Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels in 2023 Reviews

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What is the best retractable garden hose reels? Do you hate when your garden hose turns into a tangled mess? Is it too difficult and time-consuming to reel it in by hand? If either of these answers is yes, then it might be time to buy a retractable one. There are seemingly endless choices, but which one is the best retractable garden hose reel?

We reviewed five models along with their features and pros and cons to help you choose the right one for your needs. We also included a retractable garden hose reels buyer’s guide and an FAQs section.

Best Retractable Garden Hose Reel Reviews

Tacklife Wall-Mounted Hose Reel

Tacklife manufactures products that help people live a secure and convenient lifestyle. It offers a variety of items, including automotive, hand, and power tools, as well as home appliances.

Those who want a hose reel that is mounted on the wall are going to like this product. It is heavy-duty and looks almost like a large tape measure.

Plus, it is easy to use because you just rewind the hose by tugging to unlatch the drum. The auto reel features a patented rewind system, which automatically takes over.

There is also a braking mechanism to ensure that the rewind is controlled without adding tangles or kinks to the hose. This reel also has an automatic lock, so you don’t have to continue holding the hose taut.

You can easily unwind more of the hose by pulling it, making the mechanism unlock so that you can get the length that you need. It comes with a 72-foot hose, which is quite long and is likely to be ideal for your gardening and watering needs.

Tacklife Wall-Mounted Hose Reel
Tacklife Wall-Mounted Hose Reel

Tacklife Wall-Mounted Hose Reel Pros and Cons

We are impressed with the 180-degree pivoting option of this reel. Even when mounted on the wall, it can move so that you can reach all parts of your garden.

Plus, you can also remove it from the bracket (attached to the wall), allowing you to store the unit during winter or when you don’t need it.

  • Swivel movement from reel
  • Very long hose
  • Keeps hose from getting kinked
  • Tedious installation
  • Retracting guides can break
  • Must gently guide hose

The guide to help retract the hose could get broken over time. While you can prevent this by retracting it slowly, this does take more time and a bit of effort.

Still, it’s not a deal-breaker, as you should be careful when retracting hoses to ensure that they don’t damage the home or ground by moving too quickly. Best Garden Hose Nozzles

Giraffe Retractable Hose Reel

RongTong Group owns Giraffe Tools, and it is a leader in the reel industry. It’s been in the business for many years and can produce over 1.5 million products a year.

The Giraffe brand features a patented lock so that you can lock it down at your desired length.

This guide works automatically and can help the hose to move back into the casing without tangling. There is also a swivel bracket, which attaches to the home or a post.

It allows for 180-degree swiveling, so you can get to every inch of your garden; plus, you can use it at various angles. With 60 feet of hose, you have plenty to allow you to go to any corner of your garden. You are going to find that it comes with the hose and a sprayer nozzle with nine different options for spraying.

Giraffe Retractable Hose Reel Pros and Cons

We are quite impressed with the hose that comes with the product. While you can use your own hose or nozzle, this one features an ergonomic grip and thumb-button action.

Plus, you get nine spray patterns for every watering need you might possibly have. While the idea of a stopper is a great one, we aren’t impressed with the plastic.

  • Lead-in hose included
  • Swivel bracket
  • Automatic-locking hose
  • Requires a two-person installation because of its weight
  • Nozzle appears cheaply made
  • Plastic housing

The downsides are if the hose happens to fly back to the base, it could break the plastic over time. Plus, the entire reel seems to be made of plastic, which doesn’t seem very durable for the long haul.

Power Retractable Garden Hose Reel

Power USA was founded in the early 2000s and has become a revolutionary brand since. The company focuses on garden products, including pressure washers and garden hose reels.

This retractable hose reel features a slow return system, so it doesn’t jump back to the base and cause damage. You get a ½-inch hose, which is 100 feet long and can support 500 PSI.

This allows you to tackle many projects around the house. It also has a heavy-duty twist collar and uses brass fittings.

Of course, there is a locking mechanism included, so you don’t have to have a lot of hose pulled out or keep it pulled tautly.

Power Retractable Garden Hose Reel Pros and Cons

We are quite impressed with the nozzle protector; it almost looks like a suction cup, and it goes over the hose nozzle. Because it is made of rubber, the nozzle is protected from getting damaged or broken if it accidentally hits the concrete, ground, or side of the house.

  • 100 feet of hose available
  • Can remove the reel from the mount for storage
  • Brass fittings
  • Smaller hose, less pressure
  • Reels in quickly, so you must manually slow it down
  • Hose damage possible with leakage

There isn’t much to dislike about this product, but the mounting bar is made of plastic, and we thought it might be better if it had been made of metal.

Plus, the hose can wrinkle somewhat while going back into the reel.

HOSELINK Retractable Hose Reel

HOSELINK is a top brand in Australia that was founded in 1998. Hose connectors often burst because they weren’t made like the brass threaded ones in the US, so HOSELINK chose to create a variation of the traditional design.

Since then, it has been selling its products primarily in Australia, but the company started branching out to other countries, including the United States.

If you’re looking for a garden hose reel that’s retractable and comes with everything you need, this one from HOSELINK is ideal.

It features a flexible reel and hose that can transform your chores and prevent wasted water caused by dripping.

You get the best solution to watering your outdoor spaces because this hose reel is mounted on the wall. Plus, it uses a spring-loaded hose, which is going to retract automatically when you tug on it a bit.

You are going to get hose fittings that are easy to connect without leaks. Of course, the locking mechanism stops anywhere, so you only get the length of hose you need for the task.

HOSELINK Retractable Hose Reel Pros and Cons

We like how easy this reel is to install; you get all of the components to mount it to a post or wall, and you just put the whole reel on the bracket and attach it to the tap.

  • Reliable locking mechanism
  • Easy to install
  • 180-degree pivot from the reel base
  • Pricey
  • No manual handle override
  • Larger than you might expect

Though it’s a minor concern, we aren’t happy that the reel itself is white. This will show dirt and wear. Still, it’s water-resistant of course, so you can spray it down with the hose before retracting it all the way.

Wasser Vela Retractable Hose Reel

Wasser Vela has been around for 30 years, so it knows a thing or two about garden hoses and reels. It’s an Australian brand with products made and sold primarily in the UK and Australia. Though the product is made in Australia, it does fit standard US tap threads.

There is a spring inside the hose reel, so it can rewind with ease. Plus, you can pull the hose to the length you need it, and it can automatically lock into place. You get a plastic nozzle with six spraying patterns, as well.

Wasser Vela Retractable Hose Reel Pros and Cons

While all wall-mounted products here have a mounting bracket, this one is quite large and goes the length of the reel. We like this feature because it seems sturdier and stronger.

  • Automatic locking mechanism
  • Mounting bracket included
  • Built-in handle for portability
  • Plastic nozzle
  • Reel made of plastic
  • Longevity and durability concerns
  • Leaks possible

Though it is nice to have a full kit, the plastic nozzle isn’t likely to hold up to extended use. It is possible to buy a replacement and attach it to the hose, but this defeats the purpose of having a kit.

Retractable Garden Hose Reel Buyer’s Guide

When it comes to buying the right retractable garden hose reel, you need to know a few things about them. For example, how portable are they going to be, and how durable are they?

We talk about these things below so that you have a better idea of how to choose the one for your needs.

Portability

You’re going to want a hose reel that is portable. Gardeners and homeowners desire to save money by utilizing the same reel for multiple purposes.

You can use a single hose reel to clean the car, water the plants, and wash the dog; you just have to make sure that you can carry the hose to the place you’re going to use it.

Therefore, you want something that is portable. Still, many people prefer to mount it on the wall of the house or garage and just pull the hose out as far as it can go.

Hose Length

The length of the hose must also be considered here. You’re going to find that there are multiple lengths for various hose reels; make sure you choose one that meets your needs.

It might be a good idea to measure the farthest thing you may water and how far away it is from the water source. Then, you can easily choose the best length for your hose.

While you could just buy another hose and attach it, your reel may not be big enough to accommodate it. Therefore, it is best to choose the length of the hose within the reel you buy.

Materials

You may not think much about the materials used to make the hose reel, but they matter. Durability and longevity depend on how the reel is manufactured.

For example, you can find reels made of die-cast aluminum, polyurethane, rubber, steel, wrought iron, or a mixture of these. It’s essential that you choose a reel that is weather-resistant or waterproof, isn’t going to rust, doesn’t kink, and isn’t going to break easily.

Plus, you should make sure that the hose itself is included with the package so that you don’t have to buy anything extra.

Durability

You are spending money to have a tool that is going to help you with your gardening and other chores, so you want it to be durable and last a long time.

Many manufacturers guarantee their products for up to 10 years. It might be helpful to consider the warranty; this ensures that you have something that is designed for longevity.

Plus, you can get familiar with the tool and use it often. Then, you can choose to buy the same product again because it works and you know it is going to last.

Retractable Garden Hose Reel FAQs

How do you use a garden hose reel?

If you’ve just bought the reel, you need to put it together and install it. Choosing a wall-mounted version means that it is going to be installed on the wall of your home or garage.

You can also find free-standing ones that can just sit in the corner and be moved as needed. Make sure that the reel is located near the water supply.

The hose reel you bought should include the tools you need to install the hose onto the reel; this includes the clamp, washers, screws, a spring, and an Allen wrench.

  1. Take your garden hose and feed it through the opening of the reel.
  2. Make sure you have created a large enough loop so that you can attach the hose to the water source to prevent kinks.
  3. Feed the kink-free spring into the hose end that you fed through the reel opening.
  4. Now, you just attach the hose to the water source.
  5. Keeping the loop large and free, start rolling the reel one full turn.
  6. Now, take the hose clamp that came with the kit, place it on the hose that you’re reeling in, and pinch it.
  7. Then, take the screw and insert it into the hose clamp hole and into the reel.
  8. The tricky part is getting the washer and nut through to the other side; all you need to do now is roll the reel until the hose is all the way on it and set the locking mechanism so that it doesn’t unravel.

How do you roll a garden hose without a reel?

If you don’t currently have a hose reel, you can still roll the hose so that it doesn’t kink and is ready for use next time. Hoses that are smaller can be wrapped around the arm.

Do this by holding one end of the hose in the right hand, keeping the hand up about shoulder level with the elbow bent. With the left hand, wrap the hose down around the elbow and over the shoulder.

Hold that loop in place with the right hand. Now, continue doing this until the hose is completely wrapped.

To keep it in place, you can zip-tie it, use a piece of string, or something else you have lying around the house. You can also complete the same process using a ladder or any “frame” that you can wrap the hose around.

How does a retractable garden hose reel work?

If you are tired of unkinking the garden hose and recoiling it each time you want to use it, you can use a garden hose reel. Once you have it mounted, hooked up, and the hose is reeled in, you are ready to begin.

Most reels feature a locking mechanism to prevent it from unraveling your hose before you need it. Therefore, you should unlock the reel first; gently tug on the hose so that it starts unraveling from the base.

Then, turn on the water source to the appropriate flow rate. Start walking away from the reel and to the location where you need water, making sure that the hose doesn’t snag in the grass or on debris.

Use the garden hose as you need it, and when you’re finished, walk back to the reel. It is either going to have a crank, or you just turn the wheel part.

Turn slowly and make sure that the hose comes to you without snagging on anything. Once the hose is back on the reel, lock it in place, and you are done.

Can expandable garden hoses be repaired?

Expandable garden hoses are an excellent addition to your home, but they can get damaged with time. However, most water hose repair kits aren’t going to work to fix an expandable one because of its nature.

The inner tubing of the hose works like surgical tubes than normal hoses, so you need special items to fix it. Your expandable hose has two parts: the covering and the tubing.

Since the tubing is soft and expandable, you need to be careful when cutting it. If the repair has to be done in the connection area, you have to disassemble the end. Unscrew the parts while holding the tubing to cut the cover.

The leak is going to be in the middle or at the end of the hose, and this determines how you repair it.

Repairing a Leak in the Middle

Once you find the leak, you’re going to need a pair of scissors or a knife and locking pliers. Lock the pliers onto the hose, but not too tightly; make sure it is a few inches from the leak on either side.

  1. The hose should be unexpanded at this point, so make sure that the pliers have a decent hold on the covering with the tubing inside.
  2. Cut the hose close to the leak and pull back the covering to do an inspection of the tubing. You’re looking for tiny holes or punctures, which are going to be quite small because the tubing is quite flexible.
  3. To repair it, you’re going to need a ½-inch barbed coupling.
  4. Make sure to lubricate the coupling with soapy water and cut a small piece of tube from the material removed.
  5. This can slide over the inner tubing to protect it from the clamp.
  6. Slide the piece over the tube and then slide the inner tubing over your barbed connector.
  7. Now, slide the smaller piece over the connector.
  8. Since the tubing is firmly over the coupling, you can pull the outer cover back over it, applying a wire clamp to secure the hose.
  9. You are going to have to repeat these steps for the other side of the hose, next to the leak.

Repairing Leaks at the End of the Hose

Make sure you know where the leak is and have locking pliers, a sharp knife, and something to cut the metal crimped at the end of the hose.

  1. Unscrew the hose fitting and collar, sliding it down the hose a bit.
  2. Consider using some folded cardboard over the tubing below the leak, and then clamp the pliers onto the hose.
  3. Cut the metal crimp from the hose fitting, and then cut the tubing a few inches from the leak.
  4. Consider lubricating the hose fitting with some soapy water to help with installation.
  5. Slide the tubing over the barbed end of the hose fitting.
  6. If the hose has more hose pieces over the clamped part, put it on the tube before putting the tubing over the barbed fitting, and then slide over the extra bit.
  7. Now, slide the cover over the tube and secure it with a wire clamp.

Recommendation on the Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels

While we liked all of the products we reviewed, we did find one that seemed to have few drawbacks and many perks. The best retractable garden hose reels, for us, is the Power Retractable Garden Hose Reel.

All in all, we were quite impressed with the overall design of this retractable hose reel and the fact that it has a built-in sprayer cover.

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