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Expert Gardener Light Duty Review

A budget hose that doesn't leak and still moves water from spigot to nozzle
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Expert Gardener Light Duty Review
Credit: Hale Milano
Price:  $11 List
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Manufacturer:   Expert Gardener
By Hale Milano ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 1, 2024
42
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 12
  • Convenience - 35% 4.0
  • Performance - 35% 3.5
  • Construction Quality - 20% 5.5
  • Variety of Options - 10% 5.0

Our Verdict

Need to upgrade your watering capabilities but not looking to spend a fortune? The Expert Gardener is a light-duty hose that will do everything you need a hose to do but won't break the bank. Though its performance falls short of other models and tends to kink up with a mind of its own, it doesn't leak and is easy to connect to a spigot and nozzle. We recommend this option for anyone who wants to pick up a hose for some easy watering chores without spending more than a few bucks. See how this model stands up to the competition in our full garden hose review.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Gets the job done
REASONS TO AVOID
Kinks easily
Shows signs of wear
Plastic couplings

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Garden Hose on a Tight Budget
Editors' Choice Award
Best Garden Hose for Most People
   
Price $11.00 List$68 List
$67.98 at Amazon
$60 List
$49.18 at Amazon
$70 List
$69.00 at Amazon
$70 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
42
83
72
70
70
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This bargain hose can still get the job done without any troubleAn ergonomic and user-friendly hose that is lightweight and easy to drag around the yardA metal hose that excels at resisting kinks but is tedious to coil and storeA solid all-around hose that is easy to drag around thanks to its light weightA well rounded hose that collapses flat for easy storage
Rating Categories Expert Gardener Lig... Teknor Apex Zero-G Bionic Steel Flexzilla 5/8-Inch Gorilla Extremelite...
Convenience (35%)
4.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
Performance (35%)
3.5
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
Construction Quality (20%)
5.5
7.0
5.0
6.0
6.0
Variety of Options (10%)
5.0
6.0
6.0
8.5
5.0
Specs Expert Gardener Lig... Teknor Apex Zero-G Bionic Steel Flexzilla 5/8-Inch Gorilla Extremelite...
Available Lengths 25, 50 ft 25, 50, 100 ft 25, 50, 75, 100 ft 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 ft 50, 100 ft
Nozzle Included No No Yes Yes No
Coupling Shape Round Round Round Hex Round
Hose Material Vinyl Tru-Flex polymer & woven fiber sheath 304 stainless steel Flexible hybrid polymer Sanoprene
Measured Weight Per Foot 0.12 lb/ft 0.08 lb/ft 0.10 lb/ft 0.13 lb/ft 0.06 lb/ft
Coupling Material Plastic Brass and steel Steel and plastic Annodized aluminum Annodized aluminum
Valve Included No No No No No
PSI Limit 200 PSI 600 PSI 500 PSI 150 PSI 450 PSI
Measured Length Tested 25.17 ft 99.17 ft 99.33 ft 101.08 ft 100.50 ft
Measured Weight 2.9 lb 8.4 lb 10.1 lb 13.4 lb 5.8 lb
Available Diameters 5/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in, 3/4 in 5/8 in
Diameter Tested 5/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in

Our Analysis and Test Results

A good garden hose is an essential piece of home and yard equipment. It's also a relatively simple piece of equipment, and despite technology changing much about our lives, the function and design of a hose remains relatively unchanged; it needs to screw onto a spigot and nozzle and move water without leaking. One of the most unassuming hoses we tested is the Expert Gardener, and while it doesn't have any fancy bells or whistles, it still does what you need a hose to do, all while at a great price point.

Performance Comparison


expert gardener light duty - the expert gardener has great water flow with or without a nozzle.
The Expert Gardener has great water flow with or without a nozzle.
Credit: Hale Milano

Convenience


We tested the Expert Gardener hose in the 25-foot length option, and it was only because of this shorter length that the hose was subjectively easy to use. Given the price point, we were satisfied with its ease of use, but if you're looking for better performance, be prepared to shell out some more money.


The Expert Gardener was moderately easy to coil and uncoil. Its thin rubber material is in the middle of the pack for weight, and it was relatively manageable to move about. We did find that it also contributed to relatively high amounts of kinking that would completely stop the flow of water. It frequently kinked just dragging it around different obstacles in our yard or directly out of a coil.

expert gardener light duty - the expert gardener is thin and light but also kinks frequently;...
The Expert Gardener is thin and light but also kinks frequently; even when coiling.
Credit: Hale Milano

The connector on the Expert Gardener was easy to use. There are large flanged plastic pieces on the connector that help you screw it onto a spigot and hand tighten. The connector also spun freely around the body of the hose.

expert gardener light duty - round connectors aren't the easiest to loosen and tighten, but the...
Round connectors aren't the easiest to loosen and tighten, but the plastic flanges on the female coupling help snug the hose to the spigot.
Credit: Hale Milano

Performance


We consider the performance across all of the same assessments used to evaluate the ease of use for each hose. Instead of looking at how easy something was to use, we looked at how well it did its job. The Expert Gardener accomplishes the basics of what you need a hose to do — move water from one place to another without leaking. Beyond that, it doesn't stand out.


We didn't experience any leaks when using the Expert Gardener. The connector, though not one of the most impressive styles that we tested, does its job well. It did pull out of a coil fairly well, although it tended to lay in slight loops and coils as opposed to laying flat on the ground. In use, it kinks an unfortunate amount, and after our manual kink test, it developed a permanent crease in the material where we were kinking it after only a few dozen repetitions. Still, for light use, washing the car or watering some plants on a patio, this is unlikely to negatively affect performance beyond being an inconvenience.

Flat spots and kinks developed easily and completely cut off the flow of water.

Construction Quality


The quality of construction is about what you would expect from a budget-friendly hose, but we didn't note any performance-altering concerns on the Expert Gardener.


The connectors are plastic, which, while guaranteed to not rust, may not hold up to cold weather environments. The hose material is on the thinner side, and we noticed a permanent crease that developed in spots with repetitive kinking. As long as you don't plan to use and abuse this hose, we think it will work just fine for most people.

expert gardener light duty - the lighter markings on this hose were permanent, the scars from our...
The lighter markings on this hose were permanent, the scars from our manual kink test.
Credit: Hale Milano

Variety of Options


As a budget-conscious hose, the Expert Gardener doesn't stand out with many different styles or models.


The Expert Gardener is available in one diameter, ⅝ inch, and two length options, 25 or 50 feet. It does not include a valve or a nozzle. For light use around the home, for which we think this hose is perfect, not much else is needed and you can pick up an aftermarket nozzle with the money you saved on this hose.

expert gardener light duty - the female coupling is brass, covered with a plastic flanged grip...
The female coupling is brass, covered with a plastic flanged grip, and includes an O-ring to prevent leaks.
Credit: Hale Milano

Should You Buy the Expert Gardener Light Duty?


The Expert Gardener is a basic and budget-friendly hose that is perfect for people who need a — as the name suggests — light-duty hose for easy yard chores. It's a no-frills model that won't stand out for its performance, but also has no major flaws that will leave you disappointed, especially when you consider the amazing price point.

expert gardener light duty - despite its size, the expert gardener provides more than adequate...
Despite its size, the Expert Gardener provides more than adequate water flow and pressure.
Credit: Hale Milano

What Other Garden Hoses Should You Consider?


If you are attracted to the great price but looking for a hose with a few more options in length, or significantly better performance, we recommend checking out the Teknor Apex Zero-G. We recommend this option to most people as it's a great blend of amazing performance at a price that is still appealing to many people, not to mention significantly less than other similar performing models in our lineup. Ultimately, any of the garden hoses in our review will most likely be just fine for most people; after all, each of these hoses is quite similar. Another option that stands out, for both its design and price, is the Bionic Steel. The Bionic is almost impossible to kink, given its steel design, and it won't break the bank either. Lastly, if the Expert Gardener appeals to you for its size, the Giraffe Tools Hybrid is a convenient hose that is available in a variety of smaller length options under 20 feet and performs at a much higher level.

expert gardener light duty - any of the hoses in our lineup would be a great option for most...
Any of the hoses in our lineup would be a great option for most people.
Credit: Hale Milano

Hale Milano
 

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