GILMOURGarden Hose Shut Off Valve, Durable Metal Full Flow Water Shut Off Valve

Full flow opening through valve. I have also purchased plastic valves and metal hold up much better.

A brass shutoff is much more durable than this, BUT, I've never seen one with a full flow opening.The flaw is that the shutoff knob connects to the body with too small a fitting. Plus, it is a round "housing" and a square stem. The housing is just big enough to encompase the stem; so, the four corners only have a thin (0.5 mm?) amount of plastic holding the fitting together. The result is that this is where the shutoff fails.They last about 2 years for me. Gilmour will replace it, BUT you have to mail the whole thing in (they won't just send you a knob, which they HAVE to know is poorly designed. If they would just increase the housing for the knob connection 2mm, I think it might solve the problem). The shipping is almost as much as buying a new one.VERY FRUSTRATING !!The bottom line is that it is the only shuttoff I can find to give me full-flow; which makes a big difference versus the #2 pencil-size holes in the brass shutoffs.

I've had 2 of these, as well as a Sears Craftsman that appeared to be the same item. They all have the same glaring weakness ... the female coupling. It's plastic, no metal in it at all. The metal body would likely last a very long time, but the female coupler will inevitably fall apart (literally).It's certainly a better choice than the ultra-cheap narrow-flow knockoffs. It does flow well, even using full 3/4" hose, but it's worth it to look for one that has brass/stainless connectors at BOTH ends.

I like these connectors, as they don't choke water flow, and they are handy to shut off one end of a hose when moving sprinklers. I have used them on a hose reel, as the connector has an end that can turn on the connector rather than having to turn the entire hose. One note with the aluminum. If you have a hose connector that is metal, you may want to use some teflon pipe tape to make sure there is no corrosion between the two metals. There is also a plastic version of this connector if you want to go that route.

Pros: the valve lets the full capacity of the 5/8 inch hose come through. The valve itself is easy to turn on and off. The body is aluminum, not plastic. Cons: any back pressure, or sideways torque on my watering wand, or sprinkler, and the device leaks a lot. I bought this so I can drag the hose out and hand-water the patio pots and baskets, and my flower bed along the side of the house, then walk further out and switch to the lawn sprinkler. I can switch, but every time I have to nudge the connection right and left until it lines up, and stops leaking.

I purchased 1/2 dozen so far. I use these shut off valves on a regular basis. I work a flower stand 5 days a week probably opening and closing the valve a couple dozen times a day. The valves begin to leak and require replacing pretty much every 8 weeks. I find the cheaper plastic version lasts for about the same amount of time/usage.Buy this one if you like the idea of an aluminum connector. If you don’t care about that, the all plastic version will do the same job for the same length of time.

These would be great if they could last more than a season or two. It's always the plastic features that give out quickly. No matter how much I try to take care of them at the end of the season, I still only get a 1-2 seasons out of them. 3 if I get lucky. I've gone to the more professional ones now (from a different manufacturer also on sale in Amazon) that are $15 to over $20 a piece. In the long run I'll save money with those then to keep buying these year after year.

Works great to start, but as you near a year of operation gets stiff and difficult. Thread corrode when connected for a long period of time.

I bought 3 of these and all 3 started to leak after 4 months. Leak occurs inside the actual unit and is not a gasket issue. Don't waste your money.