Favorite or best tape measure?

[justin85]

Another +1 for Komelon

I like the Kobalt Stainless Steel 25' (made my Komelon)

 

[Gary S]

I agree with Jack. My favorite one is the one I can find.
When I'm out in my garage, my favorite one is in the garage. When I'm in my basement workshop, my favorite one is whatever I find down there.

Running after a tape measure or looking for one is counterproductive to getting work done.

 

[jragain]

My Starrett tape is one of the tools that nobody gets to touch but me.

 

[Cameronl]

+1 Komelon!

A 3-pack <$10 at Sears (25', 16' & 12'):
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00937321000P?prdNo=1

 

[ecotec]

FatMax 25'

 

[mdbeck1]

Back in the dark ages (yeah about 25 years ago) I worked in a lumber yard and used all the different tape measures sold at Lowes at the time. The only one that lasted more than a week was a 25 ft Stanley. Part of that was because there was really nothing to measure in the yard longer than 24 feet so you didn't ever string it all the way out. All of the other ones would work just fine until we pulled them out to the maximum length. They would lock open and end up being tossed.

So now days I buy the 25-30 foot Stanleys. The 30 footers are wider and can be used to measure longer up the wall without support.

 

[jarren]

the ones without legs that dont run away

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

FatMax, 25'
http://www.stanleytools.com/default...ule+Reinforced+with+Blade+Armor&#153;+Coating
blade will stand out horizantal 11'
can't do that with a PowerLock

+1, Ive got 2 35', 3 25' and one 16" and one 25' fat max extreme. I dont remcommend the extreme, its thinner guage metal, but easier to read, but the stand out isnt as good as the regular "Fat Max".

Ive also got at least 10 various tapes, from Lufkin to hobo freight. I dont care to use any of them, those get stashed in the truck, and kitchen drawer, barn, and the like.

 

[TeressaIndustrialDesign]

Hi everyone, i'm an Industrial Design Student who is currently doing primary research in the redesign of the Tape Measure. This is only a class project, but the experience is necessary for the growth of myself as a designer. Since you've all been sharing your opinions here, I'd love for you to bring them onto my short survey (link posted below). Thanks for your time everyone!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QM7SZFP

 

[Tatsuya]

Tajima G 16' with white tape. Carry it daily.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Davefr]

I reach for my Big Johnson.

I can pull it out and it get's long and stiff without going limp when you need it most.

When the job is over it retracts easily and is always ready for the next opportunity.

 

[ssdave]

Having a quantity of them is good for me. I buy every good one I see at yard sales for $1 or less; I have several sitting around everywhere they're handy. I lose them constantly, at work I used to lose probably a half dozen or more a year to someone walking off with them. I keep the cheap ones from yard sales out and keep my better ones hidden away.

My favorites are Lufkin and Stanley Powerlock. I like the old Stanley metal cases, but the Lufkin plastic ones work just as well. The lock on the Lufkins doesn't break like the yellow plastic thing on the Stanleys. Seems they break early on when you drop the heavy metal cased tape and it falls on the yellow button. They still work fine without the lock, just not as convenient.

 

[Rrumbler]

Favorite, or the one I seem to reach for or have at hand most of the time, is a Stanley 25' x 1" Leverlock.

Best? My Stanley Fat Max 30'; it is heavier, stiffer, just seems to be good quality.

 

[dirt_dobber]

Best? My Stanley Fat Max 30'; it is heavier, stiffer, just seems to be good quality.

Totally agree - even the 1/16"s look sharp to these old eyes.

 

[bczygan]

HF ones EVERYWHERE!

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have a drawer full of them, every once and a while, the drawer starts to get empty and I round the missing tapes up, from throughout the house and shop.

My favourite is a 1/2" X 25' CM tape, bought years ago

 

[brooksdr]

Stanley FatMax is good. Kobalt is good and Lowes will hand you a new one no questions asked without the receipt if it tears up.

 

[HairMetal]

Stanley powerlocks are fine for my usage.Which is irregular.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Been using the orange Lufkins my entire life. I prefer the ones without the center finding feature or whatever the hell they call it.

 

[speed bump]

My work tapes are all 33 ft Lufkin engineer scale tapes.

My home tapes Lufkin, Stanley, or Komelon. Lately I buy another Komelon whenever Menard's puts them on sale for $5.