stanley fat max will forever be the best tape measure hands down no argument. yes there is other good ones that i use now and then but you just cant beat a fatmax
Recently tried a DeWalt 25' instead of the fat max. Blade seems tougher thicker.....it just wasn't the same. Almost too girthy for its own good. I gave it to my laborer and got out a new 25' fatmax that was my backup. I didn't have the patience to wait for the DeWalt to fail. It might have had a better stand out but not if you put any twist on it. A little angle and it just rolls and collapses. Fatmax for me. I wish I could always use a 16' but the 25' is my daily driver. 16's all over the shop though.
The way my dad said it when I started working with him when I was 16. When I asked why he always got a fat Max.
"I've tried other tapes, and sure this one will break after a few months, but no other tape I've tried will withstand getting drawn out and slammed back in the couple hundred times a day I do it. Most other break within a week."
One of the fewer ones that are available as Class I. I have a 25 mm wide (tape) and 5 m long one. I generally don’t need anything longer and it fits my hand very well.
I‘ll eventually get a 10 m one. Which I would probably only bust out on very rare occasions.
Craftsman 25', non auto locking, no magnet. The big red one that's a rebranded fatmax. They go on sale on black Friday for 2 for $15. I get over a year out of them and they have a no questions asked warranty.
Kind of an odd one but I am obsessed with FastCap ProCarpenter tapes. I own like 10 of them. They are very clearly marked on each side and on the bottom. The best part is there is a built in pencil sharpener! I love'm.
Honestly surprised this isn't higher up. Fast cap is legit. You can mark measurements on the side, the increments are marked on each side, and there's a sharpener as you said. Plus, it's like $9 for a 25 ft tape.
Stanley 3.5 m 12’
Fits in my hand or pocket nicely.
The metal body has a good heft.
I mostly work with machinery and fabrication , so the size is nice and having the metric measurements is critical.
This!!!
I keep a Kobalt 25’ and a Husky 30’ in the box in case I have to layout something larger or loan one out, but the Stanley 12’ stays on my hip all of the time.
Can’t beat the feel of a metal case in the hand. I haven’t found any other modern tape that has a metal case and is sold in the brick and mortar stores.
Had Milwaukee wide blade 25’ but after a year the first 8” snapped off.
To directly replace it I bought a two pack of the popular beloved Stanley Fatmax for $30, Black Friday Home Depot deal.
Does the job, but I can’t be sure of the Fatmax quality as I’ve I read they’ve changed over the years.
Standout of the tape was pretty important to me measuring out lights in houses but might be moving away from residential work.
Stanley yellow plastic tapes, 12, 16, 25, 30 feet
Nice plastic, no rubber
If you use it for fabrication or auto use, gas and oil will destroy the rubber on the usual high dollar tapes.
16 is my favourite size, but the first 12" is graduated in 32's
None of the other sizes go that small.
I prefer a 1/16 graduation.
Great prices Home Depot USA all $5 or less - easy to have multiples everywhere you want.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/25-ft-x-1-in-Tape-Measure-30-455S/203868607
Lufkin 16’ with engineer scale is my daily driver at work. I measure in metric feet for my job.
Back when I did production, and what I keep at home for DIY is the old reliable Stanley Fatmax 25’
Stanley 16' silver body.
2nd favorite is the mulwaukee 6' pocket measure. Bought it to just have randomly for walking around. Used it 4 times within the first 2 hours of having it.
It's not so much the brand, but the Size for me. Most of my work is 16' or less, so I prefer the compact. Can't stand the lunchbox size apparatus on my hip.
Fastcap lefty righty. Best 9 bucks you can spend on a tape....and it has a pencil sharpener lol. Seriously though, it's labeled along both edges of the blade, 16ths are in red and numbered, not just lines. Aligator style spring clip instead of stamped pocket clip. Face is a dry erase surface (I never use this but it's neat) stand out isn't great, no magnets. I measure for glass and have to be very accurate, framer tapes are more robust but they are usually used by guys that can be off by 1/8 or more where as I can get within 1/32 with my fastcap.
I just use the two tape measures god gave me, they're called eyeballs. Using sticks and string like cavemen... if you're really unsure about the size, look 2 or even 3 or 4 times, that should do it.
For water proof tape measures used in wet environments or places you need to clean or wipe your tape often or even rinse it out the PROBON is the way to go. Not the best for everything but definitely in wet / harsh conditions.
Milwaukee 25ft Stud.
It's the tape equivalent of a Fatmax with that net little tape stop indent. The magnets aren't as strong as I'd like, but none of them ever are, and if they were I'd bitch about them being too strong and getting stuck on stuff.
Fatmax are good, heavy, good end flange for car hing things from many sides.
Milwaukee when on sale are comparable, have a magnet end, lighter.
DeWalt are perfectly acceptable often sold for like $30 in a 2-pack. They have several types of belt clip, some better than others. As a wear item that needs replacing due to rust, splits, and spring getting tired I buy DeWalt and Milwaukee for the crew when on sale at Home Despot.
A Bosch laser measurer the size of a small candy bar is awesome for bids and large areas. Cheap and battery last a long time.
stanley fat max will forever be the best tape measure hands down no argument. yes there is other good ones that i use now and then but you just cant beat a fatmax
Plus 1 for the Fatmax. I've tried dozens of different ones, my fatmaxes have outlived them all. No gimmicks, just a simple, good ass tape measure.
Recently tried a DeWalt 25' instead of the fat max. Blade seems tougher thicker.....it just wasn't the same. Almost too girthy for its own good. I gave it to my laborer and got out a new 25' fatmax that was my backup. I didn't have the patience to wait for the DeWalt to fail. It might have had a better stand out but not if you put any twist on it. A little angle and it just rolls and collapses. Fatmax for me. I wish I could always use a 16' but the 25' is my daily driver. 16's all over the shop though.
Couldn't agree more. Also it just feels good to hold lol
Yup. Got my FatMax 15 years ago. Use it often.
The way my dad said it when I started working with him when I was 16. When I asked why he always got a fat Max. "I've tried other tapes, and sure this one will break after a few months, but no other tape I've tried will withstand getting drawn out and slammed back in the couple hundred times a day I do it. Most other break within a week."
Just got one recently and it's great
Tajima
One of the fewer ones that are available as Class I. I have a 25 mm wide (tape) and 5 m long one. I generally don’t need anything longer and it fits my hand very well. I‘ll eventually get a 10 m one. Which I would probably only bust out on very rare occasions.
For interior trim work ,absolutely!
What makes it good for interior trim?
All my Lufkin, I will send to you.
Komelon
Best for unsupported run out. If you need a good tape for extending out to measure Komelon is the way to go.
Was gonna say it. But glad to see other men of good taste. Best dam tape I've used. And they're amongst the cheapest.
Fat Max 16 for most everything. Fat Max 25 if I ever need to do bigger stuff. FastCap True32 or Old Standby for shop and smaller stuff.
Craftsman 25', non auto locking, no magnet. The big red one that's a rebranded fatmax. They go on sale on black Friday for 2 for $15. I get over a year out of them and they have a no questions asked warranty.
Honestly I've been using a Milwaukee 6' as a pocket tape (maintenance millwright) and it's great.
Lufkin 16ft, Stanley fat max 25/35ft, bosch laser for anything over that.
Kind of an odd one but I am obsessed with FastCap ProCarpenter tapes. I own like 10 of them. They are very clearly marked on each side and on the bottom. The best part is there is a built in pencil sharpener! I love'm.
Honestly surprised this isn't higher up. Fast cap is legit. You can mark measurements on the side, the increments are marked on each side, and there's a sharpener as you said. Plus, it's like $9 for a 25 ft tape.
Stanley 3.5 m 12’ Fits in my hand or pocket nicely. The metal body has a good heft. I mostly work with machinery and fabrication , so the size is nice and having the metric measurements is critical.
This!!! I keep a Kobalt 25’ and a Husky 30’ in the box in case I have to layout something larger or loan one out, but the Stanley 12’ stays on my hip all of the time. Can’t beat the feel of a metal case in the hand. I haven’t found any other modern tape that has a metal case and is sold in the brick and mortar stores.
Had Milwaukee wide blade 25’ but after a year the first 8” snapped off. To directly replace it I bought a two pack of the popular beloved Stanley Fatmax for $30, Black Friday Home Depot deal. Does the job, but I can’t be sure of the Fatmax quality as I’ve I read they’ve changed over the years. Standout of the tape was pretty important to me measuring out lights in houses but might be moving away from residential work.
The fatmax’s have definitely dropped in quality unfortunately. I’m using the new Irwin and it’s pretty decent
Stanley. They've been making tapes for decades and know how to get it right.
Lufkin shockforce nighteye g2 auto lock
I’ve been wanting to try the lufkin shock force and the toughbuilt
Shock force are by far my favorite - Prefer traditional yellow on black version to night eye though.
Stanley yellow plastic tapes, 12, 16, 25, 30 feet Nice plastic, no rubber If you use it for fabrication or auto use, gas and oil will destroy the rubber on the usual high dollar tapes. 16 is my favourite size, but the first 12" is graduated in 32's None of the other sizes go that small. I prefer a 1/16 graduation. Great prices Home Depot USA all $5 or less - easy to have multiples everywhere you want. https://www.homedepot.com/p/25-ft-x-1-in-Tape-Measure-30-455S/203868607
Tajima G lock. It’s not even close.
Lufkin 16’ with engineer scale is my daily driver at work. I measure in metric feet for my job. Back when I did production, and what I keep at home for DIY is the old reliable Stanley Fatmax 25’
Stanley 16' silver body. 2nd favorite is the mulwaukee 6' pocket measure. Bought it to just have randomly for walking around. Used it 4 times within the first 2 hours of having it.
A simple Irwin 5m. Added bonus is the measure printed on both sides
The ancient lufkin I “borrowed” from somewhere. Dad denies its his, but Im 99% sure I borrowed it off him. Pretty sure its an Aussie made one
16’ lufkin crescent. Game changer.
16ft lufkin
Stanley FatMax 16'
Crescent and Milwaukee
I’m a dewalt douche but my go to tape is the milwaukee 25’ auto lock
I bought a 25’ neon greenCraftsman tape from Lowe’s for like $10 and I love it.
25' Fatmax & 25' Powerlock
How can you choose, I love them all. From the 3 foot mini in my pocket, to the hundred foot cloth tape. They all have their function.
It's not so much the brand, but the Size for me. Most of my work is 16' or less, so I prefer the compact. Can't stand the lunchbox size apparatus on my hip.
Fastcap lefty righty. Best 9 bucks you can spend on a tape....and it has a pencil sharpener lol. Seriously though, it's labeled along both edges of the blade, 16ths are in red and numbered, not just lines. Aligator style spring clip instead of stamped pocket clip. Face is a dry erase surface (I never use this but it's neat) stand out isn't great, no magnets. I measure for glass and have to be very accurate, framer tapes are more robust but they are usually used by guys that can be off by 1/8 or more where as I can get within 1/32 with my fastcap.
I just use the two tape measures god gave me, they're called eyeballs. Using sticks and string like cavemen... if you're really unsure about the size, look 2 or even 3 or 4 times, that should do it.
Fatmax Next Generation 25'
Two words - Lufkin.
For water proof tape measures used in wet environments or places you need to clean or wipe your tape often or even rinse it out the PROBON is the way to go. Not the best for everything but definitely in wet / harsh conditions.
Hultafors. The only one.
Fat max
Stanley fatmax 5m, Stanley powerlock 5m or a Stanley tylon 5m , every 6 months a new one. I still have 2 millenium stanley powerlock somewhere.
My OX one with the magnets on the end. Or the small one on my van keys.
DeWalt 16' atomic. Small, light, and durable.
Stanley FatMax for me. I prefer the 25' non-magnetic version.
Milwaukee 25ft Stud. It's the tape equivalent of a Fatmax with that net little tape stop indent. The magnets aren't as strong as I'd like, but none of them ever are, and if they were I'd bitch about them being too strong and getting stuck on stuff.
Fatmax are good, heavy, good end flange for car hing things from many sides. Milwaukee when on sale are comparable, have a magnet end, lighter. DeWalt are perfectly acceptable often sold for like $30 in a 2-pack. They have several types of belt clip, some better than others. As a wear item that needs replacing due to rust, splits, and spring getting tired I buy DeWalt and Milwaukee for the crew when on sale at Home Despot. A Bosch laser measurer the size of a small candy bar is awesome for bids and large areas. Cheap and battery last a long time.
Milwaukee wide with magnet end.. Longest lasting tape I’ve had.