The weather was forecast to be dry but very windy, so I was dubious about whether or not the water butt would stay standing. Turns out, I was wrong to doubt it – it may not seem very stable, but it held up to windy conditions for about a week before it started to collect rainwater, after which it became even sturdier. Small water butts are most suited to small gardens and gardens without many plants. You may need to supplement the water from the butt with some from the mains tap if it doesn’t hold enough water for your garden. Also, unlike the other water butts that I reviewed, where the downfill pipe attached into the side of the water butt, this one connects via its lid . This is unusual, but neither good nor bad. This water butt’s biggest draw is its slimline design . Not only does this mean that it doesn’t take up much room, but it also gives it a sleeker look , as opposed to the larger and chunkier water butts out there. However, its compact construction does also mean that its storage capacity is limited to 100 litres – whether or not this is enough for you will depend on what you need a water butt for.

After initially setting up this plastic water butt, it felt a little wobbly. Mine was standing on rough ground, and even though I had levelled this out before setting the water butt up, the legs didn’t quite seem as though they would hold up to the job. If it doesn’t come with a base you should consider buying one separately. Not only will it help with filling a watering can, it will also help retain the shape of the water butt. Using a spirit level, measure directly across from the hole and make a mark on the downpipe. You will need to make two marks, parallel with the top and bottom of the hole you have created. If you don’t mind splurging on a water butt because you want to add to the visual appeal of your garden, and are happy to spend a little more purchasing all of the extras (the filler kit and the stand), then I would say it’s worth it. However, if you’re on a tighter budget and prioritise function over form, then there are other water butts out there that provide better value for money. One thing to keep in mind is that all of the connections for this water butt fit pretty tightly together – in many ways, this is a good thing, but it does also mean that you’ll need to use a fair bit of strength to connect it all.

Shop Online

The best water butts have a good capacity without being overbearing in the garden. Certain things can be useful to look out for: The water diverter connects to the downpipe of a drainage system. It diverts some of the run-off rainwater away from the main drainage route and into the water butt. Water butts offer an eco-friendly way to keep your plants hydrated. Instead of using fresh water from the tap, water butts collect and store rainwater ready for use.

On the plus side, this water butt comes with its tap already connected (not the case for most water butts), which saves a couple of minutes. If you’re eco-conscious, consider what the water butt is made from. Designs produced in the UK from high-density recycled plastic tend to feel stronger and more robust , while also being kinder to the environment. Setting up this plastic water butt takes about 15 minutes , and that includes digging to level out the ground so that the legs are standing on a flat surface. After fitting the legs together, I cut a hole in my drain pipe, then fit the rain diverter, before drilling a hole in the water butt to fit the pipe. It’s a fairly simple process that’s pretty standard across all of the water butts that I tested. Do these features make this Strata model worth buying? Well, I put this water butt to the test and identified it as one of the best water butts if you’re after a great value model – read on to find out why! Putting in a water diverter involves cutting through the downpipe of the guttering. In most cases, these pipes are plastic and the job isn’t too difficult. However, be aware that if you have metal pipes, the job will be more complicated.

Ward Water Butt with Lockable Lid and Tap, Black - 210 Litre

There’s no denying that most of the water butts available on the market look pretty drab and boring, but the Sankey 150l Beehive Water Butt shows that this doesn’t always need to be the case. An instant attention-grabber, this water butt is easy easily one of the best water butts in terms of aethetics.