I have been using Gardena products for some years and my heart sunk with the initial realization, after having purchased hundreds of dollars worth of their watering equipment, that the plastic is not strong and durable. My opinion is that the pricing is fairly "premium" so the plastic should also withstand the test of UV radiation and time. But it doesn't. I found that some of the products have weak points that will snap off if not always mindful of lateral forces. Secondly, the plastic gets brittle after a couple seasons in the sun and will not tolerate being stepped on or dropped on a hard surface. Would I do it all over again? No. I would spend the money up front on brass and not have to spend any more. You get what you pay for. If using plastic, I think it would be better to run with competitor plastic, such as Gilmour, as they are cheaper.