Polyurethane vs Rubber Hose- Which one to choose?

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Polyurethane vs Rubber Hose- Which one to choose?

How to choose a flexible hose depends on your needs and personal preferences. In short, this is the main difference is the Weight-The weight of rubber hose is twice that of polyurethane hose. This is most evident when the hose is pulled out and rewinded.

Durability-The outer shell on the polyurethane hose is made of the same material as the wheels of the roller skates. This is the most durable material we have found. If the PU hose is pulled over a rough or sharp surface (such as a rock), or pulled to the corner of a stone, the degree of wear is lighter, and the outer shell of the rubber hose is softer and easier to tear.

Flexibility-Rubber hoses are softer and more flexible than polyurethane hoses. The rubber hose can be wound on the hose reel very evenly. Polyethylene soft hose can also be quickly and easily rolled onto a hose reel, but compared with rubber hoses, it is difficult to obtain a perfect package like a photo. Even in cold temperatures, both hoses maintain extremely high flexibility.

Kink-Resistance – The rubber hose is much more likely to kink, like traditional garden hoses, and also retain a ‘kink memory’, which is what happens when a hose seems to remember where it kinked, and then has a tendency to more easily kink over and over again in that same spot. The positive side of the rubbery nature of polyurethane hose, is that it has a tendency to ‘flip’ out of a kink rather than collapse down into one. Plus, the polyurethane has zero kink memory.

Pressure Rating – The poly hose is rated up to 160 PSI. The rubber hose is rated at 150 PSI.

Temperature Rating – The poly hose is rated at -40°F to 165°F. The rubber hose is rated at -40°F to 190°F.

Non-marking-The polyurethane protective layer is 100% non-marking, which means you don’t have to worry about it leaving marks on a clean surface. Rubber hose is a relatively soft material, and sometimes it will leave marks on its surface or a small amount of black residue on the hands after being rolled into the hose.