The best garden hose nozzles you can buy

The Gilmour Full-Size Zinc Pistol Grip Nozzle is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a dependable, basic hose nozzle at an unbelievably low price.

I totally understand if you're assuming that a $3.99 hose nozzle isn't going to have much to offer, but you're wrong. This zinc and brass beast stacks up solidly against much more expensive options, especially in terms of durability.

When it comes to rough spraying jobs, where you don't want to worry about banging or dropping a plastic nozzle, the Gilmour Full-Size Zinc Pistol Grip Nozzle is the option you want. While working summers at my uncle's canoe rental business, I would hose down and flip a hundred dirty aluminum canoes every afternoon with this nozzle, constantly banging it into hulls and dropping it on the ground after completing each boat. I never would have been able to do that with any other nozzle. Every time I'm in the area, I stop by the business, and the new boat boys are still using that same old Gilmour.

Adjusting the flow and shape of the Gilmour Full-Size Zinc Pistol Grip Nozzle's water stream is a bit more intuitive than other nozzles — similar to driving a manual transmission versus an automatic. But you still end up with a decent variety of spray options, and just like when you finally get comfortable driving a stick shift, it makes operating it a lot more fun.

Basically, the shape of the Gilmour's water spray is based on how hard you squeeze the trigger, beginning with a wide circular stream and narrowing as you apply more pressure. Then, once you've got your desired stream type, you tighten up the rear knob to lock it in, and you're all set.

The Gilmour Full-Size Zinc Pistol's tough metal body definitely makes it the most durable on this list, but also makes it less than ideal for tasks like washing your new car or anything else it might accidentally scratch or dent, especially considering that handy threaded front.

Wirecutter ranked the Gilmour its No. 1 nozzle choice, calling it "a durable, well-made model that lasts a long time and does not easily break down or leak."

Pros: Extremely affordable, highly durable

Cons: Metal construction isn't the most comfortable to hold for long periods of time, takes a little more effort to operate

With a thumb-controlled flow valve and a wide 2.5-inch nozzle face, the Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand makes gentle watering tasks a breeze.

If you've ever tried to water elevated or hanging plants with a standard nozzle, you know that you usually just end up wasting a ton of water and making a giant mess. Watering wands are perfectly suited for jobs like this, using their length to position the nozzle above the plant, gently showering it from above.

The Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand is our best option for this style and incredibly simple to operate: Just adjust the control lever with your thumb until you reach your desired flow, and you're all set. I love this feature because it lets you easily pause the flow of water while moving between plants, wasting less water and leaving a smaller mess.

With a tool that you'll be raising above your shoulder, lightweight construction is a high priority, and the aluminum Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand delivers in that category as well, weighing in at less than a pound.

It's also a great choice if you're going to be using your nozzle for other types of low-pressure jobs, like watering a vegetable garden or seedling patches. I personally find watering wands perfect for washing my dog in the backyard. Their angled head and broad nozzle face make for a pleasant experience all around.

Gardening tool expert Monica Hemingway at Gardening Products Review gives the Dramm One-Touch Rain Wand a perfect 5-star review, calling it "simply the best rain wand I've ever used. Period."

Reporters at Wirecutter named it their favorite watering wand, saying that it "breaks hose water down into a gentle cascading shower suitable for soft-focus shampoo commercials, or watering patio plants."

Keep in mind that this type of nozzle has only one setting, so it isn't great for any jobs that require a powerful or focused stream of water. If you're planning on blasting the mud off your dirt bikes, maybe consider another option.

Pros: Available in a variety of colors, easy to hold for long periods of time

Cons: Limited to just one spray style, not efficient for watering large areas

The thick, rubberized casing and fire hose-style design of the twist-controlled Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle makes for an especially comfortable grip, perfect for lengthy watering tasks.

If you're looking for a nozzle that won't leave you with the sore wrists and tight forearms that can result from a long day of squeezing a trigger nozzle, the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle could be the choice for you.

As opposed to the pistol grip you see most often in hose nozzles, the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle is cylindrical, like a fire hose. This ergonomic design makes for a more natural grip position while operating, thus reducing fatigue.

Its simple operating system also makes the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle a great option for anyone with grip-strength issues, since it requires much less effort than trigger-style options. To adjust the flow of water, you simply twist the barrel itself to cycle through the five spray options.

My favorite feature of the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle is definitely its durable construction. The heavy-duty rubber that surrounds the barrel protects it from accidental drops on concrete that would prove fatal to plastic models. It also gives you a really solid, secure grip on the unit, a feeling that you don't get from other nozzles.

Wirecutter described the Bon-Aire Original Ultimate Hose Nozzle as great for people "with weak grips or arthritis, or who spend a long time using a specific spray pattern."

The experts at Your Best Digs named this the "most durable" option, and after testing, explained that its "jet" setting remains effective for up to 26 feet.

All that said, this nozzle will probably be a little too rough for delicate projects. It also lacks the precision control of a trigger, but it really can't be beat for big jobs like washing your car, especially considering its rubber construction.

Pros: Extremely durable, at the top of its class when it comes to comfort

Cons: Expensive, fewer spray options than others, lacks precision control of a trigger

The Ikris Metal Lever Garden Hose Nozzle is perfect for gardeners who need for a variety of stream settings, with a quick and easy flow-control system.

Trust me, gardening is hard enough without having to waste time and energy using triggers and knobs to adjust your nozzle pressure. The unique design of the Ikris Metal Lever Garden Hose Nozzle eliminates the trigger altogether, letting you control the flow of water with a rear-facing lever that slides up and down.

This feature allows you to smoothly and precisely adjust the flow of water with your thumb instead of a trigger that can be difficult to operate with gardening gloves on.

This comes in handy especially when jumping around from plant to plant, which requires frequent spray adjustments.

The enamel coating on the Ikris Metal Lever Garden Hose Nozzle's metal body helps prevent rust and corrosion, and its rubber handle makes for a solid grip.

Amazon reviewer Robert Haggerty praised the Ikris Metal Lever Garden Hose Nozzle, stating that it's "easy to hold for long periods. The rotating on/off slide is easy to use. The pressure was a great improvement over any nozzle I have used in the past."

Pros: 10 different spray types to choose from, durable metal construction

Cons: Lacks the quick on/off function of other models