Simpson 80150 Pressure Washer Hose Review
In the world of pressure washing, the hose is often the most underrated component. A powerful 4 GPM machine with a Honda engine is useless if paired with a brittle, kinked, 25-foot hose that causes more fighting than cleaning. The Simpson 80150 hose is designed to address this, and based on owner feedback and spec analysis, it delivers on its promises for serious users. This breakdown covers what this hose does well and where it falls short.
Performance
The most critical feature is water delivery. This is a 3/8-inch diameter hose, a significant step up from the standard 1/4-inch hoses that come with almost every consumer pressure washer. The difference is immediate. With a 1/4-inch hose, flow restriction is noticeable, especially on longer runs, creating back pressure and reducing effective flow rate at the gun. With the Simpson 80150, water moves freely. Owners consistently report an actual increase in cleaning power on 2.5 GPM machines, with a more solid stream and sharper trigger response. On 4 GPM rental units, the difference is even more dramatic; the hose does not starve the pump, allowing the machine to “breathe” properly.
The swivel fittings on both ends are a game changer. Fixed 90-degree fittings are a nightmare, always pointing the wrong way and creating permanent bends. The Simpson 80150 uses a 360-degree swivel at the connection to the pressure washer and a 90-degree swivel at the gun end. When working around a car or equipment, the hose can be rotated without twisting the entire line. This cuts down on tangling by a huge margin; users report going a full hour without a single tangle, compared to stopping every five minutes with old hoses. The swivels are smooth and hold up without developing wobble or play, feeling tight and precise.
The outer jacket is another performance point. It has a tough, textured cover that slides over concrete and asphalt better than a smooth rubber hose, not grabbing onto every pebble or crack. It resists abrasion well; dragging it over sharp broken concrete leaves a scuff mark but no cut, and the hose does not leak or bulge at that spot. The inner tube is smooth, maintaining flow rate and preventing debris from catching inside.
Build and Value
The build quality is top notch. The fittings are solid brass with thick chrome plating, not cheap or hollow. The crimps on the ends are clean and tight with no sharp edges. The hose itself is thick—a 3/8-inch diameter with heavy wall construction. It does not collapse under high pressure or balloon, feeling like a piece of industrial equipment rather than a garden hose attachment.
However, that build quality comes with a trade-off. This hose is heavy. When dry and coiled, it is noticeably heavier than a standard 1/4-inch hose. When full of water, it is a beast. Users accustomed to lightweight, flexible hoses will find it like dragging a snake made of lead. It is also stiff when cold. In 38-degree weather, it is like wrestling with a frozen rope—it does not want to coil or lay flat. Once the water warms up and the hose reaches a more moderate temperature, it becomes more manageable, but it never becomes truly floppy, always retaining some memory and resistance.
Regarding value, the Simpson 80150 is expensive. You can buy three or four standard hoses for the price of one. However, owners who have been through standard hoses report outer jackets splitting after a year, fittings cracking, and inner tubes separating from fittings. The Simpson 80150 is built to last: the brass fittings will not corrode, the heavy wall will not blow out, and the swivels will not seize up after a season. For a weekend warrior who uses a pressure washer twice a year, this hose is overkill. But for heavy users, the cost per year of use is actually lower because you are not constantly replacing hoses.
The 50-foot length is a manageable balance for most residential jobs—long enough to reach the back of a driveway or far side of a two-car garage without moving the machine, but not so long that you are dragging 100 feet of heavy hose. The hose also comes with a simple Velcro storage strap that keeps the coil tight.
The Fittings Up Close
The fittings are a major selling point. The inlet connector is a standard 3/8-inch female quick connect that fits securely on Simpson machines and rental units with no leaking. The 90-degree swivel on the gun end is the star, allowing the hose to hang straight down from the gun, keeping it out of the way. When washing a car, the hose drops without pulling the gun out of your hand, and it prevents kinking at the gun—a common failure point on cheap hoses. The swivel rotates smoothly even under full pressure, with no binding or sticking. The threads on both ends are clean and mate well with standard pressure washer fittings.
Who Should Buy It
This hose is not for everyone. If you have a small electric pressure washer that puts out 1.2 GPM, do not buy this hose. The diameter is too large for a low-flow machine; you will see no performance benefit and will just be carrying around a heavy, expensive hose. Stick with the 1/4-inch hose that came with your unit.
You should buy this hose if you have a gas pressure washer that pushes at least 2.5 GPM. The higher your flow rate, the more benefit you get from the 3/8-inch diameter. You should also buy it if you are tired of fighting with kinked hoses. The stiffness actually helps here—because the hose is thick-walled, it resists kinking. You can bend it in a tight radius and it will not pinch shut, a huge advantage when working around obstacles. You should also buy it if you are a professional or serious DIY user who uses a pressure washer on a weekly basis; the durability will save you money in the long run.
If you are a homeowner who uses a pressure washer three or four times a year to clean a patio and wash a car, consider it if you value convenience and hate dealing with tangles. But you need to be okay with the weight and cold-weather stiffness. If you live in a cold climate and only wash in spring and fall, the stiffness might drive you crazy. For warm-weather users, it is much less of an issue.
Verdict
The Simpson 80150 is the best pressure washer hose on the market for serious users. It is not a perfect product—it is heavy, stiff when cold, and expensive. Those are real, tangible downsides. But the things it does well, it does better than any other hose. The flow rate improvement is real and measurable. The swivel fittings are not a gimmick; they actually work and reduce frustration. The durability is exceptional, with no leaks, kinks, or signs of wear reported even after heavy use.
Compared to hoses costing half as much or twice as much, the Simpson 80150 hits a sweet spot for serious users. It is not a budget item; it is an investment in your workflow. If you are tired of stopping every ten minutes to untangle a cheap hose, tired of replacing cracked fittings, or want your pressure washer to perform at its full potential, this hose is worth the money. It is a tool that makes the job easier, removing friction from your day. It is built like a tank and works like a champ.
