The Bottom Line
The Komelon 100 Foot Open Reel tape is a solid choice for outdoor projects requiring accurate long-distance measurements. While it lacks some premium features, its weatherproof design and easy cleanup make it reliable for most DIY and professional applications.
Product Overview
When you're laying out a foundation, measuring property lines, or planning a large landscaping project, a standard 25-foot tape measure just won't cut it. The Komelon 100 Foot Open Reel Fiberglass Tape Measure fills that gap perfectly, offering the extended reach you need without breaking the bank. This isn't your typical pocket tape – it's designed specifically for outdoor work where distance, durability, and weather resistance matter most.
The tape features a fiberglass blade marked in feet, inches, and fractions on both sides, housed in a lightweight plastic reel with an open design. Typically priced around $25-35, it's widely available at home improvement stores and online retailers. The package includes the 100-foot tape, ergonomic handle, and a basic hook end for anchoring during solo measurements.
What We Love
- Fiberglass construction shrugs off rain, snow, and humidity without stretching like fabric tapes or rusting like metal ones
- Open reel design lets you hose off mud, sawdust, or concrete residue and air-dry completely between jobs
- Dual-sided markings mean you can read measurements from either side, eliminating awkward repositioning on uneven terrain
- Lightweight frame reduces arm fatigue during long measurement sessions compared to heavier metal reels
- Weather-resistant build maintains accuracy and readability even after seasons of outdoor exposure
Room for Improvement
- Fiberglass blade flexibility means it sags noticeably over spans longer than 30 feet without center support, especially in windy conditions
- Compact handle design can feel cramped when wearing work gloves, making rewinding less comfortable during cold-weather projects
- Basic hook end lacks the robust design needed for secure anchoring on rough surfaces like broken concrete or loose gravel
Real-World Performance
After using this tape on various outdoor projects – from measuring deck footprints to laying out garden beds – its strengths and limitations become clear quickly. The fiberglass blade performs beautifully in wet conditions where metal tapes would start showing rust spots within weeks. During a recent fence installation project, I left it out in morning dew repeatedly, and the markings remained crisp and readable throughout the job.
Standout Feature
The open reel design is genuinely game-changing for messy outdoor work. After measuring through muddy trenches or dusty concrete work, you can literally rinse the entire tape clean and let it air dry completely – something impossible with enclosed reels that trap moisture and debris.
However, the flexibility that makes fiberglass weather-resistant also creates challenges. When measuring a 60-foot foundation layout solo, the tape sags significantly in the middle, potentially throwing off measurements by several inches. You'll definitely need a helper or intermediate support points for accurate long-distance work. Wind compounds this issue – anything over 10 mph makes the tape flutter enough to affect precision.
User Experience & Setup
There's virtually no setup required – just unwrap and start measuring. The learning curve is minimal if you've used any reel-type tape before. The rewind mechanism works smoothly, though it takes more cranks than a compact metal tape due to the longer length. The dual-sided markings are genuinely helpful when you're working alone and can't easily flip the tape to read from the preferred angle.
"I've been using this tape for property surveys and it's held up great through two seasons. The ability to clean it completely after muddy jobs is worth the price alone – my old metal tape would have been toast by now."
- Mike from Colorado
The handle ergonomics work fine for bare hands but feel cramped with thick work gloves. During a winter project, I found myself removing gloves frequently just to get a comfortable grip for rewinding. The plastic construction feels solid enough for regular use, though you can sense it's not built for the abuse a metal reel could handle.
Value Analysis
At around $30, this tape sits in the sweet spot between cheap fabric tapes that stretch and fail quickly, and professional-grade metal reels that cost $80-150. The fiberglass construction should provide years of reliable service with basic care, making the cost-per-use quite reasonable for anyone doing regular outdoor measuring work.
💡 Compared to Similar Products: Stanley's comparable fiberglass tape costs about $10 more but includes a better hook design. Cheap fabric alternatives save $15 but typically stretch and fade within a year of outdoor use.
Maintenance costs are essentially zero – no moving parts to oil, no metal to rust-proof, and cleaning requires only soap and water. The biggest long-term concern is the plastic handle potentially cracking from UV exposure, but several users report 5+ years of service without major issues. For DIY homeowners tackling occasional large projects, it's an excellent value. Professional contractors might want something more robust, but for the price difference, many find it adequate.
Who Should Buy This?
This tape excels for homeowners and light commercial users who need occasional long-distance measuring capability without professional-grade precision. It's particularly valuable for anyone working in wet or dirty conditions where easy cleanup matters more than absolute accuracy over extreme distances.
Perfect For:
- DIY homeowners measuring large yards, deck layouts, or garden planning who need weather resistance and easy cleanup
- Landscapers and contractors doing layout work in muddy or dusty conditions where the cleanable design shines
- Property managers and real estate professionals who need quick, reasonably accurate measurements for estimates and planning
Skip If:
- You regularly need precise measurements over 50+ feet without assistance – the blade sag becomes problematic
- Your work involves heavy construction where a more rugged metal reel would better survive job site abuse
"Perfect for my landscaping business. I can measure wet mulch beds in the morning, hose it clean, and it's ready for the next job. Haven't found anything else in this price range that handles the weather and mess as well."
- Sarah from Oregon
Final Verdict
The Komelon 100 Foot Open Reel delivers exactly what most outdoor measuring tasks require: reliable accuracy in weather conditions that would damage other tapes, easy maintenance, and reasonable precision for the vast majority of home and light commercial applications. While it won't replace a precision surveyor's tape for critical measurements, it's an excellent tool for anyone who needs to measure beyond the limits of standard pocket tapes.
Buy it if you value durability and cleanability over ultimate precision. Skip it only if your work demands survey-grade accuracy or extreme job site durability.
