Solar Cover Reel Systems for Above-Ground & Inground Pools

Make solar cover handling effortless with a solar cover reel system from GLI Pool Products and Feherguard. PST Pool Supplies stocks manual solar reel systems for inground pools — from GLI's entry-level Tidal Wave to the heavy-duty Hurricane — making it practical to use a solar cover every day instead of leaving it folded on the deck.

Solar cover reels eliminate the biggest obstacle to consistent solar cover use: the hassle of dragging a wet, heavy cover on and off the pool by hand. A reel system allows one person to deploy or retract a full-size inground solar cover in under 60 seconds. The GLI Tidal Wave solar cover reel (55-2402TD-CRS) is the value-focused entry model — a lightweight aluminum reel suitable for smaller inground pools and lighter-gauge solar covers. The GLI Typhoon 20' solar cover reel (55-2003TY-CRS) steps up to a more robust aluminum tube and frame for standard 20' pool widths. The GLI Cyclone 20' (55-2003CY-CRS) adds increased structural rigidity and a heavier reel tube rated for thicker, heavier solar blankets. The GLI Hurricane 20' (55-2003HU-CRS) is GLI's premium inground reel — the heaviest duty option with the most robust frame and hardware, suited for large or irregularly shaped pools with heavier commercial-grade covers. The Feherguard 20' Solar Reel Tube (L20M, inground) is a replacement or upgrade reel tube for existing Feherguard reel frame systems, allowing a worn tube to be replaced without purchasing an entirely new reel assembly. For solar cover repair supplies, see our solar cover replacement parts collection.

A solar cover (bubble cover) is one of the highest-return pool energy investments available — it reduces pool water evaporation by up to 95%, retains heat overnight to reduce heater runtime, and passively heats pool water by 10–15°F from solar gain during daylight hours. However, solar covers only deliver these benefits when they're actually on the pool — and without a reel, most pool owners leave the cover off because re-deployment is too time-consuming. A reel system transforms cover deployment from a 10-minute chore into a 60-second routine, dramatically increasing the cover's time on the pool and multiplying its energy savings. When selecting a reel, match the reel tube length to your pool's width — most standard inground pools are 14'–20' wide. All GLI reels require anchoring to the pool deck via the included anchor feet; confirm your deck material (concrete, pavers, or wood) before selecting the anchor hardware needed.

Shop solar cover reels and make your pool's solar cover the convenience tool it's meant to be.