#Steel measuring tape full#

Still, for the price point, this is a fine tape measure that is sturdily constructed. It also has a somewhat aggressive recoil, meaning that if you don't take care, you might get nicked by the retracting blade. We found the 25-foot Komelon Contractor LR to be very accurate, although it lost some points for having an awkwardly placed blade lock that required our tester to reposition his hand to use. There's no need to break your budget for a tape measure if you just need a basic tool for taking measurements around the house. Overall, we found this to be a very accurate, durable, and useful tape measure for professionals, DIYers, and around-the-house users alike.ĭimensions: Not specified | Blade Width: 1-1/4-inch | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Autolock: No | Magnetic Hook: No

The belt clip easily attaches to a belt or strap, but this measuring tape is a bit bulky for the designated tape measure holder on some tool pouches. The dual-sided hook helps keep the blade in place when measuring without an assistant. The 16-foot model, however, had an acceptable standout of around 12 feet. The 25-foot model tested at around 13 feet, not the 17 feet claimed by the manufacturer. The one downside we found was the standout of this tape measure-that's the distance the blade of a tape measure can stand out straight without support before bending towards the ground-wasn't quite as good as some others in our tests.

#Steel measuring tape full#

And both sides of the blades have the full range of measurements, so it's easy to use the tape measure even over your head or in tight or awkward spots. Standard stud and joist spacings are marked as well. The measurement indicators are large and easy to read, with lines sized appropriately to make it easy at a glance to tell if you are looking at 1/16-inch, 1/8-inch, 1/4-inch, or 1/2-inch markings. The 1-1/4-inch-wide blade is coated for durability, with the first 6 inches double-coated to prevent fraying, bending, or cracking. An additional feature we loved was a 'finger brake' opening at the bottom of the tape measure that lets the user control the speed of the blade as it retracts-no more abrupt motions that can cut your finger or knock the tool out of your hand. The tape measure has a sliding lock to hold the blade extended when in use, and we found it very easy to slide with just one thumb. Although a bit on the large side, we found that both the 16-foot and 25-foot models were easy to hold and felt comfortable in our hands. We purchased and tested 34 tape measures from several top brands in our product testing lab, evaluating them for accuracy, readability, ease of use, and value.īuilt to take a beating and keep on working, this professional-quality tape measure has a very sturdy housing that resists damage even if dropped from way up high. But if your space is small, a 16-foot tape measure is sufficient for most projects you’d need it for.” He adds, 'For most people, a 25-foot option is great because it’s easy to store and long enough to handle most measuring tasks around the house. But you can’t determine that as easily online.' Think about it when you’re physically at a store and you’re looking at a piece of furniture, you can easily gauge with your eye whether or not it’s going to fit in your space or if it’ll even fit through your doorframe. You’d be amazed at how much you have to measure-especially now that we’re all relying more heavily on online shopping. Michael DiMartino, Senior Vice President of Installations at Power Home Remodeling, says “I use tape measures all the time and store them in multiple locations throughout my home. The Spruce Home Improvement Review BoardĪside from a hammer and screwdriver, a tape measure is probably the most reached-for item in your toolkit.