Quick verdict
A 100 gallon rainwater tank of 1000D waterproof PVC held up by seven 2 mm steel support rods on a wide base, with a spigot at the bottom and a lid with a strainer at the top. It holds twice what a standard barrel does and folds flat for winter, which no hard barrel can. PVC is UV resistant and the seams are heat sealed. The trade for folding is that it should be emptied and stored before frost and kept off sharp ground.
Strengths
- One hundred gallons, double a standard rain barrel
- Folds flat for winter storage and shipping
- Seven steel support rods keep it upright when full
- UV-resistant 1000D PVC with heat-sealed seams
- Spigot and lid strainer included
Weaknesses
- Must be emptied and stored before freezing weather
- Soft walls need a flat, clear base; sharp stones puncture
- Spigot sits low, so a stand is needed to fill a can
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Twice the Water, None of the Bulk
A hard rain barrel holds 50 gallons and takes up the same space empty in January as full in June. VEVOR’s collapsible barrel holds 100 gallons in 1000D PVC supported by seven steel rods, and folds flat when the season ends. It comes with a spigot at the base and a strainer lid, and the maker rates the fabric for UV and the seams for leak-free service.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how collapsible PVC rain barrels perform generally. We have not used this barrel ourselves.
Setup
Unfold it on a flat base, clear of stones and roots, fit the rods and set it under a downspout diverter or a cut downspout. A pad of pavers or a stand lifts the spigot high enough for a watering can and keeps the base dry. The strainer in the lid keeps leaves and mosquitoes out; a tight lid matters for both.
Capacity
A roof sheds about 0.6 gallons per square foot per inch of rain, so a modest roof fills 100 gallons from a light shower. That is a week of container watering or a soaking for a vegetable bed, and double what most barrels store. The soft tank weighs nothing empty, which is how it ships and stores.
Stability
Water weighs 8 pounds a gallon; a full tank is 800 pounds and must not fall. The seven 2 mm rods and the wide base keep it standing, per the maker, and owners of this class of tank report it stable in wind when sited on level ground. Keep bikes, tools and children off its sides.
Durability
1000D PVC is tough and UV stabilised, and heat-sealed seams outlast stitched ones. The risks are punctures from sharp ground and splitting from ice. Site it on something smooth and drain it before frost. Treated that way it lasts several seasons.
Winter
Empty, dry, fold and store indoors. Fifteen minutes in autumn and the tank is new again in spring, which is the whole advantage over a hard barrel left out to crack.
Who Should Buy It
- Gardeners who want more storage than a standard barrel.
- Anyone short of space to store a hard barrel in winter.
- Renters and allotment holders who may move it.
Common Owner Complaints
Low spigot and the need to put it away for winter. Use a stand; folding is the point.
Alternatives to Consider
A hard 50 gallon barrel stays out all year in mild climates. Two linked barrels with the Tinoaly connector give 100 gallons in rigid form. An IBC tote is the farm-scale option.
Verdict
For a hundred gallons of rainwater that disappears in winter, this collapsible tank is good value and simple to run. Site it flat and smooth, raise the spigot and fold it away before the first frost.
Full specifications
VEVOR 100 Gallon Collapsible 1000D PVC Rain Barrel with Support Rods and Spigot FAQs
Fit a downspout diverter and run its hose into the lid inlet, or cut the downspout to discharge onto the strainer. Set the barrel on a level pad of pavers or a stand so the spigot clears a watering can.
About 0.6 gallons per square foot of roof per inch of rain. A 1,000 square foot roof fills this barrel from under a fifth of an inch of rain.
The seven rods and lotus base hold it upright when full and in wind, per the maker. Keep it on flat ground and do not lean things on it.
Drain it, dry it, fold it and store it indoors. Ice would split the seams.
