Duct tape's versatility is almost a cliche—we've seen it used for everything from wallet construction to hull repair to, well, patching ducts. But can it beat newfangled multiuse tapes? We pit the reliable standby against three upstart challengers.
How We Tested
Sturdiness: Stacked dumbbells on a tape sling until it snapped.
Stickiness: Stuck a bundle of four 12-gauge wires against drywall for a week.
Water resistance: Submerged a bundle of tape-wrapped pipes for a week.
Sturdiness Test
Scotch Multi-use Duct Tape
"For repairs in and around the house." $10 for 60 yd
+ Sturdiness:
We were able to stack 45 pounds of dumbbells on a length of tape before it broke.
+ Stickiness:
Held a bundle of four 12-gauge Romex electrical wires against a wall for a full week.
+ Water Resistance:
Water slightly loosened the tape's grip on PVC and copper pipe, but it stuck well where it was wrapped around itself.
Scotch Transparent Duct Tape
"Lasts six times longer than other heavy-duty tapes." $6 for 20 yd
+ Sturdiness:
Broke under 35 pounds of weight.
+ Stickiness:
Our test bundle of wire fell from the drywall on the first night.
+ Water Resistance:
Water did little to hurt an already lackluster grip. It was far too easy to peel the tape off of copper and PVC bundles in both wet and dry conditions.
Nashua Waterproofing Tape
"Forms an instant water-proof bond." $9 for 11 yd
+ Sturdiness:
Nashua turned in the weakest showing: 15 pounds caused the tape to snap.
+ Stickiness:
Held the wires for a week without budging.
+ Water Resistance:
The bond survived the drown test, but for some reason this one tape was a breeding ground for slime--it became covered with a vile, furry growth after a single night.
Gorilla Tape
WINNER
"For the toughest jobs on planet Earth." $9 for 12 yd
+ Sturdiness:
The test's champ: It took 85 pounds to break the Gorilla's back. Yet it still tore easily by hand, making for easy application.
+ Stickiness:
The ape held its wires in place for a week--then showed off by pinning a 3-pound dumbbell to the wall over the weekend.
+ Water Resistance:
Overall stickiness was not compromised by a week in the drink.
Bottom Line
Although duct tape proved capable, the clear winner was Gorilla Tape, which handily won all our tests.
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