VEVOR 100-gallon collapsible review
VEVOR Collapsible Rain Barrel, 100 Gallon
By Tom Calder
Key specs
The maker's figures.
- Capacity
- 100 gallons (380 L)
- Build
- Collapsible
- Features
- Folds away for winter
A collapsible 100-gallon barrel that holds twice what a rigid barrel does and folds away when it isn't needed. Fabric barrels are less tidy than rigid ones, and the CDC rules about screens and non-drinking use still apply.
- Best for
- The most water, folded away in winter
- Skip it if
- You want a permanent fixture
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Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- 100 gallons
- Collapsible for storage
Worth knowing
- Less rigid than plastic barrels
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Our review
VEVOR's collapsible rain barrel holds up to 100 gallons in a 1000D PVC fabric body that folds flat when empty, with a mesh top, support poles and two outlets. This researched review reads VEVOR's listing and the EPA's rain barrel advice, covers what a fabric barrel does well and badly, and sets out the non-drinking and mosquito rules that apply to any barrel.
What it is
VEVOR lists the barrel (model BY-HT395L) at a maximum capacity of 100 gallons, or 380 liters, in a body measuring about 27.6 inches across and 40.6 inches tall. The material is 1000D PVC, which VEVOR describes as waterproof with strong UV resistance and heat-sealed seams, rated for operating temperatures from -30 to 70°C (about -22 to 158°F).
It is a different animal from a molded plastic barrel: a fabric tank held open by support poles, with a wide opening and a mesh top. VEVOR says setup takes a minute or two with no tools once the poles are in and the drain fitting is tightened, and that it folds for storage and transport. We read VEVOR's European listing for the specifications; the US listing we track is the same model.
Outlets, valves and the overflow kit
VEVOR's page is inconsistent about how many taps it has. One line says it is pre-equipped with 3 outlet valves, another describes dual outlets, and a third lists a 3/4-inch quick-release valve and a faucet. Read it as two usable outlets, a hose valve and a faucet, plus the drain. The title names an overflow kit, and the page describes transparent sides with measurement lines so you can see the level.
A 100-gallon fabric tank is heavy when full, around 830 pounds of water, so it needs a flat, firm base. VEVOR says a lotus-shaped base and 2 mm support poles keep it from deforming when loaded, but a soft lawn will still let it lean.
What the EPA says rain barrels are for
The EPA's Soak Up the Rain page says rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use on lawns, gardens or indoor plants, and that collecting roof runoff reduces the water flowing off your property. It adds a note worth keeping: as rain flows over a roof it can pick up pollutants such as bacteria from birds and other animals and chemicals from roof materials, which matters if you water edible plants with it.
Rainwater from a barrel is not drinking water. If you ever had to use it in an emergency, treat it as you would any untreated source: filter and disinfect it by the methods in our guide to making water safe, and keep your stored drinking water separate. The mesh top is there to keep leaves and mosquitoes out; inspect it and keep it closed, and empty or use the water regularly so larvae cannot mature.
Fabric versus rigid
The case for fabric is capacity and storage: twice the water of a typical 50-gallon barrel, in a package that weighs little empty and folds away for winter so it never freezes and splits. The case against is everything else. A fabric barrel sags, scuffs, is harder to fit a diverter to, and depends on its mesh staying intact. VEVOR lists no warranty term and no package contents on the page.
Our rain barrel comparison puts it next to rigid barrels; the RTS 50-gallon ECO barrel is the better permanent fixture, with a screen, spigot and overflow built into a recycled-plastic body.
Verdict and who should skip it
Buy it if you want the most garden water for the least money and space, and you are happy to take it down in the fall. Skip it if you want a barrel that looks tidy, takes a downspout diverter and stays out year round: a rigid barrel will outlast it. Skip it too if you were hoping for an emergency drinking supply; a rain barrel of any kind is not that.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and US listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: VEVOR: Collapsible Rain Barrel 100 Gal rain catcher with spigots and overflow kit (EU listing, same model BY-HT395L); EPA: Soak Up the Rain, rain barrels.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you want a permanent fixture: a rigid barrel lasts longer outdoors.
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the US price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A first barrel against a downspout, where looks and a flat back matter
See the comparison →Best for A straightforward 50-gallon barrel
Read the review →Best for A barrel that sits in view, such as by a front door or patio
See the comparison →Questions
Can I drink the water from the VEVOR rain barrel?
No. The EPA notes roof runoff can pick up bacteria from birds and animals and chemicals from roof materials. Use it on lawns and gardens, and in an emergency filter and disinfect it before any other use.
How big is it when full?
VEVOR lists about 27.6 inches across and 40.6 inches tall at 100 gallons. That much water weighs around 830 pounds, so put it on a flat, firm base, not soft ground.
Does it come with taps?
VEVOR's page variously says 3 outlet valves, dual outlets, and a 3/4-inch quick-release valve plus a faucet. Expect a hose valve and a faucet plus the drain, and check the box on arrival.
Can it stay out in winter?
VEVOR rates the material from -30 to 70°C, but the sensible use of a collapsible barrel is to drain it and fold it away before freezing weather so ice cannot split the seams.