Watering the garden or lawn insufficiently is the last thing that you would want to do.
But you won’t also want to deal with constantly kinking hoses and the hassle of unwinding and winding them up each time, isn’t it? I understand the dilemma as I’ve been there!
However, after a bit of research, I discovered that hose reels would be the perfect solution for this problem. It would keep your hose in the desired condition and also make unwinding and winding it much simpler. And after having used quite a few models since then, I couldn’t agree more.
But choosing a suitable model might seem confusing since there are so many options available. So, here I’m here to help you out.
Hey there! I’m Stacy Smith, and I’ll be reviewing the 5 best hose reel available right now. So, let’s get going!
5 Best Hose Reel
1. Liberty GARDEN 712
Bringing home this model from Liberty garden was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I say this because I have used it for a couple of years, and my garden hose stayed in the right shape all throughout.
Product Highlights
First and foremost, I was impressed by the 18-gauge steel material of this hose reel as it lent excellent weather resistance. This let me mount it on the exterior wall easily without worrying about how it might be affected due to the changing weather conditions.
And you will be glad to know that it can comfortably hold a hose up to 125-feet long and ⅝-inch thick, making it an ideal fit for standard garden hoses.
Coupled with this, a durable bronze powder-coat finish on the structure further enhances its strength and provides protection against corrosion and rust. Plus, there’s a 90-degree sturdy brass swivel that prevents any damage to the hose and it’s supported by galvanized brass fittings.
Another advantage is that this hose comes fully assembled and just requires attaching the handle so that you can start using it immediately.
What's There To Like About It?
I found the handle of this reel to be really efficient as well as convenient as it let me rotate the reel by 360° to enable effortless unwinding. I could even release the handle to secure the carriage into place through eight positions, which ultimately helped in winding or adjusting the direction of the hose.
Another good addition to the model is a detachable basket at the base unit, which offers enough space to hold many of your gardening tools.
What's There Not To Like About It?
The only thing that disappointed me a bit was that it didn’t come with the hardware required for mounting it on the wall. Luckily, I could find all of them in my husband's DIY workshop, but that might not be the case with every user. So, some of you might have to purchase that separately.
Pros and Cons of Liberty GARDEN 712
Pros
Cons
- Holds 125-feet of 5/8-inch hose, (hose not included)
- 18 gauge steel construction with durable bronze powder coat finish for weather resistant use
- Pull-up knob for full 360 degree reel rotation for effortless un-winding, Storage tray for storing your frequently used tools and nozzles
2. Liberty GARDEN 703-1
Yet another great model from Liberty Garden is the heavy-duty 703-1 hose reel, which comes in an appealing tan shade. I found this to be highly reliable and capable of delivering a long-lasting performance.
Product Highlights
To begin with, this powerful model is constructed from sturdy and durable 13-gauge steel and reinforced with a powder-coated finish of industrial strength. No wonder it remained intact despite the extreme weather conditions in my region.
Furthermore, this reel includes a strong 5-foot long leader hose, so you won’t have to invest separately for that. And although I already had one at home, it was good to have a backup option in hand, and that too, of such good-quality.
Speaking of the compatible hose dimensions, it can hold 200 feet of a ⅝-inch hose, which is perfect for watering medium to large gardens. Plus, its hose fittings are made from brass and are galvanized, which lends greater strength to the hose connections.
What's There To Like About It?
The single biggest advantage of this hose reel is the high versatility on offer. Coming in a convenient 3-in-1 design, it’s suitable for mounting on a wall, anchoring in the turf or lawn, and placement on the floor.
And here’s the best part; you get both the stakes and the rubber boots for placing it on the lawn or floor as per your needs. This amazing feature made my watering chores much easier than before, so I couldn’t have been happier!
What's There Not To Like About It?
The only thing to watch out for is the packaging of this reel, as it might arrive torn in a few places. In some cases, there might even be scratches on the structure. This makes it essential to check the model thoroughly after it arrives and report to the manufacturer if any such issue is observed.
Pros and Cons of Liberty GARDEN 703-1
Pros
Cons
- Holds up to 200-feet of 5/8-inch garden hose (hose not included)
- Industrial grade, heavy duty, solid wall mounted reel that anchors to lawn or turf, rubber boots are ideal for a non-skid floor mount
- Made of tough 13 gauge steel with industrial strength powder coated finish that is weather resistant
3. Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Next, I’ve picked this model from Giraffe, which comes equipped with a slew of advanced features, thereby facilitating quality performance and great convenience. If you have a small or medium-sized garden to maintain, I’d highly recommend this hose reel.
Product Highlights
Coming in a pre-installed form with a 130-foot long hose, this reel can conveniently lock it at any length you desire. Plus, the bracket provided for installation is rotatable by 180°, which lets you turn it as per your need to water a particular portion of the garden.
Thanks to this efficient combination, I could easily cover every corner of the garden in a uniform manner, without feeling exhausted even for a moment. Another noteworthy feature is its superior-grade polypropylene casing, which is least likely to fade or deform due to exposure to rainy or sunny weather.
I was also happy to find that the reel could be easily removed from the bracket for separate storage. Just lift the handle upwards, and it would get disconnected.
What's There To Like About It?
A very beneficial feature of this hose reel is that it lets you adjust the water spraying pattern as per your needs with its 9 adjustable spraying modes. In fact, very few models on the market offer such a functionality. As a result, I could cater to the specific watering requirements of my plants, especially the ones are more delicate.
What’s more, this model offers a unique retraction system that lets you wind the hose neatly without the risk of kinking it midway.
What's There Not To Like About It?
A downside of going for this reel is that it’s more expensive than some other models. As such, it won’t be an ideal choice if you’re on a tight budget. However, I’ve no complaints with regards to its performance. Also, I couldn’t find any information regarding the warranty offered by the brand.
Pros and Cons of Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Pros
Cons
- Lock at Any Length: A 130 foot hybrid hose that can be locked to any length is pre-installed on the Giraffe hose reel, ensuring that every area of your garden is covered.
- Auto Rewind System: The water hose reel will automatically retract back in if you give it a slight tug. The hose may be neatly rolled up without kinking thanks to the retractable and guide systems.
- High-Grid Garden Hose: The hose reel is made to be long-lasting and leak-proof with all-weather flexible and abrasion-resistant hybrid hose. Both the 200 PSI pressure test and the 600 PSI bursting pressure test were successfully completed by the 130 foot, 1/2 inch retractable hose.
4. IRIS USA 588516
This hose reel from IRIS USA gives you the best bang for the buck as it provides a pretty good all-round performance. Hence, going for this option will simplify many of your daily household chores.
Product Highlights
First things first, this reel has a unique rectangular design and comes in an elegant dark brown shade that’s quite appealing. Such a design also makes it easy to carry around, with a built-in handle provided to further help with the process. It also makes for convenient storage, as you can neatly stack it on boxes of similar sizes, thereby saving lots of space.
What’s more, it comes with a 48-foot long hose inside, which lets you water any area efficiently, thereby providing the ideal coverage. Until I got this, I used to be wary about the long car washing sessions, but this one made each wash swift and effortless. And my arms have been thanking me ever since.
The efficient hose winder is another great addition to this model, as it lets you easily reel back the hose into the caddy after use.
What's There To Like About It?
The spray nozzle of the hose that’s included with the model functions with great accuracy, allowing you to adjust between 5 spray patterns. Plus, I could control the water flow strength for which I just had to squeeze the rear portion of the nozzle tightly or softly as per the need.
And for enabling a continuous waterflow, I could use the metal latch to lock the nozzle. So, be it watering the garden, driveway, or sidewalk, I could complete all the tasks with the ideal perfection, consistency, and speed. What more can you ask for?
What's There Not To Like About It?
I felt the build quality of the outer case of the reel could’ve been better, as it’s not as strong as the other models I’ve discussed till now. Hence, if durability is a primary lookout for you, then this wouldn’t be the ideal product to go for. That said, it delivers quite a satisfying performance.
Pros and Cons of IRIS USA 588516
Pros
Cons
- EASILY RETRACTABLE HOSE REEL: Simply use the crank handle on the side of the retractable garden hose storage to reel smoothly, make winding and unwinding easy and tangle-free.
- CUSTOMIZABLE STRENGTH AND SPRAY PATTERN: Choose from two different water strengths with just the grip and alternate between five spray patterns: shower, rinse, jet, flat or mist with a quick change of the nozzle on the 49ft hose. Use the metal latch to lock in the desired strength and spray pattern to not tire the hands out while hosing the garden, washing the car, or are using it elsewhere.
- PORTABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT: With a lightweight of only 8lbs and a built in garden hose holder, the retractable water hose caddy for outside is easily portable and convenient to be taken anywhere whether it be to the garden or driveway.
5. Suncast CPLPPJ100DT
Towards the end of my list, I’ve included this hose reel from Suncast, which is a pretty decent choice, thanks to a number of convenient features. In fact, this one turned out to be more effective than several ordinary models I had used in the past.
Product Highlights
Firstly, this square-shaped hose reel is made from durable resin material, which makes it sturdy enough to deliver years of consistent performance. It also comes in an attractive design featuring clean vertical lines that would look good on any landscape or patio.
What’s more, this design makes sure that the hose is properly concealed in the reel, keeping it in pristine condition for the years to come. From my personal experience, I can assure you that your hose will be as good as when you bought it.
Other than that, it’s compact design makes it convenient to store in any place, especially in tighter spaces. So, I could easily tuck it away somewhere in the backyard or in a corner of the deck.
What's There To Like About It?
I really liked how conveniently a hose could be operated through this reel, which made it perfect for use in areas such as the poolside, patio, yard, or garden. The opening provided for taking out the hose was enough, so it made the process of unwinding almost effortless. Plus, the winder operates quite smoothly, allowing for quick winding.
And being able to hold a 100 feet long and ⅝-inch wide hose, it’s an ideal choice for facilitating better coverage in smaller areas.
What's There Not To Like About It?
Being much more lightweight than other models, this reel may move a little while you’re winding the hose back into the caddy. Also, it may tumble on one side when hit accidentally while walking, which happened with me a few times. But otherwise, it worked quite well for all the washing work around my home.
Pros and Cons of Suncast CPLPPJ100DT
Pros
Cons
- Holds up to 5/8 x 100" standard vinyl hose
- Conveniently conceals & stores garden hose
- Sturdy resin constructionSpecifications
Buyers Guide
Looking at some high-performing models does matter when you’re selecting a suitable hose reel, but considering some key features of the reels is also equally important. Otherwise, the job remains incomplete, and you might end up making a wrong choice which won’t be useful at all. On that note, let’s move on and take a look at each of the important factors briefly.
1. Type
Hose reels have evolved both in terms of design and style, and as such, there are many types of models available on the market. Here, you should note that the suitable type would depend entirely on your preferences.
One of the most prevalent types is the stationary hose reel, which requires you to wind the hose manually using a crank or winder. It generally comes with a metal or plastic build, and for using the hose in a particular area of the home, you need to carry it to the spot for unwinding.
If you choose to go for such a model, make sure it's compact in size so that it doesn’t take up a lot of storage space.
As for the wall mounted hose reels such as the Liberty Garden 712, they allow you to wind and unwind the hose then and there and naturally don’t occupy any floor space. If you have limited space, I’d suggest going for such a model as it’s space-saving and would also be pretty convenient to handle.
Apart from this, there are certain advanced models that facilitate greater convenience. For example, the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel includes an automatic hose guide that helps in easy winding without any kinks or tangling.
2. Hose Capacity
This is another crucial factor to consider while choosing a hose reel, as the model should be able to hold the hose that you use for the garden. In case you’ve not yet bought the hose, make sure you consider the size of the area you want to use it on and also keep in mind the purpose of use.
That way, you will be able to find the ideal hose length and choose the products accordingly. An important point to note here is that some reels come with the hose, so if you need both, such models will be a great option to go for.
For covering smaller gardens, patios, or yards, a hose reel with a capacity of about 100 feet will be perfect. But if you have a larger garden to maintain, and also plan to use the hose for other watering needs, a greater capacity such as 200 feet will be needed.
3. Durability
The build quality of hose reel is also an essential point to take into account. As such, you should always check the information regarding the material used while going through the details of the product you’re considering.
This would also depend upon the extent of use, as a reel that would be used daily must be sturdy enough to withstand regular wear and tear. Generally, reels built with strong metals and having an additional powder-coated layer would deliver a more long-lasting performance.
4. Portability
Not all hose reels are portable, so you should decide whether you’ll really need a portable model. In my opinion, a portable reel would be better than a wall-mounted variety for maintaining larger gardens.
This way, you’ll be able to reach all the corners of your garden swiftly and will get more effective coverage. You would also find a few versatile models in the market that can be used both as a wall-mounted unit or a portable one with the help of rubber boots or stakes.
5. Hose Fittings
Some hose reels come with fittings where the hose needs to be attached so that you can wind it properly. These couplings or fittings need to be strong and durable enough to hold the hose firmly so that it stays in place.
Hence, remember to check the information on the material used for the fittings. These are generally made from brass and some are even galvanised to provide greater durability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Firstly, you must make sure the hose is straight and then insert the hose couplings through the opening on the reel guide. Then thread the hose to the coupling on the inner portion of the reel. Follow this by tightening the connection using pliers to avoid the possibility of any leakage. Note that you must not over-tighten it as that might damage the connection.
When you pull out a retractable hose, it increases the tension of the spring built into it. So, when the work is complete, the tension allows the hose to be rewound back onto the reel.
First of all, check whether the hose fitting has a rubber hose washer inside. In case the washer is worn out or missing, you should replace it as soon as possible. Replacement washers can usually be bought from a nearby hardware store. But if the swivel is leaking, you need to purchase a new swivel assembly or a replacement o-ring seal.
My Final Recommendation
Selecting the best hose reel is not that very difficult now, is it? Making the right choice would largely depend upon your watering needs; hence it’s important to have a clear idea in this regard. And once you have that, go ahead and pick a suitable model to secure your hose once and for all!
This has almost brought me to the end of my guide. But before bidding adieu, here’s a quick recap of my top favorites from the list. The Liberty GARDEN 703-1 is the best budget buy in my opinion as its 3-in-1 design offers great user convenience and efficiency.
But if you are looking for a model with more advanced functionalities, the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel will be an ideal choice.
That’s all for today. See you soon, take care!