The Best Garden Hose Reels in 2023
A beautiful garden is every gardener’s dream. A beautiful garden, however, isn’t all about the flowers or decorations. It is also about having the right tools.
Gardening tools are great if you want to prepare or tend to your garden effectively. Some tools are even designed to help you maintain your garden efficiently, such as the garden hose reel. Every home may have a garden hose, but not all have a garden hose reel. If you want to make your watering job easier, then you should definitely consider buying the best garden hose reel.
A gardening hose reel can come in different sizes and styles. They can even be made with different materials. So, if it’s your first time considering one, then you’ll need this guide to help you understand how to pick the ideal kind for you and what to look for in a good garden hose reel.
Before we go through the details of what a garden hose reel is, here are some products that we’d recommend for you to check out. We also included a short review on each item so that you won’t have to do the hard work of researching each one’s functions.
- 180-degree swivel range
- Contains anti-drip slot
- Bolts and screws included
- Made of steel and plastic
An automatic retractable hose is one type of garden hose reel. By just giving a quick tug of any part of the hose, the integrated spring reel will pull the hose back into the box for you. If you want an extremely efficient hose reel or desire the best wall mounted garden hose reel, then this product by GARDENA is worth thinking about.
Besides its automatic feature, the GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel is a great buy because it comes with the full package. Not only does it come with a wall mount, but it also includes a nozzle, sprayer, and wash-brush. In addition, the wall mount itself has slots that these attachments can be hanged on for convenience.
Another great feature of this product is that the hose reel can be taken off from the wall mount without having to remove the mount itself from the wall. This makes it easier when you need to unmount the unit during harsh winter seasons to avoid exposing the hose from frost damage.
- Convenient retraction
- All parts included
- Long-life materials
- Hose not ideal for regular nozzles
- Not designed for floor mounting
AMES ReelEasy Side Mount Reel
Simple yet Elegant
- With hose clip attachment
- Added winding grip comfort
- Leader hose included
- 100 feet hose length
- Made of plastic
The AMES ReelEasy Side Mount Reel is another different type of garden hose reel. As opposed to an automatic one, this is the manual version. This means that you reel the hose into the mount by hand.
This method, of course, can take extra time when putting away your garden hose. However, the assembling time of the mounted reel does make up for it. The side mounting method is very simple to figure out with only four screws needed to pin the unit onto the wall.
Furthermore, the reel has an integrated hose guide that helps the hose become smoothly aligned as you pull the hose in. So, although you have to manually do the pulling, this guide makes it so that you don’t have to consistently adjust the hose yourself.
- Comfortable to use
- Simple and easy set up
- With convenient hose clip
- Attachments not included
- Manual winding
Giraffe Metal Hose Reel SW-5
Strong, Tough, and Portable
- 200 feet hose length
- With an auto-track system
- With a hose guide
- Comes with handles
If you’re after a garden hose reel that will stand the test of time, then you can’t go wrong with the Giraffe Metal Hose Reel SW-5. This garden hose reel is also different from the other two we’ve already mentioned. Instead of being a mounted version, this product is a portable garden hose reel.
So, you don’t have to place this garden hose reel in a specific location. Instead, you can transfer it to wherever spot you need in your yard. What’s more is that this product is extremely durable. If you were to accidentally drop it while moving it around, then you won’t need to worry about creating any dents.
The unit is made of a combination of plastic and metal with an anti-rust powder-coated design. This means that it won’t receive any rust no matter how much moisture it gets. In fact, this particular product has an aluminum double seal water system, which means that the hose is 10 times stronger than a regular hose. So, you could keep this garden hose reel outside even during winter.
- Decorative design
- Stable metal base
- Long-lasting materials
- Decent length hose
- Too heavy
- Manual winding
ELEY Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel
The Design Fitting for Any Home
- No rust
- Gooseneck Swivel included
- 6 and half feet hose length
This product by ELEY is another wall mounted garden hose reel, but one that looks quite unusual and stylish. However, you shouldn’t let its looks fool you, though, because the material it is made of is just as sturdy as the garden hose reel we just talked about by Giraffe.
The ELEY Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel is made of alloy aluminum, which apparently can be just as strong as steel, although much more lightweight. Moreover, because the material is lightweight, you won’t have any problems mounting it onto the wall.
This uniquely styled garden hose reel can be mounted in two ways, depending on your preference. You can either mount it in a parallel or perpendicular position. So, this simple design will look great on any type of garden area.
- Strong materials
- Open hose reel
- Original design
- Self-assembly
- Manual winding
TACKLIFE 65+7 FT Wall Mounted Retractable Hose Reel
Ideal for Seniors and Children
- 180-degree swivel range
- Nozzle included with 7 patterns
- Bolts and screws included
- Comes with a handle
- Pressure-resistant reel case
Similar to the GARDENA hose reel, the TACKLIFE 65+7 FT Wall Mounted Retractable Hose Reel is another great packaged deal. If you’re looking for the full garden hose reel set, then you have this as your other option.
What makes this different to the GARDENA besides being a different brand is that this garden hose reel is very considerate. The speed that it retracts the hose is much slower (about 12-15 seconds for full retraction) so that seniors and children can safely use this tool as well. The speed is slowed down by a braking system that automatically locks at a certain length before retracting again.
This automatic braking system also works the other way. If you’re using the hose, then it will lock in place at the same point so that you don’t have to continually pull the hose as you move to water your garden. This smart system in place is the unique and stand-out feature of this product and can be considered as the best retractable garden hose reel on this list.
- Automatic retraction
- High-grade material
- Safe for seniors and children
- Many water patterns
- Retraction speed too slow
Liberty Garden Aluminum Wall Mount Garden Hose Reel
Classic but Convenient
- 125 feet hose length
- Open hose reel
- Heavy-duty metal
If you live in an old home or have a vintage style garden area, then this garden hose reel would look amazing in your yard. Its design and appearance look like something that you can purchase from a local antique store.
Although this product does have an old look, the material is made entirely of cast aluminum and also contains brass fittings. In addition, it has a durable powder coat finish to make it weather-resistant and rust-free.
Aside from its durability, this product’s best feature actually comes in its very convenient flat top, which can act as a shelf for your other smaller gardening tools. The shelf is 16 inches long and about 5 inches wide. So, there’s certainly plenty of room for multiple items to be placed on this mini platform.
- High-quality materials
- Convenient top surface
- Simple wall mounting methods
- Garden hose not included
- Mounting hardware not included
Suncast Resin Hideaway Outdoor Storage Reel
Perfect for Any Terrain
- Comes fully assembled
- 225 inches hose length
- Accessible top
- Available inside storage space
- 3-year warranty
Just like the portable Giraffe, this item is also a portable garden hose reel. Its shape, however, is different as this one is a square. This is also a little bit more stylish with a risen design for increased durability.
Because this product is shaped like a square, you can place this portable garden hose reel on certain grounds, such as rough terrain or unstable surfaces. So, if you did want to have this reel hidden in bushes or shrubs, its shape and enclosed lid will prevent any dirt or other debris from entering.
On top of the Suncast’s risen design, this unit is reinforced with a water-tight seal between the reel and the hose. Furthermore, the Slide-Trak Hose Guide makes it easier to wind and unwind the garden hose.
- Great storage capacity
- Portable hose reel
- Sturdy design
- Manual winding
- Too bulky
Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel with Nozzle
Safe and Versatile
- 180-degree swivel range
- 90 feet hose length
- Comes with 7-in-1 nozzle
- Bolts and screws included
- Comes with a handle
This other product by Giraffe is a mounted type and one that has amazing features for all your watering needs. The unit is well-compact with UV protection and has an opening hatch on top for DIY maintenance.
The hose is also high-grade, which means that it can handle the high water pressure, pulling strength, and is more durable in any weather condition. Similar to the TACKLIFE product, this has a slow rewind system in place so that your hose can be safely retracted.
The inside unit is built with a smart guidance system that makes sure your hose does not tangle. In addition, the casing can be easily removed as it has a quick-release mounting method. This can be useful if you want to be a little more mobile as it would take only a second to remove and put the reel back.
- Convenient retraction
- Safe Slow rewind system
- High-quality materials
- Unit may come lose
- Not designed for floor mounting
How to Choose a Garden Hose Reel
As you’ve already figured, there are two types of garden hose reels. These are the manual versions and the automatic versions. With these two types, they will either come with a wall mount or are made to be portable.
Which of these types you chose and how they come, as well as what materials they’re made of (such as aluminum), should highly depend on your yard’s size and space. You should also consider what comes with each hose reel product. For example, some hose reels don’t come with a hose and require you to purchase your own. In this case, you can also consider an expandable hose if it meets your needs.
Decide what you’ll use it for
Another factor that you should take into account is what you will use your hose for. Will it just be to water your garden or will you also need something extra like a platform for your other gardening tools like a pruning shears? By knowing the use, you can determine what features of a garden hose reel you’ll need.
Choose convenience over features
Ultimately, a good garden hose reel is the one that is convenient for you to use. There is no point in purchasing a hose reel that has all the features in the world but doesn’t fulfill the job that you have in mind. So, keep an eye out for a product that does or has what you want to use it for.
Don’t compromise quality
Of course, it is always best to choose high-quality products so that, as well as being a great tool to use, it will also last for a long time and give you your money’s worth. Having brass fittings, for example, is always a good component. Some products may not look as cool as others, but if you don’t have a storage space, then you should opt for a product that can survive being kept outside, such as the best metal garden hose reel.
In Summary
This article on our recommended garden hose reel products will give you somewhere to start on for your search of the best garden hose reel. By knowing what to keep an eye out for when shopping, you can avoid making the wrong choice and having regrets later on. So, as you consider buying a garden hose reel to add to your gardening tools collection, make sure to use this buyer’s guide. That way, you can be better equipped to make the right purchase.