http://www.rainbarrelsoakerhose.com/

Google "gravity irrigation".

The low pressures you get in soaker hose regulators are far less than you get from rain barrels. Takes thirty feet of water to get 15 psi. We're talking about a few psi, unless you have a really big rain barrel. But doing soakers with a rain barrel is established technology. Just look it up.

thanks! so you think I could get by with a 50 gallon rain barrel and 50 door soaker hose? I thought I needed a special type of soaker hose base an Amazon reviews. thanks as always!

Regular soaker hoses need >10 psi. You won't get that with a rain barrel. Unless it's 20-30 feet tall and full.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gravity+irrigation

ok so now I'm confused. can I not usea soaker hose with a rain barrel?

You can if you make your own soaker hose. Take a length of regular vinyl hose, and drill 1/64" holes all along the length. Maybe a foot apart. That isn't really a "soaker hose". It's a "leaky hose". The few psi you get from a rain barrel will push water out of that "leaky hose". Again, there is loads of info on this. Look it up.

thanks!

i think if you just drill holes in regular vinyl hose you'll get a lot more water coming out the holes closest to the source then those at the end of the hose.

All advice is welcome!

I couldn't remember where I saw this. This isn't where, but it says the same thing. Of course all advice, good and bad, just gets copied all over the web by people who don't know what they're talking about.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/good-ideas-rain-barrel-soaker-hose-88795.html

I certainly wouldn't want to do this for a source under pressure.

That being said you CAN buy a low pressure soaker hose. I don't like to advertise on this forum, but here are examples. If you did as I said, and Googled gravity irrigation, you'd find a lot more.

http://www.rainbarrelsoakerhose.com/

https://rainreserve.com/barrel_soaker_hose

https://www.mrdrip.com/Rain-Barrel-Hose_c_631.html

The bottom line is that regular soaker hose, sold to be used under faucet pressure, won't work squat with a rain barrel.

there was a similar discussion on here

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5637426/soaker-hose-set-up-with-rain-barrel#n=17

i don't see that the op there ever came back with results