****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
.......................................Rips & Sticks Like An Athletic Tape Designed By UsersBest ATHLETIC tape I've ever used.Before I begin my review, I have to clarify that this tape is not supposed to stretch, it is not designed to be used as kinesiology tape because Meister Premium Athletic Trainer's tape is an athletic tape.I just read a couple of reviews that complain about how this athletic tape "doesn't stretch..." or "doesn't work like KT tape".These reviewers have, in a sense, compared a pick-up truck to a sports car: and, like athletic tape and kinesiology tape, they may fall under the same broad category of "transportation" or "support tape", respectively: but, beyond that broad characterization, they have very specialized and specific uses.Just as one wouldn't race a pickup against a sports car on a track or mountain road, or compare the towing capacity of a 1/2 ton Chevy to a Corvette, it makes little sense to compare athletic tape to kinesiology tape, or masking tape, scotch tape, duct tape, etc.Read after the "Review" for further explanation of how I use both athletic tape and kinesiology tape but for different purposes.REVIEWI've taped my ankles and wrists for over 30 years and The Meister Premium Athletic Trainer's tape not only rips as easily and sticks better than any tape I've ever used but it feels soft, doesn't stretch, and the edges don't roll, snag on socks, or act like fly paper and catch everything that touches it.Used it during a SUP paddle session yesterday and it stayed firmly attached to my wrist even after being soaked with salt water and sweat.If you've been looking for an athletic tape that rips easily, sticks extremely well, and maintains adhesion even after being soaked with sweat (or salt water) then you've found it. The purple also serves as a cool break from the clinical white tape I've used for decades.Ordered the six pack (works out to $2.99 a roll) but will order the 32 pack next time ($2.19/roll) for a savings of $25.60.ADHESION TIPS1) If possible, wash your hands with soap and water before handling.2) Apply to clean skin.3) Use rubbing alcohol to wipe away oils, dirt, and dead skin cells on the application area prior to taping. Let dry for at least 30 seconds.4) Avoid touching the tape (especially the end that seals the tape job) by anchoring the tape to your clean skin and unrolling a few inches at a time by pulling the remainder of the roll like a spool without touching the sticky side.5) The less you pull off and re-apply to adjust tension or position the better the tape will stick over time.6) After completing the tape job, firmly rub your hand over the taped area a few times (and in the same direction you unrolled it) to create some binding heat and to make sure all of the tape has adhered to the surface beneath it.I know some of the Adhesion Tips may be obvious to many but I have performed all of the "tips" with other tapes and they still didn't stick as well as the Meister Premium. Get it or regret it...........................................................................ATHLETIC TAPE vs. Kinesiology TapeI have both kinesiology and athletic tape and use them for different purposes. Though both can serve to lessen the likelihood of injury,I use kinesiology tape to prevent injury to my knees (worn medial meniscus) and lower back and use athletic tape to protect existing joint injuries such as a wrist or ankle sprain in order to allow healing to occur by minimizing the chances of healing set-backs due to re-injury.Some may argue they use one or the other for prevention or protection but, as stated, my review reflects how and when I use athletic tape vs. kinesiology tape.If you have difficulty deciding which tape to use, it may help to think "soft cast" for athletic tape and customized support brace for kinesiology tape. My knees are prone to soreness and swelling due to years of pounding on the courts, roads, and weightlifting. I use kinesiology tape as added support which helps prevent injury, decreases swelling, and makes my knee joints feel "less loose". I also use kinesiology tape for my lower back for the same reasons.I use athletic tape to limit the range of joint motion in my injured wrist (strained tendons) and my bad ankles that roll every time I play basketball. Taping my ankles helps prevent "rolling" but not always. If I've recently injured an ankle severely, I tape even tighter to strictly limit mobility and further, more serious, injury.In regards to my wrist, my most recent injury has limited the range of motion. If I bend my wrist forward or backwards to points measuring about 1/2 of what I considered normal range before the injury, I experience pain. I use Meister ATHLETIC Training TAPE to prevent my wrist from bending beyond the point where the sharp pain indicates possible re-injury (and healing set-back).If you play hard, you know injuries are just part of the price one pays. This particular injury woke me up three times that night and throbbed. Out of my hundreds of injuries throughout my active athletic live spanning over four decades, only three other injuries had woken me up in my life, a compound fractured collar bone, a hairline fractured thumb, and a broken rib. I felt certain I had broken one of the eight bones that make up the wrist joint: the most injured bone, the scaphoid.Fast forward 7 weeks, and an x-ray and MRI six weeks after initial injury, nothing appears broken.I believe that had I gone to the hospital earlier, a hairline fracture would have been detected in my scaphoid and a cast would have been applied to limit mobility and allow the healing process to occur uninterrupted: the purpose of a cast.At this point I have to advise that if you have serious injured yourself, seek medical attention from a doctor.Because injuries have been a regular part of my athletic lifestyle, and I've studied kinesiology, physiology, injury treatments, and have been with injury more often than not, I felt I could accurately diagnose my injury and determine a proper course of action in regards to efficient healing.Again, if you hurt yourself and the pain doesn't go away after a few days, or wakes you in the night, SEEK PROPER MEDICAL ATTENTION! Obviously, I did not heed my own advice.At some point, early in the 8 week healing period, I re-injured my wrist (rolled over it in my sleep) and this injury set my healing back a couple of weeks. I knew this because the constant pain returned. I had been taping my wrist to limit the mobility with athletic tape during the day (up to that point) but removing it during my sleep. After re-injury, I either taped it or wore a wrist splint 24/7; and, I did not experience another set-back from re-injury. After another four weeks of immobilization with athletic tape, and before returning to full use of my injured wrist, I thought I should make sure I don't re-injure what an x-ray or MRI might show to be an obvious fracture.So, I finally had both an x-ray and an MRI performed and no fracture or ligament damage.The doc said that my treatment might have aided in the healing of what might have been a fracture or tear but he could not, of course, say this with certainty and he STRONGLY ADVISED me TO SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION should I again experience the type of injury I described.The bottom line: I use athletic tape for maximum joint protection through immobilization or limiting range of motion and flex: and, kinesiology tape for flexible muscle, tendon, and ligament support throughout full range of motion and injury prevention.I also use Meister Premium Athletic Trainer's tape to SECURE LACES and the ANCHOR ENDS of kinesiology tape (both Rocktape and KT Tape) so the ends don't rub off when rubbed against other material such as clothing or bedding when sleeping with the kinesiology tape (can last for 3-5 days when properly applied and protected).If you're not familiar with kinesiology tape then you're probably wondering "sleep with tape" after sweating with it! WTFlatulence!".But excellent kinesiology tape is both expensive and designed to provide support for days, can be worn while showering and during sleep. Blow dry after showering to revive the adhesive qualities i.e. make it stick better after getting wet.DISCLAIMERS:>I am not a medical professional, nor do I work in the medical supply industry, or for Meister, KT Tape, RockTape or any other tape or athletic equipment company or supplier.>I am a tape user and realize others may use the tapes mentioned differently.>The opinions I have expressed are my own and ones I have formed during my 40+ years of athletic activity.>Seek Medical Attention if you believe you have a serious injury.
