I'm no help, as hoses are my nemisis(es?) I gave up on them, but needed a hose to water a window box. Hammacher-Schlemmer had those hoses that expand when you turn the water on and retract when the water is released from the hose. I bought a 25'. It was expensive, it was Hamm.Schlem, but it turned out to be well built, very light weight, and performs well. I could use a longer one if I wanted to water the flower borders, but for now I just carry a water can.

I know you didn't want hose info, but thought I'd share. So many hose reels to choose from it would a hard decision.

mx had an old post about such ... but i dont have the link ...

here is the best the houzz search bar does

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/query/hose-reels

Yeah, Ken, I thought of that old thread too! Lots of good info in that. But I couldn't find it either. Sorry PM2, guess that's of no help lol. But I am one of those that have the hoses rolled up on the ground!

:)
Dee

I have yet to find a hose reel that either : 1. doesn't tighten properly to the hose so water squirts out everywhere (even with replacing the washer), or 2. lasts for more than 2 years.

Following!

I have also given up on reels. I find winding them up in a figure eight pattern works just fine. No kinks and it pulls out without snarling.

tj

I have this hose reel and it has held up fine for the four years I have had it. We do take it in over the winter and I keep meaning to replace the tires as they go flat, but since we only move it twice a year a flat tire isn't a catastrophe.

I have 200 feet of hose on it- I could use about 100 feet longer but I'm not getting any younger and like the rest of you I hate dragging hoses. Each time I sling that hose over my shoulder to put my weight into dragging it I sing the Volga Boatmen Song to myself and try to view it as good exercise.

Every year I consider having a water line run down to the back end of my planted area for a spigot-in-the-woods and every year I find other uses for my gardening budget. Maybe for my 75th birthday, lol.

mx .. are you trying to run the front and back spigot at the same time???

are you on city water???... or well ... i recall softener ... but i dont recall source ... hope you come back and see this ...

a well pump has certain pressure limitations ...

ken

"mx .. are you trying to run the front and back spigot at the same time???"

No. Nothing running in the house, either, the couple times I tried to turn it on. I'm on well and septic. Outside spigots and pumps for the barn don't run through the softener.

Sorry, I posted this and then it got crazy busy, but I plan to come back Monday or Tuesday and pick up the discussion again.

Yes, I think I may have contributed to/created a few of those hose discussions back in the day. Certainly I have picked up enough over the years to help me lose my mind. I have two hoses - front and back. I had one for the front which was just perfect: great pliability and great price ($2 at a garden sale). But it started to go, and replaced with a black kink-free yard sale special which leaked all over . Replaced with a new version of same from a Lowe’s fall clearout sale. It leaked at source - but found the cure was actually using two washers instead of one (the things I continue to learn). So will see this season if my $25 clearance hose continues to work. In the back, similar story. Bought a mega Costco hose which was just too much: about 4 times the length I really needed, and really quite hard and tough - it was a struggle to unwind the thing. Got something off another yard sale which is more pliable at least, and seems to be good quality. At one point I did a culling of all the excess hoses I had built up and I think there were 4 or 5 that I ended selling on Kijiji LOL.

I found in recent years the Gardeners Supply lightweight hoses a back saver. That’s just one aspect of the challenge, I know but a really important one.

they are easier to roll up too, either at the hose source or in a less obvious place in the garden .

I ker

"Gardeners Supply lightweight hoses"

Do they have a lifetime guarantee?

I only buy lifetime hoses and an diligent about keeping the receipt. One of my back yard hoses is the second replacement from my original purchase.

Don’t know!

Mxk3 - We LOVED our water powered hose reel. No battery and it made it so easy. It was one of my favorite purchases in the garden. Wish I could find a replacement. I’ve looked and looked.

That’s quite a system you have for your hoses. Quite convenient to be able to water from the deck! We use quick connects too, what a genius invention.

Sorry, wish I could make a suggestion about your water pressure. Do you have a pressure problem anywhere else in the house? There is some sort of pressure regulator on the pipes coming from the street, right? You might ask on the plumbing forum here.

Schoolhouse - I’ve seen those retracting hoses and I assume you don’t need a hose reel with it, what do you store it in?

Ken, thanks for the link.

Dee, I’ve almost twisted my ankle a couple of times when I’ve been distracted, so time to get it put away.

Grace, I hear you. I’m trying teflon tape on some of my connections this year, but the jury is still out.

Tsugajunkie, maybe it’s just a question of slowing down and taking the time to do something that simple. I usually just drag it off the lawn and leave it in a pile and when I try to pull it out again, it’s a struggle. I know what it is, I don’t want to quit in the garden until I am completely done and I’m so tired by then I don’t want to deal with putting the hose away right. [g]

LaLennoxa, You’ve lucked out with the garden sales! I’ll have to try two washers.

Marie, I have a heavy rubber hose, which I’m sure is part of the problem.

Cearbhaill, Didn’t realize they still offered lifetime warranties.

Go to Hammacher Schlemmer and find "retractable hoses". These are not the cheap "as seen on TV" brand. Actually Ham.Schl. sometime does carry those items, but according to them they only sell them if they are tested and approved. ha

Anyway, as far as storage, my aunt gave me a small plastic hose box that hangs on the wall (inside my storage barn) and I just drop the re-coiled hose down inside it. Sorry I don't know the name of the box but it is specifically for hoses. So far it works but I don't use the hose all that much as it's only 25'. Mainly have used it for the window box and to wash underneath my mower.

With Hamm.Shclm. it is guaranteed for life and I can send it back anytime, no matter how used it looks. So you could try the hoses and see if they suit you.

Oops, I guess the hoses are called "expanding and contracting" hoses. Sorry.