Eley Wood Post Mount Review

The Eley is a fixed manual reel, meaning that, once mounted, the drum will only face one direction. This can be an ideal space-saving and durable option thanks to fewer moving parts and a beefier design. The Eley takes this to the next level with premium materials and features that not only boost the convenience and performance, but also our entire attitude and perception towards this piece of yard equipment. The downside to this expensive reel is that it doesn't rotate or include a hose or nozzle, although both can be purchased separately from Eley and are of a similar high-quality build. The Eley can be purchased and used in several variations, providing a little variety in scenarios where this reel will be best.

Performance Comparison

Convenience

Every time we tested a hose reel, evaluating how easy it was to use was at the top of our minds, and it was the first overall metric in our ranking process. Since the goal behind hose reels is to turn that jumbled and kinked pile of garden hose in your lawn into a neatly stored and easily accessible coil, we weighted the ease of use for each reel heavily in our testing process. The Eley is quite easy to use, though it does have some quirks.

Since the Eley is a fixed reel, unwinding it is limited to a narrow angle in front of the reel. Once you start getting close to 90 degrees from the direction your reel is facing, the hose tends to jump off the reel and jam in the mount. That said, the unit rotates very smoothly, and you're able to simply grab the nozzle and walk, with smooth unwinding the whole way.

Switching directions and winding the Eley is just as easy. The large diameter of the reel and free-spinning handle means you can get a secure grip and plenty of leverage to wind in heavy hoses with ease. We tested the Eley Reel with the our upgrade pick for garden hoses, also by Eley. This pairing meant everything went together easily, though we needed an extra hand to help coil the hose neatly while winding. The springy hose tended to want to jump around on us, especially with no guide while winding.

Unlike some of the other manual reels in our lineup, the Eley does have the ability to lock the reel and prevent the hose from unwinding. The only downside to this process is it needs to be done at the reel, so it's of limited use. Even when winding, the lock doesn't help prevent the hose from uncoiling much.

Performance

We weighted the performance test metric equal to convenience. Since the manual hose reel didn't include a hose or nozzle, we primarily evaluated how well the connectors, valves, and stability of the reel worked. Since Eley also makes a garden hose and nozzle, we paired those items with the Eley reel for testing. Again, the Eley reel scored above average in this metric thanks to incredibly well-made components.

Every piece and component of the Eley reel was designed and manufactured with precision, and because of this, the entire unit, as well as every feature, tended to perform its job very well. Though there isn't an integrated valve, the connectors on the Eley are well-made and easy to use. Connecting the leader hose to the reel was a little tricky, but the solid brass connection is sure to last for a long time. It also doesn't leak at all.

Although we didn't factor the hose and nozzle performance into the score of the Eley, we would be remiss if we didn't comment on how much we love them. The Eley hose nozzle may be the heaviest nozzle short of those on an actual fire hose, but it's comfortable to hold, has a fun lever control feature, and produces absolutely gorgeous streams of water. The jet attachment works amazingly well, too. The Eley hose is durable and performs great as well, though it does get a little springy and bouncy around the reel while winding it up.

Regarding the reel itself, this manual hose reel is an absolute tank. Though the Eley is quite large and heavy, its bombproof construction means it doesn't budge, shake, or wiggle at all while winding or unwinding, even supporting a full 100-foot hose.

Variety of Options

For a fixed manual reel, we are quite impressed with the variety of options the Eley is available in. We assessed features like an included hose, nozzle and valves, but also different options or variants of the reel model by the manufacturer that could increase usability across different scenarios. We also considered the hose capacity and length of the connector hose.

The Eley doesn't include a hose, nozzle, or valves, though these are available from the manufacturer. The reel is available in two different sizes that can support either 125 feet or up to 200 feet of hose. Eley also offers a kit that enables you to mount the unit on a 4x4 or 6x6 post versus flat wall. In addition to the 6 ½ foot leader hose, these options increase the variety of mounting options and locations you have.

Though the Eley is a fixed manual reel, meaning it doesn't rotate at all, you do have two choices when mounting your reel in the direction you'd like it to unwind. Changing the orientation of the mounting arm means you can decide between the reel winding parallel or perpendicular to the mounting surface. Which you choose is a matter of preference and the direction in which you intend to pull and use the hose.

Construction Quality

We spent several months testing hose reels to ensure we evaluated them in a variety of conditions and could compare how they held up to the elements. After all, you'll likely store your reel outside, where it will be exposed to harsh conditions, and you want to be sure your investment will last for many seasons. The Eley absolutely excels in this metric thanks to premium materials and manufacturing. To say the construction quality of the Eley is impressive is an understatement.

Every component of the Eley reel, including the mounting hardware and fasteners themselves, is incredibly well made. The reel itself is thick, rigid aluminum construction with a powder-coat finish and stainless steel hardware. The fittings are solid brass. All the components that water flows through, including the hose and nozzle, are lead-free, too. This means as long as your water source is drinking safe, the water from your hose will be as well. Even the instructions for mounting and assembling the reel are impressive.

Should You Buy the Eley Wood Post Mount?

The Eley reel is a premium fixed manual reel that inspires confidence thanks to excellent materials and construction. If you are already fond of your current garden hose and are just looking for storage for it, this is an attractive and durable option. It offers many ergonomic features that will support some of the largest garden hoses you might have. If you're looking for one of the most durable and high-performing manual reels, then we highly recommend the Eley.

What Other Hose Reels Should You Consider?

While there's lots to love about the Eley, many other reels in our lineup of the best retractable and manual hose reels offer comparable or alternative features that may interest you as well. Another manual reel in our lineup is the Liberty Garden Single Arm Navigator. This option is also made from high-quality metal and features a rotating reel and the option for a shelf or basket. An ultra-budget-friendly option is the Suncast Sidewinder Mounted reel. Though the price of this option is very attractive, we experienced some issues and leaks that raised major concerns, and we recommend it only for light-duty or temporary solutions.