Using a hose reel is not only convenient, but it is one of the best ways to store your hose when you are not using it. There are many different types of hose reels, but hand crank hose reels and carts offer a nice blend of convenience with reliability. Hand crank reels give you the largest amount of options from wall mounted hose reels to carts and hideaway boxes. I like the Suncast Hosemobile garden hose reel cart because it comes fully assembled and has a large crank handle that makes winding a hose in very easy.
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These are our choices for best hand crank hose reels:
- Suncast Garden Hose Reel Cart with Hand Crank (click here to view)
- Liberty Garden Steel Hand Wind Wall Mounted Hose Reel (click here to view)
- AMES NeverLeak Hose Reel Cabinet with Auto-Track Guide (click here to view)
- Eley Portable Hand Crank Hose Reel Cart (click here to view)
- Suncast Resin Hideaway Storage Reel with Crank Handle (click here to view)
- Giraffe Heavy Duty Hand Retractable Metal Garden Hose Reel Box (click here to view)
- Liberty Garden 4-Wheel Never Flat Metal Hose Reel Cart (click here to view)
- AMES NeverLeak Poly Wall Mount Hand Crank Reel (click here to view)
- Strongway Parallel or Perpendicular Wall-Mount Steel Hand Crank Reel (click here to view)
- AMES ReelEasy Side Mount Hand Crank Reel (click here to view)
- Suncast Swivel Hideaway Hose Reel with Hose Guide and Crank Handle (click here to view)
- Giraffe Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Hose Reel with Crank (click here to view)
Hank crank garden hose reels have a large range of products, which means there is a lot to sort through before you decide which one to buy. The first decision you need to make when buying a hand crank hose reel is do you want a wall mounted hose reel, box or cabinet hose reel, or a cart hose reel.
Wall-mounted hose reels are easier to keep up out of the way, but obviously when you mount a reel to a fence or wall, you’ll only be able to use that reel in that area of your yard. These types of hose reels give you more stability when you are winding your hose back up.
Hank crank hose reel carts really come in handy for those who need something that can be easily maneuvered place-to-place around a bigger yard. Most all hose reel carts come with never-flat tires and feature a design that makes it reasonably easy to transport your hose around the yard or work site.
Box or cabinet hose reels are mobile, often times with handles or reels, while also being a decorative piece to complete your backyard setting. In this article let’s take a closer look at the best hand crank hose reels so you can find an option that fits your needs.
Table of Contents
Best Hand Crank Garden Hose Reels
Suncast Garden Hose Reel Cart with Easy to Grip Hand Crank
I really like this Suncast garden hose reel cart because quite frankly it makes using a hose very easy. It has a large crank handle that makes winding up the hose effortless. Also, it is has two wheels that make moving it around a breeze. Here is what the Suncast hand crank reel looks like:
This is the current price of this Suncast hand crank hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this reel:
- Benefits – This garden hose reel cart comes with a large wheels making it easy move around the yard if you need to change water sources. This hand winding reel also comes with a leader hose as well. It has some additional features such as hose hooks that hold your hose in place after winding it up and a footer that you step on when winding it up to hold it in place.
- Material – This is a plastic garden hose reel, which makes it relatively lightweight and durable. The resin construction makes it resist corrosion and and rusting.
- Storage Capacity – This hand crank reel can store up to 175 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose. A standard garden hose has a 5/8″ diameter, but if you are using a larger diameter hose (for example, 3/4″), be sure to take that into account when determining your storage capacity needs. You’ll also want to make sure this reel has the strength to handle the PSI of your hose if using a larger diameter hose.
- Assembly – A huge benefit about this Suncast Garden hose reel is it comes fully assembled. You just take it out of the box, unfold the handle, and it is ready for use. As mentioned, this hand crank garden hose reel does come with a leader hose (used to attach water source to the reel), but it doesn’t come with a garden hose.
Click here to buy this Suncast hand crank garden hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This reel is great for both small and large yards.
Liberty Garden Steel Hand Wind Wall Mounted Hose Reel
The thing I like the most about this Liberty Garden steel hand wind wall-mounted hose reel is its responsiveness. It is built with a 360-degree rotating multi-directional carriage that makes it easy to maneuver and wind or unwind your hose as you work around the yard. Here’s what this Liberty Garden wall mounted steel hose reel looks like:
This is the current price of this Liberty Garden hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this reel:
- Benefits – This wall mounted metal garden hose reel has a 360-degree rotating multi-directional carriage to make things easier on you as you navigate the yard and when you are winding or unwinding the hose.. It has a small storage basket for storing essentials like work gloves or a hose nozzle. Perhaps the nicest benefit with this hand winding hose reel is it comes almost fully assembled, you just have to attach the handle and mount to a wall.
- Material – Yes, this is a steel garden hose reel. It is made using 18-gauge steel construction and has a powder-coated finish to help prevent rust and corrosion. It has a brass swivel fitting that is shaped at a 90-degree angle to help prevent damage.
- Storage Capacity – This reel can store up to 125 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose. A standard garden hose has a 5/8″ diameter, but if you are using a larger diameter hose (for example, 3/4″), be sure to take that into account when determining your storage capacity needs. Also consider how much hose you will want to be hand cranking.
- Assembly – As I mentioned above, one huge benefit about this Liberty Garden hand crank hose reel is it involves very little assembly. You just attach the handle and then mount it to wall or post. Please note that mounting hardware is not included with the purchase of the reel (this means you’ll need your own mounting screws). This reel does not come with a lead-in hose.
Click here to buy this Liberty Garden hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). There are other designs available for this reel that all have unique benefits to fit your specific needs.
AMES NeverLeak Hose Reel Cabinet with Auto-Track Guide
I like this AMES hose reel cabinet as a great option for putting on my deck or patio. This AMES Neverleak hose reel is a stylish cabinet that is made from galvanized steel, which will help keep it from rusting or being damaged by weather. The cabinet weighs 29 pounds which helps keep it in place. Here’s what this AMES hand crank reel cabinet looks like:
This is the current price of this AMES hand crank hose reel cabinet available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Here’s what you need to know about this reel:
- Benefits – Having a reel that is very helpful and is part of your backyard layout is exactly what this AMES NeverLeak Hose Reel Cabinet provides. The Neverleak technology keeps the unit from leaking and helps you from cross threading the coupling when you screw on the hose. It also has an auto track system that helps wind the hose back up without tangling and kinking.
- Material – This box is made with a water resistant galvanized steel that helps it stand up to weather. The connectors are made of aluminum. The box weighs approximately 29 pounds. The hand crank is made of metal and has a soft rubber grip.
- Storage Capacity – This metal hose reel box will hold up to 150 feet of 5/8″ diameter hose, which is enough to cover most city yards. 5/8″ is the most common diameter of a garden hose. If you want a smaller diameter hose for less weight, it will hold more. The opposite will be the case if you want to use a larger diameter hose such as 3/4″.
- Assembly – There will be a small bit of assembly required with this unit, which includes attaching the crank handle, a few screws for the cabinet, and prepping for the hose.
Click here to buy this AMES Neverleak hose reel available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Again, this is a great option for those wanting a reel that can stay out and be part of your backyard layout.
Other Hank Crank Hose Reels to Consider
- Eley Portable Hand Crank Hose Reel Cart – Eley is a Nebraska-based brand and is known for making premium hose reels. This hand winding metal hose reel cart is made with diecast heavy-duty aluminum and features never-flat tires and a design that resists tipping. It has the storage capacity to handle a 150-foot 5/8″ diameter garden hose. The carriage on this hose reel sits higher than it does on other hose reels. Click here to visit the Eley store at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Suncast Resin Hideaway Storage Reel with Crank Handle – Looking for a hose reel that has over 200 feet of storage for a 5/8″ hose? This Suncast hideaway box hose reel has 225 feet of storage and has extra compartments for storing outdoor items such as a hose nozzle or gloves. This hand crank reel comes fully assembled and is made with a resin construction to resist fading and corrosion. Click here to view this Suncast hideaway hose reel at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Giraffe Heavy Duty Hand Retractable Metal Garden Hose Reel Box – This Giraffe wall-mounted hand crank garden hose reel has 130-foot capacity for a 5/8″ diameter hose and features a heavy-duty design that blends in nicely with a wide range of materials. This reel has brass connections and a guide system that helps evenly distribute the hose around the reel when rewinding. Click here to view this Giraffe stainless steel hand winding hose reel at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
10 Things to Consider When Buying Hand Crank Hose Reels
Storage Capacity
When buying a hand crank or hand winding hose reel probably the first thing you need to consider is how long of a hose do you need to store? For most city yards, 50 foot hoses should get the job done. For larger yards you will want a 100 foot hose or longer. You should measure or walk off your yard or area ahead of time.
And part of this comes down to whether you buy a wall-mounted hose reel, a box or cabinet hose reel, or a hose reel cart. A hose reel cart allows you to move the hose from spigot to spigot around the outside of your house, meaning you don’t necessarily need a long hose. A box or cabinet hose reel will likely be mobile as well, albeit not usually quite as easy to move as a cart. If you’re using a wall-mounted reel, you lose the ability to move your hose to an alternate spigot, so a longer hose may be necessary to reach all parts of the yard.
For most all reels, storage capacity is based off a 5/8″ diameter garden hose. This is the size of a standard garden hose. For larger diameter hoses, not only will you have to take into consideration that you can’t fit as much hose on the reel for storage, you will also have to make sure the reel has the strength to take on the increased PSI of a large diameter hose.
PSI
Always make sure the hand crank hose reel can handle the PSI for your setup. For most standard 5/8″ diameter garden hoses, this will not be something you need to worry about. But if you plan to use a larger diameter hose for increased flow rate, make sure the hose reel is sturdy enough to handle it. Most all units should list the PSI limits.
Assembly
All things considered, assembly is generally not that bad for hose reels. Some of the units come completely assembled, while some all you need to do is attach a crank handle and/or mount the unit to the wall.
If you are buying a wall-mounted unit, be sure to confirm that the unit comes with mounting hardware. Many wall-mounted hand winding hose reels do not provide the mounting screws, so you might be making a trip to the hardware store.
Large hose reel carts tend to have more assembly required because they are too large to ship assembled. This assembly process will be quite standard and involve mainly screws, bolts, and washers.
Inlet Hose
The inlet hose (also called the “lead-in hose”) is the hose that connects from your spigot to the hose reel and allows you to supply water the hose your have stored inside your reel. You will need to consider what length of inlet hose you need.
A couple things go into this decision. First, if you are mounting on a wall, how far away will the hose reel be from the spigot? Second, if you are using a hand crank hose reel cart, how far away from the spigot do you want to maneuver the cart.
Obviously, the farther away from the spigot you go, the longer the inlet hose needs to be. Most inlet hoses fall in the 3 to 7 foot range, but there can be exceptions. Many (but not all) hose reels provide an inlet hose with purchase.
Maneuverability
If you need your hose reel to be able to move around a yard or work site, you will want to buy a cart, box or cabiniet reel. When buying one of these, make sure you consider the build of the reel and how easy it will be to maneuver. Some cart styles are built almost like a dolly hand truck and you can easy maneuver even with added weight.
Also, if you are buying a hand crank cart reel probably best to confirm the unit has never flat tires so you are dealing with low tire pressure. Most all hose reel carts will use never flat tires.
Hand Orientation
Hand cranking a hose back into the reel can be a pain if the setup doesn’t fit your natural hand orientation. Not all hose reels allow you to customize the hand-crank setup, meaning they are either right or left handed only.
If you need a hose reel that offers this type of customization, I would suggest the Strongway hose reel on our list because it can be mounted both parallel or perpendicular, and it can be setup both for right-handed orientation or left-handed orientation.
Weight
If you are interested in a hand crank hose reel cart, be sure to consider the weight of the unit. Some hose carts are built for industrial purposes and not only have a strong, heavy from, but have a large storage capacity which also increases weight. If you are working on a small yard, this added weight might just be a nuisance.
Also, when looking into the weight of the reel, keep in mind that most 5/8″ 50 foot hose will weigh somewhere between 9 and 17 pounds. You can check out our article on hose much 50 foot hoses weigh as well for more information.
Rust Resistance
If you are buying a metal or steel hose reel, you will definitely want to ensure that the reel has been treated to prevent weather damage. Most metal garden hose reels use a powder-coated finish to protect the metal, but it is always best to double check.
Also, even if you are buying a plastic reel, make sure they are weather resistant. Many plastic hose reels will be treated with a finish that makes them hold up in the sun and resist fading.
Retracting Method
While you may be looking for a hand crank hose reel, there are automatic hose reels available to purchase as well. In my experience, most hand crank hose reels are not that hard to operate. But if you decide that hand crank hose reels aren’t right for you, then you might want to consider an automatic garden hose reel that automatically retracts the hose. To read more, visit our article about the best automatic garden hose reels.
Height
This is something that is easy to overlook, but can be critical for ease-of-use. For a wall-mounted unit, height is customizable since you can mount at any height. But for hand winding hose reel carts, you will want to consider the overall height of the units.
Some hand crank hose reel carts sit low to the ground, and that means bending over awkwardly to manually crank the hose back into place. If you want or need to take stress off your back, buying a unit that sits a bit higher might be best.