Stop the Scars, Build Better Tape Gloves

Hey Cracksters,

Having the knowledge and ability to tape properly is incredibly important to ensure you keep your skin protected. Having ripped many holes in the back of my hands in my teens and early 20s, I can say 15–20 years later that there is not much reward in it. You end up with thinner skin that breaks more easily the skin on the back of your hand doesn’t actually get tougher, it scars.

So today I’m going to give you the common MISTAKES I’ve seen people make when building tape gloves, and how to fix it.

6 Things NOT To Do When Making a Tape Glove

To make sure your protection actually works, here are the critical mistakes to avoid (and what to do instead):

1. Don’t make a "Tape Glove"—make a "Tape Skin": People hear "glove" and think of something woolly and baggy. If your tape is baggy or creased, it’s going to be terrible. Think "Tape Skin." The tape should stick to your hand perfectly and move exactly how your hand moves with zero bagging.

2. Don’t allow creases within the tape: Try to keep the tape crease-less. When applying it to your hand, flatten and tighten the skin—you can do this by flexing the back of your hand away from you as you lay the tape down.

3. Don’t tighten the wrist strap too much: I see so many people stick the wrist strap down so tightly they can barely get blood to their fingers. Ignore the "no crease" rule for the wrist. Lay the tape around the wrist as if it were tissue paper—if you pull too hard, it would snap. This ensures you don't cut off your circulation.

4. Don’t pull the tape directly off the roll as you wrap: If you pull against the tension of the roll while wrapping your hand, the tape on your hand will always end up too tight. Instead, pull out a long length of tape first (while still connected to the roll), then gently lay that loose length in wraps around your hand.

5. Don’t use cheap, rubbish tape: There are many tapes on the market that simply don't have the "stick" required for a proper glove. If the adhesive is weak, the whole thing will fall apart. Use something that actually bonds to your skin.

6. Don’t rush the process: So many people just do a couple of quick wraps and "make do." It’s a waste. Spend the extra 5 minutes to do it right. A proper ‘tape skin’ will save you days of climbing because you won't be waiting for holes to heal. Plus, a well-made glove won't fall to bits after one route, saving you money on tape in the long run.

So when you’re taping, think TAPE SKIN, not tape glove.

Happy Jamming

Pete