This hose reel's sturdy materials make it perfect for both stationary use and carting around the yard. The reel itself is very smooth and fast, and the handle is easy to hold and comfortable to use. When pulling the hose out, the cart stays in place and doesn't tip over, but when you're ready to move it, it's easy to tilt it onto its wheels and cruise. The handle is also adequately long for a tall person to use. Of all the hose reels we tested, this one came with the most heavy-duty leader hose (the hose that connects to the spigot), and we appreciated the high quality. The one thing we didn't love was that assembly was required and took about 20 minutes. But once it was all set up, we enjoyed using it so much that the assembly time seemed like no big deal.

This all-plastic hose reel gets the job done at an affordable price. It's light and easy to pull throughout the yard and even has a plastic basket near the handle to store small items. There's no hose guide, but there is a spot to place your foot when you're reeling to hold everything in place. However, this cart was a lot sturdier than we expected considering the material and price point. It stayed mostly in place as the hose moved in and out, and we only had to gently rest our foot on the base to keep it fully stable. Overall, the material doesn’t scream "family heirloom," but this reel is a great option if you need something that can store and tote your hose without requiring a big upfront investment.

A retractable hose can be an absolute game-changer if you need to reel your hose in and out multiple times a day. This one from Giraffe Tools comes with a 130-foot hose, which is the longest of the retractable hose reels we tested. It's easy to pull out and automatically locks into place when you stop pulling. A quick little tug unlocks it and starts to wind it in automatically. The mount includes a 180-degree swivel, making it easy to pull the hose to different areas of the yard without worrying about kinks. You do have to sacrifice some water flow for the convenience: This product, and all of the other retractable reels we tested, come with 1/2-inch hoses compared to a standard 5/8-inch garden hose. It doesn't seem like that much of a difference, but the water flow is noticeably slower, though it still gets most jobs done.

Made of steel with a bronze finish, this mounted hose reel feels and looks like a very high-quality product. It comes mostly assembled, and mounts easily with just two screws — though the hardware is not included, so you'll need to buy that separately. The mount size also makes it possible to install this either on the side of your house or on a 4x4 (or larger) post, so you don't need to drill into your siding if you don't want to. The best feature? This reel rotates 360 degrees and locks into place, so it doesn't swing around as you reel the hose in or pull it out. A removable storage basket at the top is a nice bonus for storing different nozzles. It doesn't store quite as much hose as our other picks do, but it's a really beautiful, high-quality option if your hose is going to be on display.

Made of lightweight aluminum and weighing less than nine pounds, this hose reel cart is so easy to carry with you around the yard. The kickstand might look like it won't do much, but it helps keep the cart surprisingly sturdy as you reel up or pull out the hose — even if you tug a little too hard at the end. The adjustable handle folds down, along with the kickstand and the reel handle, to make for compact storage. Gardena products are compatible with the brand's Quick Connect System, which makes it super easy to click the hose to the connector and back off again. You can also screw off the Quick Connect piece and just connect another hose the good old-fashioned way.

Sometimes, you want your hose to not look so much like a hose. That's where a hose reel box comes in. This one has a wicker-look design to help it fit in with your other deck or pool furniture, and the dark brown color helps hide dirt. Our favorite feature, though, is the Smart Trak Hose Guide, which automatically moves side to side as you reel the hose in so that it's evenly distributed along the drum and doesn't bunch up in one spot. The box also comes with little metal stakes that you can use to anchor it into the ground — ideal if you're keeping this in the grass, but not so helpful if you’re storing it on a deck or concrete surface. While we love the functionality of this reel, the all-plastic construction (and some negative reviews from customers online) makes us a little nervous about the long-term durability of the parts.

Serious gardeners, listen up. This hose reel cart is the heavy-duty option you've been looking for. It's made of steel and has four sizeable rubber tires, making it possible to lug a lot of hose across all types of terrain in your yard and garden. It's large and it's heavy, so not ideal for anyone looking for a lightweight hose organization solution. But if you're interested in maximizing the amount of hose you can haul, this is a great pick. The reel's quick and smooth, though we do wish it had some sort of hose guide so that we didn't need to use our other hand to guide it as we crank the handle. Some assembly is required, but the directions were easy to follow and it only took about 15 minutes. The basket is a nice addition for storing hose attachments or other gardening essentials, like gloves.