Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape is one of the biggest things in pain relief and support in sports right now. Endorsed by Olympic
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Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh, KT Tape is one of the leaders in the industry. I had a chance to try out both the Original and Pro KT Tape, and here’s what I think about it:
QUICK REVIEW:
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Quality: A+
Utility: B+
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Value: B
Overall: A-
I could separate this review into KT Tape Original and KT Tape Pro, but I figured the best way to inform the consumer about these products would be to discuss both at the same time. The Original retails for $12.99 a roll, while the Pro version costs $19.99. That’s a lot of money for 20 strips, but if you’re looking for the top of the line in Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape, the KT Pro is it.
KT Original is made of cotton fibers, and isn’t much different from Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape that I’ve reviewed in the past. KT Pro is made of synthetic fibers and is noticeably different, from the packaging to the tape itself. Both products are well constructed, and work exactly how they’re supposed to. They each have the KT logo on each strip, just in case you want others to know that you’re wearing exactly what the pros wear.
My one knock on both products is that the individual strips themselves are not precut. Most Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape that I prefer to use (my main issue is shin-splints) is already partially split down the middle. While all you need is a pair of scissors to do this with KT Tape, it would be nice if it was already done for you. If you’re interested in these products, check out their website after reading my full review.
FULL REVIEW:
KT Tape does a decent job of justifying the additional $7 for the Pro version. Once you take it out of the box, it comes in a cool little case, while the Original version comes like most standard rolls of athletic tape. The strips are identical in size and length, but have their subtle differences:
The Pro version has a design on it, resembling stitches in a DNA-like pattern. The Original doesn’t get fancy like that. It’s just a straight-up cotton piece of stretchy tape. From the back, they look almost identical, although you can see the Original version looks a little faded compared to the pro (obviously this is just a wax piece of paper that plays no part in KT Tape’s performance, but I figured I’d point it out anyway):
If you didn’t read my last review about Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape and aren’t sure what it is, here are some words from the makers of KT Tape about their product:
KT TAPETM (Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape) is an elastic sports and fitness tape designed for muscle, ligament and tendon pain relief and support. It delivers the next generation of sports injury solutions as it uniquely enables athletes to perform their best by providing pain relief and support to sore muscles or injuries before, during, and after activity without restricting motion.
KT TAPE is lightweight, comfortable to wear, and can be used for hundreds of common injuries such as lower back pain, knee pain, shin splints, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. It is applied along muscles, ligaments, and tendons (soft tissue) to provide a lightweight, external support that helps people remain active while recovering from injuries. It creates neuromuscular feedback (called proprioception) that inhibits (relaxes) or facilitates stronger firing of muscles and tendons. This feedback creates support elements without the bulk and restriction commonly associated with wraps and heavy bracing. KT TAPE ORIGINAL is made up of reinforced cotton fibers, provides up to three days of support and is available in rolls of 20 pre-cut strips. KT TAPE PRO is made from a specially engineered, ultra-durable synthetic fiber that provides durability and increased Performance.
These products do as intended, alleviating pain in the applied areas. If your doctor recommends Kinesiology Therapeutic Tape, KT Tape is a solid product. They come in an array of attractive colors, as I’m sure any person could find a style that suits them. KT Tape Pro in particular really stands out, as the tape I reviewed had a sheen to it, and of course the stitch design if anyone gets up close enough to inspect it.
If you are trying to decide between KT Tape Original or KT Tape Pro, it probably comes down to two questions: how long do you intend to wear it? And how cost conscientious are you? If money is no object, go with the Pro version. It’s higher quality and let’s face it, looks cooler. If you don’t feel like dropping $19.99 on a roll of 20 strips and only intend to wear KT Tape while you work out/compete, the KT Tape Original is fine. The $12.99 price point is a little higher than most competitors, but only by a buck or two. The Pro version will stay on your body twice as long, though, so if you have chronic pain and intend on wearing KT Tape as long as possible, you’re better off ponying up the extra $7.
For more information on KT Tape, including a list of retailers and instructional videos, visit www.kttape.com and follow @KTTape on twitter.
