Hey! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
Before you get lost in the backcountry with your RV, investing in an RV water hose is crucial, but choosing the right one is not always a simple matter. There are quite a few different types and several factors to consider before selecting one. Today, we’re going to go over some must-know information and review the best options to help you choose an RV water hose.
The Best (and Safest) Water Hoses for Your RV
| Best RV Water Hoses | Category |
| Camco 50ft Premium Drinking Water Hose | Drinking Water Hose |
| Camco 25ft TASTEPure Heated Drinking Water Hose | Heated Water Hose |
| Pirit PWL-04-12 12-Feet Heated Hose | Affordable Heated Water Hose |
| Camco 25ft TastePURE Drinking Water Hose | Affordable Drinking Water Hose |
| Teknor Apex 8602-25 NeverKink RV/Marine Hose | No Kink Hose |
| Valterra AquaFresh High Pressure Drinking Water Hose | Short Hose |
| Plastair SpringHose Recoil Hose | Coiled RV Water Hose |
A Deeper Look at Our Favorite Hoses
Now let’s take a closer look at what makes each of these options an excellent RV drinking water hose. We’ll go over standout features, tell you what we liked and didn’t like, and talk about the pros and cons of each.
Best Drinking Water Hose
Camco 50ft Premium Drinking Water Hose
The Camco Premium Drinking Water Hose is a highly popular option among RV owners. It has many features that earned it the title of the best RV water hose. At 20 percent thicker than regular drinking water hoses, you won’t have to worry about pinholes or links. It’s made to prevent kinks from forming, and this design adds further durability. It’s also fortified to give it a longer lifespan.
The Camco Premium Drinking Water Hose is lead, phthalate, and BPA-free, so you’re assured of safe drinking water for your family. We also like that it’s UV-resistant, a vital feature for most hoses that makes it more durable. This Camco hose has multiple applications so you can use it as both an RV hose and a garden hose.
The only downside is that it’s rather bulky and challenging to coil out. For more details on this hose, read my full Camco drinking water hose review.
Pros:
- Extra robust design is made to last and resists pinholes and leaks
- UV-resistant
- Lead-free
- Anti-kink design
Cons:
- The hose is quite stiff out of the package
- It’s not the lightest hose out there
Best Heated Water Hose
Camco 25ft TASTEPure Heated Drinking Water Hose
Camco made our list a second time with the TASTEPure, which earned the title of the best-heated water hose. Cold showers in freezing temperatures will be a thing of the past, as this hose has a high level of freeze protection that makes it well suited for winter use.
What makes this hose stand out is that the heat source self-regulates. Water will flow continuously without overheating, and you don’t need a thermostat to use this feature. It includes heavy-duty heat shrink that relieves strain, and the nickel-plated fittings resist corrosion to give it a longer lifespan.
It also comes with matching female hose fittings that make using it with RV campground power possible. Overall, it’s fantastic. The only real downside is that like the other Camco models, this RV drinking water hose is rather stiff and heavy. For more info, read our full Camco heated water hose review.
Pros:
- Certified safe hose that is phthalate, lead, and BPA free
- Wide range of applications
- Corrosion-free
- Leak-free
Cons:
- It’s heavier than comparable hoses
Most Affordable Heated Water Hose
Pirit PWL-04-12 12-Feet Heated Hose
If you’re looking for an affordable heated RV water hose, the Pirit is another fantastic option.
A thermostat controls the PWL, which automatically turns on below 45F and shuts off above 50F. It won’t freeze, and it offers users continuous water flow, even when temperatures are low. According to the manufacturer, it can withstand temperatures of up to -42F.
This hose can be used for other applications, such as gardening, farming, and light commercial uses. We like that it includes nickel-plated brass female and male couplings and that it comes in different lengths. It is somewhat bulkier than comparable models, though.
We do have to mention one common user complaint. Many report that the hose gives their water a plastic taste that seems to last for an extended period. Read my full Pirit heated hose review for all the details.
Pros:
- Works in extremely low temperatures
- Comes in different lengths
Cons:
- The hose is bulkier than comparable models
- Some users report a plastic taste for the first few weeks
Most Affordable Drinking Water Hose
Camco 25ft TastePURE Drinking Water Hose
The TastePURE offers many of the same fantastic features as the other Camco hoses on our list: a kink-free design for a longer lifespan, UV stabilization, and NSF certification. With the TastePURE, you know you’ll have safe drinking water and a hose that will stand the test of time—all for an affordable price that can’t be beaten.
It won’t give your water any plastic taste as some other hoses do, and you can also use it with a garden hose. You can connect it quickly with the built-in easy-grip connector.
Though it shines in the same areas that other Camco hoses do, it also suffers from the same minor issues – namely stiffness. Camco more than makes up for this issue with the durability of the hose, so we’ll take the stiffness with the assurance that it will last a long time.
Pros:
- NSF-certified
- Suitable for various applications
- Guarantees lead-free water
- Affordable
Cons:
- Stiffness during the first few uses
Best No Kink Hose
Teknor Apex 8602-25 NeverKink RV/Marine Hose
If kinks are a concern for you, look no further than the Teknor Apex NeverKink. Their proprietary Non-Torsion System is designed to eliminate this common complaint from RV users. You’ll find that this hose stays free of kinks, twists, and tangles, but at the same time, it is highly flexible and easy to maneuver.
This Teknor hose is suitable for several different applications, and you’ll be happy to know that your water will be lead-free. One other feature we love is the MicroShield antimicrobial protective coating. This protective coating fights mildew and mold, and we think it’s a great addition to an already fantastic hose.
The only real issue with the Teknor Apex is that its flexible design means it’s rather thin. It’s not great if you’ll have to use it around corners a lot, where it tends to collapse. For more, read our full Teknor Apex hose review.
Pros:
- Hose won’t have any kinks, twists, or tangles
- Easy to handle and use
- Multiple applications
- Protection against mildew and mold
Cons:
- A thin profile means it might collapse in certain situations
Best Short Hose
Valterra AquaFresh High-Pressure Drinking Water Hose
If you don’t need a super bulky hose, consider this Valterra model. The AquaFresh is a sturdy water hose that will have your water tank filled in no time flat. Its working pressure strength is a robust 160-PSI, and the 0.5-inch diameter hose handles high burst pressure of up to 340 pounds.
This hose is made with FDA-certified materials, so you know the water your family is drinking is safe. The connectors are well constructed, which eliminates any worries about leaks. It also includes ties to store the hose in a coil when you’re not using it.
Unfortunately, it’s not entirely kink proof, so you may have to deal with the occasional twist. It also takes a bit of use for this stiff hose to loosen up.
Pros:
- Offers high burst pressure strength
- Easy to coil up when not in use
- No aftertaste
- It’s the perfect length for connecting to a water source
Cons:
- Not fully kink proof
- The hose is stiff for first several uses
Best Coiled RV Water Hose
Plastair SpringHose Recoil Hose
The Plastair SpringHose Recoil Hose features a unique coiled design that makes storing it a breeze. The hose snaps back into a coiled position once you’re finished using it. If trying to wrangle your hose into storage drives you crazy, this 50-ft long model will simplify things for you.
Some hoses are heavy and taxing to use, but this Plastair option won’t put any strain on you. It’s got a flexible, lightweight design that is easy to maneuver and isn’t tiring to use. And we have to mention the polyurethane material in the design, which is both sturdy and UV resistant. Plus, the anti-salt water fittings give the hose a long lifespan and make it apt for marine use.
The one drawback is that some users report leakage after they’ve had the hose for a while. If you plan to use your rig extensively, you may want to invest in a more durable option like the ones we mentioned above.
Pros:
- Coiled design makes storage easy
- Polyurethane design is both robust and UV-resistant
- You won’t have any damage from kinks or overstretching
Cons:
- You may notice leaks after extended use
Recap: Best RV Water Hoses of 2021
- Camco 50ft Premium Drinking Water Hose – Best Drinking Water Hose
- Camco 25ft TASTEPure Heated Drinking Water Hose – Best Heated Water Hose
- Pirit PWL-04-12 12-Feet Heated Hose – Most Affordable Heated Water Hose
- Camco 25ft TastePURE Drinking Water Hose – Most Affordable Drinking Water Hose
- Teknor Apex 8602-25 NeverKink RV/Marine Hose – Best No Kink Hose
- Valterra AquaFresh High Pressure Drinking Water Hose – Best Short Hose
- Plastair SpringHose Recoil Hose – Best Coiled RV Water Hose
Buying an RV Water Hose: What to Look For
As we mentioned before, there are many factors to consider when buying an RV water hose. Here are some quick tips to help you assess your needs and find the right model for you.
Type
There are several different types of RV water hoses. The main ones are:
- Drinking water hoses
- Heated water hoses
- Kink-free hoses
- Freeze protection hoses
You should begin your search by asking yourself what activities you do. Regular drinking water hoses and kink-free hoses cover the needs of most people who use their RV in the summer. Winter users should consider heated water or freeze protection hose, which is necessary for RV activities in the colder months.
Length & Diameter
RV water hoses come in several different lengths. The most common lengths are 6, 12, 25, and 50 feet. If you’re not sure how long a hose you’ll need, you should purchase a longer one. Remember that you should not have to strain the hose to get to the water source. Most good hoses are going to have a diameter of 5/8 inch or more.
Safety: Potable Water Hoses
Standard garden hoses are lined with materials like rubber and vinyl. They’re also usually lined with toxic substances and heavy materials you don’t want to be drinking, so buying a proper drinking water hose is critical for your health.
You’ll hear the term “potable water” thrown around a lot, which basically means that the water is safe to drink and use for food preparation. You want to make sure the drinking hose that you use for your RV is rated for potable water.
Look for white water hoses made with FDA-approved materials. They should be lead-free, BPA-free, and not include any other harmful chemicals or toxins. Also, be sure to avoid using your white water hose with grey or black water tanks.
Flexibility & Storage
Flexibility is another vital feature, as sometimes your hose will need to pass through tight corners or curves. Having a more flexible hose is beneficial in these situations since a stiff hose restricts water flow. Flexible models are also easier to store. They should not, however, be so flexible that they collapse.
They should also be flexible enough to be easily stored away in your RV. Look for hoses with recoil memory so that you can coil them up and keep them out of the elements when you’re not using them.
Kink-Free Design
You’ve probably noticed many of the hoses on this list feature a kink-free design. Anyone who’s ever used a garden hose knows how irritating kinks can be, and RV water hoses are no different. The best hoses won’t have this problem. To save you time undoing tangles, it’s worth spending a bit more money on a kink-free design.
Fittings
Lastly, be sure to pay close attention to the hose’s fittings. They should be able to fit tightly and be adjustable, which will prevent leaks. They should also be corrosion-free to avoid the formation of rust in your hose. If the hose comes with an adapter, even better.
Need more recommendations for your plumbing setup? Read these articles:
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What size water hose do I need for my RV?
The most common size hose is 5/8″ and this should be adequate for your RV. In terms of length, that depends on the size of your RV and your primary use for your hose. Smaller RVs will obviously need less length, while larger RVs will benefit from a larger diameter and longer length hose.
Can I use a regular water hose on my RV?
You can use a regular water hose on your RV, however, it is not recommended. Garden hoses are not rated for potable water the same way a dedicated RV water hose is and can be dangerous if you are drinking the same water that you are using with your hose. In some instances, there is a possibility for toxic chemicals to leak into your water supply and can cause sickness.
How do I store an RV water hose?
Storing your hose is usually pretty simple. Disconnecting after use and rolling like a normal garden hose is generally a best practice. Storing your hose inside when you are not using it or are driving will prolong the life of your hose and make sure that no chemicals or gasses seep into your hose.
