Home & Garden Garden The 7 Best Soaker Hoses of 2023 Our top choice is the WATERHOOP to save time and water in your garden. By Stacy Tornio Stacy Tornio Writer University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University of Oklahoma Stacy Tornio has authored more than 15 books about animals, nature, and gardening. She is a master gardener and master naturalist. Learn about our editorial process Updated November 8, 2022 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home & Garden Planting Guides Indoor Gardening Urban Farms Insects We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Ryan J. Lane / Getty Why water your garden more than you need? Not only do many areas of the country have water restrictions, but it’s also just a good conservation practice to use less water when and where you can. Often when we water our plants, there’s a lot of runoff that happens because the roots can only soak up so much water at a time. However, you probably don’t want to stand outside slowly watering for half an hour or more. So instead, consider trying soaker hoses. (Combine this with hose timers to save even more!) By using a soaker hose, your plants have time to get a really thorough drink. Plus, the soil around them will also benefit. Best of all, you’re likely using less water overall because you can set it up to have a slow and steady drip. Essentially, less really is more when you’re using a soaker hose. As you look to invest in a good hose and do your part for water conservation, here are the best soaker hose options to check out. The Rundown Best Overall: WATERHOOP Portable Water Sprinkler System at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: Gilmour Flat Weeper Soaker Hose at Walmart Jump to Review Best Splurge: Orbit Watering Hose Sprinkler Kit at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Large Gardens: Water Right Soaker Garden Hose SKR-050-MU at Amazon Jump to Review Best Heavy Duty: LINEX Garden Soaker Hose at Amazon Jump to Review Best Flat: Rocky Mountain Goods Flat Soaker Hose at Amazon Jump to Review Best Sprinkler: Swan Element Sprinkler at Walmart Jump to Review Best Overall WATERHOOP Portable Water Sprinkler System 5 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon This soaker has been reimagined in the best way possible, making it our top overall choice. It’s not exactly a hose, but this hoop system makes it easy to water flower beds, trees, shrubs, and just about any other garden area you need, including large pots. It's made in the United States from durable rubber. This option is really lightweight and easy to store. It's available in two different sizes: 60 inches and 80 inches. It has a water flow system that you can set from a 0 to a 5 (based on gallons per minute), so you can really make it work for your gardens' needs. Connect it to any regular hose, and then you’re good to go. Price at time of publish: $35 Best Budget Gilmour Flat Weeper Soaker Hose 870251-1001 Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon View On Lifeandhome.com This weeper hose is a great option for those on a budget. If you’re curious about the difference between a soaker and a weeper, they are very similar. A weeper has a technique where it weeps (aka drips) water from many tiny perforations throughout the fabric, whereas a soaker can be a little more like a sprinkler with its water flow. You control the amount of water that goes through at any given time. Test it out as you go to find the right strength for your garden—which will probably vary from one area to the next. This weeper hose is available in 25, 50, and 75 foot lengths and weighs less than a pound, considerably less than a conventional rubber garden hose. It's flat design mean's it can be rolled up into a compact shape for storage. However, note that it may not work properly if it gets a kink, so it may not be the best choice if you have a layout that will require the hose to sit at sharp angles. Price at time of publish: $31 Best Splurge Orbit 61014 Watering Hose Sprinkler Kit Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon If you’re the type of person who likes to create their own unique and efficient system, then you’re going to love this watering kit. It includes everything you need to customize the right solution for your garden, including regular tubing, soaker tubing, couplings, drip-lock elbows, and a faucet timer. Set the watering cycle to match your specific needs. You can also bypass the automated area so you can do manual watering. Create exactly what you need while saving water at the same time. Price at time of publish: $70 The 9 Best Organic Fertilizers of 2023 Best for Large Gardens Water Right Soaker Garden Hose SKR-050-MU Amazon View On Amazon There are a lot of great soaker hoses out there, but many are only 25 or 50 feet in length. For gardeners who have a bigger area to cover, this one is perfect. It’s available as a 100-foot hose, which will water a lot of plants. Our real-world tester leaves it set up in her garden beds, and found the hose made it easy to water many flowers at once, and blends in well with the landscaping. "This makes it super easy to just turn on the water and the hose can do all the work," she noted. "It is a good length where you could use this in an even larger area." This soaker comes in smaller sizes too (25 and 50 feet), so it’s the perfect all-around soaking hose for most gardens. Our only complaint is that we wish there were more color options in addition to the tan color. Price at time of publish: $110 Best Heavy Duty LINEX Garden Soaker Hose Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon This hose is one of the most sturdy on the market. Yet, it’s also easy to store because it goes flat when not in use. It’s set up to leak water around 2 gallons every two minutes, making it a great fit for most backyard gardens. You can thread this hose under leaves or place it out in the hot sun—either way it’ll definitely stand up to the elements. It's 25 feet long, and you can easily add a connector to add more length. Price at time of publish: $36 Best Flat Rocky Mountain Goods Flat Soaker Hose Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon This hose is both a heavy-duty and a space-saving soaker. It’s made from a perforated PVC liner and is coated with extra-strength fabric. It's available in 25-, 50-, and 75-foot options at an affordable price. This company really stands behind its products and offers a lifetime warranty. If you need to save space and still want a hose that will hold up season after season, this is the one for you. Price at time of publish: $18 The 9 Best Deck Boxes, According to a Master Gardener Best Sprinkler Swan Element Sprinkler Courtesy of Amazon View On Walmart View On Amazon This hose doubles as a sprinkler and a soaker. If you want to use it as a sprinkler, you’ll put the stripes up. And if you want to use it as a soaker, you’ll put the stripes down. It has roughly six openings for each foot of hose, so you’ll get a nice, even distribution of water. This hose comes in a 50-foot length, but there are smaller options as well. If you have any issues, it comes with a seven-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $32 Final Verdict To reinvent the way you see soaker hoses, try the WATERHOOP Portable Sprinkler which will change the way you water your garden and yard and is our overall top choice. For a soaker that suits many different sizes of gardens, we like the Water Right Garden Soaker Hose, which is available in 25, 50, and 100 foot lengths. What to Look for in a Soaker Hose Flat vs. Round Some flat soaker hoses only have holes along one side, and are designed to have the holes face the soil to directly water roots and minimize any evaporation compared to round hoses. However, often flat hoses are less durable, and more susceptible to issues related to kinks. Most flat soaker and weeper hoses need to be laid out in a straight line to work properly. If you want to set up a hose to turn a lot of corners or snake back and fourth, a round soaker hose is better suited to your needs. Materials Look at what the soaker is made from. Recycled rubber is always a strong and sustainable option, whereas polyester fabric tends to be less durable. However, even if the hose isn’t made from recycled materials, using a soaker hose can still be eco-friendly if you're in a particularly water-scarce region. We also look for descriptions from the manufacturers of other ways they have green practices. Size The best size is the one that works for your needs. How much garden area are you looking to cover, and are your gardens all in the same spot? You might be better off getting two smaller soakers instead of one bigger one. This will allow you to save even more water to help focus on the area you need watered most. Water Flow Some soakers will have a single flow for how quickly the water comes out. Others allow you to adjust the flow as needed. This can be a really nice feature to have, especially as you adjust water flow based on overall weather and outside temps. Additional Parts Look for additional connectors or bonus items to help you customize the soaker for your exact needs. Also, make sure the soaker is going to be compatible with your spigot or faucet set up. Most should be fine, but it’s just something to be aware of. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best way to install a soaker hose? Most soaker hoses won’t require anything special to install. You’ll just hook it up to your outdoor spigot, and then you’ll snake it through the area you want to water. Other hoses might need certain tubes, adapters, or an end cap to get best results. Look at the descriptions before you buy. Do soaker hoses save money? Yes, they do! Most soaker hoses are estimated to save you about 70% in water. This might not translate to big dollars in a single season, but long term, it will definitely save you on your water bill. Do soaker hoses get clogged or kinked? Both can happen with soaker hoses, and these can affect the performance of the hose. For kinks, try to notice the kink right away and carefully unwind it, so you don’t damage the hose. For clogs, soak the area in a one-to-one solution of vinegar and water to help break it up. Then run water through it to clear it out. Will soaker hoses last from season to season? Many soaker hoses come with a warranty and will last for several years, some even have lifetime warranties, but it's still a good idea to properly store your hose when it's not in use. To make it last, roll up your hose and store it inside if possible when the growing season is coming to an end. This way you won’t leave water or debris in the hose over winter, which would damage it long-term. Freezing temperatures will damage most hoses. Can I make my own soaker hose? Yes, if you are handy, it's possible to turn a conventional hose into a soaker hose by carefully making holes in it. You can use a drill, push pins, or emitter tool to make the holes.Learn More: How to Create Your Own Drip Irrigation System Why Trust Treehugger? Wants to help our readers find products that help conserve resources. To make this list, we looked for hoses made with recycled materials, durable construction, and long warranties. We found that few soaker hoses are made with the sustainably-minded materials, however we hope that if you do buy a soaker hose, you'll be able to put it to good use for many years. The author, Stacy Tornio, has been using soaker hoses since she was a kid — they really helped in her family garden during the hot Oklahoma summers. We also test select products in real-world homes and gardens. The Best Hose Timers to Save You Time and Water