A soaker hose is an ideal tool for most of your home plant watering needs.
They are perforated hoses that allow water to sip/drip through to the desired areas so that there is no water wastage from runoff, evaporation or over-spraying.
They address some of the common challenges experienced with sprinkler systems, which are inflexible and can lead to water wastage.
Because a soaker will spray directly to the ground where the plant roots reside, it will also prevent damage to flowers and delicate leaves by water.
Dive into our top 7 best soaker hose reviews and buying guide to learn more about the best hoses for your needs and budget.
In this post:
- 7 Best Soaker Hoses – Review
- 1. Apex 100519948 – Best Budget Soaker Hose
- 2. Rocky Mountain Goods – Best Heavy Duty Soaker Hose
- 3. Osmile amazc100 – Longest Soaker Hose
- 4. Dramm 17010 – Premium Soaker Hose
- 5. Melnor 86075 – Easy Storage Soaker Hose
- 6. Gilmour 870751-1001 – Environment-Friendly Soaker Hose
- 7. Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC – Efficient Soaker Hose
- How to Buy the Best Soaker Hose
- Conclusion
7 Best Soaker Hoses – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Apex 100519948 (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 2. Rocky Mountain Goods (Best Heavy Duty) |
| |
 | 3. Osmile amazc100 (Longest) |
| |
 | 4. Dramm 17010 (Premium Soaker Hose) |
| |
 | 5. Melnor 86075 (Easy Storage) |
| |
 | 6. Gilmour 870751-1001 (Environment-Friendly) |
| |
 | 7. Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC (Efficient) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Apex 100519948 (Best Budget)
|
2. Rocky Mountain Goods (Best Heavy Duty)
|
3. Osmile amazc100 (Longest)
|
4. Dramm 17010 (Premium Soaker Hose)
|
5. Melnor 86075 (Easy Storage)
|
6. Gilmour 870751-1001 (Environment-Friendly)
|
7. Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC (Efficient)
|
1. Apex 100519948 – Best Budget Soaker Hose
Photo: Apex
- Length options: 25 feet (also available in 50 and 100-foot options)
- Material: Vinyl
Apex 100519948 is the most affordable hose on our list if you’re on a tight budget. But that doesn’t mean it compromises on quality and performance. This model is 25 feet long, but you can get the 50 or 100-foot options for that extra length.
The short length ensures equal pressure distribution across the hose. You are guaranteed of deep and even soaking for your plants, vegetables, and flowers.
Since the hose is the shortest on our list, it is also the easiest to handle and wind especially after you’re done with the watering process.
It comes with a 7-year warranty, which puts it in the league of Rocky Mountain Goods and Gilmour 870751-1001 for after-sale services.
Although Apex 100519948 is the most reasonably priced soaker hose on our list, it is also the shorter at only 25 feet long. It is only suitable for watering small areas otherwise if you have a long stretch of plants exceeding 25 feet, you’ll probably require a longer hose.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Equal pressure distribution across hose’s length
- Easy handling and winding
- 7-year warranty
Cons:
- Significantly short
2. Rocky Mountain Goods – Best Heavy Duty Soaker Hose
Photo: Rocky Mountain Radar
- Length options: 50 feet (available in a 25-foot option)
- Material: Recycled rubber
Rocky Mountain Goods is a soaker hose built for heavy-duty use as it’s made out of recycled rubber. It promises durable reliable service.
Recycled rubber is known to be tough, flexible, and able to withstand rugged environments such as muddy and rocky grounds. It will not rip when dragged over rough ground. Of course, you make need to stake it for tight corners and snake it around plants, but it works best when maintained on a single line.
This hose also allows connection to other hoses through its brass connectors. You are able to achieve even longer stretches for large coverage.
You are getting a generous 7-year warranty from Rocky Mountain Radar. This warranty gives you the confidence that your purchase of this durable and high-quality soaker hose is risk-free.
While Rocky Mountain Goods, this model will extend up to 50 feet. It may not be as long as the 75 or 100-foot hoses, but it is adequate for small gardens and guarantees to maintain uniform pressure across its entire length for even watering.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty rubber for rugged environments
- Brass connector for hose attachments
- Offered with a 7-year warranty
Cons:
- Shorter than some rival hoses
3. Osmile amazc100 – Longest Soaker Hose
Photo: Osmile
- Length options: 100 feet
- Material: Rubber
Osmile amazc100 beats all other hoses on our list with its impressive length of 100 feet. Being the longest, it is suitable for watering large gardens or a long string of plants.
Besides its impressive and practical length, the hose is made of rubber, which is tough and durable. The thick material allows for slow but even delivery of water throughout the watering process.
It’s worth noting that sometimes the hose length may affect pressure distribution. Pressure might decrease as the length increases. This means that the water pressure acting at the 25-feet mark may be higher than that at the end.
If you make such an observation, you might want to use a pressure regulator. 25psi per hour to maintain a leak of 1 gallon of water per foot.
You also get standard brass garden hose couplers included with this hose to facilitate attachment of other hoses for an extension.
Although Osmile amazc100 is the longest soaker hose on our list, one of the shortcomings we noted was that it is relatively heavy at 25 pounds. Shorter hoses, for instance, weight as little as 2 pounds, in comparison.
Pros:
- Very long to cover large areas
- Made of durable rubber material
- Slow and even water release
- Standard brass couplers for hose extension
Cons:
- Relatively heavy
4. Dramm 17010 – Premium Soaker Hose
Photo: Dramm
- Length options: 50 feet (also available in a 25-foot option)
- Material: Recycled rubber
Dramm 17010 positions itself as the most premium and top-rated soaker hose on our list. It is not the most expensive, but it boasts of high-grade rubber construction, which has 50% thicker walls than rival hoses.
Its thick walls prevent the “geyser effect”, which occurs when water shoots out of the pores with high pressure. The walls are designed to prevent water wastage and reduce evaporation.
Other premium features are the hose’s crush-proof, nickel-plated couplings, which provide leak-proof connections to other hoses. It is also resistant to kinking and abrasion.
This hose comes with a lifetime guarantee, one that you will not find on any other products on our list. Your purchase is essentially risk-free.
Although Dramm 17010 is the most premium hose on our list, the maximum length available is only 50 feet. Although this length is adequate for small garden watering, you will need to purchase additional hoses to extend it.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty rubber construction
- Thick walls to prevent “geyser effect” and water wastage
- Leak-proof coupling for hose connection
- Lifetime Guarantee
Cons:
- Maximum length available is 50 feet.
5. Melnor 86075 – Easy Storage Soaker Hose
Photo: Melnor
- Length options: 75 feet (also available in 25 and 50-foot options)
- Material: PVC, ABS plastic and polyester
Melnor 86075 is one of the most flexible soaker hoses you can buy today. Its flexibility is made possible by the flat soaker design. The hose flattens for easy handling and storage after use.
Melnor is an industry leader in manufacturing hoses and you can bet the Melnor 86075 soaker hose will deliver a reliable service. It is made of durable PVC, ABS plastic and polyester materials.
This hose measures 75 feet long, but there are other shorter options of 25 and 50 feet in case your gardening area is small. It is also compatible with standard garden hose threads for easy leak-free attachment.
You can suspend the hose above ground or place it under a thin layer of mulch or soil. It minimizes water wastage by delivering a soft and gentle watering. This capability makes it ideal for watering vegetables.
The hose makes it possible to connect to other hoses through a rust-resistant end cap.
Although the Melnor 86075 soaker hose is built for easy storage and reliability, we observed that is susceptible to leaking at the connector so extra tightening may be necessary.
Pros:
- Superior flexibility for easy storage
- Constructed using durable materials
- Long enough for wide coverage
- Possible to connect to other hoses
Cons:
- The connector is susceptible to leaking
6. Gilmour 870751-1001 – Environment-Friendly Soaker Hose
Photo: Gilmour
- Length options: 75 feet (also available in 25 and 50-foot options)
- Material: Recycled vinyl
Gilmour 870751-1001 is designed to deliver safe water to your plants since the hose is made of 100% environment-friendly recycled vinyl. You don’t have to worry about your plants being exposed to contaminants contained in other materials.
It is also one of the lightest hoses on our list, weighing only 2 pounds, yet it extends an impressive 75 feet in length. You are getting a lightweight product that promises wide garden coverage.
Because of its combined light and flexibility, you can use this hose to water new gardens, seedlings, bushes, or shrubs without damaging them.
The hose also has a clog-resistant fabric coating allows for consistent watering from the hose even when it is buried in the soil or mulch. The fabric also protects the hose from harmful ultraviolet rays.
This soaker hose makes for a worthy investment as it comes with a massive 7-year warranty from Gilmour. You can be confident of a reliable product and a risk-free purchase.
Although Gilmour 870751-1001 is the most environment-friendly soaker hose on our list, it works best of flat grounds and will not produce consistent watering on sloping grounds.
Pros:
- Made of 100% environment-friendly material
- Lightweight and long for wide coverage
- Clog-resistance and UV protection
- Comes with a 7-year warranty
Cons:
- Not suitable for watering sloping ground
7. Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC – Efficient Soaker Hose
Photo: Swan Products
- Length options: 50 feet (also available in 75 and 100-foot options)
- Material: 65% Recycled material
Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC is a soaker hose built for efficiency as it releases 0.5 to 1 gallon of water per foot with direct delivery of water to the plants’ roots.
It also has a water restrictor to control the flow of water through the hose. Since it can be placed directly under mulch or soil, the entire hose system projects delicate vegetables and foliage from damage by high-pressure water.
The hose is made of 65% recycled material, which satisfies the lead-free standard set by the Federal Safe Drinking Water act. You can rest assured your plants are receiving pure uncontaminated water through this hose.
You get additional push-on fittings with this hose to make it more versatile. The fittings include make and female connectors, feeders, plugs, and tees of different sizes.
The hose measures 50 feet in length. It is ideal for small gardens.
Although the Miracle-GRO MGSPA38050CC is a soaker hose built for efficiency, its length of 50 feet is significantly shorter than rival hoses of 75 – 100 feet. Thus, this hose is not suitable for large gardens due to its limited coverage.
Pros:
- Efficient watering directly on plants’ roots
- Water restrictor controls water flow
- Recycled, lead-free materials
- Additional push-on fittings for more versatility
Cons:
- Shorter than rival hoses hence limited coverage
How to Buy the Best Soaker Hose
Photo: Watex
Following are these features that you need to look out for when making your choice.
1. Length
Even though a soaker hose is best suited for small home gardens, its length should be a key consideration because you need one that covers the entire length of plants for efficient watering.
From our review, the typical hose length range between 25 feet and 100 feet. A 100-foot long hose will cover a large area and is likely to save you the time and energy required to keep adjusting shorter hoses, such as that of 25 feet.
Length especially matters when you consider your fixed tap’s position. If it is too far from the garden or plants you want to water, then a long hose will be the most ideal to deliver the water to where it is needed.
2. Material
A soaker hose’s build materials have an impact on its flexibility, weight, and durability.
Since you are likely to be moving the hose from one point to another in your compound, even if it is to and from storage, you may desire one that is as light as possible to minimize fatigue.
Rubber hoses are slightly heavier than vinyl ones, but both materials are highly flexible so should not experience any challenges trying to snake the hose around plants, objects, or spaces.
We found that many of the hoses made of recycled rubber are durable and capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions. This material also thrives in mulch, mud, or dirt.
Vinyl and polyurethane are also common hose materials, which can withstand climatic conditions such as extreme atmospheric heat for long periods.
3. Pressure Rating
While shopping for a soaker hose, it is vital that you check its pressure rating, that is, the amount of water pressure it can withstand before experiencing any structural damage.
Since your goal is for water to sip out of the pipe instead of sprinkling, the ideal pressure is 10 PSI for drip irrigation.
A soaker hose should thus be able to withstand a higher pressure to prevent it from rupturing and damaging plants.
To make it easy for you to determine a soaker hose’s pressure, most manufacturers will indicate the rating on its packaging. Therefore, ensure you check for the rating. If you need to exercise some extra caution, you can attach a pressure regulator to your soak hose.
4. Flexibility
Most manufacturers build their soaker hoses with flexibility in mind. They understand that sometimes it will be necessary to snake the pipe to align in with the plants, or garden, both of which may not be regularly shaped.
Therefore, you need a hose that is flexible, but more importantly, one that will not rupture or break with repeated folding and twisting.
Flexibility also affects storage. You are most likely going to wind the hose for storage, a process that requires significant and repeated folding. Your hose should be able to fold is such a shape for storage, without breaking.
Rubber is reliably flexible and should be able to withstand many forms of regular and irregular movement.
Conclusion
You’re now all set to proceed with your purchase of a soaker hose.
Remember to confirm the length and choose one that is long enough to cover the intended space. However, don’t pick one that’s too long so that it does not reduce water pressure.
Soaker hoses made of recycled vinyl and rubber are durable and hardy. They should serve all your watering needs and be capable of withstanding pressure and harsh exposures such as mud, mulch, and heat.
Our top 7 best soak hoses review and buying guide provides you will all the information you need to pick a hose that meets all your watering needs.