Navigator Hose Reel review Watering & Irrigation

Navigator Rotating Hose Reel: Product Review

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Navigator Hose Reel review

What do you do with your hose when you’ve finished using it? I tend to just leave it lying on the ground (yes, I’m a lazy gardener) but that’s not a great idea – I’ve lost quite a few to lawnmowers and they degrade more quickly when constantly exposed to the sun. I’ve tried coiling the hose in a bin or container, looping it over a support attached to the wall, and winding it up on a hose reel cart. None of those options were easy and I usually ended up with a mess of tangled hose piled against the house. Hence my tendency to leave it lying where I’d used it…

But when I first saw the Navigator rotating hose reel from Liberty Garden Products at the National Hardware Show, I thought that it might be the hose storage solution I was looking for. They kindly provided one for me to review.

Below is a quick video review but keep reading for all the details!

Navigator Hose Reel Review

Everything comes neatly packaged in a sturdy box.

The Navigator arrived neatly packed in a sturdy cardboard box with all the parts in a sealed plastic bag and the instruction manual clearly visible. It was nearly completely assembled, leaving very little for me to do other than mount it, push in a connector pin to attach the reel to the shelf, screw on the handle, and attach the leader hose.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

There are very few parts to attach and the Navigator comes with the “wrench” and Allen key needed to tighten the bolts/pin.

Simple to Install

The fact that the hose reel must be mounted on a wall (or other very solid vertical surface) may seem intimidating – How do you attach it to a brick wall? What if you can’t find the studs in the wall? But don’t worry. All it takes is 4 screws to secure it to the wall and a pin to attach the rotating reel onto the mount.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

The Navigator was easy to mount with only a few tools. Making sure it was level was the hardest part!

Liberty Garden Products has made the installation process as easy as possible. The Navigator comes with a complete set of easy-to-understand instructions written in plain English with simple diagrams. There’s also a video on their website showing the complete installation process. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also an app for iOS or Android devices!

You’ll have to buy the appropriate screws for your particular installation situation but they’re easily found at any hardware store. The manufacturer recommends 5/16” x 2 ½” wood, brick or masonry anchor sleeves or screws, depending on whether you’re mounting to a brick/masonry wall or a wooden stud. There’ll be a lot of pressure on the mounting hardware when you use the reel so be sure to use the recommended size and length – don’t skimp on this step!

Navigator Hose Reel Review

All it takes is 4 screws to mount the Navigator to the wall. Even with only 2 screws installed, it stays put (although I wouldn’t recommend using it this way!).

You’ll also need a power drill with a wood or masonry bit (depending on the wall you’re mounting the hose reel to), a screwdriver or driver bit for your drill, a level, and a pencil. The instructions list a whole bunch of other things but this is all you really need.

Sturdy

Once the Navigator rotating hose reel was mounted to the wall, I tested it by sitting on top of it (and I’m not exactly petite!). No problem – the Navigator didn’t budge, and nothing broke or bent.

It’s made out of powder coated steel. There were no scratches or dings in the surface when it arrived but I’m curious to see how it’ll hold up over time. The problem with steel is the potential for rust when the powder coat is scratched. So far I haven’t noticed any damage to the surface but only time will tell… Note that the manufacturer recommends removing the reel (just pop out the pin) and storing it indoors over the winter if you live in northern areas.

A newer model with an 8 hole locking mechanism is scheduled for release in the October – November 2016 timeframe.  This will give even more locking rotating positions for the reel to be held in place. This is definitely a big improvement in the design and a welcomed change for this reel.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

The locking mechanism allows the reel to be firmly held in any of 4 positions – just lift up on the knob, turn the reel, and then drop the knob back down into one of the 4 holes.

Editor’s Note: There was a small manufacturing issue with some of the pins on certain Navigator hose reels. The company is issuing a free replacement pin (it’s very simple to install) to affected customers. None of the new Navigators are affected by this. You can find the full details here.

Dimensions

The Navigator Rotating Hose Reel isn’t very wide (only 16 inches) but the reel sticks out almost 2 feet from the wall (23.5”). So be sure to mount it where you have enough room to move around it easily. It’s 20.5” tall once the reel is attached under the shelf so take that into consideration when you mount it to the wall – be sure to allow enough clearance underneath the reel.

Well-Designed

The folks at Liberty Garden Products really thought this one through when they designed it.

Storage Shelf

I love the shelf on the top of the Navigator. It’s large enough to store gardening items (I keep a trowel, pruners, the hose handle, and an extra hose nozzle there) or even to place a potted plant. Of course it’s not necessary to the functioning of the hose reel (and there’s a similar model, the #712, without the shelf) but it’s a nice extra that adds convenience and gives it a somewhat less utilitarian look.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

The shelf isn’t large but it’s big enough to hold all of your watering accessories.

Leader Hose

The Navigator hose reel comes with a 5-foot leader hose to attach the hose reel to a nearby spigot. For many people, that’s probably enough, although you will need a longer hose if the reel is mounted more than a few feet away from the faucet.

The leader hose attaches easily to the side of the hose reel barrel where it’s out of the way. Both ends of the hose have metal connectors and washers are included (both are signs of a quality hose).

Navigator Hose Reel Review

Brass fittings and washers at the connection points are signs of a quality hose.

Handle and Crank Arm

The handle that’s used to wind up the reel is large enough to grasp easily and the crank arm is a good size, although it would be nice to see it just a little longer. Still, it’s much better than some I’ve seen where you can barely hold the handle and the crank arm is so short that you have to turn it a zillion times just to wind up the hose. The handle grip is comfortable and turns as you crank the arm, meaning that it stays put in your hand rather than spinning with the crank arm. A definite plus.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

The handle is comfortable to grip and the arm turns easily.

Winding a hose onto the reel is easy – simply turn the reel in the direction of the hose and turn the arm. The reel turns smoothly and easily, even when winding up a 5/8-inch hose full of water (which I suggest you don’t do – it’s always better to let water drain out of the hose before or while winding it up).

Rotates 360 Degrees

My favorite feature of the Navigator rotating hose reel is the fact that it rotates (I guess that’s why it’s called the “rotating hose reel”!). The reel hangs from a solid brass pivot point under the shelf and can swivel almost 360 degrees (the only limiting factor is the leader hose attached to the side of the reel). Lift up the pin that locks the reel in place, spin the reel in either direction, and drop the pin back into one of the 8 holes that keep it firmly in place.

The rotating reel allows you to use the handle on either side to wind up the hose.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

The reel spins in both directions for easy winding.

How Much Hose Can The Navigator Really Hold?

The Navigator is supposed to hold up to 125 feet of 5/8-inch garden hose – that’s a lot of hose! Unfortunately, it’s not entirely accurate.

I was able to easily get 125 of ½” hose onto the reel but had difficulty with a 5/8” hose. You can see in the photo that I managed to get 75 feet of a Dramm ColorStorm Premium hose (my favorite) onto the reel. I might have fit another 20 feet or so but definitely not 125 feet.

I’d say that the amount of hose you can wind onto the Navigator really depends on the thickness of the hose, not on the inside diameter (e.g., ½” or 5/8”). You’ll probably manage to fit 125 feet of a cheaper hose but don’t expect 125 feet of a premium hose to fit on the reel.

Navigator Hose Reel Review

75 feet of premium 5/8-inch hose almost fills the hose reel.

You’ll have to buy your own hose (it doesn’t come with the reel) so check my article and recommendations for the best garden hoses.

Stylish

Unlike many hose reels, the Navigator was designed to look good in any setting. Rather than being just utilitarian, it’s both functional and good looking. I mounted mine by the front door to our house and have gotten a lot of compliments.

Recommendation

5 Shovels Rating from Gardening Products ReviewThere are so many things I love about the Navigator Rotating Hose Reel that I have to give it a 5-shovel rating. It’s stylish, sturdy, and easy to use. The hose winds up and unrolls smoothly no matter which direction the reel is facing. The leader hose has high quality connectors and the storage shelf is a nice bonus.

Where To Buy

The Navigator Rotating Hose Reel is available in some hardware stores and garden centers but your best bet is to buy it on Amazon, where it sells for around $110.

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Disclaimer – GPReview would like to thank Liberty Garden Products for giving us a free Navigator Rotating Hose Reel to review. There was no expectation that it would be a positive review and we received no compensation for writing it. All opinions expressed here are those of the author based on personal experience using the product.

Please note that the Amazon links (and only the Amazon links) above are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase products through these links, GPReview will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) that helps to support this website and our gardening product reviews. Thank you!

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Disclaimer – GPReview would like to thank the manufacturer/distributor for giving us a free sample to review. There was no expectation that it would be a positive review and we received no compensation for writing it. All opinions expressed here are those of the author based on personal experience using the product.

Please note that the Amazon links (and only the Amazon links) above are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase products through these links, GPReview will make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) that helps to support this website and our gardening product reviews. Thank you!

5 Comments on Navigator Rotating Hose Reel: Product Review

  1. Kathy

    Best hose reel ever. Love how it swivels and so easy to roll back up. It’s exactly what I was looking for and needing. I would recommend this hose reel for everyone who wants a very functional and attractive hose reel!!!

  2. B Chalk

    I was surprised to read that the locking pin plate has eight holes. Mine has only four holes and it’s become a problem for me not to be able to lock it at 45 degrees – it won’t stay in position if you spin it but don’t lock it into one of the holes, so pulling on the hose to unreel it causes the reel to move back to one of the four hole positions and the hose binds. Bought mine four months ago so maybe the four hole design is new.

    • I’m surprised to hear that yours only has 4 pins. Last year, Liberty Garden Products told us that they got a lot of feedback that people needed more holes to make the reel more easily adjustable, so they revamped it to include 8 holes. According to them, that was the model that would be available and so that’s what we updated our review to include (the model we tested only had 4 holes). However, in looking at both their website and Amazon listing today, I see that it still says “4 pins”. Thanks for letting me know about that – I’ll see what they have to say and will post the response here.

    • Well, as it turns out, Liberty Garden Products gave us the wrong information about the number of holes. They won’t actually be putting the 8-hole version into production until Oct/Nov 2016. We’ve revised the review to reflect this.

  3. Tim

    My two hose reels were broken because I didn’t know how to store them. After reading your sharing, I will choose a navigator rotating hose reel for the duration of my hose reel.

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