A Flexogen Hose is billed as the last hose you’ll ever have to buy because it is supposed to be extra durable, and also because it’s backed by a lifetime guarantee. When it comes to doing yardwork or gardening, it’s good to have a quality hose you can rely on, so we looked into this further to see if this really is a great choice for a garden hose.
Overview
There are a lot of problems with your ordinary run-of-the-mill garden hoses. They often get too tangled and kinked up. They can also have problems with durability, especially if they are dragged across a driveway or are rubbed up against metal objects. There’s also the complaint that they’re too heavy. Most people can come up with at least three things that they would change about their hose. It seems the makers of the Flexogen line of hoses are trying to fix as many as they can.
The Claim
Gilmour, the makers of the Flexogen Hose, claim that you won’t have to buy another hose after you buy theirs, both because it is meant to last a lifetime, and also because they’re prepared to replace it if anything should go wrong with it – ever. Few other hoses on the market come close to offering that kind of guarantee. But aside from that, how well it works would be the better thing to focus on here. Most people are saying that it works great, and that it was a good purchase.
The Hype
At the end of the day we’re talking about a garden hose here, so it’s not as if the world is resting on the decision you’re making. But it is nice to have a reliable hose at the ready for whatever tasks you’ve got to get done that day. So at first it might not sound like a big deal, but if it’s one less thing you can check off your “to buy” list, it’s worth the time spent finding the right one.
The Cost
You can get a Flexogen Hose for anywhere between $27 and $55 depending on what size you’re after. You have the choice in length and also in girth. You can choose between 25 feet all the way up to 100 feet, and you can get them in 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch sizes. Compared to the kind of hoses you’ll see sold in stores, this might be a little more expensive, but the theory is you’re buying your way out of a bad hose.
The Commitment
Since they say this is the last hose you’ll ever have to buy, it seems like your commitment to garden hose shopping would be finished. Other than they there wouldn’t be any more commitment than using a regular garden hose, except that this one should be easier to use and kink up on you less.
Evaluation
The Flexogen Hose gets very good reviews from most users. There are of course those that didn’t like it, and some that had problems with it. One user took advantage of their guarantee on a defective unit, returned the hose ends as instructed and recieved a brand new hose via UPS in short order. However, another user made an interesting note wondering why you’d want to take someone up on a guarantee like that if they’re only going to send you another similar unit to the one that had the problems in the first place.
But this overlooks the fact that manufacturing processes aren’t perfect, and sometimes there really is a defective unit. This is why companies guarantee their products, to make up for those glitches and keep their customers happy. By choosing not to take them up on the offer you basically negate the effectiveness of the guarantee, and are left searching for another hose.
Final Flexogen Hose Review
The Flexogen Hose is getting our Thumbs Up review based on the great feedback it gets, and also because Gilmour, the company behind it, has a track record of success at getting it right when it comes to lawn and garden products. There are those companies out there that still bring a sense of pride to their business and it comes through in the quality of the craftsmanship of their products. Maybe one day you’ll have to take them up on their lifetime guarantee, but worst case scenario you still wouldn’t have to buy another hose again.
Our Recommendation
We recommend getting one of these hoses if you’re looking for a quality, traditional style hose. You should also check out the XHOSE which is able to expand and contract when in use and not in use so you can easily carry it around when it’s turned off. This might be a better choice if you’re always complaining about how heavy garden hoses are, because the Flexogen model doesn’t make any claims on being any lighter than a standard hose.
Using flexogen hose for 25 years…no problems.
Its no joke, I can attest also to the strength, durability and longevity of the teal Flexogen hose.
I bought mine from ACE in 2008 and left it out back in the hot dry CA sun on a dusty, rocky hillside. Through many years of hard labor usage it happily coiled back up and stretched out every time. My honest to god biggest regret when I moved from that house was not bringing those hoses with me. Went through 4 different nightmare hoses till I found the same one I remembered in that teal color in 3/4” 100’.
Best hose ever. Worth every penny.
I have had a Flexegon for approx 25yrs with no problems at all,now I need another one 50ft 1/2 dis where could I get one.this
Without doubt the best garden hose I have ever owned!.
not so……….i bought my hose in 2010. just this year (2018) it developed a slight tear/gash where it attached to the reel. and it leaked. i spent 30 minutes or more getting all my information ready to request a replacement. went to the website and tried to submit a request. they asked for information i didn’t have (ie: code date:). so, i called the phone# listed and spoke with a representative who stated that she could help me with the request over the phone. she asked for my name, address and ph# and told me i’d have my replacement in 7-10 business days. i received it in the stated time frame. exact same hose. NO CHARGE. excellent customer service.
You will spend several hours each week caring for your lawn, you will need to purchase lawn care equipment like a mower, edger,
aerator, and fertilizer spreader, you will have to purchase “accessories”
like gasoline, fertilizer, etc, and you also must maintain and store doing this equipment.
Instead of you wasting hours in the lawn, it is advisable to hire these facilities
at really affordable rates. Thiss isn’t enough time to glance over the details, yoou need tto pay close attention and assist the lawn service company to create the package that’s perfect for your yard
care needs.
I bought 2-60′ Flexogen hoses 10-11 years ago. They spend the majority of the time laying in direct sunlight. Not only are they like new, but they look it too. The exteriors never even got dingy as is so common. Highly recommend and in the market for several more.
We bought one 20 years ago and it worked great for over ten years – until I went with the lawnmower over it.
The second one we bought 10 years ago and it’s a charm NO KINK ever NO CRACK and
this in the hot Texas sun and always outside even in freezing winter.
THUMBS UP !!!
My husband bought ANOTHER BRAND hose (professional high quality) a year ago,
it was so hard that it always kinked, and also was hard to work with,
it might be good and has a long life, but only if you have it in one spot laying and not moving.
I stay with FLEXOGEN
THANKS to the company – be proud !!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know what people are thinking but this hose sucks. Yes it is durable and strong, no doubt. The problem is that the description on Lee Valley said the hose is kink free and stays flexible, NOT. THIS HOSE IS HEAVY AND A NIGHTMARE to wind around my hose reel. It is the least flexible hose as well. Save your money and buy a Flexzilla.
Flexogen was once made by Gates Rubber. We sold it from our family store then. Since, it has been made with inferior polymers. It has a lifetime guarantee still, but the hoses are junk. They kink and they fail. Our firm has used them for years, but now we are researching an alternative.
Sad end to a once great product.
I have several gilmour flexogen hoses. My wife’s favorite trick is to pull them sideways from where they attach to the hose bib. She sheered two couplers in half, so far. Cut the ends off, mailed them in, new hoses came with no additional costs to me. I prefer the black ones over the gray, I think it is a heavier duty. With the guarantee, this is the only type hose I will buy. And yes they stay soft and pliable even in the South Florida sun, and stay good even if they are pressurized with scalding sun heated water. Boy, does that water in those 100′ hoses get hot.
I purchased 2 of these hoses 15 years ago. I have had to cut the ends of 2 times and send them in. I received a new hose both times I’m getting ready to send in the ends of another one that has dry rot and a hole in it. I don’t mind doing that to get a new hose. It may not last forever but it’s true you never have to purchase a hose again.
I am convinced this 8-ply hose is the only hose that should be selling as if it were immoral to sell other less expensive hoses. I have a 8-ply teal colored hose for about 9 years now and it’s still soft and supple and resists kinks as expected well. It has some cuts on the outer layer but they never grew bigger and it still works for years after that. Ace hardware carries their own line of 8-ply by Gilmore but it’s gray colored. I just got a 100 foot hose for only $33 with tax because right now they have $8 discount for being in their “club”. Notice not Costco or Home Depot or Lowe’s carries this hose. Hmm. Home Depot is selling a $20 hose as if it’s normally $42 but it created a zillion kinks so easy that it was not easy. Sam’s club has the same looking hose but kink resistant. The alternatives are a joke, no it’s immoral. It’s possible that the teal colored one is better for being a cool reflective hose but I’m going to make a hose bag cover out here in the hot desert and it will be right. It’s also highly likely that because my flexogen teal colored 8-ply is 3/4 inch that it more naturally avoids kinks as the fatter hose will cause that compared to a thinner hose. Can’t afford the 3/4 at 100 feet but I have 101 PSI out here and so it’s not a problem. If there was/is a problem its the Schedule 200 PVC pipe they used for irrigation that I had to dig and fix 28 times now, half the time from terrible workmanship. Never needed the schedule 200 and we were played a fool like a million other things including hoses of lesser quality than this.
The best hose on the planet!! I bought two hoses in the early 80’s ….I have had them replaced twice …no hassle ……so easy …..quite honestly I don’t know why anyone would buy and other hose…..love love love my Flexogen hoses!!!!
I have had my flexogen hose for 10 YEARS. 100ft sits out in the sun and cold everyday. Still soft, rolls up easily!! I had to have one replaced, don’t remember why. Received it in about one week.
I will never buy another brand again. I have had at least 5 other hoses in the same 10 year period.
Just went online today to find out where to get one.
This review failed to mention that the Gilmor Flexogen hose also comes in 3/4 inch and 1 inch diameter. Available lengths for all sizes; 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 1 inch are 25 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet and 250 feet.
I have Gilmore Flexogen hoses, 4 of them in 5/8 x 50 feet, that are more than forty years old. I also have some newer Gilmore Flexogen hoses that are less than half that age and while the quality of the hose remains high the quality of the brass connectors or ends are not as high quality as they once were. As a matter of fact, the brass connectors on the forty year old hoses are far superior to the similar connectors on the newer hoses.
I would much rather see Gilmor Flexogen Hose quality remain very high and pay an increase in cost each year then see them cheapen the brand, and reputation, in order to stay within a certain price range.
Someone who spends a lot of time in their yard….
It is true that the Flexogen Hose has a lifetime guarantee. This is fantastic news! Like Quick Kick mentions, when a hose rips or has a slice in it, the day can turn into a very frustrating, very wet mess. The worst part of that day is the fact that you have to haul it into the trash can and go to the store to purchase another hose that you know will eventually rip as well. Now, here’s my hesitance with the Flexogen Hose: what additional costs are there with the guarantee? Shipping? Administrative costs? Someone needs to pay for the time and money going into replacing your hose and you are probably the one to be shelling out the dough.
Rips and tears of the garden hose happens way more often than most people think and it really pisses me off when I have to shell out another 50 bucks for a new hose. Lifetime guarantee is the exact thing that I need so I’m going to give this a try and sue the hell out of them if it happens to rip 😀