With so many different methods out there for treating muscle and joint injuries, it can be overwhelming and hard to know what works. One method that has achieved popularity recently has been the use of Kinesiology Tape.
Of course, there are so many brands that it can be hard to decide which to buy. That’s why we decided to help you find the best Kinesiology Tape for your needs by putting two of the top brands up against each other – KT Tape Pro and RockTape.
Table of Contents
What Is Kinesiology Tape and How Does It Work?
If you have been to a physical therapist or if you watch a lot of sports, you have probably seen Kinesiology Tape in use. Kinesiology tape is an extremely stretchy tape with strong adhesive. It is typically used to reduce swelling, provide muscle and joint support and/or comfort, and reduce pain. It is common to see it used in sports and physical therapy, where a healing or sore muscle is aided by the tape. The tape lifts the top layer of skin, which is believed to promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, create more “space” for joints, and sometimes believed to increase performance.
We are not doctors or scientists, so our review will not address any of the above scientific claims for Kinesiology Tape. Instead, we will be reviewing the ease of use, adhesion, and other aspects of two of the top Kinesiology Tape Brands – RockTape and KT Tape.
Why We Chose RockTape and KT Tape Pro
Originally, we were going to pit KT Tape against RockTape, but the higher price point of RockTape and the water resistant claims made us rethink that. Instead, we chose to review RockTape vs KT Tape Pro due to KT Pro’s similar price point and similar claims. KT Tape is by far the most popular brand for Kinesiology Tape. It has major advertising and sponsorship deals with big name athletes that no other Kinesiology Tape brand has. It has excellent reviews and seems to be loved by many athletes and physical therapists. RockTape on the other hand, is less popular, but has secured its spot as KT Tape’s most well known competitor. It also has rave reviews, so we knew this was the most natural side by side comparison.
- WHAT IS KT TAPE? Elastic sports tape used by pro athletes to support muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. It’s drug-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic, lightweight, breathable, comfortable, HSA/FSA approved, and easy to use
- HIGHEST QUALITY KT Tape PRO is the only sports tape with 100% synthetic-engineered, performance fabric that maintains elasticity twice as long (up to 7 days) as cotton tape. It wicks moisture instead of absorbing it.
- HOW DOES IT WORK? It helps reduce tissue pressure, support muscles and joints. Studies show it helps you recover faster from pain. Our sports tape is used for knee, shoulder, back pain, and more. Watch our videos to apply.
- Rocktape Kinesiology Tape for Athletes 2" x 16.5' Roll
Pricing
Both KT Tape Pro and RockTape range from $15-$20 for a single roll. These are both considered premium Kinesiology Tapes, so they are priced accordingly.
Features
KT Tape Pro has several features that make it stand out above RockTape. The first thing you will notice is that KT Tape Pro comes in pre-cut strips with already rounded corners. This saves a lot of time so that you don’t have to cut the tape or round the corners yourself. RockTape unfortunately does not come pre-cut. Additionally, KT Tape Pro comes with a case, whereas RockTape does not.
KT Tape Pro advertises itself as “moisture wicking” where RockTape advertises itself as “water resistant.” KT Tape Pro also claims that its tape provides 4-7 days of support and that its competitors only offer 1-3 days of support. RockTape says its tape will last up to 5 days. Both products come with a pamphlet that shows different taping methods for different areas of your body.
Initial Impressions
By far the KT Tape Pro wins for the ease of application. Its pre-cut strips alone make it extremely quick and easy to apply. The RockTape took a long time to cut and round the corners of the tape before applying it to our skin. The KT Tape Pro was significantly softer feeling and stretchier than the RockTape, and was less irritable on our skin as it felt a lot less sticky than RockTape. Once applying RockTape to our skin, its strong adhesive is very noticeable and less comfortable than KT Tape.
How We Tested
To put these two kinesiology tapes to the test, we chose a team member who is known to sweat profusely during his workouts. We then applied the KT Tape Pro to his right knee and RockTape to his left knee and had him go through a full leg workout in a heated room (just to add more sweat to the equation). We figured that a very sweaty environment coupled with the tapes being applied to a joint that will be constantly moving and flexing would be a great way to test the performance of these tapes.
Both tapes performed excellent for the first 20 minutes of the workout. Then at about 25 minutes into the workout, the center section of the RockTape lost its adhesion and no longer was attached to the skin. KT Tape Pro then lost adhesion in its middle section 35 minutes into the workout. By this point, there was plenty of sweat on our tester’s legs and on the tapes themselves.
By the end of the hour long workout, both tapes lost adhesion at the bottom end of their anchors (just beneath the knee) and were starting to peel. Our tester had used many different brands of kinesiology tape before, and he was impressed that both tapes actually stayed on throughout the entire workout (even though parts of each lost adhesion). You can see the before and after pics in the photos below, although it might be hard to notice the middle sections and bottom ends that lost adhesion.
Before Workout
After Workout
Overall, the KT Tape Pro proved to be the superior tape in terms of performance (although not by a wide margin). It withstood the rigorous test we put it through and outlasted RockTape. The other takeaway we got from this test was that neither tape would be able to live up to their “long lasting” claims if you were to workout with the tape on. They may last for days if you put the tape on in areas that don’t have much movement and flexion, but we can’t imagine them lasting longer that a couple hours if the tape is put through any sort of workout routine.
The Best Kinesiology Tape
If you’ve read this far, then it’s pretty obvious that KT Tape Pro is our winner. It won every test we threw at it. Its ease of application, superior features, comfort, and performance gave it the edge over RockTape. We were very impressed with the results and we can confidently recommend KT Tape Pro for anyone looking to use kinesiology tape.
- WHAT IS KT TAPE? Elastic sports tape used by pro athletes to support muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. It’s drug-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic, lightweight, breathable, comfortable, HSA/FSA approved, and easy to use
- HIGHEST QUALITY KT Tape PRO is the only sports tape with 100% synthetic-engineered, performance fabric that maintains elasticity twice as long (up to 7 days) as cotton tape. It wicks moisture instead of absorbing it.
- HOW DOES IT WORK? It helps reduce tissue pressure, support muscles and joints. Studies show it helps you recover faster from pain. Our sports tape is used for knee, shoulder, back pain, and more. Watch our videos to apply.
Final Thoughts
While we can’t confirm the health related claims of kinesiology tape, it definitely has worked for a lot of people. Whether you are an athlete or someone treating/recovering from an injury, kinesiology tape should be able to benefit you. There are plenty of tutorials on how to best use kinesiology tape and how to apply it. We didn’t delve into that information here, so we recommend watching a few tutorials if it is your first time using kinesiology tape.
Overall we were impressed with both RockTape and KT Tape Pro and wouldn’t mind using either product. However, KT Tape Pro is our recommended choice and it won’t disappoint!
- WHAT IS KT TAPE? Elastic sports tape used by pro athletes to support muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. It’s drug-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic, lightweight, breathable, comfortable, HSA/FSA approved, and easy to use
- HIGHEST QUALITY KT Tape PRO is the only sports tape with 100% synthetic-engineered, performance fabric that maintains elasticity twice as long (up to 7 days) as cotton tape. It wicks moisture instead of absorbing it.
- HOW DOES IT WORK? It helps reduce tissue pressure, support muscles and joints. Studies show it helps you recover faster from pain. Our sports tape is used for knee, shoulder, back pain, and more. Watch our videos to apply.