7 Best Automatic Garden Hose Reels | Reviews + Guide

With the perfect automatic garden hose reel, you can make sure that the hose is appropriately winded up and stored neatly without any extra effort. It will save you from winding it manually and help you clean the ground and keep the vegetation growing.

When we got an automatic hose reel, it gave us a hassle-free experience in taking care of our lawn while enhancing the ambiance. The hose retracts itself and snugly fits inside the reel.

But when we set out to purchase it, we found multiple choices in the market, and choosing one was rather challenging.

To save you from that hassle, this comprehensive and unbiased list of 7 excellent options has been curated. We have also included a buyer's guide to help you choose the right one for your needs.

So, without further ado, let's get down to business!

Best Automatic Garden Hose Reels

Here is the list of the 7 best automatic garden hose reels that you can use to efficiently water your lawn and garden.

1. Suncast Resin CPLSMW200 Reel - Best for Aesthetics & Capacity

Are you looking for a hose reel that will match the decor of your lawn? The Suncast Resin CPLSMW200  Reel will fit very well and provide you with a neat and clean look. We loved the attractive pattern as well as the long hose capacity.

Why Did We Like It?

The Slide-Trak guide helps a lot in winding and unwinding the hose and ensures there is no kinking. A crank handle that is present on the side will help you with the process.

Further, we loved the strong resin body, which can withstand all kinds of temperatures while keeping the hose safe inside. It has an attractive design that provides for a clutter-free experience and keeps the hose entirely covered. Also, this reel is tightly sealed, and the reinforced system prevents any water leakage. 

Besides, the lid is designed to stay up while you unload or store the hose, and this provides a truly hassle-free experience.

Having a 225-foot length capacity, this hose reel is the most excellent solution for large backyards and lawns. It will help you reach narrow spaces with ease, and you can look forward to a healthy kitchen garden or front porch.

What Could've Been Better?

It is indeed one of the most attractive products on this list, and hence, you can expect it to have a higher price. An average homeowner may not find it to be affordable, but again, if you have the liberty to shell out some more bucks, we would recommend this.

2. Giraffe Hose Reel - Best for Safety & Ease of Use

It should come as no surprise that this is one of our top recommendations, given how it’s known to have some of the best features in the market. The Giraffe Hose Reel is an exceptional pick with its premium quality impact-resistant body made of polypropylene. With high-quality brass used to make the fittings, it is bound to please you with its performance.

Why Did We Like It?

One of this device’s best features has to be the slow rewind system. It will ensure that the hose retracts at minimum speed and does not hurt kids or pets it its way. You will not have to be putting any physical pressure to make it withdraw. With the automatic rewind feature, it will roll back correctly without any help, and will leave no parts hanging out.

Additionally fitted with an auto-track system, the guide will ensure that the hose is distributed evenly and no parts tangle or get on top of each other.

Besides this, this unit is very easy to install and can be transported immediately when needed. It has a quick-release mount with screws that need to be fixed. Just fix the screws and you are done! The mounting hardware is very sturdy and will keep the hose reel in place.

What Could've Been Better?

We loved its performance but would have been happier if the hose capacity was more. It can hold hoses up to 90 feet long, which will cover a small garden entirely but may not be suitable for bigger spaces. But since this does not affect the overall performance, we will not be holding it against the other brilliant features.

3. Wasser Vela Garden Retractable Reel - Best for Versatile Spray Patterns

Are you tired of your messy coiled hose lying in front of the house? The Wasser Vela Garden Retractable Reel will help you take care of that. It is time to store the pipe inside an attractive reel, which will enhance the look of your porch.

Why Did We Like It?

We loved the multi-pattern spray nozzle, which let us shift between different modes for the perfect spray. Adding to the benefits is the mounting bracket which allows a 180-degree swivel. Hence, you can easily reach all around the garden without any kinking issues.

The spring inside is very flexible and sturdy and will make sure the hose pulls back effortlessly once you are done with the work at hand. An additional guide will help distribute the hose properly so that there is no overlapping. Only make sure that the water is sprayed, and the pipe is empty before retracting. 

It also has a locking mechanism that is needed to lock the hose at a certain length. Kids will be able to handle it easily too. Once you are done, just tug on it, and it will begin reeling back.

Coming to the capacity, you can choose between 25 feet, 50 feet, and 75 feet and buy the one which fits best.

What Could've Been Better?

We found that the product could not withstand freezing temperatures. The company already warns you regarding that, and it is best to store the hose reel inside your house during the winter months. So, if you live in a place with very low temperatures all year round, this may not be suitable.

4. Gardena Retractable 8055 Reel

Gardena is well-known for its supreme quality, and this Retractable 8055 Reel lives up to its reputation. We loved the auto-reeling mechanism, which was extremely smooth and combined with a great nozzle, it worked fabulously. Our garden plants have started blossoming, thanks to this.

Why Did We Like It?

One major attribute that we really liked is the ease of storage. We know how difficult it may get to find all the needed parts and then start working. But this reel provides you with ample space to store the nozzles, sprayers, and wash brushes along with the hose. Now, you will never be losing any of them.

Additionally, it can be used in all weather conditions. The body is protected from frost and will survive snow too. But in case you want to store it inside during winter, you can easily do so. This hose reel can be simply taken off the mount and moved indoors with the help of a handle provided on top. 

Besides this, the unit has an anti-drip device attached, which prevents any form of dripping and leakage. Remove the hose from the tap after you are done and immediately connect it to this device. It will prevent spilling while in place or while transporting.

What Could've Been Better?

We found that the mounting bracket was coming off after a few days because of the load on it. So, we decided to give it extra support with the help of a plank. On doing this, the bracket stood firmly, and we have not faced any other issues after this.

5. Suncast Powerwind 12 Volt Automatic Reel

With a 100-foot capacity, the Suncast Powerwind 12 Volt Automatic Reel will impress you with their battery-operated retracting ability. You can auto-reel a hose in 30 seconds, making sure that kids or pets are not hurt during this process. Easily rewind by pushing on a pedal.

Why Did We Like It?

The battery is very powerful and you will not have to worry about recharging it for almost a month. It will last through 20 uses easily. Some customers have even said that it lasted them throughout the summer on one single charge. So, the battery capacity surely makes a mark here!

Coming to storage, this is equipped with a storage bin to keep the essentials along with the reel. We used it to store our gardening supplies so that all of the parts can be in one place. It saved us from making multiple trips into the house.

Also, we found this to be perfect for older people or those with backache problems. You will not need to bend over at all. The hose will wind automatically as soon as you push a pedal. Hence people with less body strength can operate this with no extra effort.

What Could've Been Better?

We were satisfied with its performance, but the only issue we had was with the availability of this specific type of battery. You will not need to replace it for a year or two, but after that, it might be difficult to find the same battery. The customer service was not very helpful, and we had to contact a local seller for help.

6. Giraffe Retractable 65 feet Garden Hose-Reel

Now that we are nearing the end of this list, it is time to introduce the Giraffe Retractable 65 feet Garden Hose-Reel. Made of PVC, it is known to be very sturdy and will stand strong in all kinds of weather. We loved the premium quality and its enhanced performance.

Why Did We Like It?

The equipment comes with a 5 feet leading hose that is very beneficial in extending the total length and it will save from spending extra money. In addition, the automatic guide will help the hose wind up perfectly without overlapping.

The product also has brass and nickel sleeves and fittings. These are all coated to make them rust and corrosion-free. We were very happy with the additional coating as it was going to see a lot of water. 

Additionally, the separate mourning rack will allow you to remove the equipment easily when needed. You can store the reel inside your house without having to remove the mounting bracket.

To top it all, there is a locking mechanism that is very easy to operate, and you will just need a slight tug to change the position of the hose.

What Could've Been Better?

We feel that the unit has room for improvement when it comes to the nozzle. While there are no complaints about the material of its body, the nozzle seems to be made out of cheaper plastic. We had to buy a sturdier one separately to replace the existing nozzle.

7. Power Retractable Hose Reel

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Equipped with a well-protected pipe and high-quality fittings, the Power Retractable Hose Reel will impress you with its brilliant functioning. We were very happy with the durability and the extra coating on all surfaces and brass fittings. There were no signs of corrosion or rust after 7 months of use, and we were very pleased by this.

Why Did We Like It?

The auto-retract system was pretty impressive as it kept the hose in place while working and would enable retraction when needed. You will just need to give it a slight tug before it starts winding back again. It will stay locked in any position making sure you can go about your work flawlessly.

Coming to the mounting brackets, these allow a 180-degree swivel, and hence, you can move the hose in any direction. 

The hose itself is made out of 3-layer hybrid material, which protects it and increases the durability of this product. The coating also saves it from harmful UV rays, and you can use the pipe under the hot sun without worrying about damaging it.

To top it all, the hose retracts slowly and prevents hurting anyone who comes in the way. A nozzle protector will further prevent the spilling of water once it has winded up.

What Could've Been Better?

The reel in itself works very well, but the bolts are not strong enough to hold it in place. We had to buy separate strong anchors and bolts to fix this to the wall. This was time-consuming and a little annoying, but once you have fixed it, there should be no other problems.

Buying Guide For The Best Automatic Garden Hose Reel

Automatic garden reels can change your garden's whole look by preventing the sight of an unattractive pile of hose sitting in the corner. It will provide a comfortable way to take care of your gardens and help you give a fun bath to your pets too.

Now that you have gone through the 7 best products, you will know that each one is unique in its way. There is variation in size, capacity, and weather resistance to name a few.

To help you out, we have put together a list of essential factors that you must consider before buying any of these options. Take a look now. We hope this guides you towards buying the one that fits the best.

1. Length Of The Hose

Most of these units come in various sizes and can support hoses of different lengths. What is the size of your garden? Depending on this size, pick a hose and then decide upon the reel.

If you have a small garden, do not buy a larger hose reel as they will be more expensive, and the extra length will not be needed.

2. Retracting Mechanism

Easy retraction is one of the major reasons why you are purchasing a reel. It should always ensure that the hose winds back perfectly well. There are some options where the reel unwinds very quickly.

Now, this may be a good option for those in a hurry. But if you have pets and kids in the house, they may trip over the hose in case they do not notice it while it retracts.

For such cases, it is best to opt for a reel that allows for slower retraction. Not only will this be safe to use around kids and pets, but also it will prevent kinking or overlapping of the hose.

3. Weather Resistance

This is another important aspect that needs to be kept in mind. Some products have a coating that protects it from UV rays as well as frost during winter. These are usually more expensive, but they are a perfect fit for places with extreme weather conditions.

If you choose one without this coating, make sure that the reel can easily be removed from the mounting bracket. You will need to store it indoors during winter months, and so, portability should not be an issue. Check for the weight, and ease of portability before picking one.

4. Anti-drip Device

This is an added feature that some of the products have, and we found that it can actually make a huge difference. For those options with an anti-drip device, you will just have to attach the hose to it after the water is turned off. This in turn will prevent any water from spilling while it rests or is being transported around.

If you require to move the reel around a lot, this is a feature that you should consider. This is because it prevents water from dripping all over the house as you move around with it.

Automatic Garden Hose Reels FAQs

Are there any safety features on automatic garden hose reels?

Many automatic garden hose reels are equipped with safety features such as a locking mechanism to prevent accidental unwinding and a hose guide to prevent tangling or kinking. Some motor-driven models also have a slow retraction feature to reduce the risk of injury.

Are automatic garden hose reels suitable for commercial use?

While some automatic garden hose reels may withstand commercial use, you should consult the manufacturer’s specifications before considering them for this purpose. Heavy-duty models designed explicitly for commercial settings may be more appropriate.

Can I install an automatic garden hose reel myself?

Installing an automatic garden hose reel is generally a simple DIY task. The instructions for installation are typically included with the product and may involve wall-mounting or assembling a freestanding unit. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure correct and safe installation.

Can automatic garden hose reels be mounted on different surfaces?

Automatic garden hose reels are generally designed to be mounted on various surfaces, including brick, concrete, wood, and stucco. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific mounting instructions and hardware requirements.

Can I use an automatic garden hose reel with my existing hose?

In most cases, yes. Automatic garden hose reels are designed to be compatible with standard garden hoses. However, it is important to check the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure compatibility and the appropriate hose length capacity.

How do I maintain my automatic garden hose reel?

To ensure the longevity of your automatic garden hose reel, keep it clean and free from debris. Periodically inspect and lubricate the moving parts according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Always store your reel indoors or adequately protect it during the winter season.

Conclusion

Upgrading your garden equipment with an automatic garden hose reel is an excellent investment to enhance the look of your porch or lawn while ensuring the proper care of your hose. These innovative products not only provide ease of use and better organization but also protect your hose from the elements and potential damage.

From the above 7 best automatic garden hose reels, here are the top three expert recommendations:

The Suncast Resin CPLSMW200 Reel is an ideal option for those who want a beautiful design that complements their lawn while accommodating long hoses.

On the other hand, the Giraffe Hose Reel is a good option if you're looking for a user-friendly, high-quality reel with an impact-resistant construction that grants hassle-free usage.

Lastly, the Wasser Vela Garden Retractable Reel is the right choice if you want a reel with multiple spray patterns to choose from, making it suitable for different garden requirements and applications.

With the proper automatic garden hose reel, you can maintain a neat and tidy garden while ensuring the longevity of your hose, making your gardening chores enjoyable and hassle-free. Consider one of the above top three expert recommendations to get the best product for your needs and preferences. Happy gardening!

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