Komelon SM5416 Speed Mark Gripper Acrylic Coated Steel Blade Tape Measure 16-feet by 1-Inch, White Blade

When yer saying where’s my tape, ya can’t have to many ! For the money ya can’t beet it

At 3x3” and 1.75” thick this is beefier than the average 16’ tape measure. This is mostly due to the rubber wrapped case which feels great in my hand and also helps avoid scratching delicate surfaces. Accuracy is dead on. I love the 1” wide (off) white tape and the 1/8” readings. I’m tired of 16’ tapes that are 3/4” wide. But the real dealmaker for me is the lock lever which, when partially depressed, can slow down/control the blade retraction. I’m not sure if this was an intended or accidental feature of the lock mechanism but I hate tapes with no ability to control retraction, which is almost all. For $6 it’s a no brainer. I also ordered the 12’ version for a better fit in my shop apron pouch.

I broke my old tape measure and saw this on one of the daily deals and ordered it without much thought. When it arrived I realized it had a feature I really like, reading the measures. It lists the fractions (1/8, 1/4, and so on) and lists the inches after 1 ft (11, 12, and so on) making it much easier to read than my old tape measure. Im glad I found this. And the price was great!

Its bit expensive. But really good quality to purchase.

Easy to read the eighth. quarter, and half marks from the top or bottom of the tape and doesnt have ears that get in the way when holding the tape stop and a razor to keep the cut true to zero on the tape when say, ripping an 8 or 12 foot sheet of drywall or cutting or drawing accurately measured boxes etc.

Great

It was very helpful in measuring areas/spaces that went beyond a standard 10ft tape measure. Tricky to use at first and I took a star off because I actually cut my hand on the metal edge trying to use. So be careful because the edge of the tape is sharp!

I have 2 of these now, different brands. This one is heavier, more cumbersome, and more difficult to lock. Accurate measurement though.

This tape measurer is a slight and yet massive improvement over the previous two from major brands that Ive owned for over 20 years. Sure, its got big numbers on it in case youre going blind, but the real kicker for me is the retraction speed is far more controlled and slower. Its not the standard issue tape measurer where you unlock the tape and watch it snake across the room at top speed before trying to bite your hand and face. Instead, it takes twice as long to retract and doesnt whip lash in every direction at all. I think thats because the tape itself seems to be made of much heavier and sturdier material so its heavier and it doesnt bend as easily. Thus, it is slower to gain speed, and loses speed/momentum while recoiling as it is effected by gravity or air pressure (instead of bending and storing that momentum as it whiplashes like a spaghetti noodle being sucked up, becoming more dangerous with more length of tape). Such a slight change makes all the difference. Another feature I like is that the outside is mostly rubber, mind the clip, so you can set it down on more sensitive surfaces such as stained wood without concern. It can also take a short drop too without cracking the tile. Again, another slight adjustment that makes all the difference.

This tape measure has labels at every 1/8 interval. This makes it a good choice for folks who dont have a lot of experience reading a tape measure. But if youre a carpenter, or if you can just look at a ruler and automatically know what the marks mean, this tape measure is just annoying. Thats because the labels take up so much room that its hard to see the actual markings. Thus it may actually slow you down. It just depends on how much help you need decoding the markings. In other news, the lock works well. Thats the main reason why my tape measures fail. I have a Stanley, a Milwaukee, and a no-name in my tool bag right now, and all three have locks that cant hold the tape in place without slipping. This $6 tape measure can do that, so its currently the best the four.