Another thing to consider is the size of the reel unit itself. You should make sure you have enough wall space to mount the hose reel that you want to buy, as some of them are quite large. The five auto hose reels we have reviewed above are all worthy of the title ‘best auto rewind hose’ and we feel your choice will always come down to personal preference and perhaps your loyalty to brands. Now, something else I noticed was the instructions said to use an 8mm masonry drill, but you’ll need a 10mm one to fit the supplied rawlplugs, or at least we did. That being said, I had some spare bolts, so I just used these instead to ensure its fixing is solid, as these hose reels weigh so much more than standard ones. I would also maybe upgrade the screw fitting to something more substantial, a few quid from B&Q and worth doing.

Automatic hose reels prevent your hose from kinking and tangling. You pull them straight out from the reel box and they go away in the same manner. Unrolling your manual hose requires you to pull the entire length of the heavy hose as you untangle it. Using just enough hose If you’re working with limited space, you might be wondering if there are more compact units available. The VonHaus Auto Rewind Wall-Mounted Hose Reel measures 41 x 40 x 20 cm which is significantly smaller than some other models. Practicality: In terms of practicality, I looked out for reels that were resistant to kinks and those that had additional features that made them easier to use, such as auto-rewind technology. Models that were heavier – such as those above 15 kg – were rated lower in terms of initial practicality, as these were difficult to hold and assemble, so could pose difficulties to the average gardener immediately.A pre-installed hose stopper will allow you to control the length of your hose as it retracts. You can also use the stopper to find the ideal length for watering. The stopper will maintain your set hose length until you are done or you decide to change it. Plastic vs Metal reels The hose is 20 m long, which accounts for the smaller unit, yet still offers sufficient reach for small gardens and medium spaces. Less force is required to pull out the hose than with longer models, and it extends smoothly. It retracts neatly into the drum after use, although you may need to coax the hose slightly as it begins to fill up the casing. That said, you should still position your reel out of direct sunlight. High-quality casing will protect the hose from UV damage, but it will last longer if it is in a position where the temperature is more stable.

This is one of the cheapest reels on the list, and as a result it may not be quite as smooth in operation as some of the more expensive models. However, arguably the generous length of hose makes for an acceptable compromise. The hose can sometimes require a bit of persuasion to unravel, and to avoid damaging the unit or surrounding objects the hose should be walked in carefully.A hose stopper will prevent the hose from being pulled all the way into the casing, which can be a major pain. They are often shaped like a ball that the hose runs through but there are other designs.
Hose guides are there to help the hose reel in and out smoothly and to wind around the reel without getting tangled up. Of course this is very important if you don’t want to spend half your day trying to sort out a mangled mess of hose inside a box. Automatic hose reels and a game changer for pressure washers in the garden and home

Generous 35m hose length, accompanied by a handy 2m connector hose. (Also available with 20m and 25m hose length) Best automatic garden hose reel overall: HAUSHOF Hose Reel, Wall Mounted Retractable Garden Hose Reel [tested and proven see my review] Swivels, nicely, the break works great, the hose is decent quality, and comes with most fittings you need. Stunning bargain and so pleased I tested it. Now I made a blunder when installing into my shed. Because it’s wood I didn’t bother piloting (obviously I didn’t need the wall plugs either) but the result was I split my wood. Four word descriptions were in full flow: Gardena is almost synonymous with premium quality, but for premium quality you also have to pay a premium price. The 35m version of this product actually costs almost 3 times as much as the Von Haus automatic garden reel hose, but is it worth it? Mounting is a doddle – just lift the unit into place and then place in the plastic bar as highlightedAluminium alloys and stainless steel are the best choices for metal garden hose reels. Reels made from hard plastic resin won’t rust either although they are not as strong as metal. Durability Considering the price and hose length, this hose reel is of good value and a great option for small gardens and a good model to consider. The housing itself is nicely designed, with a modern, round aesthetic, coloured grey with the odd yellow part such as the front where the hose reels in and out of. It’s not the most striking thing I’ve ever seen, but personally, I liked the understated look. There’s little effort on your part. And as many of the hoses in this review have been designed (and tested) to not kink or tangle, rewinding the hose is a smooth process. What is the maximum length of hose that an automatic hose reel can handle?