I hold in my hand one of Dewalt’s new XP tape measures, a next generation tape that’s made in the USA with global materials, and choc-full of fancy new features. Its model number is DWHT36225.
The XP part stands for Extended Performance.
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In a nutshell, here’s what the new tape offers:
– Tougher Case
– Tougher Blade Coating
– Tougher Hook Construction
– Dual Spring Retraction System (“Dual-Core Technology”)
Dewalt says that the new XP tape measure was designed to stand up to the harshest jobsite conditions and extreme use.
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- 3-1/8″ tall
- 3-3/8″ wide
- 2-9/32″ deep
- Weighs 1.25 pounds
- Hook is fastened by 3 rivets
Tougher?
Dewalt says that the new tape was designed with an impact-resistant and rubber-overmolded case, and can withstand drops from up to 60 feet. Yes, 60 feet. I at first saw 60′ on the packaging but read it as 60″. 60 feet and 60 inches (5 feet) is a big difference.
There’s an integration lock protection that guards the lock button when dropped. This is a feature I kind of like about some of Dewalt’s other tape measures, but not all the time. On this tape, it’s been perfected.
Basically, the lock button has a sort of hollow rubberized design that cushions the inner part of the button in case of impacts. It also gives the button a softer (but still firm) feel.
The blade has 9″ of thermoplastic (plastic) coating, helping to reduce breakage near the hook. The rest of the blade features Dewalt’s “toughest coating” to help protect against abrasion, wear, and rust.
The blade is 1-1/4″ wide. Blade standout is said to be 13′, and the standout is said to be “straighter” compared to Dewalt’s premium DWHT33975 tape measure, also made in the USA.
Yes, the tape definitely feels solid and durable.
New and Notable Features
The belt clip isn’t springy – it simply juts out a little to create an opening for your belt. Slide it onto your belt, and the tape’s clip will sandwich the belt between the outer metal hook and inner plastic component that also serves to hold the clip locked to the tape measure’s housing.
Upside: It is easy to slide onto my belt, and grips it with confidence. Downside: The clip provides a loose hold when it is instead attached to my pants pocket.
Time will tell if this is an improvement contractors like, or an attempt at differentiation that they hate.
The front hook is large, but doesn’t feel as oversized as with other premium tapes that have come out these past few years.
There’s a lanyard slot, in case you want it.
I find the tape to be very easily readable. This is Dewalt’s image of the first few inches. The numbers get larger after that.
The entire tape is coated with a film. It’s obvious if you look closely – I can see small bubbles and irregularities. This won’t affect anything at all, it just seemed worth mentioning. There is a slight transparency right at the edges of the blade, which I think could cut down on small nicks that lead to broken blades.
Additional First Thoughts
When doing some early tests on the blade, it whipped back and the hook took a tiny piece of skin off my knuckle. The spring on this tape is STRONG.
I have the habit of sticking my pinky finger behind 25-foot tape measures. I don’t remember how or why this started, but it could be to help improve my grip on larger tape housings. My running theory is that I developed the habit to help provide leverage for pushing down stiff blade locks on larger tapes.
After a few minutes or back and forth with the tape, my hand was fatigued from the recoil. Switching my grip helped.
This tape has a very nice and grippy housing. Shifting my grip on this tape is easier than I thought, but we’ll see if I feel the same way with time. But so far, so good.
Actually, once I switched my grip a little, the locking button became even easier to operate.
There is still noticeable recoil, though. Maybe there’s no more recoil, but it feels stronger because it’s faster.
The recoil is worth mentioning, but it doesn’t sour my feelings about the tape. Ask me again in a few weeks. Either this becomes my go-to tape, or it frustrates me and I toss it into my drawer or forgotten tools.
I will say this – if you see it in-store, give it a try. You might just like it.
Price: $30
ETA: July 2017 (USA), May 2017 (Canada)
In addition to this 25-foot model, DWHT36225, there will also be a 35-foot tape, and a 26-foot/8-meter tape.
Is it Worth the Hype?
Judging from the look of the tape, the way it’s packaged, the microsite Dewalt created to promote it, and the nice branded box that the review sample came in, I think that there will be a lot of marketing surrounding the tape’s release.
There’s bound to be a lot of hype. Is it worth the hype, of is this a fluffed-up product that’ll catch your attention and ultimately disappoint?
I think that there’s some good innovation packaged into this tape. Stanley Black & Decker has a lot of experiencing designing and manufacturing tape measures. For this tape, they decided to try several new things all at once.
The belt clip? It think I’m going to like it. It clips to my belt and pants waist nice and tight, and easily too. I can forgive it for being loose when clipped to my pocket. Well, it’s not loose, it’s just not tight. Good thing I don’t clip tapes to my pocket very often.
The hook seems to be an improvement.
The housing is pretty darned nice. It feels sturdy, and it’s comfortable to grasp. This is said to be a more compact tape, and it feels compact. It’s not noticeably smaller than a 25′ Stanley I had within reach (STHT33596 via Amazon, via Lowes).
The dual spring mechanism is very quick, and it really does need to be strong. The blade is wide and thick, and when fully extended it’s bound to weigh a lot. It whizzes the blade back as if this was a 16-foot tape with a thin flimsy blade.
I couldn’t quite get 13 feet of standout. And when approaching the upper limits of standout, the blade arced and drooped as bad as any premium tape with thick blade and bold standout claims.
But at the 7-8 feet point, the standout did indeed seem to be unusually straight and easy to guide.
What I’m trying to say is that yes, there’s a lot of hype surrounding this tape measure. My initial take is that it IS deserving of at least some of that hoopla.
Thank you to Dewalt for providing the tool review sample unconditionally.
jtr165
Only wanted to comment to say I read the title as ‘Dewalt XR Tape Measure’…thought they had a brushless version coming out soon…or something.
Stuart
It is cordless… =)
ca
Yes, technically it is brushless.
Cr8on
These comments made my day!!!
jtr165
haha thanks guys. Still going to hold out for springless tapes; I hear they are the future. Retract twice as fast, extend with half the effort.
Then again, may hold out even longer until the bluetooth options show up. I want to be able to lock my tapes via my cell phone. I’d pre-order if I could.
Chip
I use the best platform (Milwaukee cordless for me at the time), however single tools are standalone…And if it can beat fatmax I’ll use it.
Installing fence is the worst environment for tape measures….Sliding it in the dirt,wet grass , to square off a corner,distance between posts,etc.
Have tried them all and nothing,comes close to fatmax in my field.
Every week I clean and oil the blade and sometimes get a year’s use per unit.
Pete
This tape reminds me of stanleys fatmax xtreme tape measure. It had a special coating on the blade as well. It was a dang good tape measure! Till i cut it with a saw…. 🙁
Toolfreak
Eh, seems about like every other tape measure out there. Maybe slightly more compact, maybe slightly tougher than cheaper models. I guess the Dewalt power tool users will like having another item to add to their arsenal.
I don’t really care for the hook and the way it seems like the measurement could easily be off if it gets bent even slightly, given the accuracy is dependent on that hook sticking back that amount where it lines up with where the first mark starts on the tape. I wouldn’t buy a “premium” tape measure to use for rough measurements because it wouldn’t be accurate when you can buy one for a few bucks that is.
I like that it’s “Made in USA with Global Materials”, which is better than “Made in China and we charge the same and pocket the difference”, but you’d think they could make all the parts of something like a tape measure in the USA. If they really wanted to, that is.
I’d be slightly more interested if they had a model with a lever release lock instead of a thumb lock, but manufacturers seem to be stuck on that design with few exceptions.
Dave
try self lock tapes from Komelon. Lock mechanism is good
Steven
I used to use fatmaxes alot…till I realized they were the culprit in prematurely destroying my pant pockets.
Blade style clips I avoid like the plague, regardless of performance. Pants are not cheap.
Till they start going to a wire(round or round smooth style) that doesnt cut into cloth I will always pass.
Milwaukee has my vote, not cause Im a fan, not cause i think they are superior……they dont destroy pockets
Koko the Talking Ape
I suppose you could just wear a tool belt?
Brandon
Or perhaps just a tape holster to go on your belt?
Kevin
With all the discussion of the belt clip it would be nice if you could show us a picture of it. Are the graduations the same all the way along the tape or is there a shift at some point? What other features does the tape have, standard stud marks? Any marks on the underside?
Stuart
Working on photos later today. =) Was hoping to do some comparisons too.
Nothing on the back of the blade. Graduations are even all around. Yes to standard 16″ stud marks, and to 19.2″ truss marks.
Tony
I wish it had a magnet at least for us
Electrician in the commercial field for pipe pending
Nathan
I’d plus one this as I’d like the option of buying a version with a mag base or whatever
Jay
Price is kinda tough. $30 bucks for a 25′ tape is not all that cool.
Goodnightjohnboy
I’d like to see it survive a 60 foot drop. Do they have any footage of it? If they don’t, it ain’t worth mentioning. They need to put some validity behind the 60 foot drop hype. I mean come on, what other hype are they trying to sell here. Made in USA, but with imported parts? Ain’t hyping that up. They had to import materials for a tape measure? Really? Its only like 5 or 6 parts. That’s pretty bad. A 16′ would be nice. I hope its better than their other tapes,because they suck bad. I had 3 of em break in under a year, so I’m not gonna hold my breath.
billiam
I have a Milwaukee that I really like because it has a magnet in the end of the tape. It makes it really convenient when working around my table saw. I also prefer auto lock. I did not see if this one was but that is a thing I don’t like about the Milwaukee. None the less, it never bothers me when a quality item is made in the US (unlike the Milwaukee). 🙂
Jordanimal
I’ll stick with the Fatmax for now. 10ft standout, easy to read and works good.
2 pack of 25ft tapes for $20 doent hurt. 🙂
Matt
I loved my Milwaukee til the blade cracked.
Best things…
Top and bottom numbers
Thumb stop
Magnetic
Bad things
Didn’t last half as long as a fat max.
This tape doesn’t appear to have either of those nifty features though I suspect it will last longer.
Steve
Bought one a couple weeks ago as I was building my tool bench. Worked well until it fell about 3′ to the concrete floor. Started to stick a bit and then became hopelessly stuck after I extended it all the way in an attempt to get it to retract. Will have to bag it up and bring back to the dealer.
Jim Hill
I’ve been using the DEWALT 25 foot for a few months now and the lines and numbers are wearing off. Can’t use the first 3 inches of the tape as there is nothing on the blade now. Totally worthless product as far as I’m concerned .
Jeff Beyer
This tape is useless for 1 reason. Stretch it out on any board and because most of the bottom is rounded it simple falls over. Even the absolute cheapest tapes are smart enough to make that surface flat.
When they come out with version 2.0 and correct that glaring flaw I will change my review to very good in all other respects
Joseph O'Day
Let alone when your laying out the top of a wall, it just falls over.
Useless at 60 ft. Anyway.