Product review: Hoselink retractable hose reel

On the search for a new hose? There are plenty of options on the market, all offering different features… and at varying quality standards. After years of bent and busted hoses, I did my research into what hose offers the best quality and one brand name kept appearing — Hoselink. With thousands of 5 star reviews, I decided to buy two for my house and see if they are worth the hype. And spoiler alert, I can confirm the answer is YES.

Their hose reels are a tad more expensive than similar products by other brands. So I’m writing a review for anyone who’s looking at buying a retractable hose reel and wondering if it’s worth the added expense. Keep on reading for my honest review of the Hoselink retractable hose reel.

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Key features

I bought a 20m and a 30m retractable hose reel from Hoselink (smaller hose for our backyard and longer for our front yard). But they have the same features and I’m going to run through these now.

Wall mounted hose storage

The first step to using the hose reel is to mount the hose storage onto an external wall using the wall brackets and hardware provided.

It’s simple to do and the hose comes with instructions (but you will need a drill and masonry drill bit if you’re screwing into a brick wall). This hard case protects the hose and keeps it out of sight while it’s not being used. It has a 180-degree swivel capability, moving with the direction you water the garden.

There are two colour options to choose from — beige and charcoal. The beige colour would suit light exteriors while the charcoal blends seamlessly against my monument cladding.

Spring-loaded hose mechanism

Hidden inside the storage case is a clever ‘stop anywhere’ locking mechanism. This allows you to pull out the hose to the length you want and automatically secure it there. All you have to do is walk with the hose to pull it out and when you stop, it will click and secure at the closest locking point. I like this handy feature that eliminates the need to have excess hose length, preventing the hose from tangling. And once you’re finished using the hose, lightly pull on the hose. The spring-loaded hose will smoothly draw back inside the storage reel as you walk back in.

8-function spray gun

Probably my favourite feature of the hose is the spray gun with 8 different spray functions — jet, shower, cone, centre, flush, full, flat and mist. The jet is great for shifting stubborn dirt from outdoor tiles or cleaning the car. My plants also love the shower and mist functions. Occasionally I use the flush or full functions when I need a soft water flow, such as to fill my dog’s water bowl, and flat is ideal for the lawn. It’s easy to switch between settings, just turn the dial clockwise to click to the next spray function.

A great feature of their new and improved spray gun is the ‘On/Off’ lever on the handle. It’s a thumb-controlled switch that makes it so simple to turn your flow of water on or off, eliminating the need to constantly squeeze a trigger.

No-burst hose connection

The feature that made me select Hoselink over other brands with similar retractable hose reels is their no-burst hose connection. We tried to save money when we first moved into our house by buying cheap hoses. Within months, or sometimes weeks, the cheap hose would either burst, have so many kinks the water wouldn’t flow, or have cracks that caused water to spray out. After a while, we realised ‘You get what you pay for’ and it was time to upgrade to a quality brand. Hoselink retractable hose reels are covered by a 2-year warranty and there’s a 30 day money back guarantee too.

Long hose reel

The other main reason we bought Hoselink was because of the serious lack of outdoor taps around our house (we’ve since added 3 more outdoor taps but when we first moved in, trying to water our garden was impossible). Hoselink hose reels are available in 20m and 30m length. There is also a 25m hi-flow hose reel (ideal if you have low water pressure). So you can find the right one for your needs although they say 20m is generally a good length for most backyards. Unlike inferior products, these wind up smoothly with the self-laying mechanism that neatly coils the hose back into the reel.

Pros

Quality

There’s a good reason most people give Hoselink hose reels 5/5 star ratings and say that it’s the only brand of hose they will buy — quality!

These hoses do what they say, are reliable and easy to use. Every element of the hose is made to the highest quality, offering long-term performance. The no-burst hose connection guarantee is a quality promise Hoselink has lived up to. And after 3 years of using their hoses, I can’t fault any aspect of their hoses. Needless to say, I’ve joined the group of happy customers.

Not only do they perform better than other brands, they have a sleeker design. More on that next.

Design

Simple to install, discreet, durable and ergonomic design.

No one really wants to make a statement out of their hose, do they? And the two colourways of the Hoselink hose reels have been designed to blend seamlessly into contemporary Australian homes. Add to that the slim case and they’ve come up with a recipe for hoses that are as little of an eyesore as possible. Dare I say it, even stylish?

The best part of the design for me though is the spray gun! It’s easy to grip, effortless to change between settings, and the new on/off feature means you don’t have to continually squeeze the trigger.

Customer service

Increasingly customer service is becoming an important deciding factor for me and the team at Hoselink were prompt and friendly. The hoses were dispatched within days of being ordered and I received email updates at every step of the way. Should there ever be any issues, it’s reassuring to know there is a local phone number you can call.

Cons

The only downside I’ve experienced with the Hoselink hose reel is that regular sprinklers and tap attachments don’t fit onto the hose. There is an inexpensive ‘click-on adaptor set’ you can buy from Hoselink that allows you to easily attach your watering accessories though. I just wish I’d added one of these to my order at the time.

Cost

As I mentioned in the intro, Hoselink hose reels are slightly more than competitor products, but only just!

The 20m Hoselink hose reel currently retails for $215. If you need longer lengths, you can also find a 30m hose reel or a 25m hi-flow hose reel (ideal if you have low water pressure).

Personally, I’m really glad I bought our hose reels from Hoselink and happily recommend them to others. I have zero regrets about spending that little bit more to support an Australian, family-run business and to get the highest quality hose on the market.

If you have any questions about the Hoselink retractable hose reel, just pop them in the comments below and I’ll answer them.

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Photography by Thorson Photography

This article was first published in October 2020. It has been updated to reflect the new charcoal Hoselink hose reel and my experience with it.