Gardena Wall-Mounted Hose Box RollUp XL (turquoise) 35 m: Versatile watering system for large gardens, swivel hose box, including 35 m Gardena hose and mounting kit (18630-20)

Product Information

Not sure what to look for in a good automatic garden hose reel?
Well, we are here to help with this short guide that’ll highlight a few things to keep an eye out for. From housing and casing issues, to broken winding mechanisms, to length, to hose quality, and even the connectors that are included I run through what you need to make this happen from start to finish. I even show you an install and what components are needed in my HAUSHOF review. Housing / casing compared I’ve just moved to my new house last year and what an opportunity for me to test and bring you the new best automatic garden hose reel. I’m sorting a lawn from scratch – nothing fancy as I plan to do something with a structure on the area later this year or next, but an automatic garden hose reel is an absolute must if you want to keep the garden tidy whilst watering your grass seed every day. Naturally I am using it in conjunction with my favourite water sprinkler. I have to say it was extremely easy to setup and install – the components are so straight forward you don’t even need the instructions but there were a few pitfalls on testing and I came up with a much better idea than joining two GARDENA reels to save money this time. Here’s a look at my favourite automatic garden hose reel in action: My personally tested HAUSHOF Hose Reel, Wall Mounted Retractable Garden Hose Reel

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. The colour scheme might not be to everyone’s liking, and the housing itself is a little bulky, but no more than many of its competitors. The connectors that come with the product aren’t bad, however the one that connected to the tap on the model we tested did leak a little bit. It was an easy fix with a change of rubber washer though.

Wall-Mounted Hose Box RollUp XL, 35m

One of the most important reasons for a reel is to prevent the hose itself from becoming kinked or knotted. When that happens, splits tend to develop along with the rubber and this can cause the hose to break. The Gardena Wall-Mounted Hose Box 35 Roll-Up Automatic shown above is currently unavailable but coming to the UK soon.

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. Looking for maximum comfort without the need to bend over? Consider an automatic winding hose reel, it'll help you keep your hands clean too. The premium quality 35 metre hose with power grip technology is rated to 3500 kPa with a 10/10 kink resistance making it reliable, long-lasting and its high-density/quality double spiral mesh reinforcing reduces the chance of kinking, knotting and twisting. Both the hose and hose box are made from UV stabilised material that has been tested to the equivalent of 3 years of Australian sunshine. 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.

With an automatic hose, you pull out just the length of hose that you need. You’re just carrying that length to water your garden. With a manual hose, you need to drag the entire weight of the hose as you take it into your garden. You can stop some models unrolling every 30cm and other models let you stop whenever you want to. 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. 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. The new range of RollUp hose boxes offers a flexible, self-retracting hose reel to provide water throughout gardens of any size. This model comes complete with 35 metres of quality hose pipe included. It is designed to be wall mounted and able to swivel 180°.

Automatic hose reels rewind the hose neatly into a reel box. You can install it on a wall out of the way. The box provides protection from UV-rays and from rain and windy weather for the hose. All these elements can cause your hose to degrade. 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. Automatic hose reels are durable and are usually made of metal, fibreglass or plastic. The metal is generally powder-coated and rust resistant, while fibreglass and plastic naturally are. The reel boxes also protect the hose from wind, rain and harmful UV rays. What safety features are included with an automatic hose reel, and are there any safety concerns to be aware of? Whilst some people love the bright colours of gardening equipment, there are others who cry out for something a little more understated. If you find yourself in the latter category, you’ll be pleased to know the TRESKO Auto Garden Hose Reel has got you covered.The latest generation of hose reels make the watering process even easier by using auto-rewind technology. The premium quality hose boasts a three-layer construction to maximise durability too. It’s certainly one of the best when it comes to hose quality, this is where manufacturers often cut corners to keep the costs down, however, we think the hose is one of the most important factors to consider and somewhere corners should never be cut. Let’s talk about the plastic mount itself. I was a little concerned it felt flimsy – I was doing up the bolt with my impact driver and I was being careful not to go too hard and smash the plastic – I was completely wrong. The plastic mount could be pushed hard, I even dented the timber with the edge of the plastic mount frame so it’s very solid – this is probably the most important component when you compare these against other models – this is the easiest thing to fail, be it fall off the wall or break. I can tell you with 100% honesty from testing I am super happy with this unit: Something else you should consider replacing is the basic spray nozzle that comes with it is a little cheap, pound shop quality. You might want to invest in a better-quality hose gun if you need spray patterns for your gardening tasks, such as mist for seeding, jet, etc.

This product comes with a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty, but from my initial impressions, it should last you longer than that without any major issues. Most of the problems you get with these types of products can be solved with a few fitting/connector change, so if you do have leaks, try replacing these first before considering replacing the whole product as it will undoubtedly save you time and hassle in the long run. You can still take the entire hose off the out of the reel box, drain it and out it away for winter storage. Can an automatic hose reel be used for all types of hoses, or are there specific types that work best with it? All the models in this review have a mechanism that lets you swivel the hose 180? when you’re watering your garden. This avoids the hose kinking as you move it around. Auto reel box No manual winding is required, the hose retracts automatically and reliably using a high-quality return springIt’s worth noting that this is a large hose reel that does take up quite a bit of space – certainly something to bear in mind when considering if it’s the right product for your garden. The reel casing measures 27 x 66 x 55.5 cm, which is bigger than some other models. The hose is stored inside a tough UV stabilised plastic case that ensures protection from the sun and therefore extends its longevity. What we really love about the case is that it can pivot 180 degrees on its base to allow for a wider reach in your garden, just like the Gardena model does. When it comes to the hose itself, the manufacturing is of noticeably good quality; the 25 m hose pipe consists of 3 wear-resistant layers which help protect it from the elements and high water pressure.