Giraffe Tools Retractable Garden Hose Reel vs Liberty Garden Model 840 Hose Reel Cart

Buy the Giraffe Tools retractable reel if you want a wall-mounted unit that rewinds itself and locks at any length; it is the easier daily tool for most yards. Buy the Liberty Garden Model 840 if you need to move a very long hose around a large property or want a cart that holds a hose you can replace yourself. Owners praise the Giraffe's smooth auto-retract and tidy storage but report it will not retract under high water pressure and that the hose cannot be replaced. The Liberty is a simpler cart: 13-gauge steel, four never-flat wheels and a 250 ft capacity, with no spring to fail.

• Choose the Giraffe Tools reel if you want a wall-mounted hose that rewinds itself, locks at any length and swivels 180° to cover the yard.
• Choose the Liberty Garden Model 840 if you need to haul up to 250 ft of 5/8 in hose around a large property and prefer a cart with no spring mechanism.