Regardless of the material your hockey stick is made of, it still needs to be taped before you go out to play with it. With the right amount of tape, you can create an excellent knob at the handle for a good grip.
It is not uncommon for moisture to accumulate on the blade of a hockey stick when it is in use. This can negatively influence your gameplay. However, when taped, the blade is protected from moisture. Tapes are also required for some other gear like the shin guard and the socks.
Since tapes became essential for hockey players, so many different types have flooded the market. In this review, we have carefully selected some of the best, and we will be talking about the individual properties of these tapes.
Best Hockey Tape – Top 7 Picks of the Year
Here are best selling Hockey Tape on the market today
#1 – SportsTape Hockey Tape
SportsTape is a well-known brand among hockey enthusiasts. The brand is known for its line of traditional adhesive cloth and polyester stick tapes. In choosing a tape for your hockey stick, durability is one of the essential things to consider, and in that regard, this tape excels. It is made from woven poly-cotton, and it is water-resistant, able to protect your blade and handle against moisture as you play.
The serrated edges make the tape very easy and quick to cut. A lot of hockey tapes don’t offer long-lasting bonds, and they detach so easily, requiring you to tape repeatedly during a game. The SportsTape hockey tape is strong, and it has a lasting bond.
Also, you won’t have to worry about the tape leaving residues on your gloves. This is definitely one of the tapes you should consider when looking for tape for your hockey stick.
Pros
- It is water-resistant
- Long-lasting bond
- Serration makes it easy to cut
Cons
- Not the most affordable tape
#2 – A&R Sports Black Hockey Tape
Another well-known brand in the hockey world, A&R makes one of the best hockey tapes you can get on the market. It is perfect for taping stick handles, blades and grips. One of the selling points of the A&R tape is that it helps achieve the optimal grip required in the game of hockey.
Smooth tapes are not the best way to go when you’re buying hockey tapes as they tend to slide out of your hands. Also, the tape provides additional comfort and shock absorption, reducing the intensity of the vibration you will feel in your hands when playing.
The tape is black, for people who are specific about colours. Nonetheless, A&R makes hockey tapes in a number of other colours. Furthermore, the tape is quite thin but durable at the same time. It is also water-resistant and will provide much-needed protection from moisture. Depending on how much tape you use, you get to choose from the 2-piece pack or the 6-piece pack.
Pros
- It is not too thick
- Very durable
- It is water-resistant
Cons
- It is not the best in terms of stickiness
#3 – GoodGear Hockey Shin Guard Tape
If what you are looking for is a versatile hockey tape that you can use with all your hockey gear, the GoodGear Shin Guard Tape is perfect for you. It comes with strong adhesive, so it sticks well to whichever equipment you need it for.
Also, it is water-resistant and snow-resistant, so you can be sure that your gear will be protected from moisture. It can be a bit of a struggle to cut some tapes after wrapping around your shin guard. However, this GoodGear tape is designed to rip easily.
To be able to withstand the rigour of hockey training and games, the tape is designed with superior material and properly reinforced. Another thing that makes it a favourite among many people is its bright colour. If you prefer clear-coloured tapes to coloured ones, this is one of the excellent options available to you.
Pros
- Super-strong adhesive
- The tape is reinforced for strength
Cons
- Some players find it too sticky
#4 – Tape Brothers Carton Sealing Tape
Although not designed for hockey, in particular, the Tape Brothers Sealing Tape is versatile enough to be used with all your hockey gear. With water-based acrylic adhesive and durable elasticized polyethylene backing, the tape works well on sticks, blades, and shin guards.
Also, it comes in a wide range of colours, so you get to choose colours that will complement your gear. A good grip is not only a function of training or talent. You need the right accessories to work with. With this tape, you get better energy efficiency and an overall improvement in your game.
Although this is not exclusively a hockey tape, it has a decent grip that will prevent the stick from slipping out of your hands when in play. As a result of the strong adhesive, it may leave some marks on your gear when you remove it.
Pros
- Can be used different purposes
- Very durable
Cons
- It does not have the best grip
#5 – Renfrew Cloth Hockey Tape
This is actually a woven cotton cloth tape that comes with a superior adhesive formulation. For shock absorption and better puck handling, the tape comes with additional grip. Besides, it is thick enough to absorb the vibrations. It is very durable and wear-resistant. The adhesive coating is also quite thick; it serves as a functional barrier between moisture and your equipment.
Although it comes in single rolls, a roll is large enough to last for a long time. The colour options are numerous, so it is more likely than not that you will get a colour that goes with your other equipment. With the improved grip comes energy-efficiency. Less energy will be lost in transition, and you will be able to take better shots. Lastly, tape is really affordable.
Pros
- Very durable
- Improved grip
- A lot of colour options
Cons
- Leaves a bit of residue on removal
#6 – Lizard Skins Solid Hockey Grip
If what you are looking for is a tape that will protect your equipment from moisture without adding considerable thickness, this is the product for you. It is made from a unique lightweight material called Durasoft Polymer. This makes the grip much more comfortable, and you will find it easier to make high impact shots with more energy translation from your stick to the puck.
A lot of tapes, especially the thick ones, do not complement gloves well. However, the thinness of the Lizard Grip eliminates glove wear and tear. When compared to most of the other tapes in this review, it is a bit more expensive. However, when you consider the functionality and the exquisite feel of the tape, the price is justified.
Pros
- Long-lasting performance
- It is not too thick
Cons
- Some players may find it too thin
#7 – Jaybird & Mais 299 Hockey Tape
Jaybird & Mais 299 Hockey Tape is one of the best hockey tapes you can get on the market. Much like the Renfrew tape, it is made from woven cloth fabrics, and it is versatile enough to serve a number of other purposes. It can be used with all types of hockey sticks, including composite sticks.
The tape is coated with very strong adhesive, which causes it to stick well to your hockey equipment. It may, however, leave some residue after removal, as a result of the strong adhesive. It comes in about ten colours, so you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to colour. Additionally, it is one of the most affordable tapes on our list.
Pros
- Solid adhesive
- Excellent tensile strength
- It is a versatile tape
Cons
- Leaves a bit of residue
Taping Your Hockey Stick
If you want to get the best out of your hockey stick, then you need to properly tape some parts of it before you go out to play a game or practice. The blade and the handle are the commonly taped parts of a hockey stick. The blade is protected from wear and tear, and the handle of the stick is protected from moisture that can negatively affect your game.
The first thing you should know before buying a tape is that hockey tapes are the best. There are other tapes that are quite versatile enough to be used on your equipment, however, if it is within your means, buy a hockey tape specifically.
1. The Blade
When taping the blade, you should apply a little wax so that the puck will bite on it during play. You can use hockey stick wax for this. While some players rub the puck on the blade to stop water from sticking to the tape, you won’t need to go through all that if you use an excellent hockey tape that is water-resistant.
2. The Butt
This is another part of the hockey stick that you should tape properly. Hockey stick handles tend to slip, and they can be hard to grip, if not taped. With tape wrapped into a knob around the butt, you get a better grip, and you also prevent moisture from messing with the grip.
The size of the knob, big or small, depends on you. You should also know that the thickness of your tape may affect your grip. Some tapes are thin enough to be able to give a good grip without you making a big knob. After taping the butt, you can go ahead to tape the shaft.
3. The Shaft
This is not so common, but it is not unheard of. It is just like creating another grip zone along the shaft. All you have to do is roll the appropriate amount of tape, at a comfortable distance from the butt. Tapes used in the grip area may wear out with use, more so if the tape is not durable.
Conclusion
These tapes have some unique features that separate them from one another. This is why you make up your mind as to what you want in a hockey tape before you go ahead to buy one. SportsTape hockey tape is one of the most popular and rightly so.
If you are running on a very tight budget and still need to get a good tape, you should have a look at the A&R tape or the Jaybird & Mai. Whatever your requirements are, one of these tapes will satisfy you.
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