Best Retractable Hose Reel to Organize the Garden

After a thorough review of the retractable garden hose reel market, we have determined that the best self-winding hose reel is the GARDENA auto rewind garden hose reel. It is expensive, but it is made of top of the line materials, and the overall design overflows with quality. With 85’ of garden hose and a spray nozzle included, GARDENA has thought of everything. The auto rewind mechanism is easily operated and includes a steel retraction spring and water hose guide to prevent kinks and bunch-ups.

If you’re looking for the highest quality garden hose reel, and don’t to have to keep buying new cheap ones year after year, the GARDENA is for you. For a complete review of this product, please see below.

At a much lower price point, but with a lower quality build, the Suncast PW100 is a good choice for those that don’t want to break the bank. The Suncast PowerWind garden hose reel uses a battery system to reel in the water hose. This unit has a capacity of 100’ of water hose, though the hose is not included. The PW100 reels in the garden hose easily, by simply pressing down on the foot pedal. You don’t even need to bend down to operate the mechanism! The battery lasts for approximately 20 uses before it needs to be recharged, and it takes about 1 minute to reel in the hose. Though this unit is significantly less expensive than the GARDENA, you still need to buy the hose and nozzle, and the build quality is not as high. That said, it is covered under a 3-year warranty, which is nice. For a full review of the Suncast PW100, please see below.

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The Suncast Aquawinder retractable garden hose winder is a good choice for those on a budget, and who don’t mind using water power to wind up the hose. The Aquawinder expels water to power the retraction, though this water can be captured and poured onto a plant or into a garden. With a 125’ garden hose capacity, this unit can handle a large amount of hose, though you’ll need to buy the garden hose separately. The gears on the reel mechanism are made of plastic, and the handle/gear setup may fail over time. Fortunately, Suncast protects this with a 3-year limited warranty, which is a nice feature. With unobtrusive lines, a good capacity, and a great price point, the Suncast Aquawinder 125’ garden hose is a great cheap retractable water hose reel.

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Retractable Hose Reel Reviews

In this section, we review in depth each of the auto rewind garden hose reels and identify the pros and cons of each. We’ll start with a comparison table to get the lay of the land, and then move on to look carefully at each of these automatic hose reels.

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GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel 82-Feet With Convenient Hose Guide

The GARDENA Retractable Hose Reel is the most expensive reel on our list, but is constructed of extremely high-quality components, and is exquisitely designed and manufactured. Designed by GARDENA Australia, this unit comes with 82’ of garden hose and is compatible with all GARDENA accessories. It is a luxury item, but GARDENA delivers the goods here.

Key Features and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 20" x 11" x 20"
• Weight: 18lbs
• Easily-operated retractable garden hose reel
• Convenient wall mounted system
• Steel spring guides hose into the unit through the integrated hose guide
• Includes a hose bracket that allows the mounting of nozzles and sprayers
• Conveniently removed for winter storage
• Wall brackets, screws, and plugs included

For those who need about 80’ of garden hose capacity, and want the best, the GARDENA retractable hose reel is for you! The hose is 1/2“ wide, but works quite well and supplies good pressure where needed. The GARDENA retractable hose reel has a powerful, industrial look with dark gray and blue colors. It doesn’t blend in with the surrounding environment completely, but the look of the unit is strong and speaks to quality construction. This unit comes with a spray nozzle, but it doesn’t have the quick on/off button common to most sprayers. We recommend you try it out and then order another nozzle later if you decide you want more capabilities. You don’t have to stick with the GARDENA brand spray nozzles and can choose to use the included adapter to connect to any standard garden hose sprayer. However, the GARDENA models are extremely high quality, so if you have the system, you might as well spring for the GARDENA sprayers too! The GARDENA retracts using a spring system, but there is an optional battery powered system should the spring system not be enough for your needs. The spring mechanism is made of steel, which is quite nice and is definitely a step up from the plastic gear mechanisms found on most self-winding water hose reels.

The hose does not easily kink, and the housing swivels 180 degrees to allow the hose to go where it’s needed. For those who have a corner nearby, the unit comes with a satellite pulley runner that channels the hose around the corner, preventing scrapes, kinks, and damage. For winter storage, the unit can be easily unclipped from the wall and carried inside for protection from the cold.

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Suncast PW100 Powerwind 100-Foot Capacity Automatic Rewind Garden Hose Reel

The Suncast PW100 is a battery powered retractable garden hose reel, and it has some very nice features, especially for those who are concerned about water waste. Capable of supporting up to 100’ of garden hose, this unit is high capacity and well designed. The foot pedal rewind design means that you don’t even need to bend over to retract the garden hose!

Key Features and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 24.5" x 23.5" x 32.2"
• Weight: 28.1lbs
• Battery powered auto hose reel
• 100' garden hose capacity
• Foot pedal for easy operation
• Rechargeable battery included
• Weather-resistant resin plastic housing
• Tangle-free design
• Comes fully assembled
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

The Suncast PW100 is a great choice for a garden hose reel that doesn’t use water to bring in the hose. By using a rechargeable battery to retract the water hose, the Suncast PW100 does not waste any water and works well. Typically the battery will wind the hose about 20 times before it needs to be recharged. You should be able to use this hose reel almost all summer without needing to recharge it! Rewinding 100’ of garden hose reel takes about 1 minute. The PW100 has a capacity of 100’ of standard garden hose (not flat or expandable water hose). We recommend not getting more than 5/8“ garden hose for this reel if you need 100’ of length. If you get 5/8“ hose, be sure to drain as much water out of those hose as possible before beginning the winding process, to ensure there is enough room for the entire length of hose. Also, it is best not to attach multiple hoses together, as the auto-wind feature can get caught up at the link points. Be sure to fully drain the PW100 before freezing temperatures come, as water can damage the internal mechanisms. If possible, store this unit inside over winter. The shorter the garden hose you use, the longer the auto-wind gears will last. If you don’t need 100’ of hose, we strongly recommend getting a shorter length that will do what you need. Also, to aid in the winding process, it helps to zig-zag the hose out in front of the PowerWinder. Some people find this unit difficult to unwind, but as long as the hose is properly drained when winding, and as long as the water is on when unwinding, the PW100 should work easily. If the foot pedal is not properly rewinding the Suncast PW100, check the lid to ensure it is fully down, and in proper contact with the sides. If it is not secured, the auto-winder won’t work.

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Suncast Aquawinder 125-Foot Capacity Hose Reel

The Suncast Aquawinder 125 Foot Hose Reel is essentially the same as the Suncast RSW125D garden hose reel, but it comes in a sleek resin crate design as opposed to a faux wicker resin panel design. We prefer the crate look, though the price is nearly the same, so if you prefer the resin wicker, go for that!

Key Features and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 21.7" x 16.6" x 21.1"
• Weight: 21 lbs
• Water Powered Retractable Hose Reel
• Hands-free rewinding
• Fits Up to 125' of 5/8" Garden Hose
• Drain and Winding Hoses Included
• Smart-Track Hose Guide
• Resin Panel Construction
• No Assembly Required
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

Like the Suncast RSW125D, this Aquawinder is a nice, simple unit that works well as long as you keep the garden hose straight when using the retraction mechanism. The gears are made of plastic, and are not strong enough to do a lot of work, but will reel in a garden hose properly arranged. This unit uses water to automatically retract the hose and will expel some excess water in the retraction process. Try to capture that in a bucket or otherwise aim it at a plant or your compost tumbler while rewinding to prevent water waste. The Suncast Aquawinder can support up to 125’ of 5/8“ garden hose. Should you use a quantity of hose near the capacity of the unit, we definitely suggest helping to push the hose into the housing during the retraction process in order to take some of the work away from the gears. This will increase the life of the unit and is still much less difficult than manually rewinding. The handles on this unit can break, though Suncast will send replacements through warranty if you have a problem. The valve O-rings can move from their proper position and contact the water outlets, making the handle very stiff and eventually causing the handle to snap. If that happens, you can manually wind the hose by turning the wheel, but it is difficult, and we recommend contacting Suncast immediately. This unit drains the hose as it rewinds, which is a nice feature.

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Suncast RSW125D Aquawinder 125-Foot Capacity Hose Reel

The Suncast Aquawinder RSW125D automatic retractable garden hose reel is a great high capacity retractable hose reel. It features an attractive resin wicker finish in a java color scheme, and a water-powered auto rewind feature that makes hose rewinds effortless. No need to ever crank the hose again.

Key Features and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 20" x 13" x 20.5"
• Weight: 22.4 lbs
• Water Powered Retractable Hose Reel
• Hands-free rewinding
• Fits Up to 125' of 5/8" Garden Hose
• Drain and Winding Hoses Included
• Smart-Track Hose Guide
• Resin Wicker Panel Construction
• No Assembly Required
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

The Suncast Aquawinder RSW125D retractable water hose winder is a great product that can accept up to 125’ of 5/8“ hose. The large capacity makes watering all the plants in the garden a cinch! If you are planning to use a heavy duty garden hose, consider getting at most 100’, as the heavy duty hoses are weightier and will stress the winding mechanism. Also, it’s best to avoid flat garden hoses, soaker hoses, or expandable garden hoses, with this housing.

The retractable garden hose mechanism is water powered, which could waste water compared to a battery system (of course, that uses electricity!) If you direct the hose at a plant while winding, it really doesn’t “waste” any water. Alternately, you can fill a bucket as you wind, and dump the bucket in the garden or into the compost bin. Using a hose connector and an extension hose is not recommended with the Aquawinder, as the hose connection can get caught in the auto-winding mechanism. Stick to getting a single length of hose. To make use of the Suncast RSW125D easy, be sure you pull the hose out of the housing before you turn on the water. This will make unspooling easy. If you’re still having trouble getting the hose out of the RSW125D, be sure you anchor the water hose reel down with the included stakes. Making the hose reel pull from around a corner will damage the gear system over time, as it is made of plastic and isn’t particularly strong. Be gentle and make sure the hose is nice and straight before winding, and the mechanism will work nicely. Made of resin wicker panel construction. The Suncast Aquawinder is weather resistant and requires no maintenance other than removing all water from the unit before winter. It is not made of true resin wicker as an outdoor furniture set would be, but rather a PVC panel like a deck box, which is appropriate for this sort of patio furniture object.

Suncast Aquawinder Instructions

It’s often helpful to take a look at the manual before you purchase a product so you can determine what you’re getting into. If you are interested in reviewing it, you can find the Suncast Aquawinder Instructions here .

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RL Flo-Master 65HR8 Retractable Hose Reel with 8 Spray Pattern Nozzle, 65-Foot

The RL Flo-MAster 65HR8 is a nicely designed wall-mounted retractable garden hose reel with some great features. It has a minimal, attractive look, and is unobtrusive yet easy to use.

Key Features and Dimensions

• Dimensions: 20" x 13" x 23"
• Weight: 26.6lbs
• Retractable spring-loaded hose with stopper
• Wall mount bracket allows 180' swivel
• Easily removed for indoor storage
• Includes 65' of 5/8" garden hose with brass fittings
• Includes 8-mode spray nozzle
• 1 Year Limited Warranty

The RL Flo-master 65’ Retractable water hose reel is a nice system, covered under a decent warranty and reasonably well made. Most of the components are plastic, but if you take care when using the unit, it will last quite a while. The hose included is 65’ long, and is about 5/8“ wide, though the internal diameter is rather small, and the pressure is not extremely high. The included spray nozzle has 8 spray settings, which is a very nice feature. Simply mount the reel onto a wall or onto a piece of wood inserted into the ground, and attach the leader hose to the spigot. Unwind and you’re good to go! The simple green/gray color scheme is muted and is soft enough that it won’t stick out against most houses, which is nice. If your garden hose ceases to retract, you may need to reset the mechanism. Shut off the water supply and remove the water from the hose using the nozzle. Once all possible water is removed, pull the hose almost completely out of the housing, then give a gentle tug to start the retraction. Do not let it retract the hose at full speed, but rather slowly let it reel back into the housing. Think of the mechanism like a seat-belt that has become locked. Root Lowell Flowmaster warranties the hose reel for one year, and if you need to contact them to get parts or for warranty service, call them at 1-800-253-4642 to request parts or service.

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Conclusion: The Auto Rewind Hose Reel

Any of the units on our list today will do a great job of keeping your garden organized, and keeping your garden hose neatly in place, ready for use. The first determination you should make is whether you want a wall mounted unit or a hose box. Then you’ll need to decide whether you prefer a spring loaded, water powered, or battery powered unit. From there, use our comparison table above to pick the best automatic hose reel for your needs. If we had to choose one, it would be the Gardena Auto Rewind Hose Reel. Happy Gardening!

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