Testing compact hose reels
1 Draper Tools Mini Hose Reel Set 25002 £32.95 2 Flopro Mini Hose Reel 10m £29.99 3 Hozelock Pico Reel £31.69 There was nothing to choose between these three in the test. In fact, the Draper Tools Mini Hose Reel Set 25002 and Flopro Mini Hose Reel 10m are more or less identical.
They come with 8-9mm hosepipe, narrower than the standard 13mm hose, which actually helps improve water pressure – great in low water pressure areas. The Draper comes with a six-pa ern spray gun, the Flopro with an adjustable nozzle and the Hozelock Pico Reel with a five-pa ern spray gun.
The sprayer can be a ached to either hose end, giving flexibility on how you use it; you can either carry it or leave it on the ground near the tap. They’re very light (1.7-1.77kg/60-62½oz) including all the fi ings, so they’re easy to carry around. Quality Performance Value for money Versatility
Suppliers Draper Tools, 02380 266355, www.drapertools.com. Flopro, 01480 443753, www.flopro-uk.com. Hozelock, 0121 313 1122, www.hozelock.com. Gardena Classic Hose Reel 10 Set £39.99 A more traditional hose reel, but with a very compact design and foldaway rewind handle to ensure it takes up minimum space. Comes with an adjustable spray nozzle. Its low centre of gravity makes it very stable to use and difficult to tip over. Quality Performance Value for money Versatility Supplier Gardena, 03448 444558, www.gardena.com/uk. Kärcher Compact Hose Box CR 3.110 Balcony £43.99 A compact reel that comes with a nozzle that provides a cone jet or power jet which, like the mini reels, can be a ached to either hose end for flexibility in use. It’s heavier (2.55kg/90oz), but still light enough to carry around and comes with a plate for wall mounting. Very fast coiling and uncoiling. Quality Performance Value for money Versatility Supplier Kärcher, 01295 752000, www.karcherwatering.co.uk.