WORKSHOP Wet/Dry Vacs Shop Vacuum Accessories WS25022A Extra Long Hose Attachment, 2-1/2-inch x 20-feet Locking Hose for Wet Dry Shop Vacuum Cleaners

A longer hose changed how I use my shop vac. The Workshop 20-foot hose has let me park the vacuum in one place, plug it into a dust separator, and reach nearly every corner of my small shop without dragging a canister over cords and offcuts. After several weeks of cleanup, tool hookups, and a few less-than-gentle tasks, here’s how it performed.

What it is and why it matters

This is a 2-1/2-inch diameter, 20-foot, locking wet/dry vacuum hose. The larger diameter matters: it maintains airflow and swallows chips and larger debris that tend to choke smaller hoses. The extra length matters even more. For shop work, cars, and quick grab-and-go cleanup, not having to move the vac is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade.

The hose ships with multiple adapters for common 2-1/2-inch inlet ports. The locking cuff snaps to compatible ports and can be released with a tab, so you get a secure connection under suction and an easy detachment for storage.

Setup and compatibility

I tested it on a few 2-1/2-inch inlets: a mid-size Shop-Vac canister, a Ridgid 14-gallon, and a compact dust separator. With the included collars and friction-fit adapters, each connection was straightforward. On the Ridgid, the locking feature engaged perfectly; on the Shop-Vac, a friction adapter fit snugly without tape. If your vacuum uses a proprietary twist-lock that’s slightly off-standard, you can often reuse the OEM cuff—warming it in hot water softens the plastic so it slides onto the new hose.

Note: these adapters are for the vac end. If your tools or car detailing nozzles are 1-7/8" or 1-1/4", you’ll want a reducer for the tool end. That’s common with 2-1/2" systems and not unique to this hose.

Build quality and design

The hose wall is a tough, slightly glossy plastic with a smooth interior and a pronounced external coil. It’s not rubbery, but it’s not brittle either. In use, it handled abrasions from concrete floors, the edges of a steel miter saw stand, and some errant nails without scuffing through. After a few messy jobs—planer chips, MDF dust, wet leaves—the cuffs still lock firmly and the hose hasn’t deformed at the ends.

Out of the box, it carries the usual coil memory. Laying it flat in a warm shop for a day helped it relax. Since then it’s coiled and uncoiled predictably. I did manage to kink it once forcing a tight turn around a bench leg; easing the bend and rotating the hose a quarter-turn removed the kink. As with any long hose, avoiding sharp bends and letting the hose rotate while you move is the trick to keeping it happy.

Airflow and suction performance

Two things fight each other in vacuum plumbing: hose length adds friction (pressure drop), while larger diameter reduces it. This hose leans on diameter to keep flow up, and it works. Connected directly to the vac, suction at the far end felt marginally softer than the stock 7–8 foot hose, as expected, but pickup remained strong with typical shop debris—sawdust, shavings, chips, and screws. Planer shavings that can clog narrow hoses traveled without bridging.

On fine dust, the difference between 8 and 20 feet was noticeable but manageable. I could still pull drywall dust and MDF fines with a wide-mouth nozzle, though I favored slower passes. On wet pickup, 20 feet means the vac works a little harder to move water; I used a floor squeegee head and it kept up, just not as briskly as with the short original hose. If you connect through a dust separator, add another small pressure drop—but the 2-1/2" bore kept it very usable for tool extraction at the miter saw, router table fence, and benchtop sander.

Ergonomics and handling

The practical benefit is reach. I can keep the vac and separator parked by the wall and move only the hose. That single change makes mid-project cleanup less of a chore. The locking tab is simple but effective; I haven’t had a surprise pop-off, even when tugging from across the shop. Detaching is a thumb press, not a wrestling match.

At 20 feet, you’re managing a lot of hose around corners, car seats, or under workbenches. The coil is compliant enough to snake around obstacles, but you need to plan your path a bit. For detailing car interiors, the bulk of a 2-1/2" hose can be clumsy in tight footwells. A reducer and small crevice tool solve that, but it’s an extra piece to source if you don’t already have one.

Use cases where it shines

• Stationary shop setup: Park the vac, connect to a separator, and roam. I can clear the bandsaw, joint the workbench, and sweep the miters without rolling anything heavy.
• Planer and jointer chips: The larger diameter keeps shavings moving; fewer clogs compared with 1-7/8" lines.
• Garage and patio cleanup: Leaves, small gravel, and drywall scraps aren’t a problem, and the length means fewer cord extensions.
• Overhead or awkward spaces: Reaching rafters, shelves, and the back side of stationary tools is much easier with the extra hose.

Limitations and trade-offs

• Tight spaces: The large bore and wide cuffs aren’t ideal under car seats or in tight cabinetry unless you step down to a smaller tool-end.
• Pressure drop: You will lose a little peak suction across 20 feet. For most cleanup it’s a non-issue; for heavy, wet pickup or grabbing embedded chips in deep carpet, a shorter run will feel stronger.
• Coil management: If you force it to unloop sharply, it can kink. Let it relax in warmth initially and avoid sharp 180° turns around table legs.
• Fit oddities: While the included adapters cover most 2-1/2" ports, a few vacs use collars that are just different enough to be fussy. Reusing your OEM cuff is an easy workaround if needed.

Maintenance and storage

Rinse it out if you’ve been pulling wet debris; a quick blast of air and time to dry keeps fines from caking. For storage, press the locking tab, coil the hose loosely in 2–3 large loops, and avoid stacking heavy tools on top—big coils prevent set-in kinks. If you want it perfectly straight for a project, lay it out in the sun or a warm shop for 15–20 minutes before use.

Value and who it’s for

The real value is workflow. A long, reliable 2-1/2" hose turns a shop vac from a mobile appliance into a semi-centralized system. If you run a dust separator, the longer run lets you keep the vac and separator together, reduce trips over cords, and cut down on noise near your work area. If you mainly do car detailing in tight interiors, you’ll appreciate the reach but will likely add a reducer and smaller nozzles for maneuverability.

For contractors and DIYers who routinely collect larger debris or want a single hose to serve multiple stations, the Workshop 20-foot hose hits the right mix of durability, compatibility, and airflow. It’s not the cheapest 2-1/2" hose you can buy, but the locking collar, included adapters, and the balance of flexibility and toughness justify the spend.

Tips for best results

• Warm-fit stubborn adapters: A minute in hot water makes cuffs pliable for tight fits.
• Use gentle curves: Big, sweeping turns preserve airflow and prevent kinks.
• Add a reducer kit: Keep 1-7/8" or 1-1/4" tips on hand for cars and cabinets.
• Pair with a separator: You’ll empty the vac less and keep heavy chips out of the filter, which helps offset the longer run’s pressure drop.

Recommendation

I recommend the Workshop 20-foot hose. It solved more day-to-day annoyances than any accessory I’ve added to my shop vac setup. The locking connection is secure, the 2-1/2" diameter maintains strong airflow across the full length, and the included adapters make cross-brand compatibility straightforward. There are modest trade-offs—slightly reduced peak suction over 20 feet and some bulk in tight spaces—but they’re outweighed by the convenience and performance gains in a typical shop or garage. If you want to stop dragging a vac around and still pick up real shop debris without clogs, this hose is the upgrade to get.