Rain Barrels Product Reviews: Four Of The Best Rain Barrels For Your Rainwater Harvesting Needs

Harvesting or collecting rainwater is one of the best ways to ensure the survival not only for our plants but also for us when the supply of water is scarce. And the best way to collect and store our harvested rainwater is by using rain barrels.

There are many ways to harvest rainwater. You can read them here: How To Harvest Rainwater For Your Survival Needs

In harvesting rainwater, rainwater barrels are also most essential, and there are practically thousands of these rain barrels that are being sold in the market today. Rain barrels with different sizes, materials, and designs. But what are the best rain barrels that can be used in rainwater harvesting? Bellow are reviews of the four best rain barrels that are available in the market today.

Four Of The Best Rain Barrels For Your Rainwater Harvesting Needs

1. Fiskars 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with Diverter Pro By: Fiskars

Product: Fiskars 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro Product Price: $139.99

Product Description:

• DiveterPro channels rainwater from the downspout into the rain barrel. When the barrel is full, the diverter channels the water back to the downspout and away from your home
• Removable filter to capture debris and transparent door to see if cleaning is needed
• Fits both standard downspout sizes.
• Spice granite color
• Holds 58 gallons
• Barrel and cover made of recyclable, UV-treated, impact-resistant polyethylene
• Integrated base provides clearance for filling watering cans
• Flat-back fits snug to house
• Rain barrel made in U.S.A.
• Limited 3-year warranty

Review on the Fiskars 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro

With a 58-Gallon cistern, the 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro is made up of impact-resistant, UV-treated, recyclable polyethylene that can withstand even the harshest of elements. The rain water diverter design of this rain barrel system can fit in any standard  2” x 3” and 3” x 4” downspouts, perfect for diverting water overflow away from your home. Plus, the rear flat design of this barrel system makes the salsa rest comfortably on your wall.

The spice granite color of the 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro also looks so neat and it blends perfectly in your garden or lawn. Connecting the salsa rain barrel to your hose to fill up your gardening water cans is also easy thanks to its threaded spigot.

Pros and Cons of the Fiskars 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro

Pros:

• Built quality is so solid and strong
• One side is flat against the wall without wasting space
• Color, texture and look are stylish, paintable too
• The diverter/overflow design just amazed me
• Totally enclosed container, no metal wire mesh

Cons:

• Expensive
• Must use with downspout
• Will not capture 100% of rain water from the downspout

Verdict

While this product is a bit expensive, it still does the job that it was designed for. Customers who have bought and tested this product also have only positive reviews and most of them said that they were satisfied with the product. The final decision is now up to you to decide if you think weather the  Fiskars 58 Gallon Salsa Rain Barrel System with DiverterPro  is a good product for its market price.

2. Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel By: Upcycle

Product: Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel Product Price: $143.66

Product Description:

Size: 38L x 22W x 22H in.

Color: GreyBottom of Form

• Dimensions: 22 diam. x 38H inches
• Made of food-quality recycled high-density polyethylene
• Holds 55 gallons of recycled rainwater
• Links to other barrels to fill from one downspout
• Bottom spigot fits standard garden hose

Review on the Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel

Made from food-quality recycled barrels, the Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel will never rust or rot. It is also weatherproof that you can even leave it outside even during winter season. The Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel comes in a neutral gray color which blends with any background. It also has a protective screen on top will keep out mosquitoes and roof debris.

The great thing about the Upcycle rain barrels are they are linkable. It can be linked to a single downspout that can fill as many barrels as you want or need. There is an overflow fitting that lets you divert excess water and the spigot is conveniently placed at the bottom and can also fit any standard garden hose.

Upcycle sets the right example, using collected rainwater and biodegradable soap to wash and rinse these barrels, so no harsh chemicals bother your beautiful plants. Upcycle uses recycled materials in the manufacturing process. This means that they may use different batches of recycled materials when molding any single barrel so body styles may vary.

Pros and Cons of the Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel

Pros:

• Reused food-grade barrels are environmentally friendly products
• Resistant to rust and rotting
• Brass spigot for standard hose hook-ups
• Fine screen mesh included on a screw-off lid

Cons:

• The overflow drain does not work that well as it is pointing upwards

Verdict

Bottom line, the Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray Rain Barrel is a quality rain barrel for its price. And if you are on a look for a good rain barrel for your gardening needs, then the Upcycle 55 Gallon Gray  is the one to buy.

3. Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon By: Good Ideas

Product: Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon Product Price: $97.59

Product Description:

·         Resistant to rust, mold, mildew, and rotting

·         Brass spigot for hose hook-up or dual overflow

·         Screen to keep out debris and insects

·         Two optional locations for spigot placement, Change them anytime you want

·         Child and pet safe

·         Resistant to rust, mold, mildew, and rotting – BPA Free

·         Brass spigot for hose hook-up or dual overflow

·         Screen to keep out debris and insects

·         Two optional locations for spigot placement, Change them anytime you want

·         Child and pet safe

Review on the Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon

As the name says, the Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon is indeed from recycled plastic. It has a 55-gallon capacity and even if it is recycled, it is still of great quality and most of all it is environmentally friendly.

The Big Blue is from recycled material but they are not made from different recycled plastics. In fact what Good Ideas did was to collect these barrels from facilities which used them to store or transport processed food stuffs, typically juice and converts them into rain barrels.

The Big Blue typically comes with a spigot which is brass plated and two spigot locations that will work well with standard hose hookups. The upper spigot location is normally used for filling buckets as well as handling overflows and the lower one for running hoses. There is also a no kink design to make the flow of water as normal as possible.

The Big Blue is also equipped with anti-bug and anti-debris screen that is located on top of the barrel and is compatible with the standard 2×3″ and 3×4″ downspouts. Cleaning this barrel is also very easy. Just remove the screen mesh using a Philips screwdriver and you are good to go.

Pros and Cons of the Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon

Pros:

• Reused barrels are food-grade and eco-friendly products
• Resistant to rust, mold, mildew, and rotting
• Two optional locations for spigot placement
• Brass spigot for hose hook-up or dual overflow
• Fine screen mesh included

Cons:

• Thorough pre-sale cleaning by manufacturer would be appreciated

Verdict

All in all, the Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon is still one of the best rain barrels in the market today. Even with its weaknesses, this rain barrel  is still better than most of the rain barrels that are being sold in the market today. So, if you are in the look for a quality rain barrel, then, the Good Ideas RB55-BLUE Big Blue Recycled Rain Barrel, 55-Gallon is a good choice.

4. Good Ideas RWURN-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon, Oak By: Good Ideas

Product: Good Ideas RWURN-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon Product Price: $131.40

Product Description:

• Urn shape and color add class and style to your rain harvesting
• Meshed screen blocks debris from entering your water supply
• Shaped to provide optimal positioning against your home
• Equipped with a sturdy brass spigot which won’t rust or break like plastic alternatives
• Routed channel diverts excess to avoid flooding your foundation and can be linked to all other Rain Wizard rain barrels
• Urn shape and color add class and style to your rain harvesting – BPA Free
• Meshed screen blocks debris from entering your water supply
• Shaped to provide optimal positioning against your home
• Equipped with a sturdy brass spigot which won’t rust or break like plastic alternatives
• Routed channel diverts excess to avoid flooding your foundation and can be linked to all other Rain Wizard rain barrels

Review on the Good Ideas RWURN-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon

Made of plastic but in terracotta color, the Good Ideas RWURN Rain Barrel is urn-shaped and has a 65-gallon capacity. It comes with a self draining, planter top and a molded diverter channel which sends overflow water to the front and away from foundations. It has a 3/4 inch size standing spigot that is portable to most hoses. It is also angled to reduce kinking. When you purchase this rain barrel, you will also receive a free plumbers tape.

The RWURN fine mesh screen is designed to fit all standard 3×4” and 2×3” downspouts. There is a little screen just under the barrels downspout for cleaning purposes. The only problem that you may encounter regarding this rain barrel is the design of the runoff for excess water because once the barrel is full, the excess water just rolls off top of barrel down its front face. So, you must do a little bit of tinkering to your barrel regarding this problem.

Pros and Cons of the Good Ideas RWURN-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon

Pros:

• 65-gallon capacity
• Pretty urn design
• Top planter for flowers a nice touch
• Brass spigot and screen include
• Flat back construction a convenient feature

Cons:

• Not the best runoff solution

Verdict:

In short, if you are looking for rain barrels that are not industrial barrel shaped, then the Good Ideas RWURN-OAK Rain Wizard Rain Barrel Urn 65-Gallon in a good option. While it may not be the best designed rain barrel out there, it still serves the purpose in terms of rain water collection is concerned. Out of 5-Stars, I rate this rain barrel 3/5 STARS.

Final Word:

All four of these rain barrels are great in storing rainwater. It is now up to you to choose which rain barrel suits you. But rest assured, any one of these rain barrels will do the job 100 percent.

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