[ TL ; DNR ] ; hyperbolic touting of the hose material that is simply a PVC compound ; has high phthalates levels, toxic chemicals capable of disrupting health ; large outer and inner growth of black mold not long after installation. UPDATE: By July 2022 none of the health risks have decreased and remain a matter of concern. ____ This review applies to the Flexzilla hoses distributed by Weems Industries Inc. doing business as Legacy Manufacturing Co. In reality, the hoses are manufactured by Jieh-Ming Plastics, a Taiwanese company (also d/b/a Mr. Hose in Taiwan, and Jieh-Ming Polymer Materials in China) specializing in hose production and PVC compounding. Jieh-Ming has been listed in the past as a buyer of recycled plastic scrap. (My thanks to D.T. for help in verifying the real manufacturer's name.) MATERIAL: The tube wall of the hose has three layers. The material of the innermost layer is described as a hybrid polymer (i.e., a substance comprising synthetic polymers and inorganic or organic components, or both), whose undisclosed components are touted as safe for water drinking. No information is given on the materials of the other two layers. As described below, however, a 2016 laboratory analysis listed all three layers as just PVC, and detected in all of them rather high concentrations of chemical additives used for making PVC flexible (phthalates). The presence of PVC throughout the entire hose wall is also indicated by the levels of chlorine concentration, ~330,000 ppm, found in these layers. The touted "flexible hybrid polymer" therefore consists simply of PVC, the most environmentally damaging plastic. WATER SAFETY: By and large, hoses without PVC are less likely to contain toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals, flame retardants or phthalates, than hoses with PVC, particularly when the PVC is recycled instead of pure. I was unable to find *verifiable* evidence in the Web (with Legacy and Flexzilla websites included) supporting the sales pitch that the hose is water-drinking safe. Despite this, when replying to a 2017 query about water potability in the Q&A section here [see amzn.to/2LCiKT6], Legacy claimed "the hose meets or exceeds the standards set by the National Sanitation Foundation." Currently, this foundation --actually, a testing and certifying organization whose name changed to NSF International some 30 years ago-- does not have any certified product with the brand Flexzilla in its database. As such claim could have also meant the hose was analyzed against the NSF/ANSI-61 water standard by a third-party laboratory, I further searched for Flexzilla water-test reports over the last decade, reports that are typically valid for only 12 months. Alas, I did not find any. What I did find, however, was the _Garden Hose Study 2016_ of the Ecology Center (Michigan), which included a 50-ft Flexzilla garden hose whose material is listed as PVC. Using IR spectroscopy, a laboratory analytical technique, this study detected multiple phthalates (suggesting a recycled PVC) in all three layers. Contrary to Legacy's claims of safety, the levels of phthalates in the Flexzilla hose were so high as to receive the negative rating of "high overall level of concern" (see one of my figures). This is bad news to those planning to use a Flexzilla hose for water drinking, watering vegetables, or letting children play with it. TOXICITY: Phthalates are chemical additives ("plasticizers") used to soften the PVC's vinyl and make it flexible. They are water soluble and unbound to the vinyl, so they easily leach from a PVC hose into those drinking from it. Absorbed phthalates can disrupt hormonal function, affecting children --both in utero and born-- as well as adults. A decade after the EU's 1999 phthalate ban, several phthalates were PROHIBITED here in 2009 (15 US Code §2057c) above 0.1% in products for children under 3 years of age and toys for children under 12, and some other phthalates were provisionally BANNED. Canada adopted similar restrictions in 2011. The reason for this prohibition is that phthalates may increase the risk of allergic illnesses (asthma or eczema) and of IQ/behavioral alterations in kids, and of pubertal breast changes in boys and girls. They are considered a risk of male genital defects during fetal development and of reduced sperm counts in men. In 2018, a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics found that chemicals in plastic such as phthalates and BPA put children’s health at risk. Any product sold in California that contains any of six phthalates as well as a number of other toxic substances must display the Proposition 65 Warning : "this product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm." Legacy's reaction to Q&A-section queries on the presence of phthalates has ranged from simply ignoring them, as in a 2014 query [see amzn.to/3cbugD9], to replies bordering on fraudulence, as in a 2017 reply [see amzn.to/2D5xQjT] that the hose is "phathalate [sic] free", notwithstanding the Ecology Center study had been published the year before. Parsimoniously, such a misleading reply, and the fact it has not yet been corrected, can be interpreted as deceptive. Because heat increases leaching, with those phthalates leached from the hose's inner layer mixing with the water output, and those from its outer layer accumulating on the hose surface, it is left to one's imagination what is the exposure risk in the image that Legacy shows here of a child (it used to be a toddler in a prior version of the page) drinking from this PVC hose held in his hand out in the sun. Despite Legacy's familiarity with the Prop-65 warning, it did not provide it in its several Amazon pages over many years. Finally, perhaps relenting to criticisms of its very non-transparent selling practices, it put the warning here in 2021 in a "Legal Disclaimer" just above the Consumer Q&A section. Not all together unsurprisingly, it was sloppily done -- in June 2021, this warning did not appear when the 100-ft hose was selected; now, in July 2022, it does not appear for the 50-ft, 75-ft, and 100-ft hoses. I wonder if Legacy considers this an improvement. BLACK MOLD INVASION: About 4 months after I attached the hose to a reel (kept dry off the grass or any other wet surface), it began to be invaded by a black mold. This is shown in an attached picture taken after rubbing the hose with a dry paper towel to remove dirt (as well as some mold) -- the inset shows the same hose when it was installed. This fungal invasion is neither an isolated nor a rare case as proven by the number of US-reviews complaining of it. Handling the moldy hose left black sticky stains on the hands. Any mold invaded object is a health risk: mold not only can produce mycotoxins but also release millions of tiny spores that become air- and water-borne, causing lung, ocular, and skin reactions in those sensitive to them. The plasticized PVC is susceptible to fungal attack because the additives can serve as a nitrogen or carbon source, and, at least for several plasticizers, mold can degrade and deteriorate the plastic, making it brittle and allowing the mold to penetrate it even further. Of course, mold developing in the inner surface of a water hose is a MAJOR water-safety risk, and the hose needs be flushed to remove the black-mold flecks in the standing water inside. I contacted Legacy and a Tech Support agent informed me over the phone, with the polite laconism recommended in cross-examinations, that they do not offer a solution for getting rid of the fungus. After pressing the issue, I was told that "no mold was found in the inner surface of a moldy hose" that they claim to have dissected (though, curiously, neither the dissection nor its results are publicly available). In contrast, some reviews here show that mold can develop inside the hose. With a melamine sponge I could remove some black-mold surface stains or flecks but not others, or those deeper in the wall. Cleaning the surface does not remove deeper fungal growth reaching inner layers, and is merely a temporary cosmetic fix, since the mold returned after I removed the hose from the spigot and kept it in the garage. This is seen in my third picture, taken some months after removing the molding hose (the hose was hung in position for the sake of taking the picture). WARRANTY: Its terms, written in High Pidgin Legalese, are user-UNfriendly. A defective hose would be repaired or replaced if --and only if-- you ship it with the transportation charges prepaid to an authorized service center along with a proof of purchase date and, on a separate document, the original retail label and your name and address. In addition to the distrust of clients implicit in these terms, Legacy shows very little confidence on these Taiwanese hoses it sells: compared to the warranties of hoses water-drinking safer than Flexzilla, the terms are not just draconian but costly as well, as you have to prepay shipping for a hose that can weigh up to 14+ lbs (100-ft). No coverage is allowed for the rather likely possibily that the non-anodized aluminum intake fitting of the hose can *fuse* to the threads of a brass spigot due to galvanic corrosion. This happens when metals in opposite ends of the electropotential series, like aluminium and brass, are in pressed together in the presence of an electrolyte, like tap water, so brass acts as a cathode [-] and aluminum as an anode [+], which leads to corrosion and a costly spigot repair. According to Legacy, though not legally affirmed by judicial opinion, the invasion of black mold is not covered by warranty -- tough luck for those customers who bought hoses that became Moldy Black. (I bet Weems will not put a trademark for this color.) It is censurable that Legacy imitates the three legendary Japanese monkeys, albeit changing the proverb to SEE NO MOLD, HEAR NO MOLD, SPEAK NO MOLD, and is fair to conclude that it considers the Moldy Black issue too frequent to be covered even by its unfriendly, penny-pinching warranty._FINALLY! A well-made hose!!With all the hype of garden hoses and deception from manufacturers adding visual features which don't add to the quality of the hose, it is great to FINALLY find a truly well-made hose!Flexzilla has made great compressed air hoses for years, and I have used them with high regard. When I saw the garden hose offering, I was hopeful. Well, THEY DELIVERED on Quality!!So many other manufacturer's hoses tout their bulky machined ends as being the solution for failing hoses, but look inside the big, impressive-looking coupler, and you will find cheap, thin brass internal ferrule which is what the impressive end pivots on. These wear, crack and lose tension in the crimp, and your hose fails!! Add to that the lack of flexibility, and you are simply buying a pig with lipstick on!!Oh sure, all the other manufacturers offer a "Lifetime warranty", but then you learn that you have to send back the ends, or the entire hose and pay a "return fee" which is nearly the original price of the hose!These Flexzilla hoses are THE BOMB! Even the wife likes them! Win some WAF points men, buy your woman a Flexzilla hose, 'cause every woman want a good hose!I've been trying to grow grass this past year and bought multiple types, lengths and brands of hoses.I will say these have held up better than any other hose.Let me start by saying the hose is heavy and bulky, but that's because of the thicker construction of the hose. That's a small price to pay for a hose that has proven more durable than it's competitors. I have yet to get a kink in any of my lines.The durability along with the great pricing makes this a no-brainer.I needed something that could replace my rotating hose rack’s lead-in to the exterior faucet, but also something that would, separately, reliably serve as a lead-in for my pressure washer unit. Such washer attachments require a minimal amount of durability to handle those pressures, and after 6 uses, this lead-in has performed as hoped, barely any leakage at all (which is easily solved with plumber’s tape).There’s also a screw-on attachment for male-male vs male-female so you don’t need to worry about additional attachments to connect to most any standard faucet diameter. The lead-in doesn’t kink/coil up, either, so no mega-spurts and air pockets blasting out when in use. Actually picked up an extra one of these for the faucet on the other side of the yard. Nice.This hose has been used in God's Country to keep fires contained, water our garden and livestock on a 200-foot reel, and has always been left exposed to the sun. I have yet to experience any puncture or tear, and the hose is hi-vis so I never accidentally leave it out. This is simply the ONLY brand of hose I will ever buy. Don't wait, go ahead and grab yourself the top-shelf hose and never waste money on cheap hoses again.I own a commercial hose, a Zero G hose and this Flexzilla hose. The Flexzilla hose is a compromise between the commercial hose and the Zero G hose. Its much easier to use than the commerrcial hose. Its much lighter to move but it still twists. I think its the best compromise for me. The commercial hose is a pain to use. Very heavy and stiff as a stick. I think it will last forever. The Zero G hose is a pleasure to use but very delicate and punctures easily. Also not repairable. The upside to Zero G hose is a 5 year no question warranty. The company refunded the money for the hose the next day. Still I am going to use the flexzilla hose as I don't like water leaks.I'm very happy with this hose because it's much lighter than my other ones and it doesn't kink. Those qualities make it easy to maneuver around the yard. It also helps when it's time to hang it up as it coils nicely around a hose hanger. The connections seem to be good of quality with no leaks. Overall, a big improvement over my old hoses and I would definitely recommend it.This hose is low quality junk sold at a premium price tag. The one I received came in brown box with Chinese QC stamp on it and "Made in China" print. Reported false advertisement to Amazon but they obviously did nothing since this product sells really well. It also easily develops mold. The one I've got had some of those uncleanable dark spots right out of box. Needless to say that drinking water compatibility statement also seems to be clear misinformation. There is absolutely no material evidence these hoses where ever certified for that.If Dante were alive today, he'd make watering flowers with my previous hose the final punishment in the Ninth Level of Hell. My children learned most of their swear words watching me use that hose. It was rigid, unyielding, and kinked even when laid out in a straight line. And it wasn't my first. Didn't matter how much I paid. Every previous hose was a form of passive aggressive torture. Hose manufactures must be angry people.The Flexzilla is everything those hoses were not. It is the nearly perfect hose. It's soft, easily flung about, and doesn't try to curl up into a ball. Money well spent.The hose is probably good but I am unable to use it because I cannot find suitable connector for it in UK.Most uk connectors are 1/2 or 3/4.The hose size is 5/8.Lack of accessories for it in UK makes it less desirable.I bought a Flexzilla hose last year from a local tool store and it is the best hose I have ever owned - it is flexible even when cold, it doesn't retain its last bends and it doesn't kink and block the flow of water. I was planning on buying another this year so when I saw it on Amazon at a discounted price I jumped at it (the base price was comparable to the tool store). It is the same colour, but otherwise it is very inferior - it has a cheap feel and kinks badly.Full of bends and kinks. "No memory" they tell you but when you try to coil it up its a mess. For the amount of money this cost you think it'd be better than a $20 dollar big box hose.Had it for a few weeks.