Best Gaffers Tape In 2020 - Top 10 Picks & Detailed Comparison
Gaffer tape is one of those items that you always want to have access to. The application of gaffer tape is pretty much limitless, especially when you are in a situation where something needs to be fixed and fast.
There are endless options on the market for gaffer tape but how do you know which one is best for you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, here are the best gaffers tape and the ultimate buying guide to help you decide which tape is best for your needs.
Comparison - Top Rated Gaffers Tape
Image | Product Name | Size (Inch) | Style | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
REAL USA Professional Grade Gaffer Tape By Gaffer Power | 2" | 30 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
ProTapes Pro Gaff Premium Matte Cloth Gaffer's Tape | 3" | 55 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
REAL Professional Grade Gaffer Tape | 2" | 30 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
Black Gaffers Tape - 3 Pack, 30 Yards and 2 inch Wide | 2" | 30 yd. x 3 Rolls | ||
Tape King Professional Grade Premium Gaffer Tape | 2" | 30 yd. x 2 Rolls | ||
AmazonBasics 2 Inch x 90 Feet Gaffers Tape | 2" | 30 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
TapePlus 2 Inch by 40 Yards Gaffers Tape | 2" | 40 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
XFasten Professional Grade Gaffer Tape | 2" | 30 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
SoLID 2" X 30 Yards Premium Grade Gaffer Tape | 2" | 30 yd. x 1 Roll | ||
Gaffer Tape 1 inch x 60 Yard Black by Gaffer’s Choice | 1" | 60 yd. x 1 Roll |
The 10 Best Gaffers Tape On the Market
1. REAL USA Professional Grade Gaffer Tape By Gaffer Power
Gaffer power is designed and made in the USA which increases the quality of the product as it has to meet stringent guidelines to be able to be referred to as professional grade. One of the best things about this tape is the lack of residue it leaves behind, which is something other products can do, especially if you are using it in a warm location.
The tape is non-reflective, which is ideal if you are using it in a stage or film set location. It also means that it won’t perish as quickly as reflective products due to the characteristics of the composition. The one thing that you need to double check before use is even coverage of the adhesive, whilst this brand is exceptionally good. It has been known that the adhesive sometimes doesn’t have even coverage.
The tape is easy to use, unlike other brands; it is very easy to tear making it a good alternative to other products. The tape comes away from what you have stuck it to with ease if you are the one pulling on it, but it doesn’t come lose with general wear and tear. The weather resistant aspects of it mean you can use it in all weather conditions; I have used it outside on my decking area to keep cables against the side of the house.
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2. ProTapes Pro Gaff Premium Matte Cloth Gaffer's Tape
The Pro tape has one of the best temperature ratios on the market. It will remain effective and structurally rigid from 50 degrees Fahrenheit all the way through to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. You will be able to use this tape in locations that other brands won’t be able to handle, specifically on lighting sets.
The tape is abrasion resistant, so it will last once you have stuck it down, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t easy to tear. What makes this tape standout is the adhesive that it used; the rubber based glue doesn’t perish as much over time and lose its structure. It will keep things together longer than other market alternatives.
This tape is an excellent addition to anyone’s toolbox, especially if they need to fix down cables, sort rigging or label items. The non-reflective surface means that it can quiet happily handle all those tasks and more. This tape is ideal as a temporary measure but it has been known to leave residue when you peel it off, so make sure you are careful when you do this.
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3. REAL Professional Grade Gaffer Tape by EdenProducts
Eden premium products make bold claims about their gaffer tape and I’m happy to say that a lot of these stand up. Unlike other brands, they have tested their product to get an accurate measure of what and how much weight this tape can hold up and fix down. It has a high tensile strength of 54 pounds which seems to be above market average.
The temperature ratio is similar to other products on the market, at 50 to 200 Fahrenheit, but when you have that and the additional strength that has been engineered into this tape. It makes it a more robust product. Unlike other products on the market, this tape brands itself as being waterproof rather than water resistant which can make all the difference on where and how you use it.
The adhesive is a tried and tested blend that stands the test of time and situations. Unlike some other gaffer tapes, the adhesive is evenly spread across the tape, making it hold everything and fixed things down as described. It comes away cleanly, even if you are having to tear it off in a rush. The only downside to this product is that the information label doesn’t seem to come away from the tape well, it leaves residual parts of paper on the tape which is irritating.
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4. Black Gaffers Tape - 3 Pack, 30 Yards and 2 inch Wide
This tape has been specifically designed with photographers and film makers in mind, which means you get a wider roll than other products that are available on the market and one that will last.
Whilst this tape states that it is waterproof, I’m more inclined to say that it is water resistant. After some use in my back garden under a leaky pipe, the constant trickle of water did make the tape start to loosen off slightly.
What makes this tape stand out is that it doesn’t leak adhesive. Unlike other brands that are also geared towards film making, sets and rigs, when they become too hot, they leak the glue and lose their strength. This gaffer tape doesn’t do this, and it keeps holding fast. You do need to clean areas before you stick it down, it can be problematic trying to stick it to dirty areas.
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5. Tape King Professional Grade Premium Gaffers Tape
The tape king gaffer tape is one of the few tapes on the market to offer a matt vinyl finish. It may seem like a small innocuous detail, but this vinyl finish means that the tape will be fully waterproof, which lets down some other products. It has been designed with professionals in mind, from trades to riggers. These guys seem to have considered all the factors that make a good product and implemented it into their design.
The adhesive is spread evenly and thickly across the length of the tape, ensuring maximum sticking capacity, the adhesive doesn’t leak out in high temperatures. I left a roll in my car for a few days in the glaring hot sun and it didn’t leak at all. So, you can be sure that this tape will stand up to the task when it needs to get hot.
Due to the vinyl surface of the tape, you don’t get an easy and clean tear. I found it a lot of effort and in the end resulted to cutting to it. As it has the vinyl finish, it isn’t a resistant to abrasion as other products on the market that have the cotton finish.
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6. AmazonBasics 2 Inch x 90 Feet Gaffers Tape
I was very uneasy in trusting amazons own version of gaffer tape, but you need to be aware that this is not professional grade tape and it has been designed for use in the home and not on rigs or sets. For a home-based product, it really is very good at what it does, if you want to stick down cables, this is the ideal tape for you.
I really liked how even the adhesive was spread across the entirety of the product, it meant that held all the cables exactly where I wanted them and it’s still going today. There haven’t been any adhesive leakages out of the tape, even when it has been placed in direct sunlight in the hot summer sun.
The cotton surfaced is resistant to abrasion and gives it a matt finish so that it will blend into the background of your home or office, especially if you are trying to hide and tidy up cables. It is easy to rip, which is one of the big pluses for gaffer tape and it will also remove without leaving residue. All in all this tape is a good all-rounder.
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7. TapePlus 2 Inch by 40 Yards Gaffers Tape
Unlike other similar products, this gaffers tape is rated to be 100% waterproof, this is due to the vinyl finish of the top layer of the tape. It is still non reflective, but this layer of vinyl instead of the traditional cotton make it impervious to water.
The adhesive is strong and it will happy fix down pretty much anything, but it doesn’t work as well in heat as other products. Due to the vinyl top layer, this tape is best use in darker, damper areas, so will be ideal for set building in these kinds of locations. It is super easy to tear and use and as long as you don’t get it over heated it won’t leave a residue.
The spread of the adhesive is even across the product which makes it a strong tape. It is also shrink wrapped in the factory so that when you open it there are no dust particles or other debris stuck to it. It will stick to pretty much anything, carpet included so should be your go to if you need gaffer tape that won’t let you down or make a mess.
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8. XFasten Professional Grade Gaffer Tape
The XFasten professional grade gaffer tape stands itself out from other premium rate products by working with all types of surfaces. It boasts that it will stick effectively to glass, textiles, metals and polycarbonate, meaning that you will be able to fix items to most surfaces effectively.
The cotton surface makes for an item that is hard wearing and abrasion resistant. It also doesn’t degrade in sunlight, meaning that your items will keep being stuck with this awesome product. It is easy to use and tear and has an even layer of adhesive over the entire product which is something other tapes often lack.
Unlike some other products on the market, I would trust this tape to be used in professional circumstances. It has a high level of tensile strength and the adhesive is strong and substantial enough to keep going. When you remove the tape, it doesn’t leave any residue and there is no leakage from the adhesive in high heat situations. It really is a good all round product.
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9. SoLID 2" X 30 Yards Premium Grade Gaffer Tape
Solid uses the title of professional grade gaffer tape. Usually I am one to avoid brands that make this claim as it usually results in disappointment, but on this occasion, it seems as though they have hit the nail on the head.
I haven’t found a surface that this tape won’t stick to; it is pretty remarkable in that respect. It will stick to pretty much anything and when you rip it off, there is no residue left behind. This is ideal if you are using it on professional sets that you need to leave in good condition, then this is a good option for you.
The abrasion resistant surface is far more versatile than any vinyl top coated tape, whilst they may be waterproof, you don’t get the same structural integrity as a material topped product. It makes for a tape that is easy to tear but exceptionally strong due to the weave.
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10. Gaffer Tape 1 inch x 60 Yard Black by Gaffer’s Choice
This American made tape has been used by professional videographers for years according to the company. I really liked using this tape as it was super easy to tear as well as being really strong. You get the feeling that if you don’t pull the tape off, it’ll stay there forever.
The tape has an even distribution of adhesive across the entire length of it. This is something that other brands don’t often get right and it impacts not only how well the tape will stick, but how well the tape rolls out.
The packaging means that you won’t get a product that is permeated with dust prior to use. You can be sure that once you get it out of the package it will stick to pretty much anything and everything. When you remove this tape, you don’t see any residual marks from the adhesive, nor does the adhesive seem to leak in high temperatures which other products seem to do.
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Gaffer Tape VS Duct Tape, What’s The Difference?
Most people think that duct tape and gaffer tape are one and the same, this actually isn’t the case and they are two different products that can have two different applications. The first difference is the top layer. Gaffer tape often has a cotton or fabric top layer that is abrasion resistant but doesn’t stop it being water proof, whereas duct tape has a plastic top that will keep water away from the adhesive layer.
Duct tape is designed so that once you have stuck it down, that’s it. Unlike gaffer tape, it isn’t designed to be put on and pulled off as duct tape will leave a sticky adhesive residue. Gaffer tape is designed for temporary use, so the entire product is designed around the idea that you will be removing it at some stage, therefore it doesn’t leave a sticky residue.
Considerations To Take Care Before You Buy
Before you purchase the gaffer tape, make sure that it is the right purchase for you. If you know that you will be removing the tape at some stage and it isn’t a permanent fixture, then you are looking at the right product. Likewise, if you are using it in a high lighting setting and need a matt finish that doesn’t reflect light, gaffer tape will be the purchase of choice.
Gaffer tape also has a different adhesive to duct tape, as we previously mentioned the entire design of gaffer tape is based on the fact that is can be removed. If you need a seriously strong adhesive that you want to stay for a long time, then you need to consider other tape options.
What Is Gaffers Tape Used For?
Gaffer tape is one of those things where the applications for it are utterly limitless, but there are few things you may not have considered before!
Cable Tidies
Some cable tidies are already very expensive, and they often are inflexible plastic pipe that make tracking them around a room a total nightmare. Why not use gaffer tape instead? You can purchase it in an array of colours and once you have taped from your TV or monitor you can manipulate the cables and the gaffer tape easily to where you want it to be. This way, if you need to change anything, it is also very easy to get to, it doesn’t require tools to fix or adjust and no marks will be left on your wall!
Rigging
If you work as a rigger, videographer or photographer; you can’t not have access to gaffer tape. In this case it is far better to have too much than too little and you want a tape that will last the entire duration of the set. Look for a tape that has a good ratio of temperatures that it can handle, this will make sure that in high heat situations the adhesive wont leak and the tape won’t fail. Non reflective tape will also be the way to go, even though vinyl tape gives you the opportunity to have water proof gaffer tape, it doesn’t give you the non-reflective, matt surface quite like the cotton blend.
As A Bra
Yes, you heard me right, as a bra. Thanks to an Instagram post by Kim Kardashian that showed her followers how she uses gaffer tape to create a makeshift bra that keeps everything in place, women the world over have started purchasing it in order to emulate Kim K’s look. There are a few things to bear in mind if you are going to use it for this purpose. It is an adhesive and you may well get a reaction to the glue touching your skin; it is a professional grade adhesive that may cause skin irritation.
When you are removing the gaffer tape, you will need to use something that will break the adhesive down. If you just try to pull it off you could cause yourself an injury and damage your skin. According to some, coconut oil is the best for breaking down the glue and helping the tape come off in a pain free manner. You can purchase gaffer tape in an array of colours, so we don’t doubt that you will find one that will match your outfit.
Emergency Situations
You will never know when you might need to urgently stick something back to something, it could be a tail light or it could be a pipe. Keeping gaffer tape around can help you limit the damage further from everyday mishaps, such as a bumper partially falling off your car or your guttering braking. Keep some on hand in your vehicle and at home so you can buy yourself time before a professional gets to you.
Editors’ Recommendation
Gaffer tape is one of those items that no one should be without and it really should be in your tool shed and carried in your car at all times, even if you don’t need it in your everyday life. If you do need it in your everyday life, make sure you are looking to purchase the correct type for your needs. Fundamentally, you want to make sure that the tape doesn’t leave any residue behind when you peel it away as this is the main selling point of gaffer tape. You also want to be sure that there is even coverage of adhesive across the length of the tape so that you can get maximum sticking capability. If you can find the details for the ratio of temperatures that the gaffer tape can operate in, make sure that it can still work in high heat.
You don’t want to come back to a tape that has peeled off and left a large puddle of adhesive on the floor! If you are using it as a bra, remember that the adhesive is not meant to be placed against bare skin and be careful when you are taking it off! If you take into account all these considerations, you will end up with a product that will suit your needs and continue working for you.