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Retractable air hose reels are standard in large workshops to help keep the place free from tripping hazards like a hose.
Below, we'll tell you all about retractable hose reels and even show you some of the best currently available.
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best retractable air hose reels:
Comparison of the Best Retractable Air Hose Reels
Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Goodyear 50ft Air Hose Reel  | ||
MaxWorks 80720  | ||
Goplus Retractable Air Hose Reel  | ||
DeWalt DXCM024-0343  | ||
Goodyear 28287303G  |
When Would a Retractable Air Hose Reel Come in Handy?
Air hose reels can be used by anyone that’s using an air compressor. They’re simply used to keep the place tidy. However, you’ll most likely see them being used in situations or environments relating to industrial work or construction. We talk more about this in the section below.
Factory Lines
If you're working on a factory line, there could be multiple people operating air compressors at once. There could also be multiple retractable air hose reels mounted on to the wall. Factories can be crowded places. Most have strict health and safety regulations to adhere to; a retractable air hose would significantly minimize the chances of accidents happening as they can't be just left lying around.
Automotive Workshops
Mechanics or spray painters continuously operate air compressors, and it would make sense that if you had a small workshop, you'd want to minimize the space you take up by mounting an air hose reel to the wall. If it's mounted to the wall, you wouldn't need to fight with the hose to bring it around other sides of the car; it would merely hang over it.
Home Garage
A typical DIYer might also use a retractable reel for the same reasons as above. It's so much easier to pull your hose from a wall-mounted reel and have it automatically be reeled back in when you're done with it. It requires zero effort whatsoever, and if it has multiple position locking mechanisms, that's even better.
Will Any Retractable Reel Work With Any Hose?
Yes. Most retractable reels will already provide you with a standard 50ft hose. These hoses are usually rubber and don't last long after constant use. You can easily swap out this hose with something more durable, like a hybrid blend.
Retractable Air Hose Reel Reviews
We've given you some information on why it's important to have an air hose reel. Now we'll give you a rundown of some of the best retractable air hose reels currently on the market.
Best Overall:
Goodyear 50ft Air Hose Reel
PROS
CONS
Our Review
We voted this hose reel the best overall for several reasons. The reel comes with a 50ft hose with an internal diameter of ⅜ inch, making this an excellent hose for transporting pressurized air with little frictional air loss. The steel body is suitable protection against any common accidents in working environments, significantly increasing your reel's lifespan.
A common problem with continuous use of a reel is the abrasion caused by friction between the reel's hose and body; this problem is eliminated with the four directional non-snag rollers, which reduces wear by a significant amount. The only downside to such a durable product is the 32lb weight, making it harder to install just yourself.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The entire hose reel is an outstanding piece of kit. You can see that the manufacturers have thought about almost all common problems and attempted to eliminate or greatly minimize them. The polymer blend hose is what stands out most as this can survive temperatures from -40F up to 226F, which is rare for the default hose to be this effective.
Runner-up:
MaxWorks 80720
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The corrosion-resistant steel housing will sufficiently protect the internal parts of the reel from any accidental falls. The hoses brass fittings are also far better than aluminum or zinc as they're less likely to corrode.
If you're looking to keep the work area tidy, the reel can be mounted on the wall, floor, or ceiling; this lowers the risk of accidents like tripping over the hose. The hose is made from durable rubber, but the non-snag rollers provide further protection against any frictional abrasion. The only downsides would be the heavy-weight and max PSI of the hose being 250.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Rubber hoses are quite heavy and can be easily damaged after constant use. However, with the four non-snag rollers, this dramatically reduces the risk of any frictional damage caused by regular use. If you mount the reel, this also helps against any abrasion damage.
Best for the Money:
GoPlus Retractable Air Hose Reel
PROS
CONS
Our Review
We believe that the Goplus retractable air hose reel is the best value for the money retractable reel you'll get. The hose comes as either a 25ft or 50ft with an ⅜ inch internal diameter, perfect for any small or medium-sized workshops. Of course, the retractable feature is always a bonus as it's time-efficient and minimizes the user's effort.
The eight-position locking mechanism provides you with greater flexibility than having to wear down your arm by stopping it reeling back. Rubber is usually a heavy material, coupled with the steel body; it's a shock to think that this only weighs 22lbs; you could thank the narrow body design for this.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
We liked this particular retracting reel because it provides some decent quality for the price. For example, the rubber can kink quite often. However, with the included bend restrictor, this dramatically lowers the chance of any kinks. It provides relatively similar quality to other reels featured for less the price. The only downside was that in high temperatures, the rubber could develop bubbles.
Best 50ft Retractable Air Hose Reel:
DeWalt DXCM024-0343
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The 50ft hose is made from rubber, a material with excellent durability against cold and hot temperatures ranging from -40F up to 150F. Another key feature is the self-leveling system that will safely guide the hose back into the reel without lashing around. The 12 position ratchet locking mechanism will lock at certain hose parts to provide the user with flexibility when working.
As the hose is being reeled in and out, the four non-snag rollers will protect the rubber from any frictional damage or wear from continuous use. The steel body gives the reel its durability as this will limit any damages caused to the internal components if an accident were to occur.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The weight of this product is what makes it stand out. You soon notice the 28lb weight during installation, as it's a lot easier compared to heavier models. The self-leveling system is another feature that makes this model stand out, the reason being that you might not find this in other reels.
Best 100ft Retractable Air Hose Reel:
Goodyear 28287303G
PROS
CONS
Our Review
This retractable air hose reel comes with a default hose of 100ft, which is plenty of lengths to use in large workshops or construction sites. The hose itself is coated in anti-corrosive powder. The steel body is another prominent feature of this reel as it protects your hose from any accidental damages.
You'd expect it to be heavy considering the steel construction, but the reel only weighs around 18lbs, which is relatively lightweight for a steel air hose reel. The four-directional snag-rollers help limit any abrasion that continuous use and friction cause. The only downside is that the hybrid material stiffens up in temperatures below -4F.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
What stands out most is the steel body construction provides the best protection possible, yet the lightweight of just 18lbs is simply unheard of when using steel. This weight loss is possibly due to the hybrid blend of PVC and rubber. Regardless, the 100ft hose is another key stand out feature as it gives you a lot more room to move around.
Hold up, are you interested in other topics related to air compressors? If so, these might be something to check out:
Pros and Cons of a Retractable Air Hose Reel
Retractable air hose reels are the more popular type of reel amongst compressor owners. We’ve outlined the several benefits and disadvantages of retractable air hose reels in the section below.
Pros
Maximizes Efficiency
If you're working in a large warehouse, factory, or workshop, it will take what seems like forever to coil your air hose back up and put it away. Whereas with this product, you simply go about your work, and once you're done with the hose, it'll easily and quickly retract back into the reel, meaning you no longer have to spend time putting it away.
Ensures Safety in the Workplace
No matter where you work, safety should always be the number one priority. When you work on construction sites or industrial environments, accidents are a lot more common. With a retractable hose reel, you'll minimize the chances of tripping by having a reel in which your hose can coil around safely.
Keeps your Workplace Organised and Tidy
Just like your home, when it's clean and tidy, you feel so much better. The same goes for your workplace; if everything has a place to be kept, it makes life so much easier and your mind a lot clearer. Retractable air hoses are often installed on the ceiling; it's that out of the way you'll end up forgetting it's there.
Cons
The Hassle of Installation and Customizing
The only downsides to owning a retractable air hose reel are that the provided default hose doesn't live up to your expectations. Therefore, it needs to be changed. If the air hose reel is heavy, like most are, then mounting this on your wall or ceiling yourself can be a serious burden.
Retractable vs Non-Retractable Air Hose - Comparison Overview
There are two main types of air hose reel. It’s important to understand how they both work and the most common features on both. The two types are both similar in what they’re used for but just go about it differently.
Retractable Air Hose Reels
Retractable air hose reels are a lot different from their non-retractable counterparts. Retractable air hose reels will usually all have varying amounts of non-snag rollers that help limit any abrasion. They also tend to have a steel or heavy-duty plastic protective shell to limit any accidental damages.
To use one, you simply either let it go or push a button at the side to rewind it into the reel. Some high-quality models have locking mechanisms that take the tension of your arm when trying to maintain a certain length.
Non-Retractable Air Hose Reels
Non-Retractable can mean a few things, it can mean a manual retractable reel in which you crank the handle by hand, and it reels the hose back in. It means a simple reel that is mounted on the wall, and you manually loop the hose around the reel. Both are labor-intensive but far cheaper than the retractable reels. They also don't have as many protective features such as the non-snag rollers or outer protective shell.
Conclusion
Retractable air hose reels can be a useful tool in keeping your workspace safe and organized if you're ready to spend that bit extra. You've now got the knowledge to find whatever reel suits you best.
People Also Ask
In this section, we'll be answering some of the most commonly asked questions regarding retractable air hose reels.
How To Fix Retractable Air Hose Reel
Many things can break on an air hose reel. The most important thing you can do is carry out regular maintenance checks to ensure everything is screwed in correctly. We'd recommend every six months opening up the body, inspecting the hose, and any fittings. Most things can be fixed by simply fastening them back up.
How To Replace Air Hose On Retractable Air Hose
Pull the hose out the full length
Unscrew any supports that are helping keep the air hose attached
Once the hose is loosened, you'll now want to take your wrench and remove the connector
Once the hose has been removed, you can now go ahead and attach the new hose to the connector
Experts recommend that before you coil the hose back up into the reel, you should test the hose by putting some air through it to check for any leaks
The last thing you need to do now is coil it back up slowly to avoid kinks and then re-install your stopper
How To Reset Retractable Air Hose Reel
You simply reset it by letting the hose go. If the reel has a locking mechanism, you may have to push back slightly before hearing a click to notify you that it's unlocked. Some reels also have small levers or buttons to coil the hose back.
How To Mount A Retractable Air Hose Reel
Most retractable air hose reels have a plate attached at the back of the product with holes in them. You're best having someone holding the reel in place while you use an electric screwdriver to mount the reel on to the wall. They can be heavy, so don't try to do this yourself.
Where Can I Mount a Retractable Hose Reel?
You can mount a retractable hose reel to your ceiling, wall, or floor. It's up to you and whether you've got the space.