5 Best Retractable Hose Reels For Your Garden | Top Reviews Of 2018

If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably looking for the best way to store and protect your garden hose from breakage and puncture. A hose reel is a cylindrical spindle that is used for storing garden hoses. While there are several types of garden hose reels available, most homeowners and gardeners are trying to get their hands on the best retractable hose reels. Why? Retractable hose reels offer the fastest way to retract your hose on the reel and store them safely while retaining its kink-free structure.

Looking for the best retractable hose reels for your garden? Then you got the bull’s eye right here. Check out our top pick below!

RL Flo-Master 65HR8 Retractable Hose Reel, 65 Feet, Brown

Our top pick is none other than RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel. This self retracting garden hose reel has been winning the hearts of many homeowners. It is an automatic retractable hose reel that prevents the hose to overlap. It also boasts an 8-pattern nozzle, allowing you to control the spraying volume when watering your plants. Lastly, it has an impressive reach of 65 feet. Plus, you can easily mount this unit on the wall.

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Check out the video below to see how our top pick in action and its amazing capacity!

Top 5 Brands On Our Best Retractable Hose Reels List – Quick Comparison Table

Rating	Image	Products	Score	Price
1 Best		​​RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel​​​ Editor’s Choice
2		​​ikris 75-ft. Retractable Garden Hose Reel​​​
3		​​Suncast RSH125 125-ft Retractable Garden Hose Reel​​​
4		​​Goodyear L815153G 50-ft. Retractable Air/Water Hose Reel​​​
5		​​GoPlus 50-ft. Air/Water Retractable Hose Reel​​​

6 Different Types Of Garden Hose Reel

Using a hose reel is a convenient way to wind back any type of hoses, as well as store and protect them from kinks and punctures. In this section, we will discuss the different types of hose reel that you can use in your garden. This will also guide you on how to choose the right hose reel type depending on your needs.

Let’s get started!

1. Stationary Hose Reel

This is the simplest type of hose reel. Its main characteristics are a simple design and a crank that allows you to manually rewind the hose and secure it onto the reel. This type has no special features but can be made from various materials like stainless steel and plastic. For small gardens and lawns, this one is ideal.

2. Hosemobile Or Portable Hose Reel

As the name entails, this type of hose reel is portable and can be easily transported around your lawn. In the old days, people look for the best hose reel cart with wheels as this can be easily pushed around the yard. But nowadays, different versions of portable hose reels are available. Some have a carry handle and unique designs. Portable hose reels are also available in various materials with powder coated stainless metals as the most popular.

A portable hose reel is a good option if your garden is a few meters away from your house.

3. Hideaway Hose Reela

Hideaway hose reels are the preferred type for those who want to store and protect their garden hose from the sunlight. This type usually has a cabinet-like structure in which the garden hose is stored and protected. In addition, hideaway hose reels also use detachable hand crank with a lever to rewind the hose onto the reel, and then remove this part to store it away.

4. Wall Mounted Hose Reel

Wall mounted hose reels are the ones that can be mounted on your garage walls or on any flat surface of your garden shed. This type usually has a mounting hardware included with four or more drilled holes. It is important to secure the reel tightly on the wall to prevent unwanted motion that may affect its performance when winding the hose.

5. Spring-Loaded Or Retractable Hose Reel

The main characteristic of this type is the spring-driven or auto rewinding system that allows a quick retraction of the hose. Retractable hose reels come in various designs and with different added mechanisms, making the price skyrocket.

Homeowners and gardeners with bigger lawns and yards prefer this type of hose reel. A retractable hose reel allows them to water their lawn and plants easier and faster.

6. Air Hose Reel

Air hose reels are usually wall mounted but are also available in stationary and portable designs. This type of hose reel is commonly found in gas stations, garages, and automotive service centers for air compression. But with the advent of technology, many hose reels nowadays are both air compressor and water hose reels. Thus, you can use one hose reel for your air compression and watering needs.

There are various models and brands of hose reels available on the market nowadays. Some units are even a combination of 2 or more types above. Among the 5 types, the spring-loaded or retractable hose reel is the most popular.

3 Top Qualities Of The Best Retractable Hose Reel For Gardening

Now that you know the different types of hose reels, we will now discuss the top 3 qualities to look for when buying a retractable hose reel. Here are the 3 qualities of the best retractable hose reel:

1. Automatic Rewinding System That Prevents Knotting

One of the main reasons why retractable hose reels are popular is because it can coil and wind the hose without knots. The best retractable hose reel should have an auto-guide rewinding system that helps retract the hose smoothly. This system will not only make your watering task faster, it will also protect your hose from being punctured.

2. Brass Connectors And Fittings

If you browse the web for the best retractable hose reel, then you’ll see that most brands offer hose reels with a plastic body. Some are made in polyresin while others are made from PVC. Having plastic material is acceptable for mid-range priced hose reels. What is not acceptable is that if the connectors and fittings are also made from plastics. No matter how sturdy the plastic used, this material is bound to break.

For this reason, it is best to check if the connectors and fittings of the hose reel are made from brass. Brass is durable enough to prevent leakage but softer than bronze and other metals, which allows you to tighten it around the valve using the right tools.

3. Safety Measures

Using gardening tools, including a garden hose reel, exposes the user to risks of meeting accidents. In the case of a hose reel, accidents happen when the garden hose forms a knot while on the ground, causing the user or other people to trip. To reduce the risk of tripping down, only pull the length of the hose that you’re going to need. Choose a retractable hose reel with a stopper which tightly coils the part of the hose that is not needed.

In terms of types, the wall mounted or stationary types are the safest since there is a lesser chance of the reel being out of control and tripping over, unlike the portable reels with wheels.

Some people prefer to use a hose reel with the longest hose

5 Best Retractable Hose Reels For Your Garden – Honest Reviews!

While we choose the RL FloMaster hose reel as our top pick, we also have 4 other hose reel brands that we think are a great alternative to our top choice. Check them out below and find out the pros and cons of each!

#1 RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel

RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel. Via: Amazon.com

While we’ve already mentioned some of the great features that this unit has to offer, we want to emphasize that the product’s convenience and versatility are what impresses us the most. This is an auto rewind hose reel that is light enough to carry by hand. It features a sturdy carry handle and mounting hardware should you want to attach it to the wall. If you are worried about it being damaged during winter, then you’d be happy to know that you can easily remove this retractable hose reel and place it in your basement for winter storage.

Pros

• Retracting hose pipe is easy with this one, thanks to its heavy-duty spring that can rewind and retract the hose smoothly.
• Using this unit means no overlapping of hose.
• It has a mounting bracket with a 180-degree swivel function.
• This is considered as one of the best wall mounted retractable hose reel brands because of its sturdy mounting hardware.
• Its 8-pattern nozzle allows you to change spray settings depending on your plants’ watering needs. Want to know our top choice for the best hose end sprayer? Just click here.

Cons

• The product is made from a Polyethylene material. While this is a safe and robust type of plastic, this is not at all eco-friendly.

#2 ikris 75-ft. Retractable Garden Hose Reel

ikris 75-ft. Retractable Garden Hose Reel. Via: Amazon.com

ikris is a brand known mostly for its home and garden products. This water powered hose reel has a carry handle for easy transport. Maintaining the cleanliness of the internals of this unit is easy too. Just open the top access panel of the reel to clean its internals. It has a reach of up to 75 feet.

Pros

• It comes with a hose that is made from PVC, which makes the hose very flexible.
• It also has 108-degree swivel mount function, which you can also detach in case you want to store the unit inside.
• You can use other standard U.S. connectors and fittings as this fits well with other standard brands.
• It has a starter nozzle included in the package.
• Preventing overextension is easy as this contains an internal warning tag which stops the hose from extending before it reaches its full 75 feet length.

Cons

• Problems when rewinding the garden hose are reported by some users.
• The garden hose included only has 1/2 diameter which many homeowners and gardeners find it too small for the needed water pressure.
• The PVC hose is not environment-friendly and can be harmful when burned.

#3 Suncast RSH125 125-ft Retractable Garden Hose Reel

Suncast RSH125 125-ft Retractable Garden Hose Reel. Via: Amzon.com

Even though it’s the longest hose reel on the list, this Suncast RSH125 125-ft Retractable Garden Hose Reel is still reasonably priced. Unlike the other retractable hose reels on the market, this one has a cabinet shape structure that protects the hose from sun exposure.

Pros

• This Suncast auto rewind hose reel has a free-standing design.
• The unit is made from a resin material, which is known to be one of the sturdiest material that can be molded and bent.
• Since it’s a water-powered retractable hose reel, no electricity or batteries are needed for it to start rewinding.
• It boasts a 125-foot hose, perfect for properties with huge lawn or yard.
• It has an auto-sort guide, which guides the hose to wind back to the reel box.

Cons

• The hose tends to get heavy as you pull it to its full length.
• The product has a slight leakage. Users report they need to constantly tighten the valve kit.
• Suncast RSH125 125-ft Retractable Garden Hose Reel is not a cheap model.

#4 Goodyear L815153G 50-ft. Retractable Air/Water Hose Reel

Goodyear L815153G 50-ft. Retractable Air/Water Hose Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Goodyear is yet another brand that is initially known for making premium tire and rubber products. This multinational company has yet made another mark with this air compressor and water hose reel. With just 50-foot length, Goodyear L815153G hose reel is suitable for small to medium-sized yards. Nevertheless, the unit is still praised for its durability and quality.

Pros

• This is a retractable air hose reel, which means that the unit can also be used for compressed air.
• This air compressor hose reel can also be used in automotive works.
• Its auto-guide rewind system helps retract the hose without losing its kink-free nature.
• Want to mount this on the wall? No worries, you can easily do that. It has a total of 4 drilled holes where you mount and anchor the reels securely on the wall.
• Abrasion and wearing of the hose are reduced, owing to the product’s non-snag roller.
• The reel’s axel is powder coated to protect the reel from corrosion.

Cons

• This is more of a wall mounted retractable hose reel, so carrying it by hand is not possible.
• The hose is made from rubber which should be protected from the sun. Unfortunately, this unit doesn’t come in a cabinet type, so you need to find a way to shed it from direct sunlight.

If you prefer to use a rubber hose for certain reasons, it’s best to have one with a premium quality. Check out our reviews on the best rubber hose to guide you.

#5 GoPlus 50-ft. Air/Water Retractable Hose Reel

GoPlus 50-ft. Air/Water Retractable Hose Reel. Via: Amazon.com

If you want a bit cheaper alternative to our top pick but still offers a good quality, then GoPlus Air/Water Retractable hose reel is a perfect choice. Just like the Goodyear L815153G, this one is also an air hose reel, meaning you can use this one for compressed air for automotive purposes.

Pros

• This unit is the cheapest retractable water hose reel on the list.
• Just like most auto wind hose reels, it has a spring-driven automatic rewinding system, which retracts the hose smoothly and stores it safely in the reel.
• Its Ratchet lock secures the hose at your desired length.
• This is the best wall mount hose reel with regard to price.
• It is made with brass fittings and has lubricated precision bearings.

Cons

• This is only suitable for wall mounting.
• Users report leakage despite tightening the brass fittings.

Conclusion

Owning a garden hose reel, if you think about it, is not that necessary if you have a rather small garden or a hydroponic type of garden. However, for homeowners with larger lawns and gardens, using a garden hose reel to rewind and store your garden hose safely is a must. You may not see its importance at first, but rewinding garden hoses would take time and effort.

So, stop wasting your time and effort in rewinding garden hose. Instead, spend your time to more important gardening needs like cultivating your plants or controlling pest problems.

Our top pick on the list is far from being perfect. However, when it comes to a product that gives the best value to your money, we find the RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel the best choice. Here at Garden Ambition, we believe that quality gardening products need not be expensive. The challenge is how well you assess each product to know which unit suits your needs, preference, and budget best. RL FloMaster 65HR8 has certainly met our requirements.

RL FloMaster 65HR8 65-ft. Retractable Hose Reel

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We hope this article has helped you narrow down your list. If you have questions or clarifications about our best garden hose choice, just leave us a message and we’ll try our best to answer as soon as possible.

Thank you! 🙂

Last update on 2023-09-27 at 06:13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API