Undisturbed samples from three Entisols, two Alfisols and a Vertisol were compressed uniaxially by 0 (control), 100, 200 or 300 kPa and the changes in soil water retention characteristics, saturated hydraulic conductivity and penetration resistance were studied. Penetration resistance was determined on samples equilibrated, after compression, at soil water matric suctions of 1, 10, 100, 1000 and 100000 kPa. The results obtained showed that uniaxial compression slight ly affected soil water retention characteristics only at low matric suctions while the influence of compression on saturated hydraulic conductivity was significant. Significant differences in penetration resistance between the controls and the compressed samples were found especially for samples equilibrated at soil water matric suctions higher than 100 kPa. The influence of both particle size distribution and structure development and stability on the respon- se of the soils used to compression and on the consequent changes in saturated hydraulic conductivity and in penetration resistance is discussed.