Three methods for assessing soil hydraulic properties were conducted and their results compared for two soils in Western Massachusetts. The methods compared are: the Instantaneous Profile Method, the Guelph Permeameter, and laboratory determination using intact soil cores. The saturated hydraulic conductivity and unsaturated conductivity function, as well as the moisture retention relationship when possible, were determined and the results compared with respect to their ranges of applicability and the respective limitations of each method. We found close agreement for the moisture retention relationships determined by the instantaneous profile method and the soil cores for the ranges of pressures and moisture contents they have in common. In addition, there was also close agreement between the K(Φ) relationship measured using the instantaneous profile method and that predicted using the van Genuchten and Mualem models. The field saturated conductivity results determined using the Guelph Permeameter were one to three orders of magnitude less than the saturated conductivity results determined from soil cores and those determined by the instantaneous profile method. The unsaturated K(Φ) relationship using Gardner's definition of matric potential and the results from the Guelph permeameter predicted hydraulic conductivity values three to four orders of magnitude less then the other two methods at 200 cm of pressure.