Hoses

Every household with even the tiniest backyard needs to have a hose to water plants, grass, greenhouse, or to perform washing duties. But, using the hose doesn’t need to be a dreaded chore; stop hurting your back with all the bending required to pick up, coil, unwind, or store your hose. Hose reels allow handling the hose much quicker and easier while also keeping it clean. There are various types of hose reels depending on the length of your hose, your house and landscape design, and of course, your budget. Today we’ll talk about different types of hose reels and how to pick the best for your needs. We’ll also give our picks for the top 7 best hose reels for your backyard in 2021.

Types of Hose Reels

If you’re actively looking to buy a hose reel, you know that there are quite a few different hose reel types or even mixtures of various types, but the majority of hose reels fit into these categories:

Wall-mounted hose reels

It’s pretty straightforward; it’s a hose reel that you can be mounted to a wall, a post, or any other solid surface. Wall-mounted hose reels are a great option if you have a long hose and need to water continuously in the same area. They are an excellent pick for smaller backyards to water grass, plants, glasshouses, or clean garages.

Cart hose reels

Cart hose reels are very portable and great for people who live on large properties or for professional landscapers. As it’s evident from the name, these reels work like carts and can easily move around.

Hose boxes

Hose boxes are a great addition to your backyard. You can find different styles, colors, and designs to fit your garden or backyard exterior. These reels are also great at protecting your hose from rain, various debris, and even rodents. Just remember, they are stationary with no wheels. If you decide to use your hose outside the reachable radius, you’ll have to move the hose box too.

Hose stands

These are probably the most simple and budget-friendly. Stationary hose stands have sharp legs that you can stick into the grass for stability and some kind of a rack at the top where you can hang your hose. 

What to Consider When Buying a Hose Reel?

Hose Length and Width

Before buying a hose reel, always check what length and width hose you have. If you have a hose reel that fits 80 ft. but your actual hose is 140 ft., you’ll have trouble coiling all of it into the reel, leaving you with 60 ft. of hose hanging on the ground. 

Hose Reel Construction

You’ll find reels made of plastic, polyresin, and metals like aluminum, stainless steel, or even cast iron. Metal hose reels are way more durable and long-lasting but will cost a bit more and aren’t as portable (unless on wheels). Polyresin reels are strong and lightweight but must be protected from the sun as it weakens the construction. Finally, plastic is as cheap as it gets and is very lightweight but also very fragile.

Stationary or Portable?

If you have a small garden, a greenhouse, or a garage, you need constant watering, or washing a stationary hose reel will make your life way easier. Stationary hose reels require no lifting but can reach only a set amount of area depending on the hose length. If you have a large landscape, you’re probably better off with a hose reel on wheels so you could reach multiple spigots or transport your hose from one property to another.

Hose Leader

These days almost all hose reels have a hose leader varying in length from 2-10 ft. A longer hose leader will give you extra length to cover a larger area. Long hose leaders are great if your spigot is in a full garage, basement, or some other tight spot where the hose reel itself couldn’t fit. It is also essential to always check the diameter of your hose and the hose leader. If they don’t fit, you won’t be able to thread them.

---

Top 7 Best Hose Reel Reviews in 2021

Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel 1/2″ x 130 ft

We’re starting our list strong with Giraffe Retractable 130ft garden hose reel that already has a hybrid hose included and preinstalled. This heavy-duty black and dark gray hose reel has a 180 degrees swivel and a very convenient slow return system, so you don’t even have to do any winding yourself.

Conveniently, the hose is already preinstalled and hidden in a tight casing that protects from rain, wind, sun, and unwanted debris. All you have to do is tighten the bracket to a wall or a post and hook up the hose reel. In case you want to store your hose inside, the whole reel casing easily detaches and attaches with just a single handle. 

Sturdy construction, a return system, and a preinstalled high-quality build is a fantastic package that isn’t cheap but is the best hose reel on our list for your money.

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 130ft x ½ inch
• Hose leader: 6 ft x ½ inch
• Wall-mounted
• Hose pre-installed
• Slow return system
• 180 degrees swivel bracket
• Heavy duty
• Effortless unwinding and coiling

Weaknesses:

• A bit expensive

---

Liberty GARDEN 712 Swivel Garden Hose Reel, Holds 125-Feet of, 5/8-Inch

Liberty Garden is a beautiful-looking hose reel that will not only fit your garden or house exterior but will improve it! The 18 gauge steel construction has an anti-rust powder coating that makes the reel good-looking, sturdy, and durable during harsh weather.

You’ll be able to fit up to 125 feet of ⅝ inch thickness regular garden hose and effortlessly unwind it with a soft handle. What makes it one of the best hose reels on our list is the 360 degrees rotating reel, allowing you to move in a wide range of directions. The pull-up knob on top allows you to either lock it or let it move freely.

The hose comes fully assembled, but you’ll need to have your own mounting hardware and maybe drop a touch of grease on the swivel for smoother spinning. Other than that, this reel is no the cheapest one but very durable and definitely the most beautiful hose reel on our list.

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 125ft x ⅝ inch 
• Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
• 18 gauge steel construction
• Weather-resistant coating
• Aesthetic design
• Really sturdy build

Weaknesses:

• Swivel might need a touch of grease
• Mounting hardware not included

---

Giraffe Metal Hose Reel Box 130ft 

Giraffe Metal Hose Reel Box is a reel built for the outdoors. The sturdy metal construction weighs 30 lbs which keeps the box in place when unwinding the hose. Forget plastic hose reels that are light as a cardboard box and can’t handle any harsher weather. Giraffe rust-resistant paint on the box improves durability and allows you to keep your hose box outside even during hot summer days or the rainy autumn season.

The Giraffe hose reel box can fit 130 ft of ⅝ inch or 200 ft of ½ inch garden hose. It also comes with a 5 ft x ⅝ inch hose leader hermetically sealed into the box. You can put this box by the wall, on your patio, or even on the grass. The decorative design blends with any surface and can even be used as a landscape piece.

If you’re not on a tight budget Giraffe hose reel box is a great-looking hose hideaway that can blend into various areas.

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 130 ft x ⅝ inch or 200 ft x ½ inch
• Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
• Heavy duty
• Rust-resistant paint
• Decorative design blends into any area
• 24 months warranty
• Heavy enough to not move when handling hose

Weaknesses:

• Expensive
• Handle a bit flimsy

---

BluBird RMX BluSeal Retractable Water Hose Reel 50 ft

If you need a hose reel with a short hose for a greenhouse, garage, or a small garden BluBird is the best short hose reel on our list. This sturdy hose reel by BluBird comes with a 50 ft BluSeal lightweight, strong, and flexible 100% rubber hose. It also comes with a 6 ft x ⅝ inch hose leader.

The powder-coated 20 gauge steel reel can be mounted on a wall, deck, or a 6×6 pole without the fear of rain or sun damaging it.

The convenient auto-retract mechanism and a nine-pattern spray nozzle on top of a high-quality, sturdy build make it a package well worth the higher price.

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 50 ft x ⅝ inch
• Hose leader: 6 ft x ⅝ inch
• Nine pattern spray nozzle
• Heavy-duty brass fitting
• Auto-retract
• It comes with a hose

Weaknesses:

• Expensive for a small hose reel

---

Liberty Garden 870-M1-2 Industrial 4-Wheel Garden Hose Reel Cart

Have a very long hose for your large backyard, work as a landscaper, and tired of hauling 200-300 ft length hoses every day? Liberty Garden is an industrial hose reel cart designed for extra long hoses.

The double-coated finish on 13 gauge steel construction is mounted on four 10-inch pneumatic wheels that allow the cart to go through mud, rocks, sand, or any other surface. 

This hose reel isn’t made to look good but instead to move and store heavy hoses. The robust build allows for daily heavy-duty use by both amateur and professional landscapers. 

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 300 ft x ⅝ inch
• Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
• For extra long hoses
• 13 gauge steel construction
• Double powder coat finish
• 4 x 10-inch pneumatic tires
• Very heavy duty

Weaknesses:

• Not very attractive looking
• Rusts

---

AMES 2388340 ReelEasy Side Mount Reel, 100-Foot Hose Capacity

Ames ReelEasy hose reel is the best budget hose reel on our list. It is very lightweight and can be mounted on any wall. The reel can hold up to 100 ft x ⅝ inch of regular garden hose. 

You’ll find that it has a comfortable, easy spin grip to coil your hose and a clip to secure the nozzle.

Ames ReelEasy is a great budget option for casual gardeners who want to store their hoses neatly.

Key features:

• Hose capacity: 100 ft x ⅝ inch
• Hose leader: 6 ft x ⅝ inch
• Lightweight
• Integrated hose guide
• Hose clip
• Easy spin grip
• Very cheap

Weaknesses:

• Fragile and a bit flimsy build

---

TomCare Garden Hose Holder

This is not exactly a hose reel since it doesn’t have an actual reel, but it holds hoses very well, so we decided to include it in our best hose reel list. TomCare garden hose holder is made from solid 0.2-inch thickness metal and can hold even large hoses. This freestanding holder is easy to assemble and has three long sharp stakes that stick deep into the ground and keep the holder stable. Moving is also straightforward if you need to hose a different part of your garden or store the holder away for the off-season. 

We love the unique and attractive holder design, which is a beautiful addition to any home or backyard while keeping the hose neatly packed and out of the way.

Key features:

• Attractive design
• Sturdy structure
• Easy to assemble
• Easy to move during the off-season
• Heavy-duty metal
• 12-month warranty

Weaknesses:

• Need to coil the hose manually

You don’t need to be a professional landscaper or a die-hard gardener to understand that a good garden hose is a must-have tool for anyone with a piece of grass, greenhouse, or garage to keep the property clean fresh, and green. At first sight, all garden hoses look similar but can vary in quality tremendously. If you’re on a tight budget, you can buy an extremely cheap hose; however, adding even as little as $10-$20 can make a huge difference and turn watering and washing chores into a relaxing and pleasant time outdoors. In our buyer’s guide, we’ll explain how to pick the proper hose for your landscape needs, and we’ll also provide our picks for the top 7 best garden hoses in 2021.

What to Consider When Buying a Garden Hose?

Length

It’s really important to consider where you’re going to use your garden hose and what area you want to reach. For a small garden, backyard, or garage, a 50 ft. hose is more than enough, but if you have a larger property go for a 100 ft. length hose. You don’t want to end up with a hose that can’t reach behind your house or all the way to the property edges. Before buying your garden hose, it’s a good idea to measure the maximum distance you might need to reach and add 5-10 ft. for maneuverability. If you need to buy a 100 foot hose, you may want to avoid the heavy hose material like rubber which will be quite heavy to pull around. Also, for longer hoses, you should probably consider buying a hose reel for easier transportation and storage.

Material

Garden hoses are usually made from vinyl, rubber, rubber hybrids, latex, metal, or polyurethane. Vinyl hoses are cheap but prone to kinking, heavy, and don’t last as long, so you might end up saving initially but might have to buy a new one much quicker. Rubber is usually very rigid, long-lasting, the most enjoyable to use, but much heavier, while polyurethane is very light but not heavy-duty. There are also garden hoses made from latex layers that allow the hose to expand when filled with water and shrink when emptied. Such hoses do not have coil memory, are lightweight, and easy to store, but tend to restrict water flow considerably.

Diameter

The diameter of the hose will determine the amount of water that can flow through the hose. A smaller diameter hose will handle less water and be more restrictive, while a larger diameter hose will provide a larger stream and be less restrictive. If you live in a city with a small backyard or garden and use a basic spray nozzle or a sprinkler, a ½ inch diameter hose should be plenty. For larger properties and tasks that require more flow, like filling large containers or watering crops, you can go with a ¾ inch or 1 inch diameter hose to speed up the process. Just remember, the larger the diameter, the heavier, bulkier and more expensive the hose will be.

Coupling

You’ll find that garden hoses can have couplings made from plastic, brass, nickel, stainless, and other metals. They can come in round or octagonal shapes. Cheaper hoses can have aluminum or plastic couplings which are cheap but fragile, while nickel, brass, or stainless steel are not afraid of being thrown on the ground or even ran over by truck tires. We would also advise buying an octagonal shape coupling instead of a round one for an easier grasp with pliers.

Weight

A 200 ft. rubber hose might be very rigid and reach far away, but it will be a pain to drag it around as it can weigh up to 40 lbs. If you don’t need to use a pressure washer, go for a lighter expanding hose that is easier to maneuver and move around. For longer lifespan, durability, and pressure washing, you’ll have to reconcile with a heavier hose.

Layers

You’ll find garden hoses ranging from 2-6 layers. The more layers a hose has, the stronger it is and more resistant to kink and twisting. A suitable hose should be flexible for ease of use but kink as little as possible. Cheaper hoses with 2-3 layers will often kink, which quickly reduces their life span and aren’t suitable to use with pressure washers since they can’t hold high pressure. Premium hoses with 4-6 layers don’t kink as much and can even be crush resistant to withstand cars or machinery driving over them with no damage.

Is It Food Safe?

If your household has children or animals that might drink water straight from the hose (if your tap water is drinkable), it’s advisable to pick NSF and FDA-certified hose. If the hose is not food safe, it might leak harmful chemicals into the water. Also, remember never to drink water that has been standing in the hose, especially in warm weather. Standing warm water is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Top 7 Best Garden Hose Reviews in 2021

Eleegan 100′ Garden Hose

The expandable Eleegan garden hose is a multipurpose hose that is lightweight, long, durable, and compact. It is mainly designed for watering tasks like grass watering, greenhouse watering, or car washing. The lightweight four-layer latex core is easy to drag through the grass even when full of water. You could pull it over the pavement as well, but it will wear much more quickly.

The expandable material increases the hose size from 33 ft. to 100 ft. when filled with water. The compact size makes it perfect for RVs, camping, or even apartments with larger balconies.

Even though the hose itself is designed for light use, it has a rigid brass coupling and a ten-function nozzle for different watering needs.

If you have a larger backyard or greenhouse and are tired of dragging heavy hoses day after day, the Eleegan 100 ft. hose is the best lightweight garden hose on our list to help you out.

Key features:

• Length: 100 ft.
• Diameter: ¾ inch
• Material: 4 layer latex core
• Brass coupling
• Lightweight
• Burst strength: 145psi
• Expandable
• Ten function nozzle

Weaknesses:

• Not heavy duty

Flexzilla Garden Hose, 5/8 in. x 100 ft.

Flexzilla is one of the most known garden hoses currently in the market. The hybrid polymer 100 ft. is very flexible and easy to drag around corners and trees. They advertise it as a kink-free hose because of the hybrid polymer material and their Swivel grip technology. The grip handle allows the hose to spin around inside the grip, which is very useful when uncoiling.

This bright, durable hose can withstand harsh weather conditions and stays flexible even at -40 to 150°F degrees days.

Flexzilla hose is also great for families with children or pets as the hose is made from lead-free materials.

We love that it is more rigid than expandable garden hoses while still very flexible and lightweight. It is also safe for kids and animals to drink. The only big disadvantage is the higher price tag.

Key features:

• Length: 100 ft.
• Diameter: ⅝ inch
• Material: Hybrid polymer
• Weight: ~7 lbs.
• Aluminum alloy coupling
• Flexible and durable
• Weather-resistant
• Drinking water safe
• Swivel grip

Weaknesses:

• Expensive

Macuvan Garden Hose 100 ft Heavy Duty

Macuvan is made from a heavy-duty four-layer polymer blend to withstand harsh weather conditions of -40F – 160F degrees. The ⅝ inch diameter hose provides water flow enough for watering your backyard grass and plants in an area up to 100 ft. Its 4th layer of hybrid polymer is abrasion resistant, so you can drag it over the pavement for washing tasks without fear of damaging the hose.

It’s nice to have a nickel-plated brass connector as it doesn’t leak, but on the other end of the hose, the 9-way spray nozzle does feel a bit cheap and might not hold up as long as the hose itself. Despite the questionable nozzle quality, the Macuvan is one of the best heavy-duty garden hoses for regular homeowners.

Key features:

• Length: 100 ft.
• Diameter: ⅝ inch
• Material: 4 layer polymer blend
• Nickel-plated brass connector
• Heavy-duty
• Burst strength: 500 psi
• 9-way spray nozzle
• Weather-resistant of -40F – 160F

Weaknesses:

• Nozzle feels very cheap
• A bit expensive

GrowGreen Heavy Duty Expandable Garden Hose

The next product on our list is the GrowGreen heavy-duty expandable hose. It’s a very comfortable to use and maneuverable hose. The expandable design allows the hose to be virtually kink-free. It expands up to 3 times when filled with water making this hose just 17 ft. in length when empty. This allows it to be squeezed into a small bag to carry around or store virtually anywhere.

It’s a great small and compact garden hose for small watering tasks like plants or flower watering, garage, or runway spray down. We feel that the water flow rate is too weak for more frequent or larger tasks and just takes too long. This is definitely a light duty tiny space, homeowner hose and not meant for any heavy duty application.

Key features:

• Length: 50 feet
• Diameter:
• Material:
• Very lightweight
• Expandable kink-free design

Weaknesses:

• Weak flow rate
• Restrictive
• Very light duty

The FitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose

The FitLife flexible and expandable hose is our pick for the best short garden hose as it’s super lightweight, making it perfect for small backyards, RVs, or patios. The hose has a triple-layer latex core that is very flexible, won’t crack when stepped on or driven over, but sadly can be damaged by lawnmowers.

Empty hose weighs just 1.8 lbs. and is very compact, perfect for RVs, small houses, or even apartments. When filled, the hose expands to 25 ft. in length and can withstand a maximum pressure of 300-350 psi. The spray nozzle has eight different streams, which can be easily switched with your thumb. The nozzle itself does feel a little cheap, but you can’t expect premium quality for a budget price.

Overall, this short-budget garden hose is for light use and simple watering tasks. It’s not very durable for heavy-duty use, especially in winter, as it doesn’t withstand temperatures lower than 23F.

Key features:

• Length: 25 ft.
• Diameter: ¾ inch
• Material: triple layer latex
• Weight: 1.8 lbs.
• Burst strength: 300-350 PSI
• Heat resistant
• Solid brass fittings
• Very lightweight
• Cheap
• Eight pattern spray nozzle

Weaknesses:

• Can’t leave outside in winter

Bionic Steel 100 Foot Garden Hose

Are you tired of buying new garden hoses every year? You need to try out the Bionic Steel heavy-duty 100 ft. garden hose. This hose is made from 304 stainless steel, can be dropped, stepped on, ridden over with a car, or even a lawnmower.

From first sight, the hose looks to be heavy but weighs just 3 lbs. Making it the lightest heavy-duty garden hose on our list. The hose is kink-resistant since you can’t bend stainless steel without using a lot of force. Bionic Steel hose can withstand up to 500 PSI, so it can be used for pressure washing and regular watering tasks.

This stainless steel garden hose is perfect for hot or freezing temperatures can be left outside in any weather conditions as it is corrosion and rust-free.

Key features:

• Length: 100 ft.
• Diameter: ⅝ inch
• Material: 304 stainless steel
• Weight: 3 lbs.
• Burst strength: 500 PSI
• Weatherproof
• Extremely durable
• Corrosion and rust-free

Weaknesses:

• No nozzle sprayer
• On the expensive side

Flexi Hose with 8 Function Nozzle

To end our list of the best garden hoses in 2021, we have the Flexi 100 ft. expandable hose that is a bit more expensive than other expandable hoses but feels slightly more durable as it has four latex layers.

It can expand up to 100 ft. without any kinks or knots. We love that the brass coupling is easy to attach and has an easy to open or close water lever.

You’ll find an eight-pattern spray nozzle included in the kit, which is handy but is plastic and can break or crack if dropped on concrete.

All in all, it’s a very lightweight and long hose perfect to water large backyards or greenhouses. The only weakness of the hose is that it doesn’t withstand temperatures below 41F or above 113F. It is one of the best expandable garden hoses in terms of quality but might not suit people living in colder regions.

Key features:

• Length: 100 ft.
• Diameter: ¾ inch
• Material: 4 layer latex
• Very lightweight
• Brass coupling
• Eight pattern spray nozzle

Weaknesses:

• Isn’t weatherproof
• Expensive compared to other expandable hoses

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect different metal fittings?

No, it’s best for the hose coupling metal to match your faucet metal. Never buy aluminum couplings if you have a brass or steel faucet. Different metals can have corrosive effects on each other, so it is best to match materials. A harder metal fitting might crack the weaker metal if you use too much force when tightening, or it will be tough to unscrew.

Can I leave my hose outside in winter?

In general, you shouldn’t leave your hose outside in winter because when the water freezes, it expands and might crack or split your hose. If you do leave your garden hose outside or in a shed where it’s really cold, make sure to drain all the water out first and never leave a hose attached to your spigot in freezing temperatures.

Some heavy-duty hoses made from stainless steel or rugged rubber aren’t afraid of cold temperatures as they can withstand expansion from freezing water, but cheaper and softer materials don’t hold that well. Before leaving your hose in freezing weather, make sure to check the instructions to see if it can withstand cold temperatures.

In general, freezing water is very powerful and causes much damage every winter. Leaving water inside of any container, including a garden hose over winter is simply asking for trouble.

Check out our list of best hose reels.