo inside the hoses that make them contract snapped and these hoses no longer retract. I still can use both hoses but as regular hoses now. I do not recall the brand of hose.

I have three Pocket hoses. I buy them at my local garden center. I like them a lot as they are much easier than a conventional hose to handle. The oldest one I have is probably six years old with no degradation. I don't know if I would buy from an online source when most are available locally at a hardware store or garden center.

FWIW, the link below was part of an email I received recently. There was more info that I can’t find now. However, I remember the Copper Hose you see advertised on TV was rated at the bottom. I did take a screen shot of the one in this photo since it was rated highest.

Link - Garden Hose Review

I have a couple pocket hoses, this one is a year old now, not used over the winter, and I will say it has lost a lot of its shrinking/coiling power already. It’s ok for light duty watering, but kind of unsatisfactory washing cars. Not sure if it’s actually pushing lower volume than even a 1/2” hose but it feels that way. My final complaint is that the cloth outside catches and pulls on everything. You’ll discover splinters on your deck that you never knew you had.

Negatives aside, it’s still more managable for watering plants than a standard hose, but I will be considering other recommendations given here.

I love mine. I used to pull my back out fighting with the garden hose. No more. They are amazingly light and easy to manage. And because they are so easy, you can get a really long hose if needed.

I've had two and both "exploded" within months. Back to my rubber (made by Continetal and/or Goodyear) hoses!

We had one. It was barely long enough and then the water preassure was so decreased the sprinklers wouldn't run. We traded it to our daughter. For hand watering ours was fine. We had a big box brand, no copper.

Catch and tear on every little thing hose.

I use and have used for thirty five years or more real rubber hoses. I got all my hoses for free incidentally due to people moving. I once bought a used washer and dryer that were full of 100 ft rubber hose, gad that was 1980. I use my old what ever hoses that kink for zonal watering by burying them under mulch and punching holes where I want water to seep out thereby replacing my old stupid soaker hoses that clogged up. Real rubber seems to last forever and I just had them stretched over the yard in summer and spooled up on hose holders for the fall and winter. They are mostly black and amazingly durable and non kinkable. Expensive to buy but forever hoses. I have hose reels that you screw the hose onto and then reel up. they roll. Unwind as much as you need. Attach to water source by way of shorter reinforced hose.

I didnt know about metal hose. If I were still gardening I would certainly look into that.

The concept is great, and I loved the one I got that lay completely flat when not used. However, it burst a leak in a day. So back it went and was exchanged for another, thinking it was a flaw. The same damn thing happened after a few days, and I was very diligent about shutting off all water so no pressure built up. Took it back for a third exchange, and it happened in a few more days, so back to my 25-year-old rubber hose, which kinks and is super heavy but does the job.

Wow - thank you all for taking the time to respond. I appreciate all of your insight. I think that I will try one, as I agree that the aggravation of having to replace it every now and then may be worth it vs the standard hose.

For those that gave me names/brands/links, another thank you. For the others, whether you liked yours or not, are you able to tell me brands?

Again, many thanks.

Suzieque ~ At 4'10" and way over 70, I needed lightweight hoses also. For over 18 years mine have held up perfectly and are SO excellent that I highly recommend them. Brand is WaterRight (available on A**z*n) comes in lengths 25-100 feet, are drinking-water safe, don't kink (unless I am careless) and are very lightweight yet tough. I now own five of them! (huge property filled with gardens and some are connected to each other to reach everywhere).

I can still handle these hoses with little effort. I'm the type of gardener that enjoys watering as it gives me a chance to see how everything is doing. It's rather zen, IMO!

As for coiling up long hoses, my father taught me decades ago that the best way is to form a figure-8, rather than circular. That really makes a difference!!! =)

(And LOL at Kendrah!)

We have a couple. Great for light duty watering. No tripping over them, no should and arm strain or having a batttle with a hose reel :)