I'll quick summarize the comments. I say it stinks and continues to leave a black residue on your hands from use even two years later. dave_c says, "no it doesn't", to both of those points.
^ No mine did leave a black residue for the first couple years, but I took a hot soapy rag and wiped it off. I still wouldn't drag it across my clothing in case there's some black remaining, but I would avoid this with any hose since they all pick up dirt during use outside.
Smell? Don't know, don't care. It's not stored inside in a living area.
That's the tradeoff to get an all rubber hose that stays flexible in colder weather and lasts a long time. I use the non-rubber Neverkink most of the year but prefer this all rubber style for late fall to early spring.
I have using 30 years, I cut it the on mower, Sears gave me a new one. End smash on coupler, Sears gave me a new one. Lifetime warranty is the best. Note, I do drink water hose, I did that use it at 5 age.
(note: aphasia stroke)
Not sure about the black residue issue, I am probably ignoring typical chalky rubber effect but Sears had to change all my green garden lifetime hoses to the blacks because they would suffer from galvanic corrosion and fail every year (Must of replaced a total of 15 or so times before sears offered the black rubber) .
I haven't had a black rubber fail yet in 7 years from same issue.
I will keep a lookout for residue now.
^ Must be something in your water, I use their green w/red stripe "Neverkink Heavy Duty" daily for ~6 months out of the year, less often for another couple months, at least 5 years on the current one (probably more - time flies) stretched out on the ground the whole time. I'm a little surprised that it doesn't seem to have suffered much if any UV damage. Water here is very slightly alkaline.
Comments & Reviews (5)
Smell? Don't know, don't care. It's not stored inside in a living area.
That's the tradeoff to get an all rubber hose that stays flexible in colder weather and lasts a long time. I use the non-rubber Neverkink most of the year but prefer this all rubber style for late fall to early spring.
(note: aphasia stroke)
I haven't had a black rubber fail yet in 7 years from same issue.
I will keep a lookout for residue now.
Thank you!