Forestry Suppliers English Steel Diameter Tape

I bought this model in white and have had it only about two years. The paint has already come off and the numbers are no longer readable. Also the pin holding the tape on at the end of the tape gets sideways and causes the tape to scrape on the side. The only remedy is to reel it all the way out and get it straight again. I had a Lufkin for years with no problem. Spring for a Lufkin, which is much higher quality.

Do not waste your money on the black background tape option. Buy the white background if you are considering this economy D-Tape. We purchased two tapes with the black background for the office. The "black" wore off after about 200 trees (each) leaving useless metal band measure with. The "black" also smears off all over bare hands, shirts, etc. I have had the same unit but with the "white" background for years. It is worn but still legible after thousands of trees. The "black" background is a cheap knockoff of more expensive etched steel tapes. Caveat emptor.

This tape is the best we have used. We measure hundreds of trees daily without failure. The trick is to not over crank it,only crank it if it needs help going back in, most times it doesn't to be cranked in.