Flat Hose Reel

Product Information

The included Gardena hose features a spray nozzle and an on/off valve. This makes it infinitely easier to connect the hose to a sprinkler system, as well as adjust the water pressure from the hose itself rather than just the garden tap. But did you know that using a hose reel will make this job so much simpler? Gone are the days of having the hose trailing behind, getting frustratingly tangled and kinked every five minutes! The Umi Auto Rewind Garden Hose Reel comes from a lesser known brand, yet it’s a reliable hose with a surprising number of attachments included for such a budget-friendly item. If the space where you choose to mount your reel is some way from the outdoor tap, you may need to acquire an extra ‘leader hose’ to connect the reel to the water supply. Also referred to as a ‘feeder hose’, sometimes you will have to create this yourself by cutting a piece of the hose pipe. The quality hose pipe is a three-layer, anti-kink hose that comes with a spraying nozzle. It has a variety of adjustable spray settings, making it easy to change between jobs

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. We tested 26 different hose reels in a range of styles and sizes, in the rooftop garden of our lab in Des, Moines, Iowa. We first set up each hose reel according to the manufacturer's instructions and recorded the time and assembly process. We then evaluated each reel’s design: For those that were simply reels, we connected a hose to the couplings and wound the hose around the reels, noting how much effort it took to do so. For the other styles, we simply coiled a hose into the pots or hangers, recording how easy this deceptively ornery process can be. Next, we tested the products' usability and practiced fully unwinding the hoses from the reel or taking the hoses out of the pots. We noted whether the hose unwound smoothly or was difficult to remove and whether the container tipped over during the process or needed a hand or two to steady it. We repeated this process with two different hoses of varying lengths and styles. 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. If you are looking for a high-quality hose reel to store and transport your hose (up to 200 feet), the Gorilla Aluminum Hose Reel is the perfect choice. After we tested 25 other reels of different shapes and styles, this product shines above the rest for its durability and design. 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.Alfresia’s Auto Hose Reel is a great value option, suitable for medium/large gardens. It contains a 30m hose, which is only 5m shorter than the hose on the Gardena Hose Reel, yet comes in at a fraction of the price. The reel has a reliable, and fairly powerful, winding mechanism, making it well suited to use in small spaces and on terraces; it cleanly stores the garden hose away in a neat casing that measures approximately 55 cm in diameter. You should also look for a casing that is made from frost-resistant plastic to help protect the hose if it’s left outside during cold weather.

If you’re thinking about buying an automatic hose reel, here are a few tips to help you find the right hose and reel. DKN Leisure Supplies offers flat garden hoses as a suitable alternative. Flat garden hoses are designed to be lightweight and resistant to punctures and kinks. That means you don’t have to worry as much about getting holes in the hose or spending a lot of time untangling it. Instead, you can spend less than a minute straightening out the flat hose as you bring the head to the proper destination. Well! What can one say about a hose! Fantastic seems a bit OTT but this little beauty is brilliant! We bought it for use in the motorhome as we were fed up of having to coil up the old one and try and keep the kinks out of the blessed thing!

The latest generation of hose reels make the watering process even easier by using auto-rewind technology.

Do you need a reel for your flat garden hose? One more additional benefit to a flat garden hose is that you can wind it up on a reel without getting it tangled. We sell hose reels separately or with the hose included. If you don’t have a flat garden hose already and would like a reel included with it, consider purchasing our hose and reel combination products. You might be torn between hose reels or expandable hoses – both options are space-saving ways to get a longer hose in the garden. Multi-Reels are used by everyone from roadies, tradies, techies, travellers, caterers and fireies, to Mum with the Chrissy lights and Gramps with his plug-in-mower lead.

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. Our Flat Out Drink Water Hose is a world-class potable portable hose. This taste-free, high pressure-rated hose with brass fittings, rolls flat on our Multi-Reel to save space. It takes a fraction of the time than conventional models take to use. It even self-drains! Designed originally for caravans and motorhomes, many of our customers utilise the Flat Out hoses in marine, equine and commercial settings. Installation can also be a bit of a challenge; at 16.4 kg it’s not the lightest of units and it needs to be fixed to a solid wall to make sure it stays in securely. We found reeling and unreeling the hose seamless with each type of hose we tested. Although this wagon can accommodate both large and small hoses, it is heavier than others we tested and definitely more than you would need for a smaller space. We also noted that during assembly we weren’t able to tighten one of the screws and all of them seemed a bit loose, although that didn't affect the wagon's performance during testing at all. It’s also a good budget option, possessing many of the same features as some of the best garden hose reels on this list, without the eyewatering price tag.

When the hose is retracted, it will disappear inside a neat unit. When not in use, most wall units protrude a maximum of 30 cm from the wall . This is a good size as it stops them from being hazardous or encroaching on your garden space.

Of course, non-drip connectors are a must-have when it comes to garden hoses – keeping water bills down and generally making watering jobs easier. The Alfresia hose reel and hose have all brass fitting; on the spray gun, hose end and tap connector. These are robust and durable, much like the spray gun itself which is also made from metal. Traditional garden hoses are round and easily susceptible to punctures and kinks. Think about how many times you twisted your round garden hose and had to spend several minutes straightening it out. Wouldn’t you like a better alternative?