The Best Garden Hoses And Reels We’ve Tried And Tested
Wall reels and expandable hoses for watering the borders and washing the car.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best garden hose is the Hozelock Garden Hose With Auto Reel. Its spring rewind lays the hose away neatly without kinks, so there's no winding by hand, and the reel pivots to follow you as you pull the hose out. If you're short on storage space, the FlexiHose Garden Hose shrinks back small enough to keep in a bucket or cupboard.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Hozelock Garden Hose With Auto Reel
Best Wall-Mounted
Hozelock Garden Hose With Auto ReelHomes with a solid outside wall near the tap and regular watering
- Check price of FlexiHose Garden Hose
- Check price of Hozelock Garden Hose With Cart
Best All-Rounder
Hozelock Garden Hose With CartMedium and large gardens where the hose moves between jobs
- Check price of Karcher CR3110 Hose Pipe
- Check price of Running Bulls Expanding Garden Hose
Best Value
Running Bulls Expanding Garden HoseBudget buyers who want an expandable hose with every accessory included
- Check price of Karcher HR7320 Hose
Best Wall-Mounted Runner-Up
Karcher HR7320 HoseWall-mounted storage with a hose you can take round the house
Where the hose lives between uses is the real decision here. A wall reel needs a solid wall close to the outside tap, a cart is worth its wheels when the watering is spread round a bigger garden, and an expandable hose packs away into a cupboard but doesn't like being dragged over rough ground. Get the length right as well, because spare metres you never use add weight and cost you pressure at the nozzle.
Our six include automatic and manual reels, a cart and two expandable hoses.
How We Judged These Garden Hoses
Watering plants and washing the car both need a decent hose, and over the years we've tried a wide range of them, including a standard hose on a cart reel, a wall-mounted reel and an expandable hose.
Each one was judged on how easy it was to set up and use, the quality of the hose and fittings, and how simple it was to move and put away. The wall-mounted Hozelock is one we own, and the Hozelock cart pictured below is another reel we've used.
The wall-mounted reel is our favourite of the lot. The video shows how smoothly it pulls out and winds back in.
Garden Hoses With Reels: Are They Worth It? We've Been Testing! Look How Effortless This Reel Is!
We've also tried expandable hoses and other reel designs, including the two below. When a brand updates a hose, we try to get hold of the new version and use it in the same way.
Hose type, the lengths on offer, the fittings in the box, extra accessories, warranty and value for money all fed into the final list. Pressure ratings and guarantees come from the brands.
The Best Garden Hoses For UK Gardens
The list below covers wall-mounted reels, carts and expandable hoses. Check the length options against your own measurement before you buy.
Best Wall-Mounted
Hozelock Garden Hose With Auto Reel
Best for: Homes with a solid outside wall near the tap and regular watering
Check Price On AmazonA Hozelock wall reel is our favourite of the hoses we own, and you can see ours in the video above. A spring inside the reel pulls the hose back in once you've finished, laying it neatly with no kinks, so there's no winding by hand. Hozelock sells it with hoses from 10 to 50 metres.
The reel pivots through 180 degrees, so you can pull the hose off to either side without it dragging over the edge of the case. It lifts off its bracket for storing away in winter, and the bracket only needs two screws to fix to the wall. All the fixings come in the box. There's a child lock to stop the hose being pulled out and two side compartments for spare nozzles and connectors. The hose itself has three layers, which helps it resist kinks and wear.
What we like
- Spring rewind lays the hose back in without kinks
- Pivots 180 degrees to follow the hose
- Premium three-layer hose
- Child lock to prevent misuse
- All fixtures and fittings included
- Lengths from 10 to 50 metres
- Two side compartments for accessories
What to know
- Needs fixing to a solid wall
- Costs more than the manual Hozelock cart
Our verdict
A solid wall near the outside tap is all the Hozelock auto reel asks for, and in return the hose pulls out smoothly and tidies itself away. It's the hose we'd least like to give up, and the child lock and side compartments are handy extras.
Best Expandable
FlexiHose Garden Hose
Best for: Small gardens, balconies and patios with little storage space
Check Price On AmazonAn expandable hose needs no reel. It stretches to around three times its length when the water's on, then shrinks back when you turn the tap off, so it stores in a bucket or a cupboard. The FlexiHose comes in lengths from 15 to 30 metres.
Inside, a double latex pipe sits in a high-strength polyester sleeve, which FlexiHose says withstands 12 bar of pressure. It comes with an 8-pattern spray gun and a solid brass 3/4 inch fitting, which is sturdier than the plastic connectors on cheaper hoses. A lifetime replacement guarantee backs it up. It's light and easy to carry round a small garden, but expandable hoses don't like being dragged over sharp edges or left pressurised for long spells, so it's not one for heavy daily use on a big plot.
What we like
- Expands to around three times its length
- Double latex pipe inside a polyester sleeve
- Rated to 12 bar according to FlexiHose
- 8-pattern spray gun included
- Solid brass 3/4 inch fitting
- Lifetime replacement guarantee
What to know
- Costs more than the Running Bulls expandable hose
- Not suited to dragging over rough or sharp surfaces
Our verdict
The FlexiHose is the one to choose if you want a well-made expandable hose that stores in a small space and comes with a decent spray gun. On a tighter budget, the Running Bulls hose gives a similar kit for less. For a bigger garden or daily heavy use, a reel like the Hozelock auto reel will last better.
Best All-Rounder
Hozelock Garden Hose With Cart
Best for: Medium and large gardens where the hose moves between jobs
Check Price On AmazonThe Hozelock cart is the more affordable way to get a Hozelock hose and reel, and it's the one parked on the gravel in our photos. It comes fully assembled with 20, 30 or 50 metres of triple-layer hose, so you can connect it to the tap straight out of the box.
The cart has wheels and a handle, which makes it easy to wheel from the back garden to the drive when it's time to wash the car. The plastic reel is sturdy and the hose winds on quickly with the handle. The catch comes when you've pulled the full length out. Winding it all back in took some effort in our testing, and the hose can jam or overlap on the drum unless you guide it on evenly with your free hand. Hozelock includes a 2 year guarantee.
What we like
- Arrives fully assembled
- Wheels and handle for moving round the garden
- Triple-layer hose
- 20, 30 or 50 metre lengths
- Durable plastic reel
- 2 year guarantee
What to know
- Took effort to rewind from full length without the hose overlapping in our testing
Our verdict
The Hozelock cart is a sound all-rounder for anyone who needs to move the hose between the garden and the drive, and it costs less than the auto reel. If you'd rather never wind a hose by hand again and have a wall to fix to, the Hozelock auto reel is worth the extra. For tiny spaces, choose the Karcher CR3110.
Best Compact
Karcher CR3110 Hose Pipe
Best for: Small gardens and patios where space is tight
Check Price On AmazonThe Karcher CR3110 is a compact reel that you can fix to the wall or leave free-standing and carry about. It comes with a 10 metre hose, which keeps the whole unit small, and the reel lifts off for taking round to the front of the house or out to the car.
There's storage inside the drum for nozzles and connectors, and an on-board shut-off lets you stop the water at the reel rather than walking back to the tap. Karcher includes two AquaStop connectors, which stop the water when you unclip a spray gun or accessory. A carrying handle makes it easy to move. The 10 metre hose is the limit, though. It's ideal for a courtyard, a patio or a small lawn, but it won't reach far in a garden of any size.
What we like
- Wall-mounted or portable
- Storage inside the drum
- On-board shut-off for the water flow
- Two AquaStop connectors included
- Carrying handle and removable reel
What to know
- Only available with a 10 metre hose
Our verdict
Small gardens, courtyards and patios are where the Karcher CR3110 makes sense. The 10 metre hose keeps the reel compact, it can live on the wall or travel with you, and the on-board shut-off saves a trip back to the tap. Anything bigger needs a longer hose than this one offers.
Best Value
Running Bulls Expanding Garden Hose
Best for: Budget buyers who want an expandable hose with every accessory included
Check Price On AmazonRunning Bulls makes a cheaper alternative to the FlexiHose, sold in 50, 100 and 150 foot lengths, which is roughly 15, 30 and 45 metres. The brand says it expands to three times its relaxed length, and it backs the hose with a one-year warranty and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
The kit is generous. You get a spray gun with 7 settings, 3/4 and 1/2 inch brass connectors, a wall hanger and a storage bag, so there's nothing else to buy. The hose has a latex core inside a 600D polyester sleeve and fits all standard UK taps. The weak point in our testing was the supplied spray gun, which could have been better. If you already own a good spray gun, that hardly matters.
What we like
- Spray gun, brass connectors, hanger and bag all included
- Latex core with a 600D polyester sleeve
- 7 spray settings
- Lengths up to 150 feet
- Fits standard UK taps
What to know
- Supplied spray gun could be better based on our testing
- Shorter warranty than the FlexiHose guarantee
Our verdict
The Running Bulls hose is the best value pick if you want an expandable hose with every fitting in the bag. Pair it with a better spray gun and it's a capable kit. If you'd rather pay more for a lifetime guarantee, choose the FlexiHose instead.
Best Wall-Mounted Runner-Up
Karcher HR7320 Hose
Best for: Wall-mounted storage with a hose you can take round the house
Check Price On AmazonThe Karcher HR7320 is a manual reel that fixes to the wall but also lifts off when you want to carry it elsewhere. That makes it a good middle ground between the fixed Hozelock auto reel and a cart, especially if you have taps at the front and back of the house.
It comes with a 20 metre hose, a spray nozzle and all the fixings to mount it. There's a storage box built in for accessories, and the space-saving design keeps the hose tidy against the wall. Karcher describes it as heavy duty and built to last. You wind it in by hand rather than with a spring, so it takes a little more effort than the Hozelock auto reel, and it's priced towards the top end of manual reels.
What we like
- Lifts off the wall for use as a portable reel
- 20 metre hose
- Built-in accessory storage box
- Spray nozzle and fixings included
- Heavy-duty build
What to know
- Expensive for a manual reel
- Winds in by hand rather than automatically
Our verdict
Taps at the front and back of the house are the reason to look at the Karcher HR7320, as the reel lifts off its wall bracket and goes wherever you need it. Winding is by hand, so if a spring rewind matters to you, the Hozelock auto reel is the better choice.
What To Check Before Buying A Garden Hose
A hose that's the wrong length or kinks every time you move it is a daily irritation. These are the things worth checking before you buy.
Standard, Expandable Or Flat Hose
A standard hose is made from layered rubber or vinyl, lasts well and comes with a reel or cart in most packages. Expandable hoses are light, stretch out under pressure and shrink back for storage, so they suit small gardens and anyone short of space. Flat hoses, like the ones firefighters use, come in long lengths but kink and tangle easily, which is why none made our list.
Getting The Length Right
Measure from the tap to the furthest point you need to reach, including round the car on the drive, then pick the next length up. Buying far longer than you need makes the hose heavier to move, takes more storage room, costs more and lowers the water pressure at the nozzle.
Reels, Carts And Wall Mounts
A reel does more than keep things tidy. It reduces wear, stops kinks and makes rewinding quicker. Wall-mounted reels suit a fixed spot by the tap, carts with wheels suit bigger gardens or homes with more than one tap, and automatic reels rewind themselves on a spring. With a spring reel, walk the hose back in rather than letting it fly, which is kinder to the spring and stops the nozzle cracking against the case. Manual reels are cheaper but take more effort when the full length is out.
Connectors And Spray Guns
Most UK hose fittings are a standard click-on type, so spare parts are easy to find. Brass connectors last longer than plastic ones. If a spray gun isn't included, look for one with several patterns and a non-slip grip. Check your hose will take the attachments you need, whether that's one of the best garden sprinklers for the lawn or a feed for one of the best pressure washers when you're cleaning patio slabs.
Kink Resistance And Aftercare
Kinks stop the flow and, under pressure, can crack or split a hose. Look for hoses sold as anti-kink or tangle-free, and lay them out straight before turning the tap on. Drain the hose after use, as standing water encourages algae and leaves it under pressure on the reel. Store it out of direct sun, because heat and UV harden the outer layer and lead to cracks.
Common Garden Hose Questions
Are expandable hoses any good?
Expandable hoses are good for small gardens, patios and balconies because they're light and shrink down to a fraction of their length for storage. They're less hard-wearing than a standard reinforced hose, so they don't suit being dragged over sharp edges or used heavily every day. Turn off the tap and release the pressure after each use to help them last.
What length of garden hose do I need?
The length of garden hose you need is the distance from your outside tap to the furthest point you water or wash, rounded up to the next available size. Walk the route the hose will take, including around the car, rather than measuring in a straight line. Most garden hoses come in lengths from 10 to 50 metres.
Is a wall-mounted hose reel worth it?
A wall-mounted hose reel is worth it if you use a hose regularly and have a solid wall near the tap. It keeps the hose off the ground, stops kinks and makes putting it away quick. An automatic reel like the Hozelock auto reel we use rewinds the hose for you, which is the main reason we rate it so highly.
Should you leave a hose out in winter?
You shouldn't leave a hose out in winter, because any water left inside can freeze, expand and split the hose or the fittings. Drain it fully, disconnect it from the tap and store it in a shed or garage. Many wall-mounted reels lift off their bracket so you can bring them inside, and lagging the outside tap protects the pipework too.
Is the Hozelock cart or the auto reel better?
The auto reel is the nicer hose to live with, but the cart costs less and goes where you need it. The auto reel needs a solid wall near the tap and then puts itself away. The cart wheels from the back garden to the drive, but rewinding a full length by hand was hard work in our testing, and you need to guide the hose on to stop it overlapping on the drum.
What's the weak point of the Running Bulls expanding hose?
The spray gun that comes with it, which wasn't up to the standard of the rest of the kit in our testing. The hose, brass connectors, wall hanger and storage bag are all good for the money, so if you've already got a decent spray gun, or swap in a better one, the weak point goes away.
Can the Karcher HR7320 move between the front and back taps?
Yes, and that's the main reason to buy it. The reel lifts off its wall bracket, so you can hang it by the back tap and carry it round to the front when the car needs washing. It comes with a 20 metre hose and a spray nozzle. Winding is by hand, which is more effort than the spring rewind on the Hozelock auto reel.
Which hose would you pick for a small patio?
The Karcher CR3110. Its 10 metre hose is all a courtyard or small patio needs, and that short length is what keeps the reel compact enough to hang on the wall or carry about. The FlexiHose is the alternative if you'd rather have an expandable hose that stores in a bucket or cupboard.
The Garden Hose We'd Pick
The Hozelock Garden Hose With Auto Reel is the hose we'd buy for most homes, and it's the one on our own wall. If you can't fix to a wall or need to move it around, the Hozelock cart does the same job for less money.
For small spaces, the FlexiHose and Running Bulls expandable hoses pack away into almost nothing. Sticking with a big brand like Hozelock or Karcher also makes replacement connectors and nozzles easy to find.
Archie is our gardening specialist. He started out as an apprentice at a gardening firm, built up his own knowledge from there and now writes most of our garden content.