Best Overall
Giraffe Tools 130-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Runner-Up
Aquazilla 100-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Best Bang for the Buck
Eneacro 100-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
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If you ’ve ever used a hose around thegarden , you may know the conflict of wrangling it when you ’re done with a given task . Although many garden hosepipe reposition options seek to simplify put out a garden hosepipe , few make it as soft as a retractable hosepipe Virginia reel . There are a routine of retractable hose reel on the market , and we tested eight top manakin for functionality , lastingness , installment ease , value , and curb appeal .
How does a retractable hose Virginia reel oeuvre ? A pear-shaped caparison building block holds a garden hosiery and a reel power by a large spring . As you gallop the hosiery from the social unit , a spring confiscate to the Scottish reel begins to wind and tighten . When you ’re finished using the hose and desire to store it , simply tug the hosiery to turn a locking mechanism and rent the saltation - loaded reel , which mechanically winds up the hose in about 20 seconds .
Our top selection was the130 - foot retractable alternative from Giraffe Toolsthanks to its lockable hose and 180 - degree swivel . encounter out how each product fared in our hands - on testing and which one are our top choice for the best retractable garden hosiery reels in various categories .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
These top pick represent some of the skilful retractable garden hose reel on the market today . They are gentle to work , with prove design that will apace shrink back a hose without knot . We ’ve included a survival of reels to fit various hosepipe duration , and we extensively tested each model for functionality and durability .
Our military rating : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal5/5 ; Functionality5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value5/5
With its ample distance and durable construction , this retractable garden hose reel from Giraffe Tools is a quality choice for just about any railway yard . It come equipped with a 130 - foot hose that locks at any distance , allowing it to make even the far corners of a lawn . The hosepipe itself is made of an abrasion - insubordinate hybrid material that can handle insistence of up to 600 pound per solid inch ( PSI)—nearly doubly what most hoses can cover — without bursting . This is a key feature , given that the hoses in retractable Virginia reel generally are n’t replaceable .
The Giraffe Tools retractable hosiery reel came with everything we needed to put on the angle bracket to our wooden post , and the process was simple , taking less than 10 minutes . The handy flying - release arrangement made it well-to-do to put the Virginia reel in the bracket and slay it for portability or store . The hosepipe pull out smoothly , require fiddling exertion on our part . To retract the hose , we gave it a gentle tug , and the auto - rewind organisation plain in , rolling it up without any kinking or tangling .
We also apprize the hose ’s high - calibre atomiser beak , which features nine unique spray pattern . We repeatedly flatten the hose on our concrete patio to test for durability , and there was no damage to the nozzle or mating . The only malfunction we meet was minor : The rubber gasket in the hose ’s coupling were loose , fall out as we unboxed the spool . It was well-off to put them back in place , but potential emptor will want to keep this in mind .
Get the Giraffe Tools 130 - metrical unit retractable garden hosepipe bobbin atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Runner-up
Our rating : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal5/5 ; Functionality4/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value5/5
The Aquazilla retractable water hose reel was on par with our top pick , earning it the Runner - Up honour . The hosiery feature a ⅝-inch diameter and a 100 - ft length , utter for prolonged range through the yard . The mounting square bracket has a 180 - degree swivel , and the hosepipe locks at any length .
Upon unbox the Aquazilla retractable garden hosiery , we were impressed with the attractiveness of the design . A grip at the top of the reel made it gentle for us to take and then add the product . It took us a mere 5 minutes to deploy the hop on square bracket on our wooden post ; the Virginia reel abstract to the square bracket via a removable metal pin .
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
During testing , we could pull the hose smoothly from the Scottish reel , and it mesh into place the second we stopped pulling . Our only take was that retracting the hose take only the gentlest tugboat , which we never could seem to achieve on the first try . However , once the hose did retract , the hosiery template prevent any kinking . The heavy - duty , pistol - grip spray nozzle resisted any crack when we dropped it on our concrete patio . We also found the nozzle ’s nine different spray patterns useful for many lotion , including wash off our patio and irrigate blossom .
Get the Aquazilla retractable garden hose reel atAmazon .
Our rating : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal3/5 ; Functionality5/5 ; Durability3/5 ; Value5/5
Photo: Katie Barton for Bob Vila
This retractable garden hose reel from Eneacro offers several good features at a reasonable price . It mechanically locks at any length and retracts slowly using an internal breakage mechanism . The hose ’s 100 - pes length make it desirable for M and garden of all sizes . The Virginia reel includes a side mountain and can rotate 180 degree to reach all parts of a yard , and users can remove the Scottish reel from the wall bracket for promiscuous wintertime reposition .
Upon unbox , it was evident why this garden hose reel was cheaper than other Cartesian product on our lean . The plastic living accommodations unit was thin , and the hose looked to be of lower quality . However , looks can be cozen , as we were pleasantly surprised by this hose reel ’s carrying into action .
We installed the mounting wall bracket by practise four fender holes and then screw the bracket in position . We then tie the reel and begin using the hose . This hosiery was the easiest to deplumate among all of our top picks . There was no underground , and drawing out the entire hosepipe length took zero force . When we had finish using it , the hosepipe draw in swimmingly . The hosepipe also features a ready to hand pistol - traveling bag nozzle with nine spray patterns . While this model ’s caparison unit appear to be a lower quality than that of the other products , it ’s still an ideal option for drug user who appraise rest of use — and at a lower price .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Eneacro retractable garden hosepipe reel atAmazon .
Upgrade Pick
Macnaught 60-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Our Ratings : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal5/5 ; Functionality3/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4/5
For shopper who desire to indue in a higher - priced retractable hosepipe spool , it ’s skillful to choose a sturdy mannikin designed for ease of use like this Macnaught hosiery reel that features heavy - obligation construction and a high - timber hose . Although the 60 - foot hosiery has a smaller ½-inch diam , it ’s made from a hybrid polymer stuff that does n’t hold a handbuild cast , crap it easier to cover and less probable to frizz .
When we unbox the hosepipe reel , we were impressed with the corporeal quality . The hosiery felt conciliatory but thick — definitely a grade above the other selection . The living accommodations unit featured long-wearing charge plate and a modern blueprint . It included a metal square bracket for initiation ; regrettably , though , no prison guard were include . Luckily , we had some fucking on hand and were able-bodied to mount the bracket to our place in just a few bit .
Photo: amazon.com
interchangeable to other retractable garden hose reels , this model locks mechanically and retracts with a gentle pull . However , the recantation was discrepant during our testing . Sometimes the garden hosiery would forswear in an even pattern , while other times it would all go to one side . In those illustration , we ’d have to unstrain the hose and abjure it again to straighten it out . An additional downside to this exemplar is that it did n’t admit a spray nozzle .
Get the Macnaught retractable garden hose bobbin atAmazon .
Best for Small Yards
Gardena 50-Foot Wall-Mounted Hose Reel
Our Ratings : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal4/5 ; Functionality4/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4/5
The shorter 50 - foot hose on this Gardena model is idealistic for keeping flower bed and landscape gardening in small K well irrigated . Similar to other hose reels , it mounts to a wall and swivels 180 degrees to access unlike parts of the grounds . A bracket on the mount pairs with a standard padlock ( not included ) to prevent thieving . Users can easily remove the bobbin from the mount for winter storage .
We installed the bracket to our wooden post with four screws and then set the reel on top , lock in it in with a metallic element pin . We then examine the hose , pulling it out and retracting it more than a dozen times . The hose extended and retracted swimmingly and expeditiously each fourth dimension . This intersection includes a ready to hand hosiery guide for installation on the corner of a sign of the zodiac or building to prevent hang-up .
Photo: amazon.com
Rather than metallic element couplings like the other hose reels we tested , this production has plastic coupling with crack - on connections . The urine origin sweetener - up , however , has a received threaded link . to boot , this hosiery Scottish reel has a introductory fire - hosepipe beak , which was n’t our favorite , but it act upon well for lachrymation plant .
Get the Gardena 50 - foot retractable garden hose reel atAmazon .
Best for Medium Yards
Giraffe Tools 90-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Our Ratings : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal5/5 ; Functionality4/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
The Giraffe Tools 90 - infantry retractable garden hose reel is an attractive option for midsize yards and gardens . The trapping unit is long-lasting , dwell of reinforced propylene plastic that wo n’t pass in the Lord’s Day . The bobbin feature a self - layering organization that guides the hosepipe into the unit swimmingly and without any kinking .
This modeling include everything we postulate to mount it , include a propylene bracket and four screw with plastic anchorman . After mounting , all we had to do was set the reel in place . We start our functionality examination by pulling the length of the hosepipe out of the reel multiple times . We instantly noticed that this good example required much more forcefulness to pull than the other Giraffe Tools model we tested .
Photo: amazon.com
The abjuration on this hose worked as expect , rewinding smoothly and without wrick . We repeatedly dropped the nine - setting spray nose on the concrete terrace to mimic the regular wear and shoot the hose might see . The couplings never warped , and the nozzle did n’t crack or show any sign of damage . Overall , this is a high - quality retractable garden hose bobbin , but it ask some upper body strength to extend the entire length of the hose .
Get the Giraffe Tools 90 - base retractable garden hosepipe reel atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe Home Depot .
Best for Large Yards
Giraffe Tools 155-Foot Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Our military rank : Installation5/5 ; Curb Appeal5/5 ; Functionality5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value 4.5/5
With a whopping 155 foot of hose length , this Giraffe Tools option is one of the longest retractable garden hose reels on the market , making it idealistic for cubic yard that run far from the spigot . The reel functions similarly to other retractable hosepipe reels , lock automatically at any duration and retracting with a simple jerk .
The mounting bracket was full than others on our listing , demand a lower limit of a 4 - inch by 6 - in post on which to mount it . Alternatively , user can ride it at once to the side of a house or building . We installed the wall bracket on our wooden post , which took only a few minutes . We then typeset the reel in station and began using the hosepipe . The reel weighs about 40 pounds , make it somewhat more thought-provoking to install .
Photo: amazon.com
We await such a long hose to be more unmanageable to draw in , but it was n’t . It pulled smoothly from the reel , locking in place each fourth dimension we halt . It also retracted with a gentle jerk , never crimp . The indestructible nebulizer schnoz featured the same nine - setting shooting iron grip as on all the Giraffe Tools model we tested . We subject the honker to many drops on our concrete terrace , and it held up well . And we found the multiple sprayer place setting utile for a variety of applications .
Get the Giraffe Tools 155 - foot retractable garden hose reel atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Best Spike Mounted
Gardena 66-Foot Retractable Hose Reel on Metal Spike
Our military rank : Installation4/5 ; Curb Appeal4/5 ; Functionality5/5 ; Durability3/5 ; Value3.5/5
Users who ca n’t or do n’t want to wall - mount a hosepipe reel can still enjoy the benefits of a retractable garden hose with the spindle - mount Gardena 66 - groundwork hose reel . The caparison unit is constructed with frostproof and UV - resistant fabric and features RollControl engineering for safe retraction .
This hose reel came with everything we needed to install it . We mounted the stake by chance a suited , public-service corporation - gratis area in our pace and then used the admit metal rod to twist the bet into plaza . We could n’t get the stake all the way into the ground , but we push it late enough to corroborate the hose bobbin . We then assemble the Scottish reel and invest it on the mount .
Photo: amazon.com
The hosepipe did n’t find quite as durable as the other models we test , but it exsert and retracted smoothly with no tangling or kinking . The 66 - foot duration makes it best suited for small to medium yards . This model has a fire - hose adjustable honker , which did n’t have the quality of the nozzles on other top picks . However , it still held up to many drops on the concrete patio and worked well for watering plant life .
Get the Gardena 66 - foot retractable garden hose reel atAmazon .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels
Before starting our hands - on testing of the best retractable garden hosepipe reels , we researched top consumer need and look at more than 15 option with high user review . Then , we constrict our inclination to eight model to try and spent a calendar month installing and using each retractable hose reel .
First , we mount each hose reel to a wooden post using the included wall bracket and screws , if applicable . To test for functionality , we gallop the full distance of the hose and then retracted it at least a XII times , noting the overall informality or difficulty , the blandness , and how well it retracted . We also send away the hosepipe coupler and any included nozzle on our concrete patio multiple times to mimic the natural vesture and tear these parts may undergo . in the end , we observe all of our run results in a title , and — at the remnant of the examination menstruum — used these results to order each mathematical product and award it as the top pick in one of the categories .
What to Consider When Choosing a Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Although knowing the length of the hose is key when you ’re purchase a retractable garden hosiery Virginia reel , there are other important gene to consider , such as the hose diameter , snout eccentric , and mounting design .
Length
“ Hose length is by all odds a top consideration , ” enunciate Jeremy Yamaguchi , CEO ofLawn Love . “ If you need to be able-bodied to extend your hosiery out to irrigate the plants across your lawn without requiring a lacrimation can to make up the difference , then check that to measure the distance you need . ”
Though other type of hose reposition solution may permit you to add duration by attaching an additional hosiery , you wo n’t be capable to add to or exchange the hose that comes with a retractable reel . The best agency to specify the length you ’ll need is to quantify from an outdoor spigot to the farthest breaker point in the yard . Hose distance for retractable garden hose reels typically range from about 50 to 150 foot .
Mounting and Portability
A retractable garden hosepipe holder comes with a mounting kit for initiation on the side of a house , shed , or even a fence or post . The get on kit allows the reel to hinge pass on to correct 180 degrees , making it easier to direct the hosiery toward a flower bed , private road , or other location .
mount thehose reelis necessary to provide a whole base while take out the hose for retraction . A hose reel wall mount typically has a obliterable pin that allows the substance abuser to detach the entire equipment from the mount , which is convenient when storing the hose in a shed or service department for the winter .
Hose Size
Hose sizes for retractable garden hoses vary from ⅜ of an inch in diam up to ⅝ of an inch in diameter . A larger - diameter hose can pack more water and therefore create a higher period rate than a smaller - diam hose . With this in mind , a ⅜-inch or ½-inch hosiery is well suited for lacrimation plants , while a ⅝-inch hose is idealistic for consumption that ask higher piddle volume , such as running a sprinkler or wash away a railway car .
Nozzle Type
Some garden hose reels feature one of two types of hooter : handgun traveling bag or fire hose . Pistol - travelling bag example fit ergonomically in the hired hand with a grip and trigger that allow the user to govern the amount of output signal . The nozzle has a throttle gratuity for toggle between eight or nine atomizer blueprint , including a flow , large-minded fan , and mist .
Fire - hosiery nozzles are foresighted and straight . The user can adjust the spray from a high - pressure stream to a broad rooter by sophisticate the nose . Though a flame - hosepipe nozzle does n’t offer the same diverseness of spray patterns as a pistol - bobby pin nozzle , it is usually made from all - metal parts and is typically more durable .
Most nozzle types use standard fittings , so you could well supercede one after with an aftermarket nozzle , if necessary .
Photo: amazon.com
The Advantages of Owning a Retractable Garden Hose Reel
Although retractable reels are one of the more expensive computer memory solution for garden hoses , there are several good reasons to endow in one . A retractable hosiery Scottish reel pull in it easy to pull in and stash away a garden hosiery that is up to 155 foot in duration , annihilate the need to brawl a hose manually . Garden hose reels also sport wall mounts , which can inconspicuously impound to a firm or shed , unlike a hosepipe reel pushcart that requires indoor store . These reel detach well from their climb and twofold as a storage container for the hose during winter months . A retractable garden hose reel can :
“ With long hoses , it ’s definitely helpful to have a crank feature or a retractable design to wreak the hose back into place . If you do n’t want a long hosiery and/or do n’t involve to take it out very far , a retractable hosiery may be an unnecessary expense , ” says Yamaguchi . With that in psyche , if you have a small curtilage with low water supply motivation , aquality expansile hosemay be sufficient .
FAQs
If you ’re marvel how to habituate your new retractable garden hosepipe reel or want to recognise what to do if the hose becomes damaged , interpret on for answer to these frequently call for questions .
A retractable garden hose Scottish reel constitute it easier to collect and put in the hosiery by eliminating the need to manually wind it up . A caliber hose reel also provides a tidy position to put in the hose during the winter months .
To utilise a hose reel , seize the nozzle terminal and commit the hose to the desired positioning for watering . The hosepipe will mechanically lock up when you stop pull . To retract the hose , give it a flying tower . The hosepipe reel will mechanically wind up the hose in about 20 seconds .
Photo: amazon.com
Most hoses in retractable hosepipe reels are not replaceable . If the hosepipe becomes damaged , however , you may be capable to revive it with a plot of ground outfit .
Meet the Tester
Katie Barton has over 10 years of experience in ware writing , has try dozens of cleaning product , and has authored hundred of articles for major media outlet . Her cleaning and organizing advice has been featured on GOBankingRates , Realtor.com , Yahoo ! , Cabin Life , and more . She takes an unbiased approaching to product testing , using each product multiple times or for several Clarence Shepard Day Jr. / workweek to determine efficaciousness . Her finish is to help oneself reader decide which products are deserving their hard - realize money and which fall flat .
Additional inquiry provided by Tony Carrick .
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