Sponges have a very narrow flat spot that pinches the hose. Tight enough that I was afraid of cutting the hose. Clamping it onto the hose requires two hands: one hand pushes and the other moves the restricting loop back. I've had a noticeable amount of gas coming out of a fairly new hose (still soft and pliable) even with two of them pinched in the same section of that hose. You may have more success. I'm going to replace them with metal self-locking pliers.