The hose is a mandatory part of any garden, whether you are maintaining a full-fledged plant nursery or just a small garden at home. It allows you to supply water from one end to the other or sprinkle effortlessly throughout. However, managing a hose can be a problem due to its length. An unmanaged hose can not just get damaged quickly, but it can also be really frustrating to detangle it every time you need a water supply. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this persistent gardening problem. A hose butler, or otherwise known as a hose reel, helps you organize the hose and provides a support medium for proper coiling and uncoiling. We have reviewed the top hose butlers in 2023 that simplify the efforts involved in using and storing a hose. It is imperative to use the right kind of hose butler because a poor-quality product can cause frustration and deteriorate over time.
Our comprehensive guide helps you pick a hose butler that not just meets your expectations but also helps you make a gorgeous addition to your home.
Here is a list of things you need to consider before choosing a hose butler, as they will help you establish ground requirements for this purchase.
The material you pick is a crucial component as it determines the durability of any product. From plastic to steel, there are plenty of options for gardeners to choose from to select the right product according to their needs. Most people opt for aluminum or steel bodies because of their strong resistance to harsh weather conditions.
The holding capacity of a hose butler determines the amount of weight and length it can bear. Usually, a hose reel can accommodate up to 150-feet of hose, but it is always a good idea to check manufacturers’ recommendations first.
A hose reel typically comes in 2 main types: wall-mounted and freestanding. Depending on your overall requirements, location changes, and garden size, you can pick the best product in the market. People who change houses often prefer a freestanding hose butler as it does not require an installation process.
If you are not willing to coil and uncoil the hose yourself, we suggest investing in an automatic hose reel. Despite being a pricey option, you certainly get your money’s worth when it reduces the burden off of your shoulders. However, an automatic hose reel may require additional precautions. At the same time, their manual counterparts may take more effort but do not require intensive care.
A hose spread across the garden can be unattractive to look at. However, by using a hose butler, you can eliminate this mess entirely. A hose coiled perfectly around a wall-mounted or free-standing surface with an elegant design indeed reduces the frustration considerably.
Other than looking unattractive, a hose that is not stored correctly may lose its quality over time. It can lead to issues such as discoloration, leaks, and even deterioration. Having a hose butler allows you to maintain the quality of your hose as it provides you with a convenient storage option.
Hose butlers usually come in beautiful designs. A wall-mounted hose butler could be the perfect addition for people looking for an aesthetically pleasing piece to decorate their garden.
A hose lying around the garden might be hazardous for both children and adults as it increases the risk of tripping and falling on your face. You can give your little ones a safe space to play by installing a hose butler in one corner of the garden.
Lightweight and affordable, a plastic hose butler is one of the most popular picks among home gardeners. Since it can only handle smaller hoses, these hose butlers are not a popular choice among professional gardeners. Plastic is available in multiple colors and designs, which allows you to create a customized look for your garden.
A more durable and weight-bearing counterpart, steel hose butlers might be heavy, but when it comes to performance, there is nothing more reliable. An ideal option for both residential and professional gardeners, they are rust-resistant and can handle any kind of hose effortlessly. They are generally available in dark colors like black, brown, and gray, a touch of other paints, and a glossy finish.
Extremely rust-resistant and durable, resin hose butlers are a lightweight option for people who want something attractive in their garden. Usually freestanding, they do have the tendency to lose quality over time. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you find a shady spot for these hose butlers.
Aluminum is known for its lightweight body, making these hose butlers a durable yet easy-to-handle option for residential use. It has rust-resistant properties and doesn’t require special maintenance, rendering it an ideal choice for hose butlers. Aluminum is way better than plastic, but most people have found steel to be more durable in comparison. You might not be able to find a diverse range of colors, but they have an elegant finish in darker hues that complement any garden’s tone.
Finding the right style of hose butlers for your garden is crucial as it ensures you are spending your resources on the right product.
A wall-mounted hose butler is the most popular option for personal and professional use. It gives you all the benefits of hose butlers without taking much space. You can easily install it using additional hardware that may or may not be present in the packaging. Wall-mount hose butlers have large-capacity weight tolerance depending on the type of material that they are made of. However, it is worth noting that an improperly installed butler has the tendency to fall when overloaded. Available in all kinds of materials, most people opt for an aluminum or steel butler when looking for wall-mounted options.
For more on how to wall mount a hose butler, check out this help DIY video.
If you move around a lot or have a lot of space in your garden, then a free-standing hose butler must be your top priority. It features a simple and elegant design and can stand in any corner of your garden without any tool-based assembly. When looking for a free-standing hose butler, always make sure that the item you choose has the capacity of tolerating heavier hoses. These hose butlers tend to lose balance or fall down if weight is not distributed equally.
Hose butlers are an essential piece of equipment for any garden. They help you maintain the quality of your hose pipes while creating a safe garden space. They are made of different materials such as plastic, steel, and aluminum, allowing you to pick something valuable and worthy of your money. We reviewed the highest-rated hose butlers in 2021 for your convenience, but you must check your requirements before picking a product from the market.
A garden hose has the right to look beautiful while doing its job, and this is why Liberty Garden has taken the ‘liberty’ to introduce one of the best garden reels in town. Made from heavy-duty aluminum, it is rust-resistant so you can use it for a long time. The durable powder coating finish allows it to be weather-resistant as well, ensuring installation at the most convenient outdoor spot. Measuring 7 x 12 x 12 inches, this hose butler can hold up to 125-feet long and ⅝-inch thick garden hoses so you can use it for professional as well as personal use. Additionally, it features a keyhole mounting system that allows you to install it effortlessly without any professional help.
The GOFORWILD hose butler promises durability and resilience with its all cast aluminum construction, ensuring you excellent hose storage. It accommodates hoses up to 125-feet in length and ⅝-inch in thickness so you can keep the garden tidy and organized at all times. Featuring an attractive vintage design, its saddle arc surface allows you to coil and uncoil all kinds of hoses, helping you save the regular frustration that comes with tangled hoses. The keyhole mounting system lets you install it all by yourself without needing any extra professional help.
If you don’t want to use a lot of wall space for your hose butler, this Sunix pick is exactly what you need. It is a space-saving hose storage system that allows you to eliminate crimps, kinks, and tangles from your hose. Made of a high-quality, durable solid steel material with a powder coating finish, you can use it for a long time without the fear of it rusting. Ideal for hoses up to 125-feet long and ⅝-inch thick, it is perfect for commercial and personal gardens. Furthermore, the simple assembly process lets you hang it all by yourself without hiring professional help.
Wall mounting a hose butler might not be the best choice, especially if you move around a lot. This is why XCH has the perfect solution in the form of this freestanding hose butler. It has a height of 43.5 inches and 3 stable fixing points that allow you to store different sized hoses. Measuring 17.5 x 8 x 34.75 inches with an 11.5 inch skate length, this versatile hose stand ensures you can use it as a stand, caddy, hideaway, bib extender, butler, and an organizer. It is made from heavy-duty wrought iron, which can handle hoses up to 125-feet in length and ⅝-inches in thickness. Furthermore, the glossy black finish and elegant triangular body make it a gorgeous addition to any garden.
XCSOURCE has an elegant solution to any garden that has a hose lying around for no reason. Weighing only 2 lbs with an attractive round body, this hose butler has a large capacity and can hold hoses up to 125-feet in length and ⅝ inches in thickness. Made from heavy-duty iron with a durable coat finish, it ensures maximum customer satisfaction with its weather and corrosion-resistant properties. It has a simple screw-in design with included hardware so you can do it all by yourself without any extra help. Moreover, the dragonfly decor produces a dim light, adding a charming aura to your garden at night.
A: You should hang your hose butler near a water source as it allows you to uncoil only the required amount of hose without taking off all of it.
A: Automatic hose butlers minimize the labor related to coiling and uncoiling, but they come with a price and additional care that most people might not be able to afford.
A: There is no ideal height as long as your hose reaches all parts of the garden. However, a distance of 7 to 10 inches from the water source is perfect.