Abstract: A method of making a fire hose including the steps of extruding a tube having inner 12 and outer coverings of elastomeric material on a woven jacket made from woven synthetic textile yarns and having a weft which is unusually highly crimped. The extruded tube is placed in a confining mould or sheath having an internal diameter substantially the same as the external diameter of the hose, curing the material of the tube by internal application of heat and pressure, pressing the outer covering into tight engagement with the sheath. The sheath effectively prevents radial expansion of the hose during the curing and the outer covering is thus embossed with the surface topography of the inner surface of the sheath upon removal of the sheath. The hose thus formed has good diametral swell properties and consequently reduces the frictional forces in relation to the amount of water flowing through the hose.