Sports Tape Buying Guide

Here’s your complete sports tape buying guide to help you decide what brand and type of tape is best for helping you manage your condition.

What Is Sports Tape?

This is a form of athletic tape that is applied either directly to the skin or over a pre-wrapped bandage to help keep the bones and muscles in a stable position during periods of rigorous activity. Sports tape is mainly used during the recovery phase from sports injury such as injured muscles, where any movement will not only cause pain and discomfort but also delay the recovery process.

The Best Sports Tapes for Highly Active Individuals

Thanks to the sudden popularity of sports tape, caused partly by its obvious recovery benefits, but also because they are regularly seen being worn by popular athletes, there is now a very wide range of these products available. This makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other when trying to choose the best one for your needs. The following list should help:

KT Tape Elastic Kinesiology Therapeutic Athletic Tape

This tape has been intricately designed to provide the best support to recovering muscles and joints at a very affordable price. The KT Tape Elastic Kinesiology Therapeutic Athletic Tape is very easy to apply and once it is properly attached, you can leave it on for days without worrying about it falling off.

Features

• Light-weight cotton material
• Breathable latex-free design
• Cutting edge sports tape technology

Pros

• Easy fit
• Stays on for a long time
• Good for sensitive skin

Cons

• A bit painful to remove
• Not the best quality adhesive

Price 11.93

OK TAPE Kinesiology Tape

Those on a tight budget should definitely give this tape a look. OK TAPE Kinesiology Tape comes at one of the lowest prices on this list but at the same time retains all the necessary features required for an effective sports tape. It is also made of good quality cotton and spandex material.

Features

• Blend of cotton and spandex
• 20 pre-cut strips per roll
• Latex-free material throughout

Pros

• Very affordable even on the tightest budget
• Hypoallergenic material
• Comes in pre-cut strips

Cons

• Not suitable for sensitive skin
• The design look is not the most attractive

Price 6.38

Hampton Adams Premium Kinesiology Tape

If you are trying to balance premium quality with good value for money, then we suggest Hampton Adams Premium Kinesiology Tape. With this product, you get two sets of high-quality, hypoallergenic tape that will do a great job regardless of the situation. This is a great option for very active athletes who regularly need fresh sports tape.

Features

• Premium quality material
• Highly stretchable
• Latex-free

Pros

• Water-resistant
• Sweat eliminating design
• Lasts up to 10 days without falling off

Cons

• Very expensive because it has two rolls
• The strong adhesive makes removal difficult and sometimes painful

Price 36.92

Theraband Kinesiology Tape

Those who have never worn sports tape before might find it slightly uncomfortable to play sports while wrapping up their joints and muscles. Theraband Kinesiology Tape is both easy to apply and comfortable even when worn over long periods.

Features

• Stretch indicators to guide you through its proper application
• Cotton-latex blend
• Non-irritating adhesive

Pros

• Easy to apply
• Comes in pre-cut strips
• Has nine available colours to choose from

Cons

• Not the best quality
• Painful removal, especially after being worn for extended periods

Price 11.67

Rock Tape H2O Edge Water-Resistant Tape

Kinesiology sports tape is not only limited to use in outdoor track and field activities. Rock Tape H2O Edge Water-Resistant Tape, for example, can also be used by swimmers who need to relieve aches and pains after long bouts in the swimming pool. In fact, it is one of the few sports tapes available that are designed specifically for swimmers.

Features

• Water-resistant coating
• Extra strong adhesive
• Nylon and cotton blend material

Pros

• Very water-resistant
• Soft and comfortable material
• Easy to stretch around joints and muscles

Cons

• Has a continuous roll which is difficult to cut and use
• Not really suitable for non-swimming related activities

Price 13.99

Why Do You Need Sports Tape?

When you have spent most of your life getting by just fine without the need to use sports tape, you might be wondering what benefits you should expect from such products. Thanks to the extensive research being conducted these days on how to prevent muscle injuries, we now have a lot more knowledge regarding the benefits of kinesiology tape.

Provides Support for Injured Muscles

The most important thing you can do for injured muscles is to give them adequate time to rest and heal, without putting any strain on the already damaged areas. Sports tape binds securely, allowing any movement to be redirected to other areas. This will allow you to heal while also giving you the option of continuing with your normal activities.

Relieves Muscle Spasms and Cramping

Few things are quite as painful as suffering a sudden cramp while playing a sport. Properly applied sports tape can help prevent this by holding the muscles in place and improving blood circulation to the areas that are prone to spasms and cramping.

Prevents Joints From Rubbing Together

When applied securely, sports tape can help create a little bit of much-needed space between inflamed joints, preventing them from rubbing against each other. This gives the affected area time to recover thanks to the improved circulation and joint stability.

Reduces Swelling and Inflammation

Studies have shown that kinesiology tape can greatly reduce swelling and inflammation in bruised areas by slightly pulling the skin away from the injured muscles thus providing extra space for blood flow. This also speeds up the removal of retained fluids by the lymphatic system.

Types of Sports Tape Available

Different situations usually require the use of different types of sports tape because they are not all made the same way, and using the wrong type may not produce the desired results. Here are some of the common types of kinesiology tapes and their uses:

Cohesive Bandage

This is a lightweight sports tape that is easy to apply and can be hand-torn. It is the ideal option for active sports where there is not much time to waste applying tape to sore muscles. Additionally, it is usually used as a form of compression bandage, or to secure ice packs or heat packs.

Ideal for support for knees, or ankles as a temporary support.

Elastic Adhesive Bandage (EAB)

Made from strong, long-lasting cotton material, EAB is mainly used in cases where moderate support is required. It can be used as an injury preventative measure by securing joints ligaments and tendons or for recovery purposes, for example, when used to compress joint sprains.

Regular Kinesiology Tape

Regular kinesiology tape is the most common form of adhesive bandaging that is used by athletes. It is generally used to support injured muscles and joints in cases where freedom of movement is also important. This is a great way to promote healing while remaining active.

Premium Sports Tape

This high-quality and versatile tape is usually reserved for treating serious injuries. Its benefits are best exploited when applied by professionals, which is why it is normally used by physiotherapists and sports rehabilitation facilitators. Furthermore, it provides maximum support by preventing any movement of the injured muscles or joints.

Choosing the Best Sports Tape for Your Needs

The wrong choice of sports tape will result in a waste of time and money, and, in the worst-case scenario, can even worsen the injury. That is why it is very important to consider what you want to achieve before you commit to a single product. Certain types of sports tapes will allow you some movement while you heal, whereas other types require absolute immobility of the injured areas.

Knowing whether your goal is to protect, facilitate, or compress your muscles and joints is the key to choosing the right kind of tape. Use this guide to help you decide which of the above-mentioned types of tape is best suited for your particular injury.

Conclusion

A small decision, such as the type of sports tape you use after an injury, can be the difference between a quick recovery, and spending months on the sidelines. Understand what kind of injury you have suffered and then try one of the options we discussed to aid your recovery process.

FAQs

How Long Should I Keep Sports Tape On?

Ideally, you should wear sports tape for as long as possible to prevent disturbing the injured area unnecessarily. Luckily most tapes have a strong adhesive and are water-resistant, so you can shower with them on, and keep them in place for a few days at a time.

How Tight Should Sports Tape Be Applied

The goal is to secure the injured area, but take care not to cut off circulation because this is very dangerous, especially when you remain active. Do not overstretch the tape during application.