FastCap ProCarpenter True32 Metric Reverse Measuring Tape - Ideal for Professionals and Home Improvement - with Lever Action Belt Clip and Dual Locking System - 16' - 99953

The best tape measure I have used. recommend!

I have a 12' metric and standard version but I prefer the larger sized blade of the 16 or 25. No dual 16' version was available on Amazon so I went with the metric. The markings are excellent and the size is just right. I think I'll pick up the standard/metric 16' as well when I locate one. I recommend it.

First point - I don't want to get into a "metric vs imperial" argument here. I just find that - sometimes - I find it easier to work in metric than imperial... and other times it's vice versa.What I was looking for - was a tape measure that would be useful around the shop, was sturdy, and easy to read. This tape measure provides ALL the above... AND you can easily read it from either side of the tape (not that reading numbers upside down is tough - it's just easier this way). I liked it so much I got a couple of others from the same company - the white background and black numbers are fantastic!

This measuring tape is the best I've ever used. It combines two of the most important features with a bunch of other cool characteristics that just make it that much better!#1 The numbers are displayed on top and bottom of the tape, so you can measure with the spool on the left or the right. Half the time when you're measuring with any other tape, you have to look at the numbers upside down, but here they are always upright.#2 The numbers are metric. This could be interpreted as negative, but it makes things so much easier to measure, especially for interior design. As I measure wall lengths, it is simple to subtract for baseboards or other adjustments, because 1850–30=1820. No messy fractions or difficult subtractions. All the numbering is in mm, but that's ok, because after you write down your measurements, you can add a decimal point if you want larger measuring units. E.g. if you want meters, just make it 1.85m (1.82m without baseboard).#3 I really like the momentary lock on the bottom. There is a standard locking lock in the usual place above the tape, but on the bottom is a little button that I use as I guide the tape back into the spool. (You never want to let a tape go, as it can lash around and cut you, and allowing it to accelerate and slam into the spool isn't good for a tape's durability.)Another reviewer complained that it would have been better to put cm numbers instead of mm numbers at the marks (you see 10, 20, etc and have to look down the tape to see 3300 and 3400 on either side, then add them to get 3320; the manufacturer had room to put 331, 332, etc at each 1 cm mark), but that didn't really bother me in actual use. I guess I'm too used to having to look for and add the feet to the inches displayed on an American measuring tape.If you're measuring for interior design, cabinets, furniture, etc. you cannot beat this tape. The only thing that would improve it, would be if it came with someone to hold the other end!

Awesome tape measure as I convert all my cutting to metric

Pros:1. Legibility is great: I'm so sick of yellow/black tapes, they hurt my eyes. 32mm spaced pips help with shelf-pin placement and other cabinet construction tricks.2. Seems sturdy, good clip, didn't really care about the marking of the face or the pencil sharpener, but I've got it if I need it.Here's the only problem I have. The measurement that gives you the body width of the tape measure is in INCHES. So if I have to measure an internal space, and don't want to kink the tape, I need to remember 3" is 76.2mm, rather than them constructing/labeling the whole thing in metric to begin with. This seems just like a sloppy oversight. Everything else seems to be well thought out and ready to go, but I was hoping they could at least make the body conform precisely to some number of cm/mm rather than needing to have this conversion in my back pocket.Overall, it's clear this was made by an American company, with American standards in mind, but as someone who's trying to transition over to metric, this was quite frustrating. If you compare this to, let's say Woodpecker's tools, they actually change their measurement scales and bodies to make things fully metric or fully imperial depending on what you order, not some weird hybrid that makes something that should be trivial more cumbersome :/If they fixed this, I'd be 100% happy, but since this seems to be the best on the American market currently, it'll have to suffice.

After several months of use, these are my observations:1-the right/left side reading allows easy marking of material for cutouts.2-The built in pencil sharpener creates a fine point for precise marking.3-The rough service case protects from breakages during accidental drops.4-The coated tape is silky smooth that helps prevents major dust particles from collecting on the tape during use and allows a quick retracting of the extended tape. What small particles do collect are super easy to wipe off with dry rag.5-The writing area on the side of the case makes a cool way to measure several cuts, notate the dimensions, then transfer them to material for cutting. Great idea!6-Overall, this tape measure is an asset to my work flow in my small woodworking shop (I also have the imperial dimension version). However, someone with small hands may find the overall size of the case bulky. I have “normal” size hands and it works fine for me.

Needed a metric tape, clear, easy to read, and being left/right, you can work from either direction