Status2 Socket Cable Reel, 5m Green Extension Lead, 13A with Thermal Cut Out, Heavy Duty Outdoor Extension Lead, S5M13ACR3

As someone who constantly needs a bit of extra reach for various DIY projects, gardening tasks, or even just setting up outdoor lights, a reliable extension reel is an absolute necessity. I recently picked up the STATUS 5-meter Double Socket Cassette Reel, and after putting it through its paces, I can confidently say it's an excellent piece of kit for the money and perfectly earns its five stars.Positives:* Compact & Portable: This is a big win for me. The cassette design means it's super easy to store without tangles and incredibly convenient to carry around. It takes up minimal space in my shed, which is always a bonus.* Just the Right Length (5M): Five meters is a sweet spot for an extension lead. It gives me enough reach for most jobs around the house and garden without having excessive, cumbersome cable to deal with. It's ideal for powering things like my electric lawnmower, hedge trimmer, or even just setting up a lamp in a tricky spot.* Double Sockets = Double Convenience: Having two sockets is surprisingly useful. I can plug in my drill and a dust extractor simultaneously, or string up some fairy lights while still having a spare socket for something else. It saves fumbling around for another extension lead.* Crucial Thermal Cut-Out: This is the most important feature for me and provides immense peace of mind. Knowing that the reel will automatically cut power if it overheats (due to being overloaded or the cable not being fully unwound) is a vital safety aspect. It's a non-negotiable for any electrical reel I buy, and STATUS has included it perfectly here.* Sturdy for its Price: For what I paid, the build quality is surprisingly solid. The plastic casing feels robust enough for regular use, and the reel mechanism is smooth, making it easy to wind the cable back up. It doesn't feel flimsy or cheap at all.Negatives:* 10 Amp Limit: While perfect for most household appliances and standard power tools, it's essential to remember it's rated at 10 Amps. This means it's not suitable for very high-power equipment like powerful heaters, welders, or multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously. You need to be mindful of what you're plugging in, but this is a specification, not a fault.* Basic Cable Thickness: The cable is perfectly adequate for the 10A rating, but it's not a heavy-duty, thick industrial-grade cable. For heavy-duty construction site use, you'd want something more robust, but for domestic DIY and garden work, it's absolutely fine.* No Individual Switches: Both sockets are live when the reel is plugged in. This is standard for a basic cassette reel, but some users might prefer individual on/off switches for each socket.Conclusion:If you're in the market for a compact, safe, and incredibly convenient extension reel for everyday household, DIY, and garden tasks, the STATUS 5-meter Double Socket Cassette Reel is an outstanding choice. Its built-in thermal cut-out is a major plus, and the dual sockets add great versatility. While it won't power an entire workshop, for general use around the home, it's a brilliant, reliable, and value-for-money piece of equipment that I'd highly recommend.

I purchased this because I lost power to the left side of my house upstairs and down. I needed several to be able to power a few bedrooms on one side and the living room etc. This was on offer at £25. It has IP54 rating. Waterproof and 20 metres in length. It has teo sockets which has a rubber seal ensuring water does not penetrate the unit. I must say I have not used this outside. I wws going to when my car didn't start and I put this down to the battery. I charged it but brought it back in as it was fully charged at the point of the UK heavens opening up. Phew haha. I will amend any revirw accordingly in the future if necessary.I love the colour to be honest. Easily identifiable as appose to a black reel that doesn't stand out.The performance, value, and waterproofness of the winding reel is definitely a selling point. It works well for its intended purpose, is sturdy, and very useful. The seals around the plug section as well as the cord is definitely the selling point as a reason I would buy this one again over another without it. I have found it good quality and saved me at a time of dire need!

This extension lead is ideal for use for outdoor use where showers may be present (say DIY in garden). Like all similar cables they are not rated for immersion in water.From experience I have found that swimming pool pump manufacturers frown on use of any extension lead and use it as an excuse for not accepting any warranty claims.

Bought this is help with the gardening and its fab. The length of the wire is perfect to allow me to mow the whole of my garden with very little effort. I love that it winds back up inside making storage that little bit easier.

I have had an 15m & then purchased an 18m and a 20m uprated one which is for external use aka outside, there is confusion with the two "in door" use ones, they say that as a legal requirement, it's about like on car side mirrors the manufacturers put, a disclaimer, saying objects may be closer than observer or something,like the coffee is hot on the paper cup at Gregg's or Starbucks etc,You CAN use the unit outside, as long as it's dry, so some simple common sense and it's safe, an RcdPlug, starting from £10 to £20 shall make it as safe as possible, for an ext lead, also check the plug termination aka the screws for the wires inside, a nip up initially then periodically check every 6 months,Right the unit itself, absolutely brilliant for the price, not sure how they do it, the cable conductor is 1.25mm, best to unwind it totally if plugging in a heavy load, eg a fan heater, etc,Ergonomics, the winder needs to be free spinning, so you hold it in the right hand ( if right handed) and without letting go, you can smoothly roll up the cable, someone in the comments has said putting silicon lubricant into the groove between the inner and outer joint helps alot, I would add keeping the unit clean as well, when letting out, simply walk while letting out the cable,The unit function and day to day use, it is robust, I can see years of service for the light or domestic user, at least ten years, if plugged in permanently like a fish pond, some patience and care is needed,As for the professional user like myself, it's really good, 2 outlets / sockets is not ideal tbh, the bright colour helps in both avoiding trips and damage, it really helps when there is a few of us on site,Comparison, when compared with other brands at that price point ( except masterplug) it is alot better and worth the pound or two more, don't risk it, it's a hassle firstly to return and also the inconvenience of not having an ext lead when needed,My conclusion is this brand which is British and a call away, it's somewhere in Birmingham if memory serves, is alot better and a safe bet, I and more importantly the apprentices use them and had no problems to date of writing, the apprentices throw the units about, I have observed, so who knows what transpireswhen I am not in line of sight, the units are scratched and scraped, I check the cable itself and ABIT dirty and scuffed but really good, I spend upto five times as much on pro equipment, which is glass reinforced etc, but, then status stuff is still serving me, really happy and shall recommend,