Recognized by NYT Wirecutter and Better Homes & Gardens (2022)
Independent editors and long-term testers consistently praise ELEY for smooth operation, full-flow performance, and long-term durability. Here are the key takeaways from Better Homes & Gardens and NYT Wirecutter, with links to their full reviews.
ELEY 5/8-in Polyurethane Garden Hose with lead-free brass fittings.
Better Homes & Gardens (Sept 2022)
“Best Hose Cart” — ELEY 2-Wheel Garden Hose Reel Cart
ELEY Two-Wheel Garden Hose Reel Cart
Their take: In their roundup of the best hose reels, Better Homes & Gardens highlighted the ELEY cart for its durable aluminum build, stable handling, and 10-inch tires that roll smoothly over uneven yards. The taller frame made rewinding comfortable, and while assembly took a bit longer than some alternatives, testers felt the result was worth it.
The cart holds 125 feet of 5/8" hose in the standard configuration, with options to add an Extra-Capacity Kit for more hose or a Quad-Wheel Kit for four-wheel stability. They noted that ELEY sits at a higher price point than many consumer carts, reflecting its heavier-duty materials.
"Best Hose Cart." — Better Homes & Gardens
"Winding up the hose was a smooth process." — Better Homes & Gardens
Explore our garden hose reel cart: ELEY Two-Wheel Cart
The New York Times Wirecutter (Aug 2022)
In The Best Garden Hose and Hose Reel guide, NYT Wirecutter named ELEY as the Upgrade Pick for both the garden hose and the hose reel after years of real-world use.
Upgrade Pick — Garden Hose: ELEY 5/8-in Polyurethane
Why it stood out
Wirecutter described the ELEY hose as a complete step up from traditional rubber hoses:
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Much lighter to handle.
At around 7 pounds for 50 feet, it’s several pounds lighter than comparable rubber hoses, which makes dragging, lifting, and coiling feel noticeably easier—especially when part of the hose is raised off the ground. -
Remarkable kink resistance.
After more than two years of near-daily use, they couldn’t get the hose to kink in normal use. Even when they forced a kink to temporarily stop water flow, the hose didn’t “remember” the bend or try to fold at that spot later. -
Easy to coil and store.
The hose is very flexible, without the springy memory of many rubber hoses. Loops fall into place rather than fighting back, which makes coiling it lasso-style quick and tidy. -
Faster water delivery.
In their bucket test, the ELEY hose filled a 5-gallon bucket in about 55 seconds, versus roughly 70 seconds for a comparable rubber hose—small for a single bucket, but meaningful when filling larger tanks or pools. -
Hardware that feels premium.
Large brass fittings are easy to tighten by hand or with a wrench, and the hose is backed by a 10-year warranty, matching the durability they saw in long-term use.
"The best hose we’ve ever tested."
—NYT Wirecutter
So if you want a hose that is better in nearly every way—and you’re willing to invest a little more up front—the ELEY hose is the one they recommend. It’s especially well-suited to people who:
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Struggle with heavy, awkward hoses
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Want to eliminate the everyday annoyances of kinks and tangles
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Value a decade-long warranty and long service life
Explore more about our hoses here: ELEY 5/8" polyurethane garden hose
Upgrade Pick — Hose Reel: ELEY 2-Wheel Garden Hose Reel Cart
Why they call it a “buy-it-for-life” reel
Wirecutter compared the ELEY cart against plastic reels and other metal competitors and found that it effectively solves hose-reel frustrations long term:
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Built for a lifetime of use.
The frame and reel use aluminum, brass, and stainless steel, with a powder-coated finish and flat-free tires. There is essentially nothing on the cart that should rust, and it’s backed by a 10-year no-leak guarantee. -
Smooth, controlled reeling.
When reeling in 100 feet of hose, they only needed to brace the cart briefly at the start; after that, the hose wound in with minimal effort. The free-spinning handle protects your hand from friction, and the reel flanges angle inward to help prevent the hose from jumping off the drum. -
Dialed-in hose control.
An adjustable brake lets you set how freely the reel turns, so you can pull out just the hose you need without the drum coasting and spilling extra loops. -
Easy to move, even across rough ground.
Thanks to the large tires, handle placement, and balanced center of gravity, the cart moves around a yard much like an empty two-wheel dolly—simple to tip back and roll, even over bumpy sections.
"The buy-it-for-life hose reel … a joy to use."
—NYT Wirecutter
Customer-first support
Wirecutter also called out ELEY’s customer service for great support and also praised how easy it was to find and order parts using our online schematics—something they rarely see from manufacturers.
What Sets ELEY Apart
Across these independent reviews and our own customer feedback, a few themes show up again and again:
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Commercial-grade materials
Aluminum-alloy frames, stainless hardware, flat-free tires, and lead-free brass fittings resist rust and wear. -
Full-flow design
Hose and reel fittings are engineered for unrestricted flow, helping move more water per minute than many crimped fittings that narrow the passage. -
Genuine kink resistance
Our polyurethane hose is flexible, yet resists permanent kinks and flat spots—even after years of use. -
Configurable and repairable
Reels can be set up for right- or left-hand rewind, upgraded with capacity or wheel kits, and serviced easily with replacement parts available online. -
Backed for a decade
A 10-year warranty on reels and hoses underscores the same “buy-it-for-life” positioning highlighted by Wirecutter.
Build Your Own "Upgrade" Watering Setup!
If you’re ready to move beyond disposable reels and heavy, kink-prone hoses, pair an ELEY reel (cart or wall-mount) with our polyurethane garden hose and quick-connect fittings. You’ll get smoother operation, better water flow, and gear built to serve you season after season—backed by a 10-year guarantee.
FAQ
Will ELEY reels work with any hose?
Yes—most 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4" hoses with standard 3/4" GHT fittings. Avoid aluminum-fitted hoses on the brass swivel to prevent galvanic corrosion.
How much hose will the cart hold?
Standard 125 ft (5/8"); with the Extra-Capacity Kit → 200 ft (5/8").
Are ELEY hoses drinking-water safe?
Yes. Our polyurethane hose and lead-free brass fittings are made from materials safe for contact with drinking water.
Sources
We’ve summarized and used only short quotes with attribution. Visit the original articles for full context. Note: Both guides are regularly updated. Dates referenced above reflect the original 2022 testing and recognition.
