Our Best Kinesiology Tapes 2024
Dedicated athletes are always challenging themselves to improve, push past their limits and strive for greatness. Whether you're training for a marathon, practising for the big game or just trying to beat your own PB, kinesiology tape could be help you reach that next level. It's becoming more and more popular with sportspeople and physios as both a drug-free pain reliever and versatile sports brace.
With so many different kinesiology tapes out there, finding the right one can be tricky. In guide to Our Best Kinesiology Tapes 2024, we'll go over a variety of tapes, talk about their advantages and help you find the one that suits your needs and helps you become the best athlete that you can be.
What's Covered in This Guide?
- What Is Kinesiology Tape?
- What Conditions Can Kinesiology Tape Help With?
- How Do I Apply Kinesiology Tape?
- Best Kinesiology Tape for Running
- Best Kinesiology Tape for Swimming
- Best Kinesiology Tape for Weightlifting
- Best Kinesiology Tape for Sensitive Skin
- Most Affordable Kinesiology Tape
- Are There Kinesiology Tapes For Specific Parts of the Body?
What Is Kinesiology Tape?
Before we get into which kinesiology tape is best, you might still be wondering, what even is kinesiology tape? Well, it's a therapeutic sports tape designed to help prevent and alleviate sports-related muscle and joint pain. When applied to the appropriate areas, it can also provide bracing support, reduce swelling, boost blood flow and affect pain perception.
What Conditions Can Kinesiology Tape Help With?
Kinesiology tape is made for general exercise pain relief from impact injuries, as well as general wear and tear. Its tape design can also be applied nearly anywhere on the body. Due to this versatility, kinesio tape can help with a huge variety of conditions including but not limited to:
- Back pain
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Foot pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel
- Rib pain
- Neck strain
- Gluteus pain
- Calf strain
- Ankle sprain
- Rib pain
- Golfer's elbow
- Wrist pain
- Quad strain
- Hamstring pain
- Runner's knee
- Inflammation
- Muscle tightness
- Achilles tendonitis
How Do I Apply Kinesiology Tape?
Most kinesiology tape is designed to be easy to apply, but there are a few things to think about that help you get it secured to your skin as comfortably as possible:
- Before you apply the tape, make sure your skin is clean, dry and free from any creams or oils like sun cream or moisturiser.
- If you're applying kinesiology tape to a joint, make sure the joint is in bent position otherwise you risk pulling off the tape during exercise.
- The ends of the piece of tape you are using should be applied directly to the skin without stretching.
- The middle part of the tape can be stretched over the selected area, depending on how elastic your kinesiology tape is.
- Finally, set the adhesive by running your fingers over the tape, making sure all the edges are down.
For more info on how to apply kinesiology tape, including how to best apply it to specific body parts, check out this application guide.
Best Kinesiology Tape For Running
KT Tape Pro 10-Inch Precut Kinesiology Tape
The KT Tape Pro 10-Inch Precut Kinesiology Tape is made completely from synthetic microfibers that are engineered to stand up to high performance. It contorts with the movements of your body while you run and supports you like a brace, without inhibiting your dexterity. The strong and skin-kind adhesive also lasts up to seven days and multiple runs and showers.
Why We Love It:
- Synthetic design is lightweight, breathable and doesn't interfere with running motion
- Secures to your body with a strong, medical-grade adhesive that lasts up to seven days
- Ideal for running at night or during winter with accents along surface that reflect light
Best Kinesiology Tape For Swimming
RockTape H2O Kinesiology Tape 5cm x 5m
Specially designed for use in water, the RockTape H2O Kinesiology Tape 5cm x 5m is twice as sticky as ordinary RockTape. The adhesive is resistant to sweat and water, making ideal for swimming, surfing and other sports in the pool or sea.
Why We Love It:
- It features a powerful adhesive that makes sure it sticks to your skin
- Conveniently cut into 5 x 5cm strips so it's ready to use, right out of the box
- RockTape prioritises a tight weave and elasticity to allow a full range of motion
- Ideal for swimming, surfing, water polo, as well as sweaty workouts on dry land
Best Kinesiology Tape For Weightlifting
RockTape Mini Big Daddy Kinesiology Tape (10cm x 5m)
With its extra wide build, the RockTape Mini Big Daddy Kinesiology Tape (10cm x 5m) is ideal for supporting the large muscle groups that you engage while weightlifting. The width is also suited to bigger individuals, like those who regularly lift weights, who want a kinesio tape with more surface area.
Why We Love It:
- Extra wide design is tailor made for bigger people, larger muscles and body parts
- Engineered to mimic the skin's natural range of motion with 180% stretch technology
- Strong and sticky adhesive that withstands dynamic movement like weightlifting
Best Kinesiology Tape For Sensitive Skin
KT Tape Original 10-Inch Precut Kinesiology Tape
Most kinesiology tapes are made of synthetic materials which help with performance and elasticity, but for some people with sensitive skin this can cause irritation or a reaction. The KT Tape Original 10-Inch Precut Kinesiology Tape features a 100% cotton build and is completely latex-free. The adhesive is acrylic-based so it is gentle and non-itchy.
Why We Love It:
- Made with skin-kind materials and adhesive but still sticks to skin for up to three days
- Strips are ready straight out of the box but can also be cut smaller for targeted treatment
- As well as pain relieve, it acts like a brace to support your muscles, joints and tendons.
Most Affordable Kinesiology Tape
K-Active Kinesiology Tape
While most kinesiology tape is pre-cut into convenient strips, the K-Active Kinesiology Tape is sold as a 5 metre long roll. Not only does this come at a more affordable price point, but some may prefer to cut their own piece of tape for a more tailored fit.
Why We Love It:
- Comes in a 5m roll so you can control exactly how much you use and what size piece
- Designed to be as non-restrictive as possible for uninhibited movement during exercise
- Really easy to apply with a durable design that can stay on body for several days
Are There Kinesiology Tapes for Specific Parts of the Body?
Most kinesiology tape is produced in a roll or as versatile strips that you can cut down to fit where you need it. However, some models of kinesiology tape are already conveniently pre-cut into shapes for particular body parts like the Pre-Cut Kit Range by StrengthTape. Click on the icons below to find StrengthTape kinesiology tape pre-cut in the shapes you need.
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