Best Kinesiology Tape – Top Tapes For Runners
Kinesiology tape doesn’t look like much, but it’s a proven method to curtail injury, speed up recovery, relieve pain and allow you to keep taking part in your sport of choice. Runners are particularly vulnerable to the types of injuries that can be readily fixed and prevented with good kinesiology tape.
In this product review, we will share 5 of our favourite types of kinesiology tape. As you’ll see, you have quite the variety to choose from in terms of function and style. Our most important metrics, however, are adhesive strength, durability, performance and comfort.
PRODUCT | DESCRIPTION | RATING | PRICE | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spartan Kinesiology TapeBest value for money | £ | Check Price | ||
TheraBand XactStretch Kinesiology TapeEasy to use and apply | ££ | Check Price | ||
Kinesio Tape TEX GOLDScientifically backed product | £££ | Check Price | ||
Nordic Lifting Kinesiology TapeLong-lasting | ££ | Check Price | ||
FlexU Kinesiology TapeWaterproof and suitable for outdoors | £££ | Check Price |
The Top 5 Kinesiology Tapes for Runners
Spartan Kinesiology Tape
Want to train like a Spartan without aggravating that existing kink or picking up an injury? Then this tape is for you. The standout feature of the Spartan Kinesiology Tape is the way in which it moves with your muscles. It almost feels as if you have a spotter moving with you as you pull or push weights.
This tape can aide your blood circulation, which decreases your chance of injury and helps injured muscles recover. It also comes in a huge variety of colours and camo patterns so you can wear yours proudly. It comes in the standard 5 m length, and you can choose from a single or a 2-pack.
You have little to lose, as this is the most affordable product on this list without compromising on quality.
TheraBand XactStretch Kinesiology Tape
TheraBand is another popular brand within the active gear industry, and you can’t go wrong with any of their products. It’s clear that this tape was made to be less intimidating for newcomers to use.
First, the tape comes right off the paper with almost no effort. Second, it comes with TheraBand’s XactStretch technology, which utilises visual indicators on the tape itself to help you apply it correctly. Lastly, it comes in pre-cut strips so that you don’t have to cut it yourself. However, this can be a drawback if the size doesn’t match your needs.
The material is made from a blend of 98% cotton and 2% spandex. There is no latex or irritating allergens. You can get it in blue, black or pink, and it sports a spiderweb-like pattern that we think is pretty cool.
Kinesio Tape Tex Gold
Tex Gold Kinesio Tape is a higher-end product. To live up to its price tag, it comes with its original wave-patterned adhesive design, which gives it plenty of traction without being irritating or limiting your mobility. Tex Gold is a well-known brand that’s been around for a while now. It takes a very clinical and scientific approach to its products.
This tape doesn’t only support your muscles, but it also “educates” your neuromuscular system to correct its behaviour. For example, it may adjust a weaker muscle to its right position. It also helps your muscles distribute lymphatic fluid more evenly to other lymph nodes. Tex Gold strictly adheres to 130%-140% elasticity, which is the accepted standard for Kinesio tape.
Each pack comes with a 5 cm x 5 m roll of kinesiology tape. The product in the link is blue, but you can find skin colour, black and even pink versions.
Nordic Lifting Kinesiology Tape
If you’ve read some of our other reviews, you should be familiar with Nordic Lifting by now. It supplies excellent, high-quality sports and gym gear at an attractive price. Its kinesiology tape is no different and falls in the middle price bracket despite being one of the best products.
This tape is effective for recovering injuries, preventing injuries, supporting weak muscles and joints, etc. You can wear the tape for up to 8 days, depending on the frequency of your showers/bathing. On average, it lasts around a week. It’s one of the better products on this list if you are a runner.
The Nordic Lifting Kinesiology Tape is latex and zinc free to reduce the risk of irritation. You get one black and one skin coloured tape in each pack. Each is 5 m long and 5 cm wide.
FlexU Kinesiology Tape
Next up, we have the FlexU Kinesiology Tape. It’s made of a unique synthetic material, and we can say that it feels as comfortable as FlexU claims it does. The material also renders the tape more waterproof and lightweight than most other brands. It’s most suitable for those who are very active outdoors.
We got the standard 5 m pack, and although it’s one of the more expensive products, you should keep in mind that it’s cheaper if you buy a bigger pack.
This is one of the best-looking types of kinesiology tape on this list. It comes in beige, black, blue and pink, but all of the colours have the same beehive pattern, which we find really sleek and modern. Having said that, it would have been nice to have a plain design for those who want something understated.
Conclusion
As you can see, there isn’t a big margin between any of these products. All of them are great for runners, weight trainers or anyone who is physically active and in need of kinesiology tape.
Overall, we would recommend the Spartan tape, simply because it represents the best value for money. Not only can you pay a bargain price for a highly effective product but you will look great with all the design options available.
Next up is the TheraBand. It’s still extremely affordable, and the best thing about it is how easy it is to use and how it guides you through the application process.
Both the Tex Gold and the FlexU are fantastic products that we can’t fault based on performance. However, they are a bit pricey compared to the other products.
For those looking for a little bit of this and a little bit of that, the Nordic Lifting tape provides the perfect balance between price and quality.
Tom Purton is a fitness junkie. Testing the latest and greatest products on the market and writing reviews in the strength, nutrition, running and many more. For more information about the latest reviews check out Ghost Fitness.
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