You might think that hoses are all the same – and fundamentally they are – because, at their core, they’re simply conduits for water to flow. But it’s not hard to understand how frustrating it can be for your pressure washer to run dry, or if it takes longer than it should to water your flower beds, when a cheap hose kinks or splits. The best hoses will resist kinking, are durable and are easy to hold, even with wet hands. A good garden hose is an essential accessory for the garden. They’re helpful for keeping your plants healthy and your grass a luscious green during the summer, and they’re also an absolute must-have if you use a pressure washer to clean your patio, garden furniture or your car. Then there are fully steel hoses that are perhaps the strongest of them all. Durable and kink-resistant, these hoses make for a hardy investment, especially since they are generally weatherproof. They won’t freeze, nor will they heat up the water in the hose and damage its internals, like rubber hoses can do; however, this is mainly an issue for people living in more extreme climates. You can buy a traditional O-shaped hosepipe on its own. These often represent the cheapest option, but you’ll need somewhere to store it or hang it out of the way to avoid it getting trampled and damaged.

Garden hoses can even become a necessity when you’re filling a paddling pool, or need water to mix concrete for those bigger DIY projects. Finally, there’s the fabric-covered hose, which might be the best option for smaller gardens. These are designed to be used without a reel, and expand when water flows through them and contract when you turn off the tap. What types of hosepipes are there? Pipes will usually have specs detailing their maximum, or “burst”, water pressure and boasting of their protection against weather, kinking and frost, but the one most worth paying attention to is the guarantee. If a pipe’s guaranteed for 15, 20, or 30 years, then that’s a good sign it’s built to last – as long as you take care of it, of course. What length of hose should I buy?