Ayleid Retractable Reel Review

The Ayleid excels in every area we tested hose reels, performing significantly better than much more expensive options. It has incredibly user-friendly performance, with intuitive locking and unlocking of the hose that lets you wind and unwind the hose with ease. We also loved the thoughtful features like a fold-flat handle and integrated debris brush on the reel, and that it's available in several sizes. We tested the 100-foot model, one of the more compact retractable reels.

Performance Comparison

Convenience

The convenience of hose reels is one of the most important factors. After all, you're paying for an integrated hose and storage container that does the coiling and uncoiling for you. The Ayleid is incredibly convenient to use.

Unwinding the Ayleid is easy, and we were able to do so from the full 180-degree range of motion. We noticed no trouble when we started pulling the hose at an angle past the direction the reel was facing. Since, most often, the reel is mounted close to a wall with a spigot, the scenarios in which you'll encounter this are rare.

When it is time to rewind the Ayleid you can relax and let the reel do all the work. The 100-foot model we tested rewinds in 15 seconds flat, with no assistance from us other than guiding the hose in and protecting the nozzle. The Ayleid has some of the strongest winding power of any hose we tested, which we view as a positive. Despite this power, it's still easy to pull out the hose.

Switching between winding and unwinding requires you to navigate latching or locking zones which are the points at which a hose will lock in place or begin to reel back in. On the Ayleid, switching between this was almost intuitive; simply pull out as much hose as you need - and it locks in place every six inches or so. Another tug releases the lock, and the hose starts to rewind. You simply repeat this process to pull out more hose until you're done.

Performance

We valued the performance of hose reels as equal to their convenience, weighted at 35% of the total score. For a reel's performance, we tested the valves and connectors for leaks, the spray and nozzle performance, and whether the reel moved easily, jammed, or the hose tended to kink. The Ayleid is just as great in the performance metric as it was easy to use and impressed us.

The connectors on the Ayleid are hex-shaped, which we like because of the ability to tighten them a little extra with a wrench. It does also have plastic tabs on the leader hose connector so you can tighten it with your hand more easily. We did notice a slight leak from the connectors; there was no o-ring on the leader hose end on the model we tested. We added in a spare o-ring that we had and sealed it right up.

The nozzle and spray performance of the Ayleid is perfectly adequate for a variety of uses. Though the nozzle itself won't win any awards, it does have nine different spray modes that are all sufficiently different from one another. Despite the hose being only ½-inch in diameter, the spray volume and pressure were excellent.

Variety of Options

Retractable hoses primarily focus on longer hose lengths, and their features are built into the reel. Nevertheless, we looked at several different factors to evaluate the variety within a reel model and manufacturer lineup, considering things like its ability to be removed for storage or winterization, the number of hose lengths or total length capacity, connector hose length, and whether it came with a hose, nozzle, valve, and any extras. The Ayleid has a variety of options and features, making it a widely applicable option.

The Ayleid attaches to its mounting bracket like most retractable reels, with a large pin. Thanks to a handle that folds flat into the casing, it's easy to remove for storage. There are three available lengths ranging from 65 to 130 feet. We tested the 100-foot model and found that the entire reel was still compact, yet we had more than enough hose to cover a very large garden. The connector hose is 6 feet long, which is more than adequate to find a mounting spot near a spigot that will work. The real standout features are the included extras like a quality nozzle and integrated hose brush that cleans dirt and debris off the hose while rewinding, ensuring it doesn't jam the next time we use it.

Construction Quality

We tested hose reels over the course of several months, using them for all manner of watering-related chores and leaving them completely exposed to the elements. We tested for construction quality by assessing the materials each reel is made from, noting any defects from day-to-day usage, and evaluating the mounting hardware and process. We noticed no issues with the Ayleid's construction quality.

The Ayleid reel is made from a thick PVC material, and overall, we are quite impressed with its construction quality. The mounting process is easy, thanks to the handle and drop-in retaining pin. After much use and abuse, there were no concerns over parts or pieces breaking.

Should You Buy the Ayleid Retractable Reel?

The Ayleid is a retractable hose reel that is easy to use, performs well, and is suitable for a wide range of applications. Its performance is matched by a great price point, making this a value-minded and quality buy. We tested the 100-foot model, but if you need a little more or a little less hose, there are a few options to choose from. Overall, we highly recommend this intuitive retractable hose reel to solve all your watering needs once and for all.

What Other Hose Reels Should You Consider?

Many of the hose reels we tested performed quite similarly to the Ayleid; which one you like may come down to very minor features or preferences you value most. Another high-performing and very sleek option is the Hoselink Retractable Reel. This model is one of the most aesthetic options in our lineup and is also intuitive to use. Its latching and winding capabilities were among the best we tested, though it is also one of the most expensive options. For those looking for a more mobile hose reel option that still has all the features of a traditional reel, the Flexzilla Pro Retractable may be an option to consider. This reel has a handle and flat base, making it possible to set it anywhere in the yard and chain it together with another hose. Considering the Flexzilla boasts a 70-foot integrated hose, this can drastically expand your watering reach. Though the spray performance of the Flexzilla is great, the hose itself is a little stretchy, which can make tripping the latching zones challenging when lots of the hose is reeled out.