Dixon is US-made and of similar design. The shape of the plug changed some. All of them failed in one way or another except Gardena. I prefer the freedom to use whatever I need without extra pieces. I use the ones from Eley Hose Reels and they are very high quality and dont restrict flow. I recommend staying away from the QR connectors that shut off water flow when disconnected. They are more expensive but I think worth it. So far, Ive had good luck with the Siroflex. Right now, Im focused on Gardena, shown above and below, and also Hozelock, which are said to be perfectly compatible with one another. I have a Claber retractable hose reel at the front of the house and it did develop a major leak over the years. We have several hose stations scattered around the property fed by underground pipe. Ive tried those plastic ones, and they tend to crack. Very well made. I had no luck with the platic ones. Bought at Lowes, lasted a month. So look like they are doing well. Gespeichert. As I recall the Orbit I bought at the home store were the anodized aluminum. Unfortunately, the flow rate is only designed for 1/2 hose and is further reduced by the couplings with water stop function. I dont really get why the garden hose quick connects suck so bad, but maybe the lower pressure isnt ideal for such connections? I cant speak for the quality of the plastic ones now, but I have some that he gave me when I moved out and they still work well after 20ish years. Zero leaks. Ill 2nd the equipment from Eley. Ive never had more than a couple quick connects fail on my pressure washers in a decade or so, and Im using these things commercially. I saw a few recommend Gardena and Orbit for connectors and sprinklers are there any specific recommendations for all brass (preferred) sprinklers with a good range? Ive had my reel and connectors for 5 years and still works great. Each of these uses the flat gasket on the female end and replacement gaskets are available from Amazon (Nelson) and Dixons distributors. And not expensive at all. In theory, you get good quality hose connections and add on quick-release ends that make things modularized and easy to change out. Agreed: Eleys brass, commercial-grade quick connects are the best on the market. I feel that pricier washers are made from better stuff, but its going to take time to determine it, and I really need to figure out a way to test it. The Gardena ones seems sturdier. I have read some complaints about Gardenas plastic quick release connectors, but they also offer a metal + plastic starter set, and metal connectors sold separately. Dramm watering wands and hoses. Hi I tried these recently and found them surprisingly good. Its 18v battery powered and can reliably retract the hose with a push of a button. Some had a 90 degree twist valve, then you added the quick connect. Quick release connectors or fttings create easily detached and swappable connections. Ive had it for the past 5 years, works like a charm to this day. If you want durable quick connect, look outside gardening centers and into graziers water systems for livestock pasture. The leader hose that came with my hose reel thats a different story. No moving parts and an easy to replace washer means they genuinely last a lifetime. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074VVQG53/. Of the newest ones I think the Dramm ones seem to hold up but are not 100% leak-free if you apply some sideways off-axis load to them. Used teflon, no leaks. I cant stand the threaded garden connectors, so I tried multiple quick connectors in the past 10 years cheap brass ones from HD and Lowes, Melnor, Claber, Gardena. Leader hose isnt sealing well washer dried out and this is all in just two years. Anything made by Gardena are the best available. Are garden hose quick-release connectors any good? I find it less frustrating to pay out the entire length of the nice Eley hose from the nice Eley reel and run it from the back yard to the front, than just using the kink-prone disaster hose from a big box store attached to the front yard bib. Pun intended) issue is always the less connections the better. Some great suggestions in the comments. Not sure if theyre available in the US, but over here Id recommend Geka fittings. I agree Ive used their hoses, connectors, and reel and have had good luck so far the past 4 years of homeowner use. On lessor quick connect that also cut off the water, the pressure can make it almost impossible to reconnect without shutoff the water. On the second summer one now sprung a leak. I dont think they are actually brass but shiny painted junk metal. Ive done about 2 miles with those. And of course the washers are critical so I try to source commercial grade ones. They rot out at least twice as fast as brass. This is the exact one that I have https://aquorwatersystems.com/shop/hose-quick-connect-kit/. Ive used both the plastic and metal Gardena quick connectors. I tried banjo cam lever connectors a few times and I really liked those. Plasson quick connect male and female ends. Here is a link to what has worked for me, though I found the same ones at ACE hardware under a different name: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BLQNMR7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. 1. Have spent more up front for the eley hose reel, but have had no frustrations with them for several years. All my hoses, bibs and watering tools have Eley connectors on them. Gardena all the way for typical home use. Cam lock fittings are the way to go. Ive used the Gardena fittings for 10+ years and never had a problem. They might be 50% more up front, but much cheaper in the long run and a pleasure to use. They are the best, Ive been using them for the past 4 years. If you go looking for these, the correct model number is 58117N. Lol. I have been using Gardena PRO (bringing them from Europe) with 3/4 hose for 10 years without a single problem. Its hard to tighten them because they have a plastic/rubber grip that spins if you use pliers on them. My quick connectors were getting a little gummy this spring in their 3rd (?) I only use it on potable water & use big-box plastic on the flush lines. Once they corrode a bit they can become hard to connect requiring wire brushing o-ring replacement etc. Stuart, while youre on the subject of sprayers, Id love to hear your thoughts on hoses. In the Spring I pull the valve stems on all my hose bibbs and replace washers. I havent used Gardena before. https://www.hagebau.de/search/?q=gardena+profi&sc=, https://www.gardena.com/int/products/watering/sprinklersystem/profi-maxi-flow-system-connector-set/900927901/, https://www.gardena.com/de/suche/?searchText=Profi-System-Ger%C3%A4test%C3%BCck%2026%2C5%20mm%20(G%203%2F4%22), https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=gardena+profi&_sacat=0. Thank you for linking to full flow quick connects. Any of the ones that do will also reduce the water flow because of that mechanism. I know that theyre consumable, but if better rubber lasts longer, itll be worth it. I am so frustrated with the quality of garden hose attachments. Last fall I bought a Gardena multi-position spray nozzle and its great! Regulars and new visitors come from all kinds of backgrounds., Itd be interesting to know what percentage of people on this website go to work in a suit and tie, First Review: Leatherman Free Multi-Tool is Amazing (P2), The Best EDC Screwdriver with Bit Storage? Cheap plastic hoses and fittings have pissed me off, but no more! They are cheap and ubiquitous at all home and garden stores even ones near our summer house in East Europe. About $8 on Amazon, but you can find multipacks for less per set. Unfortunately its not for sale anymore for some reason. My current garden sprayer isnt that good when it comes to a soft spray, which is easily forgivable because its one of those multi-setting handles. and havent had any issues with them. Come spring, and they are leaking all over the place. Backyard Dudes USA-made washers are ~$10 for 12, Lee Valley has made-in-Canada washers at $4.50 for 6. I have the Eley hose reel. Im contemplating a switch to Eley everywhere. Older Nelson brass connectors have worked great for me for years. Real brass tends to be heavy. I like to have a quick connect on our electric power washer, for example. Your email address will not be published. I keep hoping to buy yet another set and that maybe it will be the one that doesnt leak, but no luck yet in fact, sometimes they leak right out of the package. The fewer connections the better. Although they have apparently changed to the O-ring design (per postings on Amazon decrying the change as for the worse), their website still shows the older ones, which are still available from vendors on Amazon. Attached below our nozzles, it enables switching nozzles or attaching an extension hose without 1st shutting off the spigot. If the sleeve is reluctant to move, just drop a bit of oil in the sleeve by the bearings. I figure that Ill try the plastic components first, and if I like the idea but not the construction Ill give the cross-compatible metal components a try later. The large diameter ring can be actuated even in far-below-freezing weather, when lesser QCs ice up and require a blowtorch. Youre going to be replacing the o rings periodically. Im not to keen on the plastic ones that have the adapter built-in. Nonononono orbit is junk. No leaks. But they are kind of heavy so place them where youll actually be using them on a regular basis. I stick with horticultural suppliers like AM Leonard and Dramm. What I want to know is whether they work well, and if so which brand to try out. Specially when winter comes and you forget that they are outside. Amazon appears to be on of the only suppliers of Gardena products. You wont regret Gardena. While I was at it, I ordered a Hozelock sprayer from Lee Valley. Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More! The benefits of a QR system are two-fold. Pay a lot once, or pay a little every few years. Auto shutoff, can be reconnect while under pressure. A QR system really does make it easier to change fittings. Theyre now made thinner & smaller no more built in springy shutoff and because theyre smaller, you can barely grip the ring to release anything. I absolutely concur. I see no reason to experiment with another brand, Im sold. Weve got many true brass (older stock?) I dont want to replace washers every year. Ive used two types of solid brass quick connect fittings. It is the way to go here in Europe for residential usage and even used by contractors too. I will buy these tools when they are released. Gardena connectors is a little bit pricier than the no name brands, but they are surprisingly durable even if they made out of plastic. Here is another interesting take. Seem to be pretty easy too. I use craftsman branded brass quick connects. Verlauf They have awesome quick connects, hoses and reels that are quality products. Yawn. I like the Eley too. Xaver They certainly aint cheap, but ten years on and all Ive had to do is replace a gasket on one of the five sets I bought (I was dumb and let it spend a winter exposed). Still better than screwing connections on every time. They also are easier to deal with in tight spaces, like where I use a dual fitting manifold on a spigot a few inches above a deck. I have been wanting to try the prevost quick connectors with a valve but they are a little more expensive. Which quick releases should I go for, plastic or matel one? Quality is top knotch. Best ones are Orbit 51187N. Thankfully you can still buy decent real brass ones. 10 year warranty, made in the USA. Got them at the big box stores. And no, I do not detach my hoses in wintertime. Final tip, they also make plastic ball type shut-off valve attachments. I definitely will get a few. Generally, garden hoses are connected to a water spigot at one end, and a sprayer or other kind of nozzle at the other, usually with threaded fittings. Plastic=junk Given the cost of the connectors, its a nice little freebie. I have some from Lee Valley, but theyre now offering a different trigger handle: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/garden/water-and-irrigation/hoses-and-accessories/59443-trigger-valve. With a quick connect the seal relies on how well the mating parts and the o-ring fit together. Bought 5 more just last week so every hose & accessory can have an adapter ready. They look like the Eley where the seal is on the male side. Instead, get a ball-shutoff. Before the winter sets in I bring all the hose lengths in and out of the weather making sure all the valves are in the open position. They look like brass but feel very light. Newer Nelson QCs and similar ones using an O-ring on the male end reportedly dont work well at all. The plastic of the couplings is not particularly UV resistant. The water connections and hoses are also in inches with us but we have 1/2 3/4 1 5/4 Whitworth threads. Interesting Ive been using Gardena quick connect for years, and they always leak. I got some metal ones that I thought were brass, but now that you mention it, it corroded very easily and they probably gold colored or plated aluminum. Required fields are marked *. We had Gardena ones growing up (my dad actually bought them in England while there at a horticulture conferencehe was an agronomist). Heres the skinny: great for semi static areas (1-3 sprayers, sprinklers), in my case the front yard. The big box stores are selling brass colored aluminum ones. Most of our hoses have a female quick connector at their end making it easy to bring out a nozzle or sprinkler and connect them. But very high / premium cost. Though the nipples narrow the amount of water entering and exiting, I have not noticed any problem with water force even wide open. They are made in the USA and are a lot lighter yet still feel quite sturdy. I got one of their hoses as a Christmas gift this year. Hose reel sprung a leak, washer dried out. You need to use teflon on the threads. With quick connectors, you can switch between a higher pressure stream, soft or mist sprayer, wand, or other accessories much easier than if you had to unthread and then reattach each assembly. Ive used the brass quick connectors for 15 or more years with ok success, by no means are they stellar. Maybe Ill pick up a few to try out first. Home Depot is pushing some very cheap crap brass ones these days. i use adapters. that doesnt fit 100%. In theory. Heavy thick brass= good but hard to source and for the price Id rather just unscrew hoses the old-fashioned way. I have good memories of Gardena in EU. Threaded garden hose connections can be a test of ones patience. Not any more. They are not perfect but they leak the least and last the longest. I wont have an answer for the title question until the end of the season, but am hoping some of you could chime in about your own experiences. Its a good system. The Eley one seem like a solid choice. I might give the stainless a shot the next go round. Ill go with a wrap for the back, but theres no place in the front and Id rather avoid a ground-mounted hanger. Or are they frustrating hassles that are more trouble than theyre worth? Amazon carries them, and Lee Valley looks to offer them, too, but I cant be sure: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/garden/water-and-irrigation/hoses-and-accessories/10370-brass-quick-couplers. Off all the brands I have used Gardena are by no means hassle free but still better than the rest. Theyre no cheaper than brass ones to purchase either. Your email address will not be published. I had tried the Gardena plastic connectors, with one of their sprinklers, and it leaked and then broke when dropped on the driveway. I just looked at Eley and I know what Im buying next time. All you have to take care is it avoid connecting dusty connectors and you may need to replace the o-rings after some years of usage. I wouldnt really call them quick connects, but I use any of those we have as the nozzle itself. Sections: DIY & Home Tags: lawn & gardenMore from: Gardena, Hozelock. My mid-sized washers have hose thread connections for supply, so it could be that quick connects dont function that well at normal supply pressure. I just received the quick connects and 2 way shut-off valve. Zero leaks, and theyre stainless. Ive tried Gardena, they dont last very long. Its not cheap, but its frustration free. I agree, I have had great luck with Gardena for the past 3 or so years after having terrible luck with other brands. Those certainly look robust. It makes hooking up water lines so much easier. They had models with a built-in spring-loaded shutoff disc. The QC with the O-ring captured in the female QC fitting has held up far better here in Upper Michigan, connects easier, leaks less (none yet actually), and has overall been more consistent with ease of connecting and disconnecting. Plastic. Theyre expensive for the convenience they provide. If the water stop function is required, as with you is inserted with a ball head valve. I think it was handled roughly, perhaps smacked against the driveway. Im really bad about leaving the hose out on the driveway, usually without a nozzle/wand in it, so i do make sure to have the metal connectors for drops, drags on the concrete, and the occasional run over with the car. There might be a hose reel or splitting valve involved, or other such intermediate connections, but the mechanics are usually the same there too. Ive been using their connectors and watering devices for 20 years, and have yet to have one break or fail. I standardized the farm on Dixon brass QCs 5 years ago. Its fantastic, and not a single leak after three years. Or if you want to switch from a wand to a spray nozzle. Backyard Dudes Replacement Garden Hose Washers, I Learned Something Important About Garden Hose Quick-Connect Fittings, My Hot Pepper Seedling Leaves Turned Black Again. They are all garbage now So, I ordered a Gardena and it should be hear in a week or so. Those toys are in another class entirely. The hose was probably made with some sort of carcinogenic plastic since its incredibly flexible. Even if the Gardena ones were in stock it appears you are forced to use their hose connector? The sun just murders them. Every supposed non-kink hose Ive ever owned has failed their claim, The green as seen on tv ones are junk, 1 week to 3 months with careful use maybe 1 summer season. Check out ELEY Hose Reels. The connector breaks, and you have to replace the whole thing, which tends to be quite expensive. Or at the faucet where youre not having to carry the extra weight. Funny I have the exact opposite experience. As fred said the real (reel? Theyre not common in private gardens (only because no one has heard of them and theyre not carried by the big retailers), but theyre often used by professionals. Salt air corrodes everything. I probably have 10 or 12 sets. I also have good experience with cheaper quick connect that I got off Amazon. https://aquorwatersystems.com Its fairly pricey even more than the Eley. Their connectors and watering devices used to be carried by Home Depot before they became more expensive than the metal or brass fittings. Made in the US water hoses 3/4 or 5/8. Now that Sears Craftsman is no longer. I have a 50 Flexzilla and a longer one on the way for the back. Anyone who needs professional and durable couplings in Germany uses GEKA (plus) couplings from karasto. Wouldnt be the end of the world, especially if a standard size that can be ordered in EPDM rubber from McMaster. much better than what i could find locally. Pricey, but not a big deal, and I like that theyre said to be made from lead-free brass. For those of us who have harder winters with strings of days in a row below freezing we take some winterizing precautions and then some spring renewal steps that have become routines. Screwing a the female end of a hose directly onto the hose bibb or other male threaded connection (or vice versa) relies on a washer or o-ring pressed into place to seal. Its also not shiny so you probably wont see if there is any discoloring. Gardena are very popular in Europe and have been available there for years. Its a real PITA. They seem to have an echo system going now. I honestly have no idea, I dont believe in gatekeeping. I was looking for drinking water safe, full 3/4 flow and durability and ELEY took the cake. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I mentioned the Nelson connectors earlier. It seems that each brand has a different size quick connector. Raf, Ive got the Prevost quick connectors, and while they are a bit pricey, they are flawless in their operation! My son has a Gardena aluminum / plastic manual hose reel and hose from the 80s that still going strong. https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/watering-and-irrigation/garden-hose-connectors/7439797. Or Gardena branded ones. 2. Even the aluminum post is super-high quality. I am curious because I use these for the last 4 years and they have been excellent: https://www.amazon.com/Rainmaker-Quick-Connect-Fittings-Adapter/dp/B078NQDVSB Customer service is fantastic too. Great fittings too. Im a product engineer, and their hose reels are very well designed, built, and packaged. Seem to be working well for us so far. Most have a hose reel attached. I bought two from lowes (link below) made by Melnor based on reviews but they have been getting stuck in their rotation and Ill probably return. I stored it in the basement during winter months. Amazon is constantly out of stock and I havent found another vendor in North America. Quick connectors make sense if you need to routinely break or add hose sections. The Gilmour Rear Control Adjustable Watering Nozzle # 0572 is one of the few professional tools that we often use. I have 6. I, It doesnt matter generally speaking. Been using all metal ones x 6 yrs. Ace Hardware used to sell the Nelson repackaged under their name, but now theyve changed to a different design (the O-ring style). I love Gardena products and have used their connectors, sprinkler, nozzle, and microdrip system for my raised garden beds.
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