It has a starrett digital tape measure 90 blade, a functional tang, a solid stand-out, a strong locking lever, and a convenient belt hook. We performed this three times with each tape. Syarrett it clean. Rather, they work on a spool system like a fishing rod. Paste a list of starrett digital tape measure 90 s and quantities. The Johnson JobSite, Johnson Big J, and Keson tapes also had bumpers, but when they were pressed, they actually forced open the seam along the underside of the case. Another thing to look for is the design of the tang the metal hook at the end of the tape.

In our testing, we found that the 1-inch blades were the easiest to use overall, even if it meant sacrificing some stand-out. If it was there, great. There are tapes that will make a mark for you , tapes that have telescoping measuring rulers , and others with centering scales that show you the center point of any measurement.

More thoughts on those in a bit. For length, we only looked at foot tapes. Common lengths are 12, 16, 25, 30, and 35 feet. DeBoer said that he primarily uses a 16, but he feels safer knowing that he has a 25 close by. Clement said that a 25 is the way to go because there are times when it will come in handy. The largest portion of our tape measure testing consisted of using the tools as we completed a number of carpentry projects. From this general use, we got a sense of quality and handling—how easy the different tapes were to read, whether or not the tangs hooked on what we wanted them to, and how well the belt clips worked.

To check the durability of the blade itself and to simulate the destructive grinding that takes place once dirt and grit make their way into the case, we extended the tapes and dragged a piece of grit sand paper, weighed down with 5 pounds of pressure, down the blade for a distance of 1 foot. We performed this three times with each tape. On some tapes the coating and printing came right off, but others held up admirably to Starrett Digital Tape Measure Network the abrasion test.

We also tested the strength of the locking mechanism by locking each tape at 24 inches, dangling it from the tang, and bouncing it.

When the lock is engaged, it should be strong enough to withstand that level of pulling and tugging. A lame blade lock can be intensely frustrating. Accuracy was a piece of the puzzle, but in reality just a very small piece. We also checked the stand-out of the tapes by extending each one to the breaking point four times and taking the average. Finally, everyone has different hands, so in order to test general ergonomics I gave the top contenders to my wife and some other friends to play around with and considered their feedback.

The Stanley PowerLock is the best tape measure for a number of reasons. It has a durable blade, a functional tang, a solid stand-out, a strong locking lever, and a convenient belt hook. The PowerLock is a very basic tool and its pared-down simplicity makes it very light and easy to handle. The other tapes, which cost more, all had failings—a poorly protected blade, a gigantic tang, a lame stand-out, or an impossible belt clip.

Again, the most important characteristic of a superior tape measure is the durability of the blade. The Stanley blade is coated with a Mylar polyester film, which our testing proved to be superior to most of the other tapes.

Remember, this is the key point in the durability and longevity of a tape measure. When we dragged the weighted sandpaper over the PowerLock, the coating showed some surface scratching, but the Starrett Digital Tape Measure 25 Review printing remained fully intact. On many of the other tapes, like the Johnsons and the FastCaps, the printing came off like we were erasing a pencil mark.

The Stanley was in the small class of tapes that held up to this abuse. One of the projects we used the tapes on was measuring for 20 custom storm windows, a task consisting of seven measurements per window. For the diagonals, we planted the tang at the lower corner, extended the tapes, and then bent them over with a twist in order to read the upper corner. The PowerLock handled this repetitive bending and kinking with no problems, but we were surprised at how quickly this task worked over some of the tapes, like the Keson and the Tajimas, which quickly developed slight warps and wrinkles in the thin blades.

The tang on the PowerLock is minimal, but very effective. This indicates the quality of the tang as well as its relationship with the tape blade. Still, using the PowerLock for a carpentry project, we were comforted knowing that it is percent dead-on accurate.

The PowerLock has a blade stand-out of 7 feet, 10 inches, which is on the upper side of the limit indicated by Clement and DeBoer. The locking lever is strong and easy to use, with a nice texture that prevents the thumb from slipping. You can easily lock the blade with one hand. The belt hook is a standard but functional design. It has a nice spring to it and the flare at the end makes it easy to blindly hook on a back pocket.

I can hold the [PowerLock] in my hand, pay out tape, and bend the tape—say for measuring across a floor or from floor to ceiling—in a fluid motion without having to readjust the tape in my hand. The people we asked to handle the tapes had similar experiences.

The solid feel of the tool and the smooth locking lever were also noted as high points. A really nice additional feature of the PowerLock is that the tape case is marked for inside measurements. On the underside of the case, right where the tang sits, the PowerLock has a slightly loose piece of black plastic.

This acts as a shock absorber when the tang comes slamming back into the case. A few of the other tools had something similar with varying degrees of success. The Johnson JobSite, Johnson Big J, and Keson tapes also had bumpers, but when they were pressed, they actually forced open the seam along the underside of the case. Better versions were found on the Starrett and Tajimas, but those tapes had other issues covered below.

The Komelon, Lufkin, and Snap-on extend their ample rubber over-mold up to the nose of the tool so that it directly acts as a bumper. This last point he makes is worth emphasizing.

DeBoer also picks up on the cost analysis in the PTR piece. The PowerLock has a fairly typical warranty. We need to note that Stanley sells another version of this tape measure that they refer to as the PowerLock with Blade Armor.

We tested this model out too, and even though it sounds like it would be the superior tape, it pales in comparison to its more stable sibling. This is a nice touch, but we also found that it had one of the weaker blade locks of any tape we looked at. The tape started recoiling with even the slightest movement. While we liked the added blade durability, the loosey-goosey blade lock was too frustrating. Last, with its long plus-year history, the PowerLock is also something of an icon.

For all of this goodness, the PowerLock still has a couple slight flaws. First, the belt hook is a simple metal clip. This is a standard design on tape measures, and when clipped and unclipped repeatedly on a pocket, it starts to fray the fabric. However, this is only a concern if the tape is being used on a very regular basis.

As stated earlier, the PowerLock has been around for over 50 years and the one thing that has changed over time is the case. Somewhere along the way, most likely for cost reasons, Stanley stopped making them out of metal and started making them out of plastic. In our research, we found that many longtime users of the PowerLock wistfully long for the days of the metal case. The fact is that plastic cases are simply the norm these days, and they offer enough durability to get the job done.

Of the tapes we tested, only the Johnson Big J had a significant amount of metal in the case and at no point did we get the sense of any significant added durability. If you want a tape measure with a proven track record of durability, one that can withstand a true jobsite beatdown, we recommend the Stanley FatMax. Over the years it has replaced Starrett Digital Tape Measure 25 Zoom the PowerLock as the standard on jobsites. We actually heard it laughing at us. The FatMax has a top-hooking tang. While this was a feature that took many other tapes out of consideration, the tang on the FatMax is designed differently.

On Starrett Digital Tape Measure 25 Vol the sides at the top of the tang are two slight horns that stick up above the concave side of the tape. These can be used to hook something from underneath. The trade-off for all of this goodness is weight and bulk. The chubby case is nearly two inches wide and it fills up any hand that is holding it. For this guide, we only looked at tapes with traditional locking buttons. Some companies make tape measures with auto-locking features that automatically hold the tape in place once it is extended.

A button, located where the normal toggle would be, retracts the tape. It makes sense to just learn that little trick and then have the full range of tape motion if you need it.

If you need a longer tape measure, depending on your needs, it may be worth investing in a foot tape measure like this Komelon. These are not spring-loaded auto-retracting tapes like their smaller cousins.

Rather, they work on a spool system like a fishing rod. Any time you consistently need long measurements, one of these can save you a tremendous amount of time.

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