Standard Reel

Good solid product

Both boxes arrived at the same time for me. The assembly instructions are not great but anyone who has assembled things like this shouldn’t have an issue. I liked the fact it came with an extra set of plastic clips for the cover (as they may wear out due to sun exposure) but it was missing the bolt and nut for the reel wheel and there is no extra hardware if you do lose something. The thing that really surprised me was how easy it is to maneuver. I drag it into small rocks for storage, and it moves right over them as if the wheels were pneumatic. I also don’t have any issues with it tipping over. Cover is 16x32 and if you go slow, it’s no problem. If it had all the hardware I’d give it 4 stars.

Take the time to build it in an area with lots of room, take the time to place and measure exactly where you need to place the reer and pinch the clips through the liner - you only get one chance to get it right, don't do it alone!I have an irregular pool shape and ended up rolling up the short end of the blanket so I could stand under the roller bar and was very careful to follow the bubble lines to ensure a straight line of clips under the bar. I have a 12mil pool blanket and needed large pliers to punch the holes through the liner as I am not Arnold Schwarzenegger.Setup is still quite new but build was easy, the clips are strong and the blanket rolled up super easy. Because of the very irregular pool shape I used to struggle manually for about 20m to pull/fold the liner in/out, now it takes less than 2 min and the reel is so lightweight I can effortlessly walk/roll it out of the way when it's pool time. I'll probably go with the sandbag option per the instructions as in gusty conditions this is so light when the blanket is unreeled, I'm worried it might get blown around.If you've been on the fence about getting a reel, the first time you use it you'll feel it paid for itself. If you have an irregular shaped pool, just take 2m to fold the edges of your liner until you have a somewhat rectangle shape that fits the reel widget, and start reeling the liner in, easy breezy. All that's missing from this kit is a way to secure the rolled liner so the wind doesn't unroll a few feet.

First off, comes in two packs but tracking number only for one. Long known problem which has not been corrected. First warning.Secondly, I viewed the one with yellow trim but did not want the color as other's said it faded, so switched to same design but alas, the straps are velcro only. So not adjustable, to me this is sorry advertising to switch the nearly identical reel to something way different, then to say in one how much better the it was than velcro.....but then also issue ones with velcro.Third, I have somewhat of an irregular shaped pool so the need to attach other than the pool end is necessary. So that requires doubling the amount of screen that must go between the clip. IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE. So off to get machine nuts and bolts to drill through the clip to hold.If nothing else on the market I would not bother to buy this reel due to false advertising and switching details from one identical product to the other.......bad way to do business, and I do not deal with these types of companies. Shop elsewhere, even if the same product as vingli is not to be trusted.Update from Co....either return it and get the straps and reel I wanted or they will send me $20, oh, boy, spent that much on stainless steel screws and bolts. Did get a credit card refund, so they are good for that. Since I have already put it together, crappy straps and all, I will take the 20 bucks and and live with it, and let others know the deceptive marketing of the company.The strap system, stick on velcro is not a good longer term solution. Hot sun will bake the glue over time. So installed tap in screws on top of glue system and perhaps that will hold when glue gives out. As for the straps attached to the screen they of course required machine screws to get the tight enough to hold. Spent more time with jerry rigging the reel than putting it together which is fairly easy. Strap system sucks. I have a previous different model but left it at a home I sold, that system, don't recall name was 10 times better, more stable, stronger, and a better strap system than this thing. What is funny is that the wheel might help moving the entire reel out of the way, but most often all one needs to do is move it back a few feet away from the pool, and then one needs to lift both ends. i would prefer that the wheels where in the other direction to simply push back....makes more sense in most cases.So, does the reel work? Yes it does, just not what I wanted for straps. Mine is 15x30 irregular shaped so reel sits over pool when cover is on. Due to the reel on one side, my reel is extended a bit wider to distance the wheels and reel away from the pool itself, so if others have this issue then allow for an additional foot or so beyond end of pool setting. The reel itself, perhaps a 3 or 4 rating, overall dealing with company due to problems, a 2-3. Not a three overall due to all the time and effort I had to do to get it right.Update. The company sent me a new package of straps, but just like the ones I had, so only thing I got was a new package, with no use. Sent me $20 refund due to my disappointment with how straps went on rather than the one I wanted. The reel works find, rolls up with not problems, and I have a very odd shaped pool with the widest part not at the ends so had to have the reel over part of the pool in order to do it as near correct as I could. But that is not the reels fault, but just my shaped pool. If I need a replacement for any reason, I would buy this reel again. At least the seller was prompt in returning emails.

Nice for the price.

The sheet metal screws that came with this are complete garbage. Kept coming out so we had to replace them and put them in different places along the tubes to hold it together properly. This sags in the middle with our 16mm solar cover. I wouldn’t recommend with the heavier covers. Would probably work well with a 13mm or thinner though. I also do not recommend buying this if you do not know how sheet metal screws work and how to put them in without holes for guidance. Also the feet on the one side drive us crazy because every time we move the cover they turn upside down on us. We will see how this holds up over time, so far not overall impressed.Update: we have had all sheet metal screws fall completely out 4 times INTO OUR POOL EVEN (hazard for our 4 children), we have now resorted to duct tape to hold the screws in place. This is made of very CHEAP and SOFT aluminum and does not hold its shape at all. We are very dissatisfied with this purchase and will be requesting a refund so we can get something better. This is ridiculous. We bought this product based on reviews, but it seems they were either false OR something changed about the production/quality control for the product.