If you’ve ever used the words “tangled”, “clogged”, "messy", or “kinks” to describe your garden hose, you may need a retractable garden hose reel.
Our team has been testing this tool for years, and after completing the latest round, here are the 6 best retractable garden hose reels on the market:
Here are the best retractable garden hose reels you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Harsh Weather: Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 130ft x 1.2-in
- Best For Elderly: G GOOD GAIN Retractable Garden Hose Reel
- Easy To Install: Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel
- Fast Rewinding: Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose
- Multi-Functional: SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel
- Sturdy: Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel
| 6 Best Retractable Garden Hose Reels | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Harsh Weather | Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 130ft x 1.2-in | |
Best For Elderly | G GOOD GAIN Retractable Garden Hose Reel | |
Easy To Install | Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel | |
Fast Rewinding | Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose | |
Multi-Functional | SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel | |
Sturdy | Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel | |
Best For Harsh Weather: Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 130ft x 1.2-in
- Built to last - intensified PVC casing
- Perfect for large gardens - a 130-foot hybrid hose
- Work reliably – passed the 600 PSI bursting pressure and the 200 PSI pressure test
- The included spray noble needs improvement
Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel is not a budget option but definitely a worthy investment, especially if you have a large garden and want something built to last.
It is pre-installed with a 130-foot hybrid hose that is abrasion-resistant, all-weather-flexible, and passed the 600 PSI bursting pressure as well as the 200 PSI pressure test. Meanwhile, the guidance and the retractable system work smoothly to avoid hassle-free congestion or hose-tangled during use.
But the real star is the intensified PVC casing with great resistance to harsh weather exposure. If you intend to install it outside, rest assured; it is hardly faded or deformed over time.
The last plus is its 180-degree rotation bracket. Very flexible!
| Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 130ft x 1.2-in Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 33.4 pounds |
Material | Polyvinyl Chloride |
Hose Length | 130ft |
Hose Diameter | 1/2-in. |
Nozzle Patterns | 9 |
Highlight Features | intensified PVC casing a 130-foot hybrid hose 180-degree rotation bracket passed the 600 PSI bursting pressure and the 200 PSI pressure test |
The Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel features an intensified PVC casing with great harsh-weather resistance, allowing it to last for years with no deformation or fading.
Best For Elderly: G GOOD GAIN Retractable Garden Hose Reel
- Very safe to use - Slow Speed Retraction System
- No more tired hands - adjustable stop ball mechanism
- Comfortable – ergonomic handle with non-slip grips & a handle
- No complaint
The G GOOD GAIN Retractable Garden Hose Reel is designed with your safety in mind.
It has an adjustable stop ball mechanism that automatically holds the hose when you pull it to a certain length.
When you finish your job, just a slight tug, its unique Slow Speed Retraction System will automatically retract the hose, usually within 15-20 seconds – which is a lot safer for both kids and the elderly. Besides, it’s built with an ergonomic sprinkler handle with non-slip grips and a comfortable handle.
For the price, it’s a good choice for a medium-size garden.
| G GOOD GAIN Retractable Garden Hose Reel Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 15.47 pounds |
Material | ABS & PVC |
Hose Length | 66 Feet |
Hose Diameter | 1/2" Inch |
Nozzle Patterns | 9 |
Highlight Features | Slow Speed Retraction System adjustable stop ball mechanism an ergonomic handle with non-slip grips & a handle |
If you’re finding an ultra-safe retractable garden hose reel for the elderly, don’t overlook the G GOOD GAIN
Easy To Install: Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel
- Easy to assemble/disassemble – unique wall mount
- No bumps of the nozzle to the casing - plastic stopper
- Wish the supply line connection was more solid
Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel might not be as durable as the Giraffe series to be a mount-it-and-leave-it option, but it is very easy to be assembled or disassembled and stored away to avoid harsh weather.
The 72.2-feet long hose is perfect for a medium-sized garden and its sturdy 180-degree bracket allows for farther reach plus extra flexibility during use.
In addition to the durable design and quality materials, we appreciate that it is added with a plastic stopper to keep the nozzle from hitting the casing.
The price is also wallet-friendly!
| Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 27.7 pounds |
Material | Wood & plastic |
Hose Length | 65.6 FT+6.6 FT |
Hose Diameter | 5/8" |
Nozzle Patterns | 9 |
Highlight Features | unique wall mount plastic stopper |
The Twinkle Star Retractable Hose Reel features a unique wall mount, making it very flexible and easy to assemble.
Fast Rewinding: Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose
- Retract the hose fully in 5 seconds
- Great durability - ¾” brass ends & lead-free rust-resistant nickel sleeves coating fitting
- Dependable - the manufacturer’s 2-year warranty
- The case is not very thick
- The mounting fasteners need more improvement
If you live alone, a quick-rewinding retractable garden hose reel seems to be a more appropriate choice. In this case, our pick is the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With a 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose.
It takes only 5-6 seconds to have the hose fully retracted, which is nearly 2x faster than the G GOOD GAIN above.
Another notable feature is the ¾” brass ends with lead-free rust-resistant nickel sleeves coating fitting (not plastic), offering the next-level durability.
Besides, it is a breeze to install and use. It also carries the manufacturer’s 2-year warranty. What else to ask?
| Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 20.7 pounds |
Material | PP body + PVC hose |
Hose Length | 65ft. |
Hose Diameter | 5/8 in. |
Nozzle Patterns | 9 |
Highlight Features | Retract the hose fully in 5 seconds ¾” brass ends & lead-free rust-resistant nickel sleeves coating fitting the manufacturer’s 2-year warranty |
Taking a total of 5 seconds for full hose retraction, the Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel With 5/8 in. x 65 ft Water Hose becomes the fastest-rewinding model we tested.
Multi-Functional: SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel
- Multifunctional – include 10 different nozzle patterns
- No leakage - Solid brass connector
- Hard-wearing - anti-aging, anti-UV PVC material
- A bit pricey
While most other counterparts in this list provide 9 nozzle patterns, this comes with 10 options, including flat, shower, cone, jet, ½ vert, full, center, mist, angle, and soaker. That makes it a more multifunctional option.
It works with no leakage, which is a big bonus.
The 98.7-foot hose (along with the 180-degree bracket), besides, allows it to reach the farthest corners of any garden.
You can leave this hose reel outdoors, even during scorching hot summer months with worry-free because its material is anti-aging, anti-UV, and able to resist the max heat of 23-131 degrees F.
| SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 23.7 pounds |
Material | PP |
Hose Length | 92+6.7 FT |
Hose Diameter | 1/2" |
Nozzle Patterns | 10 |
Highlight Features | include 10 different nozzle patterns Solid brass connector anti-aging, anti-UV PVC material |
The SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel features an extra-long hose and includes up to 10 nozzle patterns, making it become the most multifunctional pick this year
Sturdy: Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel
- Very sturdy & weather-resistant - PP-T20 materials
- Perfect for large to ultra-large gardens - 100ft hose length
- Easy to inspect the hose and hose reel – the lid
- Wish the instructions were more detailed.
We usually joke that the Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel is likely to inherit all the strengths of the five picks above. It's super-sturdy!
The hose design can work nicely at 200 PSI pressure and bear 600PSI bursting pressure without leaking. Its PP-T20 materials are proved to be exceptionally anti-aging and anti-UV for no deformation no matter the weather conditions.
Moreover, the 100ft length allows it to reach up to 15,704 FT² - perfect for large-size gardens.
One feature that we find pretty handy is the lid - which you can easily check both the hose and the hose reel by looking inside it.
| Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 24.3 pounds |
Material | PVC |
Hose Length | 100FT+6FT |
Hose Diameter | 1/2” |
Nozzle Patterns | 9 |
Highlight Features | PP-T20 materials 100ft hose length the lid |
Made of high-grade PP-T20 materials, the Guitrees Retractable Garden Hose Reel is a sturdy and long-lasting model that you can trust.
How To Choose The Best Retractable Garden Hose Reel?
Types
Talking about the design, retractable garden hose reels come in two main types:
- Portable hose reels
- Wall-mounted hose reels
To know which one suits you best, determine your needs first. If you overweigh the convenience of storage or of taking the hose reel between yards, choose the portable one.
If you intend to mount it semi-permanently, choose the wall-mounted model.
Bonus: For those gardeners who intend to opt for a wall-mount retractable garden hose reel and also want extra security, go for a model with a padlock.
Hose Length
Make sure the hose is long enough to hassle-free reach out to every single corner of your garden.
Before purchasing one, you must do these two things:
- Measure the farthest spot that needs watering
- Measure the distance from the water source
Durability
This element is affected by how the hose reel is manufactured, which means you should pay extra attention to the materials used to make it.
There are a lot of material options available on the market, but the one you should choose must be kink-free, rust-resistant, waterproof or weatherproof, and strong enough to not be broken easily.
Safety Features
Child lock – this feature prevents the hose from being drawn out of the housing unwantedly by curious kids
Slow rewind – fast hose-rewinding could cause accidents or injuries to your pets, kids, or other people who accidentally cross the hose. This feature is created to prevent that.
Nozzle Patterns
Different nozzle patterns increase the tool’s versatility. This is an optional feature, depending on how you intend to use the hose reel. The more tasks you want it to handle, the more nozzle patterns are required.
Which Brands Make The Best Retractable Garden Hose Reel?
Giraffe Tools
Giraffe Tools is the 1st professional factory to produce auto-retracting hose reels and also owns led innovation in the hose and reel industry. Many of their products passed CE, VDE, GS, and UL standards as well as receiving ISO 9001:2008 Certification.
SKEY
The next reliable brand we’d like to introduce to you is SKEY. Their retractable garden hose reel lines focus more on versatility, aside from durability. For example, the SKEY Retractable Garden Hose Reel in our review list offers up to 10 different nozzle patterns.
FAQs
Are retractable garden hoses any good?
Yes, they are. Retractable garden hoses are a real-time-saver after you finish your gardening jobs. Just trigger the tool’s mechanism, the hose will be automatically retracted to the housing with no kinking or tangling.
How do you reel a garden hose?
This tutorial video will help you learn more easily on how to reel a garden hose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxaKR_aBuUo
How do you roll a garden hose without a reel?
To roll a garden hose without a reel, you will need a ladder.
First, open the ladder and put the paint shelf down. Stick one end of the garden hose into the ladder, then wrap the hose around the ladder, above the shelf. Keep doing that until it is fully wrapped.
How do water-powered hose reels work?
The way a water-powered hose reel works is: once the knob is flipped, the hose stopper will be released to trigger the integrated hydropower mechanism. It uses running tape water to create energy, making the hose recoil into the housing.
How high should you mount a hose reel?
You should mount a hose reel as high as your hand will be.
How big of a hose reel do I need?
The size of a hose reel depends on the overall length and diameter of the hose. The longer the hose plus the larger the hose diameter, the bigger the reel.
How do I keep a garden hose from tangling when rewinding it on the reel?
This tutorial video will show you more visually how to keep a garden hose from tangling when rewinding it on the heel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHAdWc-fhY
Can I buy a reel to turn a standard hose into a retractable hose?
Yes, you can.
When considering a reel, you should consider its size to make sure the reel is big enough to house the hose after recoiling.
Conclusion
And, those are what we think some of the best retractable garden hose reels of 2021 are. What do you think? Were there any products that we missed for this list that you think should have been on it. Please leave your comment down below and tell us.
Finally, thanks for reading!
Harry RamosI’m Harry Ramos, who's crazy about all things green. I’m here to share some experience in my gardening adventure and how to choose the best products for your garden. Let's dig in, get our hands dirty, and celebrate the simple, earthy pleasures of the garden together!
