Gear guide · 9 products

Spouts / spiles for maple sugaring

5/16 in (incl. 19/64) is the current standard; 7/16 in 'still acceptable and common' with buckets (UNH) but causes more tree damage (UMaine 7039); 3/16 in spouts need a 5/16 in hole and are for 3/16 tubing systems.

Our pick

Top pick: Buckets/bags: 5/16" Hookless Aluminum Spout ($2.05 Bascom; $17.90/6 Tap My Trees) with roof-style cover or bag holder. Tubing: CDL 5/16" Health Spout ($0.28) replaced each season
Budget pick: 5/16" Plastic Bucket Spout w/Swivel Hook ($1.15); Picks follow size (5/16 in), a named metal or food-grade plastic, and compatibility with a cover; stainless 'lifetime' spouts cost ~10x per tap with no verifiable performance difference on this project.; What would change it: A reader on tubing with vacuum (check-valve spouts, out of scope); documented material grades on the plastic spouts.

Disclosure

Gear pages contain affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody on this site has tested these products; recommendations rest on manufacturer specifications, extension-service guidance, price and availability on the dates shown.

What matters

How to judge spouts / spiles

Each criterion names the extension or manual source it comes from; 'synthesis' marks our own reasoning.

1
5/16 in (incl. 19/64) is the current standard; 7/16 in 'still acceptable and common' with buckets (UNH) but causes more tree damage (UMaine 7039); 3/16 in spouts need a 5/16 in hole and are for 3/16 tubing systems.
UNH; UMAINE-7039; Bascom product text ('3/16" ... requires a 5/16" tapping bit') · verified
2
Bucket spouts need a hook (or a hookless design paired with a roof-style cover); covers that pin to the spout need a spout with a ring/hole on top.
NAMSPM2 p.92; Bascom 'Hookless Aluminum Spout' page ('flat bucket covers will not work with this spout') · verified
3
Plastic spouts must be sturdy enough to carry a full bucket or bag (~20 lb).
OSU-F36 · verified
4
Materials: food-grade plastic, aluminum or stainless; old tin/terneplate and most brass/bronze contain lead - never reuse antique spiles.
NAMSPM2 p.91, p.124; LEG-EVIDENCE 9.2-9.3 · verified
5
Seasonal (one-year) plastic tubing spouts vs reusable: Cornell/UVM research supports regular spout replacement on tubing for sanitation.
LEG-EVIDENCE 5.15; Bascom 'Signature Spout (for one year use)' listing · verified

Products

9 spouts / spiles we looked at

Specs are from the maker's or dealer's page; 'unknown' means it wasn't stated. Prices are the dealer's on the date shown; Amazon prices aren't shown here because Amazon's rules require live data.

unbranded (Bascom)

3/16" Clear Seasonal Spout (5/16 tap hole, 3/16 tubing)

size:: 5/16 in hole / 3/16 in barb

⚠ For 3/16 tubing systems only; UMaine 7039 notes long-term yield concern with 3/16 systems

$0.21at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price

CDL

CDL 5/16" White Health Spout (tubing)

size:: 5/16 in
material:: plastic

⚠ Collection-page price; product page not opened

$0.28at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Serious backyard, Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price

Leader / H2O Innovation

Leader 5/16" Clear Check Valve Spout (seasonal)

size:: 5/16 in
feature:: check valve
life:: seasonal

⚠ Collection-page price

$0.47at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: Small sugarhouse

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price

unbranded (Bascom)

5/16" Plastic Bucket Spout w/Swivel Hook

size:: 5/16 in
material:: plastic
hook:: swivel

⚠ Material grade not stated

$1.15at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size

unbranded (Bascom)

5/16" Hookless Aluminum Spout for Buckets

size:: 5/16 in
material:: aluminum
cover compat:: roof-style covers only

⚠ Flat covers will not work (retailer statement)

$2.05at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, material

unbranded (Bascom)

7/16" Stainless Steel Spout w/Hook

size:: 7/16 in
material:: stainless steel
hook:: yes

⚠ 7/16 in - larger wound than 5/16 (UMAINE-7039)

$2.20at bascommaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season

View at bascommaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, material

Tap My Trees

5/16" Hookless Aluminum Spouts (6 per package)

size:: 5/16 in
material:: aluminum
pack:: 6
use:: with galvanized bag holders or buckets

$17.90at tapmytrees.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season

View at tapmytrees.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, pack

Maple Tapper

Maple Tree Tapping Spiles | Ten 5/16" Tree Saver Taps (tubing)

size:: 5/16 in
material:: black plastic, 'BPA-Free, food-grade'
pack:: 10
for:: 5/16 in tubing

$19.97at mapletapper.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season

View at mapletapper.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, pack

Smoky Lake Maple Products

Lifetime Spouts (5/16 in stainless, for bags/buckets)

size:: 5/16 in tap hole
material:: stainless steel
packs:: $25.00-$248.00 by quantity

⚠ Maker performance claims ('higher sap yield', 'reduces the risk of splitting') are PRACTITIONER

$25at smokylakemaple.com, 2026-10-05

Suits: First season, Serious backyard

View at smokylakemaple.com →

Verified on the page: name, price, size, material

More gear

Other categories

LuckySap · free on iPhone & Android

Log every run. Know your season.

LuckySap is the maple syrup tracker for iPhone and Android: a sap-flow outlook for your trees, a quick log for every collection and boil, and season stats you can compare year to year.