With a hose reel, the tiresome and tedious collection of the garden hose after watering the green oasis finally comes to an end. The useful device makes rolling up the hose a particularly easy and time-saving affair. Find out what to look out for when buying such a reel!
A hose reel makes it easier to keep things tidy in the garden
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Gardena wall-mounted hose box 35 roll-up automatic: pivoting hose reel, 35 m Gardena quality hose, short locking stops, incl. wall bracket, system parts and syringe (8024-20)
358.12 EUR To the product| Type | hose box |
|---|---|
| drive | automatically |
| Additional functions | Anti-drip, pivoting |
| garden hose incl. | yes (35 m, 1/2 inch) |
| Assembly | wall, mobile (handle) |
| material | plastic |
| Weight | 9kg |
The Gardena hose box 35 roll-up automatic is a powerful all-round package. It comes with a garden hose. Its length is 35 meters - with a thread diameter of ½ inch. The practical hose box is attached to the wall of the house using the mounting material provided. Finally, the wall bracket can be swiveled through 180 degrees. You can also take the hose box off the wall and transport it through the garden because it has a handle. Furthermore, the special hose reel is equipped with a drip stop and an anti-theft device. The Amazon reviewers are very enthusiastic about the Gardena hose box with automatic reel in terms of quality and functionality.
our recommendation
Gardena Classic hose reel 50: water hose reel for garden hose max. 50 m (13 mm hose), compact design, with drip stop, angled hose connection (8007-20)
33.79 EUR To the product| Type | hose reel |
|---|---|
| drive | manually |
| Additional functions | anti-drip |
| garden hose incl. | no |
| Assembly | mobile (handle) |
| material | plastic |
| Weight | 2 kg (without hose) |
Anyone who needs nothing more than a reliable hose reel has made the right choice with the Gardena Classic hose reel. It is in fact a real classic that convinces with its excellent price-performance ratio. The reel offers the option of reeling up a hose with a length of up to 50 meters - manually using a hand crank. The advantages are the sensibly positioned carrying handle, the compact design, the low weight and the drip stop. For most reviewers, this hose reel is "solid, well thought out and flexible".
our recommendation
GARDENA CleverRoll M Easy: hose trolley with a capacity of up to 60 m, particularly stable, with comfortable hose guide in a robust metal frame, anti-drip device, tool-free assembly (18515-20)
53.99 EUR To the product| Type | hose reel |
|---|---|
| drive | manually |
| Additional functions | Anti-drip, mobile |
| garden hose incl. | no |
| Assembly | mobile (handle + wheels) |
| material | plastic |
| Weight | 3.8 kg (without hose) |
Like the Classic hose reel, the Gardena AquaRoll M Easy hose reel is also supplied without a garden hose. It is the perfect helper for all hobby gardeners who have to cover longer distances with the hose in their green oasis. Thanks to the wheels and the wide handle, the trolley is relatively easy to push. The hose capacity is up to 60 meters depending on the diameter of the hose. As far as the functional properties of the actual hose reel are concerned, exactly the same applies as with the Classic reel, i.e. the second place in our comparison.
Purchase Criteria
Type
hose reel: The hose reel is a classic hose reel. It does not come with a protective housing, so it consists only of the drum with the reel and a hand crank.
hose box: The so-called hose box differs from the hose reel in the housing. In short, the drum is in a box. Accordingly, the hose is protected from external influences when rolled up.
drive
Manually: Pure hose reels - i.e. the classic hose reels - are usually equipped with a hand crank and are therefore operated manually. The big advantage of these variants is the lower price. However, they are associated with a higher expenditure of time and effort.
automatic roll-up: With automatic hose reels, all you have to do is press a button or lever and the respective device will automatically reel up the garden hose. Commonly, these versions accommodate a steel spring gear. They are logically more expensive than manually operated reels.
Additional functions
A hose reel can have various additional functions. The automatic hose retraction explained above is just one of them. An anti-drip system, for example, prevents water from dripping out of the garden hose after use. This saves water and money and also extends the life of the hose. If you want a particularly mobile reel, it is best to opt for a mobile and pushable hose trolley.
With or without a garden hose
With a garden hose: Most of the hose boxes come with an integrated garden hose. Such an all-in-one reel is useful if you don't already have your own garden hose. However, keep in mind that the installed hose can usually no longer be replaced. So when you buy, you should make sure that you buy a high-quality model that meets your requirements.
Without a garden hose: Pure hose reels are usually offered without a hose. Choose such a version if you already have a garden hose or want to buy a special one separately.
assembly and mobility
Wall: Most hose reels are intended for wall mounting - i.e. for attachment to the outside wall of the house - ideally near a water connection. Make sure that the required mounting material (wall bracket, dowels) is included with your preferred reel. Tip: A swiveling bracket allows you to easily reach several garden areas with the hose from the wall.
Mobile: Mobile hose reels have a handle and are therefore easy to transport from A to B. Although they offer a lot of flexibility, they also require a certain amount of effort each time. Keep the weight low. Tip: Combination versions are also available. These allow both wall mounting and mobile use.
material and processing
Hose reels are made of plastic, metal and/or steel. Metal and, above all, steel models are considered to be more robust and durable - but they also generally weigh and cost more. You will now find numerous plastic reels on the market that can compete well with metal or steel versions in terms of quality. Processing is crucial. Did the manufacturer do a good job? Read through customer reviews and authentic test reports.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a hose reel?
A hose reel is a practical 2-in-1 garden utensil that serves both as a winding aid and as compact storage for the garden hose. Such a reel is always equipped with a so-called hose drum. After each use, you can wind the hose onto this same drum using a hand crank or automatically by pressing a button.
What types of hose reels are there?
Hose reels can be differentiated by type and drive. There are the classic open hose reels and closed hose boxes - i.e. those with a housing. The latter protect the hose from external influences. Automatic reel models are more convenient, but also more expensive than manual versions, which you operate with a hand crank.
How does a hose reel work?
The way a hose reel works is simple: on an automatic reel, simply press the button or lever provided to reel up the hose; on a manual model, turn the hand crank. The unrolling largely follows the same pattern. Alternatively, you can carefully and slowly pull the garden hose straight out.
Which brands offer good hose reels?
You can get high-quality hose reels from the popular garden brand Gardena, among others. The German company stands for high-quality products at fair to low prices. But there are also other manufacturers who have solid reels ready - these include, for example, Kärcher, Haushof, Relaxdays, Cellfast and Bradas.
Where is the best place to buy a hose reel?
Hose reels are classic garden tools and are therefore available in all well-stocked hardware and garden stores. Depending on the season, you could even find what you are looking for at well-known discounters such as Aldi or Lidl. If you want a particularly large selection and an uncomplicated ordering and return procedure, we recommend that you look for a garden hose reel on Amazon.
How much does a hose reel cost?
This primarily depends on the manufacturer and the functionality and quality of the reel. Simple models with a hand crank are available from around 15 to 20 euros. For most versions you pay between 30 and 200 euros. Hose boxes with automatic reel are the most expensive.