Ames 2386310 RealEasy Hose Caddy

The Ames hose caddy can hold a fair bit of hose--up to 150 feet of 5/8-inch hose. And it's versatile, as you can mount it on the wall or tote it around. Mounted, the assembly extends about 2 feet from the wall, the crank turns the hub easily in both directions, and the deep reel basket keeps a lot of hose well organized and off the floor. It can also function as a hand-held caddy, which has its advantages and disadvantages. The base keeps the caddy stable when it is freestanding, and the wide plastic handle on top keeps the caddy well balanced for portability, but there may be flaws or nubs in the plastic seam that can dig into your fingers as you lug the caddy about. Even without the nubs, add 30 to 60 pounds of hose to the caddy and the portability factor is somewhat impaired--you can still move it around, but it's not something you'll want to do five times a day. Other features include double O-rings to help prevent leaking, a 4-1/2-foot leader hose brass coupling, and notches to hold loose hose ends. This product is a good compromise if you want the options of wall mounting and hand toting. If you prefer one or the other, however, you might be better off going with a caddy that was built specifically for that function. This caddy comes fully assembled and ready to go, and that's well worth the differential. Limited lifetime warranty included.