No. They are more trouble than they are worth.

I've owned for the past 10 years this: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200331945_200331945

It's the only hose reel worth buying the rest are a waste of money and yes it's for water also. I installed mine in the garage. If you install one outside, yes I would bring it in for the winter. - Kris

The only hose reels I have ever found to be worthwhile were steel ones.

Reels can be less than good looking though. One solution could be to extend your faucet and then use a decorative hose hanger. These extensions are samples of what I mean:
Extension 1
Extension 2

I like hose hangers like this one.

Good Luck.

Krislu,
That is some hose reel! It is probably more than I need though. I just use about 100' of medium duty hose to reach and water my vegetable garden and flower baskets.

Masiman,
I already have a decorative hose hanger mounted on my fence. It is just in an inconvenient spot. The one you showed is really nice, but I don't think that would work for me. My ground is very soft, I have a shepherd's crook the has the same base and it is always leaning over. I would guess that would do the same. Plus, I usually water early in the morning after I am dressed to head out. I am always getting dirt on my cloths coiling the hose over the hanger. I thought if I just wind the hose up I might be less likely to get my cloths dirty and have to run back in and change.

I have never had one that I liked. In fact, I just started constructing a decorative wooden box to store our hose, which we have been storing in figure-eights on the ground.

I have three inexpensive plastic reels that came from someplace like Target. Two mount onto the side of the house, the other is sort of a cart and has wheels. It's a little rickety, but works ok.
They all range in age from 4-6 years. I disconnect from the hose bibb and drain the rotary joint for the winter. Whatever water stays in the hose doesn't seem to cause problems when it freezes. (One has 50' of hose, the other two have 100' each).

We just ordered 2 of the Rapid Reels from Amazon -like $77 a pop w/ shipping. Hopefully they work as well as they look in stores. They had good reviews elsewhere.

Purchased one this year from Sam's Club for under $70.00.

It has a pivoting front axle, holds 300 feet of 5/8" hose and is built like the proverbial brick shlthouse.

I first saw this reel at their store last year when I didn't have enough money with me and by the time I went back there again, they had sold out for the year as this is a seasonal item with them.

This year I got one and am pleased as punch with it.

The thing is similar to Northern Tools top of the line 4-wheeler but built a lot sturdier, has a pivoting front axle and costs about $100.00 LESS than the Northern Tools unit.

Good luck!

Fairyprincess

I have one of those boxes that you're talking about. I like it alot. The handle broke last year and I ordered a new one for $6.00 from Suncast. We unhook the leader hose from the faucet and set the whole thing in the shop for the winter. Ours holds a huge amount of hose and is a snap to "wind it up" when you're through using it, plus it looks nice.
Arlene

Here is a link that might be useful: Suncast hose reels

I have 3 hose reels that somebody tossed out for the garbage pickup! Didn't cost a cent! One even had 50 ft. of hose on it. One had a crack in it, and the third is very nice!
I usually allow the hoses to drain down a small slope in my yard, then wind them up, and store them under the back porch for winter. Never seems to hurt the hose.
Rustyj

I've had this for 4 years and it's in perfect condition. You DO have to wind it up, but my problem is that the reels fall apart. This thing is built to last, rolls smoothly over terrain if you need to move it, and rolls smoothly up. I bought it after ther Sam's club version broke 2 days after spending an hour assembling it. No more.

HERE

Re bringing hoses inside:

We lve in zone two and never bring our 4 hoses inside and they have survived south facing exposure for 15 years. The winter isn't going to hurt a hose. Half the time in winter they are clogged with ice and still no issue.

I don't like hose reels. If you coil a hose properly it's a lot faster and easier than a hose reel. Hose reels are only better if you aren't doing a proper coil in the first place.

I have 3 metal hose reels and love them. 2 of them I got from Home Depot and are pretty good upto about 100 ft of hose they don't handle more hose than that.

The third one is much larger (will take up to 200ft of hose) and sits higher up which makes it much easier when it comes time to winding in a long length of hose.

I would stay away from any reel that has only 2 wheels as the 4 wheeled models are much easier to move around. I store them in the garage for the winter.