Rubber Vs Vinyl: What's the Better Type of Garden Hose?

What's the Better Type of Garden Hose?

Rolling out the garden hose to water the yard, your flowers and landscaping is rather of a rite of spring. But do you know what kind of hose is best for you? Yes, even the most relatively simple gardening tools have a variety of options for property owners to pick from. In regards to garden hose pipes, there are things like density, length and material that should be considered. The latter element is one of the most important to consider and typically comes down to whether a rubber or vinyl/plastic garden hose is best for your situation.

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

Plastic/Vinyl

Usually speaking, plastic or vinyl garden hose pipes are the cheaper of the two abovementioned hose options. They're also better for more basic gardening requirements, as these pipes tend to be lighter in weight and simpler to deal with, yet less durable than their rubber counterparts. Here's a look at more benefits and drawbacks of plastic or vinyl tubes:

PRO: Great for mild environments. Plastic has a tendency to warp when exposed to prolonged hot temperatures. Normally, the more moderate environments are perfect for this hose type. While it can still be used in more extreme conditions, property owners are frequently encouraged to keep it when not using it to prevent warping and premature wear in such conditions.

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

CON: Damage much easier. Plastic/vinyl pipes don't roll up as simple as rubber ones and are most likely to break and establish leakages in winter.

Rubber

Rubber pipes are a more pricey option than plastic/vinyl tubes and for that reason included a higher up-front expense. But they are also more durable and ideal for more extensive gardening operations. Here's a more detailed look at some pros and cons of rubber tubes:

PRO: Long lasting. Rubber tubes are much better quality than plastic/vinyl, implying they last longer, are easier to store and more resistant to kinks. They are also much better able to endure more severe weather than plastic or vinyl hoses. They can also be purchased with an enhanced lining that 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 intensive to maneuver, which can be off-putting for many. If you're still not sold on either of the aforementioned choices, why not consider a hose that's the best of both worlds? That's right, rubber/vinyl hose mixes are available that combine the light-weight of plastic pipes with the sturdiness of rubber hose pipes. However, one con to this type of hybrid hose is that they are often priced more than basic rubber hose pipes, which are the more costly option in the rubber vs. plastic garden hose arena. So a rubber/vinyl hose will likely be the most costly 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.