Since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the rise of kinesiology tape used by athletes has dramatically increased. With the increase in popularity there are now multiple brands of kinesiology tape to choose from, but which one works the best? As an athletic trainer, I have used both KT tape and Rock Tape on my athletes. With this experience, I have developed an educated opinion about both tapes. The pros and cons of the two brands include:
KT Tape
Pros:
--- Inexpensive, a box of tape with 20 pre-cut strips can be purchased for under $10.00. A box will usually last one person about a week and a half.
--- Available for purchase at local drugstores and athletic stores, example: Walmart, Walgreens, Academy.
--- Athletes have the option to purchase KT tape or KT tape Pro. Proponents of KT tape claim that it will stay on for 1-3 days, while advocates of KT tape Pro tout that the “Pro” will stay on for 7 days.
--- Tape comes pre-cut.
--- Available in a wide variety of colors to match school colors.
Cons:
--- Does not stay on athletes for more than a day, especially athletes that sweat profusely.
Rock Tape
Pros:
--- Can stay on an athlete for up to 4-5 days, even ones that are heavy sweaters.
--- Can customize length of the tape and splits.
--- Have a variety of colors and patterns to choose from.
Cons:
--- More expensive than KT tape, 1 box of tape (16.4 ft.) runs for $18.00.
--- Many stores do not carry Rock Tape; athletes will have to buy it directly at www.rocktape.com or www.amazon.com .
When comparing the two brands I prefer using Rock Tape because I can customize the length and cut of the tape and it also stays on the athlete longer than KT Tape. Whatever brand you choose, Kinesiology tape is very user-friendly --- it can be used by athletic trainers, marathon runners, and weekend warriors.
Post your thoughts about kinesiology tape… let me know which brand YOU prefer!
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