Teknor Apex Zero-G Review

A garden hose is a relatively straightforward piece of equipment in the gardener's arsenal of tools, but it can also be one of the most unwieldy. From leaks to kinks to broken connectors and jumbled messes of rubber, the possibilities of grievances are high. Thankfully, the right features and quality materials can help alleviate these concerns. The Teknor combines above-average results in all of our testing metrics, resulting in a convenient and high-performing hose that is ideal for most situations. It scores on par with much more expensive options, and we could not find many faults with it. It is ergonomic and easy to use, sprays water well, and won't break the bank. Overall, this is the hose that we'd recommend to most people if they're looking to purchase a new garden hose.

Performance Comparison

Convenience

The Teknor is a well-designed hose with ergonomic features that make it easy to use. Some of our most important testing metrics were based on ease-of-use, measuring things such as how easy a hose was to coil and uncoil, screwing it onto a spigot, and dragging it around our yard. The Teknor performed above average in all of these assessments.

Unlike most hoses that are made from a single layer of rubber or synthetic material, the Teknor consists of an inner core covered in an abrasion-resistant sheath that helps protect it and reduces the need for a heavy rubber casing. The inner lining of the Teknor collapses when empty, making it easy to coil and store. The thin materials also make it maneuverable and easy to drag around the yard.

Interestingly, the Teknor does feel somewhat stiff in use, due to the water pressure that can build up in the hose. We didn't find that this subtracted from its maneuverability; on the contrary, it helped prevent kinking. It also slid over pavement, rocks, dirt, and mulch easily, though dirt and mulch stuck to the fabric sheath more than a rubber hose.

One of the biggest differentiators between hose models is how easy it is to screw onto a spigot. As anyone who has ever split a knuckle trying to screw on a hose to a hard-to-reach spigot can attest, this can make a big difference in your perception of a hose. The Teknor is equipped with a large ergonomic grip attached to the connector that spins freely around the hose. This lets you securely hand-tighten the hose to stop leaks, as well as prevent the hose from twisting and kinking.

Performance

Our performance metric looked at many of the same components that our convenience metric evaluated; only instead of assessing how easy these features are to use, we assessed how well they accomplished or prevented each aspect. We measured performance based on preventing leaks, kinks, and flat spots, whether the material had a noticeable coil memory, the spray performance of the hose, and, if included, the nozzle. The Teknor was one of the top-performing models in our lineup.

Because it's extremely easy to screw on, we experienced no leaks when testing the Teknor. Like most hoses, it also has an O-ring on each connector, but we attributed the success of preventing leaks to being able to firmly hand-tighten the connectors to nozzles and spigots.

The Teknor is a semi-rigid hose, with the inner core collapsing to almost flat when not pressurized with water. This design helps it resist any sort of coil memory; we were able to pull it right out from a tight coil and it laid flat when empty and when full of water. We did note that given the flat design, if you're uncoiling the hose when empty, it tends to cinch up on itself, like untangling a ball of yarn. However, we didn't experience that same issue when uncoiling it with water pressurized within the hose.

In addition to annotating any accidental kinks or flat spots formed in the hoses, we also manually kinked each hose 100 times to check for permanent defects resulting from repeated kinks. The Teknor not only resisted accidental and manual kinking, but it actively sprung back straight out of a kinked position with a flip of the hose. Even when we kinked the hose manually and stood on it, water continued to flow through the constriction. We also noticed no flat spots that developed, likely because the hose is designed to collapse flat when empty.

The spray performance of the Teknor is also above average. Though it didn't come with a nozzle, we noted excellent spray distance and water pressure when we evaluated it with our standard test nozzle.

Construction Quality

Overall, we were very impressed with the construction quality of the Teknor. We tested all of our hoses in the summer when temperatures were regularly above 80 degrees. Given the materials used in the Teknor's construction, we felt that it might have performed well in the winter, avoiding the brittle rubber symptoms that other hoses are prone to.

The woven sheath on the Teknor is prone to picking up dirt and debris. That said, we noticed no signs of wear or tear during our testing, even after repeatedly dragging it over concrete, pavement, rocks, and logs.

Variety of Options

The one area in which the Teknor falls short of excellence is the availability of different options for this hose. We wish there were a greater variety of length and diameter options to choose from.

The Teknor is available in only one diameter, ⅝ inch, though this is a standard hose diameter and provides great spray performance. It is also only available in three different length options: 25, 50, and 100 feet. Although it's highly likely that one of these lengths will work for most people, it would be nice to have different options available to avoid paying for unnecessary hose. Lastly, the Teknor does not come with a valve or nozzle.

Should You Buy the Teknor Apex Zero-G?

At first glance, the Teknor Apex Zero-G stands out from other hoses given its unique core-and-sheath design. We were impressed with its all-around usability and performance and recommend it for most people looking to add a high-quality hose to their arsenal of gardening equipment. Not only does this hose blend convenience with performance, but it is available at a significantly better price point than other models in our lineup.

What Other Garden Hoses Should You Consider?

Garden hoses play a critical role in a homeowner's toolkit of yard care equipment, but there are plenty of options that can meet your needs. Like the Teknor, the Dramm ColorStorm Premium is a convenient and high-performing hose capable of handling the toughest watering tasks. The Dramm really stands out for its extra long lengths, available in custom sizes up to 330 feet. It also resists kinking and is incredibly thick and durable, which is great for prolonged usage outside. For an upgraded and premium option, suitable if you are most concerned about the quality and longevity of your hose, the Eley Polyurethane is one of the most well-made and impressive options we tested. From the time you open the box to any time you use the hose, you'll be impressed with its craftsmanship and performance. The Eley performs just as well, if not better, than the Teknor, but does cost quite a bit more. The Flexzilla 5/8-Inch is another option to consider if the price point of the Teknor appeals to you. It boasts above-average convenience and performance and includes a nozzle. Flexzilla also makes this hose as a retractable hose reel as well. Ultimately, almost any of the options in our lineup of the best garden hoses will move water from point A to point B without leaking, and, for the most part, there's little variance in convenience or performance.