The Eley Polyurethane stands out for its superior materials and construction quality, elevating its performance as a simple garden hose.
Right out of the box, the Eley stands out as a hose that is both ergonomic and easy to use. We assessed the ease of use across several different factors, like screwing on the connectors, pulling hoses out of a coil, recoiling them, and dragging them around our yard to measure maneuverability. The Eley exceeded expectations in all of these.
When we uncoiled the Eley for the first time, we cut the retaining straps and pulled it directly from the manufacturer's coil into a straight line the entire length of our hose. Compared to others that twist, loop, and tangle easily, the read-to-use nature of the Eley is impressive.
The Eley is both thick and heavy. While this didn't impact its maneuverability, dragging around the yard — it was very easy to drag around the car and garden — it did impact the recoiling process. The thickness of this hose caused it to coil in large circular loops, rather than hanging in a more vertical oval, and it took up more space in our garage during storage.
We found the Eley to be very easy to screw onto a spigot, thanks to a free-rotating hex connector. Though it wasn't as ergonomic as other options, we were able to easily hand-tighten this connector. We liked that you could use a wrench to easily cinch it down if you planned to have the hose permanently mounted and control water flow with a valve at the other end of the hose.
Eley also manufactures a hose nozzle that is easy to use but slightly tedious to change options. The nozzle and ball valve can remain on the hose, but screw-on attachments allow you to change the type of spray. Doing so is easy, although it is a little more involved than with other twist-style nozzles.
We noticed no leaks from either connector on the Eley, whether hand-tightening or using a wrench for a quarter-twist to achieve a snug fit. Compared to other models with ergonomic grips on the connector that allow you to cinch down a hose tightly, we felt that the thin hex connector didn't provide quite as secure a fit, although we noted no leaks or issues.
The heavy-duty Eley actively resists kinking. Even attempting to manually kink the hose was a challenge; it simply bends into a loop with water flowing through it the entire time. We were very impressed with this feature and Eley's ability to bounce back from flat spots after being crushed by our cars and garage doors.
Like most hoses in our garden hose lineup, the Eley does not come with a nozzle or a valve. We assessed the water pressure and spray performance using a standard test nozzle and were impressed with the flow rate and volume. Even though the Eley is only ⅝ inches in diameter, it easily carries a high volume of water.
It should be clear that the Eley is a top-notch hose, and we believe this can be largely attributed to the exceptional construction quality of this hose. From the packaging to the materials to the precision assembly, Eley's quality contributes to its high score.
The thick and durable materials of this hose lend credibility to its performance as a heavy-duty option that can withstand considerable exposure to elements and daily wear and tear. That said, this hose feels so premium that you may not want to leave it lying around outside! The thick rubber and solid brass connectors held up well throughout our testing, and likely will for years to come.
If the convenience and performance of the Eley aren't enough to make it stand out, the variety of options that it's available in should be. The Eley is one of the most customizable hoses in our lineup.
The Eley is available in ten different length options, ranging from 6.5 feet to a massive 200 feet. Whether you're looking for a hose on your back porch or one to stretch from your garage to the curb, chances are the Eley will have a length that suits your needs.
While it's available in a plethora of length options, we did note that the Eley is only available in one diameter, the standard ⅝ inch option. It also does not include a valve or a nozzle, which can be convenient to have on a hose.
The Eley nozzle offers a range of options for various spray types. One is a three-way adjustable spray tip with wide-angle, narrow-angle, and jet spray. The other is a cone attachment with four different kinds of steel mesh inserts that change the volume of water; a special tool, included with the nozzle, is needed to make these changes.
The cone nozzle attachments for the Eley don't significantly alter the shape of the spray, but they do affect the flow rate and gallons per minute. Each of these four options is great for watering plants, providing a gentle yet full stream of water.
The Eley is a premium hose, and it commands a premium price. If you're looking for some of the best materials, design, and construction available in a hose, with no price limit, then this may be the exact hose you're looking for. It's also available in a wide variety of length options, letting you purchase exactly the right amount of hose for your needs.
Most of the options in our hose lineup will meet your needs. After all, they're relatively simple pieces of yard equipment that just need to move water from a spigot to a plant or a car. If you're set on a top-notch hose but want even more length options, the Dramm ColorStorm Premium is the way to go. Available in custom lengths up to 330 feet, this option offers exceptional versatility. If you're not looking to break the bank on a premium hose, the Teknor Apex Zero-G is another outstanding model available at a fraction of the price of the Eley, but it boasts similar performance and amazing ergonomics. Lastly, the Briggs and Stratton 8BS50 is a well-made and heavy-duty hose. This option may be best suited for prolonged or permanent outdoor use, where protection from the elements is paramount.
