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Pocket Hose Silver Bullet Review

This hose outperformed others in our lineup thanks to consistent above-average performance and its ability to condense down to its original size better than others
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Pocket Hose Silver Bullet Review
Hero
Credit: Hale Milano
Price:  $30 List
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Manufacturer:   Pocket Hose
By Hale Milano ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 1, 2024
67
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 10
  • Convenience - 35% 8.0
  • Performance - 35% 7.0
  • Construction Quality - 20% 4.0
  • Variety of Options - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

Expandable hoses are a subsection of the hose market that play a niche role in fulfilling your watering needs. They have specific pros and cons over other hose types, such as being easy to store and travel with, but sacrificing performance or durability. The Pocket Hose Silver Bullet combines affordability, performance, and convenience to create an ideal hose for a wide range of applications. Despite some concerns about durability, we recommend this hose over most other expandable options for its great value.
REASONS TO BUY
Shrinks back to original size very well
Flexible and easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor quality nozzle
Not many size options

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall
Top Pick Award
Best Coil-Style Expandable Hose
   
Price Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at Amazon$30 List$38 List$40 List
$19.99 at Amazon
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Bottom Line A great hose for those short on storage space who are looking for an economical blend of convenience and performanceA compact coil-style hose with great spray performance at a budget-friendly priceWe love that this expandable hose is available in a variety of lengths, and its expansion & contraction performance is top-tierThis hose is ease to use and sprays water well, with four length optionsThis coil hose will get the job done, and the included nozzle is better than most
Rating Categories Pocket Hose Silver... Orbit Coil with ABS... AmazingForLess Expa... Xhose Pro Automan Recoil EVA
Convenience (35%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
3.0
Performance (35%)
7.0
7.0
5.0
5.0
4.0
Construction Quality (20%)
4.0
5.5
6.0
4.0
4.5
Variety of Options (10%)
6.0
4.0
9.0
7.0
4.5
Specs Pocket Hose Silver... Orbit Coil with ABS... AmazingForLess Expa... Xhose Pro Automan Recoil EVA
Available Lengths 25, 50, 100 feet 50 feet 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 feet 25, 50, 75, 100 feet 25, 50 feet
Nozzle Included Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Coupling Shape Round Hex and round Round Round Hex and round
Hose Material Not specified Rubber Plastic DAC-5 fiber EVA
Measured Weight Per Foot 0.04 lb/ft 0.03 lb/ft 0.03 lb/ft 0.05 lb/ft 0.03 lb/ft
Coupling Material Aluminum Plastic Plastic Brass Brass
Measured Expanded Length 52.1 ft 44.3 ft 47.8 ft 51.5 ft 49.4 ft
Measured Contracted Length 17.1 ft 2.4 ft 17.5 ft 16.7 ft 2.3 ft
Expansion Multiplier 3.1x 18.5x 2.7x 3.1x 21.5x
Valve Included No No Yes Yes No
PSI Limit 150 PSI Not stated Not stated 500 PSI Not stated
Available Diameters 3/4 in 3/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in 3/8 in
Diameter Tested 3/4 in 3/8 in 5/8 in 5/8 in 3/8 in
Length Tested 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft 50 ft
Measured Weight 1.8 lb 1.6 lb 1.4 lb 2.3 lb 1.5 lb
Expansion Type Expansion Coil Expansion Expansion Coil

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Pocket Hose Silver Bullet is one of the best expandable hoses we tested. It has great expansion capabilities, shrinks down to size well, and is durable enough to withstand more than a little wear and tear from the rigors of yard work. We felt like the included nozzle, while a nice touch, could have been more thoughtfully designed. However, adding on an aftermarket nozzle easily solves that issue. Many expandable hoses aren't available in the same length options as standard garden hoses, and the Pocket Hose is no exception, though you'll likely find a length that meets your needs. Overall, the Pocket Hose is the expandable hose that we'd recommend to most people for most situations.

Performance Comparison


pocket hose silver bullet - the pocket hose is ideal for watering your patio plants or the...
The Pocket Hose is ideal for watering your patio plants or the occasional car wash given its ease of use, and small space needs.
Credit: Hale Milano

Convenience


As a rule of thumb, most expandable hoses are convenient and easy to use, and the Pocket Hose is one of the most impressive in this category. When evaluating convenience, we considered how easily the hoses shrink back to their original size and how that impacts storage, as well as how flexible and maneuverable it is. The Pocket Hose excelled on both accounts. We also assessed how easily the hose connects to spigots and nozzles.


The Pocket Hose expands on its own with water pressure. At its baseline state, we measured the hose to be 17.1 feet long. After connecting it to a spigot and pressurizing it with water, the hose expands to 52.1 feet when stretched straight, marking an almost 300% expansion rate. Once the hose is completely empty of water, it shrinks or retracts back to its original size.

AB photo
AB photo
AB photo
AB photo
The empty Pocket Hose, left, compared to completely pressurized, right, takes up a substantially different amount of room.

Even when pressurized and full of water, the Pocket Hose remains flexible and maneuverable. The hose becomes semi-rigid and holds its shape well, but doesn't become stiff or catch on yard obstacles that prevent movement. At 1.8 pounds, or 0.04 pounds per foot, the Pocket Hose was about average in our weight per foot of hose measurement.

The expansion process of the Pocket hose is mesmerizing, shown here in 4x speed.
Credit: Hale Milano

Screwing on the Pocket Hose to a spigot or a nozzle is relatively easy, but nothing fantastic. It has aluminum round hex connectors that are easy enough to hand-tighten.

pocket hose silver bullet - the pocket hose has durable plastic threads, aluminum couplings with...
The Pocket hose has durable plastic threads, aluminum couplings with flat facets to them, and a round nozzle coupling. We did like the large rubber grips on each end as well.
Credit: Hale Milano

Performance


A hose might be easy to use, but if it doesn't perform the way you need it to, it won't be of much value. To assess performance, we checked for leaks, flat spots, and kinking, as well as the spray performance of the hose or nozzle, if included. The Pocket Hose performs moderately well, but we were not impressed by the included nozzle.


During our testing, we noticed no leaks from the Pocket Hose. Connections stayed snug and secure, even when the hose was left on and pressurized for extended periods. It also actively resists kinking; owing to the pressurization effect that occurs, kinks tend to snap right out if they accidentally twist into the hose. Because the hose is naturally flat, no flat spots persisted in the hose even after being crushed by a car tire.

pocket hose silver bullet - even intentionally trying to kink the pocket hose is challenging; it...
Even intentionally trying to kink the Pocket Hose is challenging; it took both hands to stop the flow of water thanks to the strong pressurization.
Credit: Hale Milano

The Pocket Hose comes with an included nozzle, a must-have feature to use the hose given it requires pressurization to work. Without a nozzle or valve to retain water, expansion hoses won't expand. The included nozzle on the Pocket Hose is a twist-style nozzle; spinning it will enable you to expand the water spray from blocked to a wide-angle spray, all the way to a fine jet stream. The variance between the wide angle and jet was impressive. However, the nozzle we tested broke after our very first use, leaving us unable to stop the flow of water. To continue testing, we used a standard nozzle during all our other tests and had no issues with water pressure or volume.

The Pocket Hose twist nozzle produces a fan-shaped to jet-stream spray, ideal for targeting objects in the distance.
Credit: Hale Milano

Construction Quality


We tested these hoses over a period of several months, using them to water plants on our patio, wash cars, and more. To assess construction quality, we looked for signs of wear and tear from day-to-day uses, prolonged exposure to heat and sun, and noteworthy user reviews. Overall, the Pocket Hose was slightly below average in this metric, though still perfectly adequate for normal usage.


The most significant detriment to the Pocket Hose's construction quality score was the nozzle that broke during our very first use of the hose. As far as the hose itself goes, we experienced and noted no issues. The sheath is abrasion-resistant, and we felt the connectors would withstand bumps and bangs from being stored in a garage or shed.

pocket hose silver bullet - the twist nozzle did last long; and with no ability to stop the...
The twist nozzle did last long; and with no ability to stop the water flow we had to resort to testing with an after-market nozzle.
Credit: Hale Milano

Variety of Options


Expandable hoses aren't frequently available in a large variety of options, mostly due to the specialized nature of their use. The Pocket Hose can be found in a few different sizes, though, and is likely suitable to meet most needs.


There are three length choices for the Pocket Hose: a 25, 50, and 100-foot option. All lengths are available in the standard ¾ inch diameter. The Pocket Hose is one of the few expandable hoses that doesn't include a valve, although it does come with a twist-style nozzle.

pocket hose silver bullet - we tested the 50 foot model of the pocket hose; and it is adequate...
We tested the 50 foot model of the Pocket Hose; and it is adequate for your average sized porch, deck, or car washing.
Credit: Hale Milano

Should You Buy the Pocket Hose Silver Bullet?


If you're looking for an expandable hose, the Pocket Hose is one of the best we tested. It's ideal for jobs around the house that require more than a watering can but don't require a heavy-duty rubber hose. The Pocket Hose shrinks and coils easily and is flexible enough to twist and wind through obstacles on your patio or garden. If its convenience and performance aren't enough to attract you, the Pocket Hose is also one of the most economically priced hoses in our lineup.

The Pocket Hose was a well-rounded hose that performs well at a great price.
Credit: Hale Milano

What Other Expandable Hoses Should You Consider?


Most of the expandable hoses in our selection of expandable hoses performed quite similarly. The spread from our highest-scoring to lowest-scoring model — excluding one outliner — is only 13 points. Rest assured that if the features or even color choices of one model versus another are more attractive to you, we're confident you'll get adequate performance. An upgraded expansion hose pick is the Flexi Hose. This model performed on par with the Pocket Hose, but we feel it has more durable materials. This is our recommended option for boat, RV, or home users who don't mind paying a little more for quality materials. Another expansion hose with a little more variety in length options is the AmazingForLess Expandable, available in five different length options and includes a great nozzle with seven spray modes. One last expansion consideration is the Flex-Able Xtreme. This hose has some of the best spray performance out of all the expansion-style hoses we tested.

pocket hose silver bullet - most of the expansion-style hoses in our lineup performed similarly.
Most of the expansion-style hoses in our lineup performed similarly.
Credit: Hale Milano

Hale Milano


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