ON TEST Hose reel kits

With a full watering can weighing up to a whopping 7kg, a hose really takes the heavy lifting out of watering plants, cleaning the greenhouse or washing down the patio. But ease can soon turn to hassle if you’re struggling with unwinding, detangling and storing a hose – which is why a hose reel kit is invaluable. A reel neatly tames metres of hose onto a compact spindle that’s easy to store.

For this trial we focused on free-standing hose reels that are portable and don’t need a wall mounting (although some do have this option). We tested complete kits, divided into two groups: compact mini reels with 10m of hose (idea for a balcony, patio or small garden); and larger reels with 15-40m of hose.

We found big differences in ease of use and product quality, especially with the smaller models, while the often sparse product details