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Lighter Garden Hoses and Easier Hose Reels: Less to Drag, Less to Wind

A full-size hose can be the heaviest thing many of us move around the garden, and winding it back up is its own chore. Lighter hose materials and a good place to store the hose can make that job smaller. We haven't tested these ourselves; every fact below comes from the maker's or seller's own page, checked on October 29, 2026. Prices change often, so check the page before you buy.

Lightweight hoses

Gardener's Supply's comparison table also lists an Ultra Lightweight Coil Hose, 3/8", at 2.7 lbs per 50 feet and 3 gallons per minute, but no price was shown for it on the day we checked.

Easier ways to store a hose

How to choose

If carrying the hose is the hard part, the per-foot weight matters most: a 50' Super Lightweight hose is listed at 3.2 lbs, against the 10 to 15 lbs Flexzilla's page gives for a typical empty 50' rubber hose. The trade-off is less water flow from slimmer hoses. A shorter hose is lighter still, so buy only the length you need. If winding is the hard part, a cart lets you roll the hose where you're working and wind it onto the reel instead of looping it by hand, while a wall reel or a stand keeps it off the ground at a comfortable height. Note that reel capacities are given for 5/8" hose.

For watering that needs no hose-hauling at all, see our guides to drip and soaker kits for raised beds and self-watering planters.

Sources