Clips, almost always - and it is worth ordering them at the same time so the sizes match. Beyond that, joiners and couplers to make up a run, a hose cutter for a clean square cut, and a clip driver. Buying the hose, fittings and clips together avoids discovering a mismatch halfway through a job.

Size to the outside diameter of the hose once fitted, not the bore. Stainless worm drive clips for coolant and general work, T-bolt clamps for boost and intercooler joints, mini clips for small fuel and vacuum lines. Choose W4 stainless for anything in an engine bay or outdoors.

If you are cutting more than a length or two, yes. A clean square cut is what makes a joint seal - a knife tends to wander on reinforced hose and a hacksaw frays the reinforcement badly. We do a 36mm capacity cutter and a 42mm ratchet version, and they pay for themselves quickly.

Driving worm drive and mini clips with a 7mm hex socket. The flexible shaft version reaches clips at awkward angles you cannot line a screwdriver up on, which is where most of the time and knuckle damage goes. There is also a rigid version for direct torque and a compact plastic thumb driver.

If your run needs them, yes - and order them together so the sizes match first time. Aluminium beaded joiners for boost, unbeaded for coolant, silicone couplers and hump connectors for flexible joints, T-pieces for a three-way branch. Metal is ordered by outside diameter, hose by internal.

For a workshop or van, yes. An assorted box gives a spread of sizes so the right clip is on the shelf rather than being a trip to the merchant, and it works out considerably cheaper per clip than singles. We do them across worm drive, T-bolt, mini and P-clips in 2, 5 and 10 of each size.