When you are looking for the best possible way to store your garden hose, while making it easy to use it everyday, you will soon discover the various options you have - at least in a superficial way.
There are wall mounted garden hose reels and garden hose reel carts in every conceivable shape, size and design.
You can also get something a bit more sophisticated in the design department - a garden hose storage pot.
While not as practical as a hose reel, it does make for a very good looking solution - especially if you don't have a huge length of water hose to conceal.
With every type, there are pros and cons, but one specific hose reel has so many pros, that I have to mention it to you here: The Hozelock Auto Reel.
The Hozelock Auto Reel would be categorized as a retractable garden hose reel, which means that it has a mechanism to aid you in rolling up the hose after you are done working for the day.
In other designs, this mechanism is anything from a simple hand operated crank, to an automatic reel driven by water pressure, electricity or a spring.
Most of these designs require you to walk back to the reel casing every time you want to reel a part of the hose in.
This is fine if you want to reel in the entire water hose because you are done using it, but if you just want to reel it in half-way, then it is a nuisance.
The Auto Reel is different.
To activate the reeling mechanism, you simply pull the hose lightly where you stand, and a built-in ratcheting mechanism begins to pull on the hose.
Then it is simply a matter of "walking" the hose back on the reel.
If you don't want to reel it all the way in, just tug lightly on the hose once again, and the mechanism locks.
This really is the most clever way of getting a garden hose back on its reel, that I have ever seen.
Let us compare what other solutions offer - just to put things in perspective.
Flexibility Other hose reels are either wall mounted or portable - not both.
The Hozelock Auto Reel can be wall mounted, or it can be carried around using the integrated handle.
Cleverness in design Most other types of retractable hose reel have a reeling mechanism which requires you to walk back to the reel itself to activate it.
The Auto Reel lets you reel in from the business end of the water hose, so to speak.
Compact size Other reels are compact too - but only when there is no hose on them.
The Auto Reel really packs a lot of hose (up to 20 meters) into as tight a coil as you can get it.
No more huge loops of hose hanging on the wall.
The Hozelock Auto Reel comes in two sizes - the 2490 Auto Reel and the 2485 Mini Auto Reel.
The 2490 comes with 20 meters of high quality hose already on the reel, plus fittings and accessories.
All in all, it is a good deal.
Is there anything bad to say about this product? Well - not bad per se.
If I had to point something out, it would be that the little pull to activate the reeling mechanism may take a few tries to get right.
Then, when you've got it down, it becomes second nature.
Of course, if you don't like the look, which is typical for Hozelock products, with its green plastic, then that would be a problem.
Overall though, it is difficult to say anything bad about this incredibly clever hose reel.
Very recommended.