Ayleid Retractable Reel Review

The Ayleid excels in every area we tested, including hose reels, where it performs significantly better than much more expensive options. It boasts incredibly user-friendly performance, featuring intuitive locking and unlocking of the hose that allows for easy winding and unwinding. We also loved the thoughtful features, such as a fold-flat handle and an integrated debris brush on the reel, as well as the fact that it's available in several sizes. We tested the 100-foot model, one of the more compact retractable reels.

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 the reel is most often 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

The connectors on the Ayleid are hex-shaped, which we prefer because they allow for a little extra tightening with a wrench. It also features plastic tabs on the leader hose connector, allowing you to tighten it with your hand more easily. We did notice a slight leak from the connectors; however, there was no O-ring on the leader hose end of the model we tested. We added a spare O-ring that we had and sealed it up right.

The nozzle and spray performance of the Ayleid is perfectly adequate for a variety of uses. Although the nozzle itself won't win any awards, it does offer nine distinct 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

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 suitable mounting spot near a spigot. The real standout features are the included extras, such as a quality nozzle and an 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

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 features a handle and flat base, allowing it to be set anywhere in the yard and chained 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 a lot of the hose is reeled out.