Garden Hose Reel: Wall-Mount, Cart or Retractable? What to Own

What is a garden hose reel?

A garden hose reel is a spool that holds your hose in a neat coil instead of a pile on the ground. Some mount on a wall, some sit on wheels, some stand on legs in the lawn, and some pull the hose back in by themselves with a spring. All do the same basic job: they keep the hose off the grass, out of the way of the mower and free of kinks.

Bob Vila's testers group reels the same way: wall-mounted, cart, freestanding stand, enclosed box and automatic. Each suits a different yard.

Why you'll want one

It saves the hose. Hoses crack and split where they kink or get crushed. In the Tyler Graham video, the creator says he replaced a heavy-duty hose five times in two years after running over it and leaving it out, which is what pushed him to test reels.

It saves your back and your time. A reel with a crank lets you wind a long hose in a minute instead of coiling by hand.

It keeps the yard tidy and safer. No hose across a path to trip over, and no tangles in beds.

Metal reels last. Bob Vila notes that aluminum and steel resist rust, while plastic can fade in sun. A good powder-coated metal reel can outlast several hoses.

How to use it

Always read the maker's instructions, wear gloves if the metal has sharp edges and shut off the water before changing hose fittings.

1. Pick the spot. Place it near the spigot on a wall you can reach easily. Leave room to pull hose out and wind it in.
2. Check capacity first. Measure from the spigot to the farthest spot you water. Match it to the reel's rated hose length so it does not spill or jam, per Bob Vila.
3. Find a stud or use anchors. Bob Vila advises mounting to a stud when the wall has lap siding. On brick or concrete, use masonry anchors; the maker's instruction sheet describes placing the reel over the anchors and tightening a washer and nut on each. A stud finder helps locate the wood behind siding.
4. Buy the right screws. Hardware is not included with many wall reels, including the 707, so get exterior-grade screws or anchors.
5. Check the washers. Make sure the rubber hose washers are in place before you mount, as the Liberty manual says. A missing washer caused a hard spray in Bob Vila's test.
6. Mount it level and firm. Hold it against the wall, mark the holes, drill pilot holes and tighten fully. Give it a tug; a loaded hose is heavy.
7. Connect the leader hose to the spigot. The short leader hose joins the reel to the faucet, so the main hose can turn freely.
8. Wind the hose on evenly. Feed the hose through the guide as you crank so it lays flat in layers, not in a tangle.
9. Turn water off and drain before winter. Disconnect the hose and let it drain so freezing does not crack fittings.
10. Store the nozzle. Many reels have a shelf or tray for a nozzle. Our heavy-duty hose nozzle guide covers what to look for there.

What reviewers and buyers say about the Liberty Garden 707-P

We feature the Liberty Garden 707-P, a wall-mount manual reel. Here is what we found:

• Praised: Bob Vila's testers named the 707 their best wall-mounted pick, with a powder-coated cast aluminum body, a large crank, a decorative look and a 5 foot leader hose. The Amazon listing shows it is highly rated, with several thousand ratings.
• Common complaints: Bob Vila's testers found the hose guide frustrating, said the hose often needed straightening before winding, and noted there is little room to attach the hose. Mounting screws are not included.
• Reliability: We did not find a controlled long-term durability test of this exact model, so we do not claim one.

Manual or retractable?

A manual reel needs you to turn a crank; a retractable reel pulls the hose in with a spring or motor. A retractable one sounds ideal, but results vary. In the Tyler Graham test of four retractable wall reels, he rated the Hoselink as the best of the group, the Vevor as the better budget pick, and said one model felt loose and another was hard to recoil. In the Liz and Let Grow video, a McNaught reel had good hose quality and a long warranty, but the rewind lost power near the end. Bob Vila adds that battery-powered automatic reels cost more and can struggle with very long hoses.

For most homeowners with a straight run from spigot to garden, a simple manual metal reel is the least fuss.

Other reels Bob Vila's testers picked, by situation

Bob Vila's team researched more than 35 reels and tested ten or eleven in their own yards. They scored stability, whether the reel held its advertised hose length, crank smoothness and extras. Here is how their picks line up, so you can see where our featured reel fits:

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying by looks alone. Capacity, mounting and fittings matter more than the finish. A pretty reel that cannot hold your hose is the wrong reel.

Mounting into siding only. A full 125 foot hose is heavy. Bob Vila says anchor wall units into studs with exterior-grade screws, and the Yard Butler entry carries the same warning because heavy loads can pull it off the wall.

Using a hose that is too thick. The Liberty 712 may not fit hoses thicker than 5/8 inch, per Bob Vila's testers, so check the listing's hose diameter.

Forgetting winter. Water left in a hose and reel can freeze. Drain the hose and disconnect it before cold weather.

Overfilling. A hose longer than the reel's capacity spills over the side and jams, per Bob Vila.

Where to mount it

What to look for when buying

• Capacity. Match the rated length and hose diameter (5/8 inch is common) to the hose you own, or plan to buy.
• Material. Powder-coated steel or aluminum resists rust; plastic is light but fades. Brass fittings last longer than plastic.
• Mount type. Wall for small yards, cart for large ones, stand if you cannot drill.
• Leader hose and washers. Make sure the leader hose is included and the fittings come with washers, since missing washers caused leaks in Bob Vila's tests.
• Hose guide. Easy to move and keeps the hose from piling on one side.
• Mounting hardware. Check whether screws are included, and what wall they suit.
• Crank size. A bigger handle winds easier, especially with a full hose.
• Warranty. A longer warranty, like the one the McNaught owner mentions, suggests the maker expects it to last.

Key specs to look for

Where to get it

The Liberty Garden 707-P below is a manual, wall-mount reel that holds up to 125 feet of 5/8 inch hose, according to the listing. Check the listing to confirm what is in the box before you buy.

Liberty Garden 707-P Decorative Wall Mount Hose Reel with Plastic Guide, Bronze

Mid ($$)Worth-owning score 8/10

• Holds up to 125 feet of 5/8 inch hose, per the listing, and includes a 5 foot leader hose
• Cast aluminum with brass plumbing fixtures and a powder coat finish, described by the maker as rust-resistant and weather resistant
• Bob Vila's testers named the 707 their best wall-mounted pick, with a large crank and a handy top shelf

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 8/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 8/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.