Stanley FMHT33316S FATMAX 16'Auto-Lock Tape Measure

Finally; a tape measure I can keep and not look for another one. I've always preferred an auto-lock type tape measure for the work that I do; it allows you to pull the tape out to a certain length and it will stay there until you retract it. The problem for me with auto retracting types is I have to lock the tape in place every time I want to use it so I greatly prefer the auto lock. I've tried every one that I could find on the market; Craftsman used to make a pretty good one, now discontinued; Komelon makes one that I tried and it broke after only a few uses; the Stanley Leverlock is pretty good (and to be fair is much less expensive) but this tape has a much stronger, wider blade and I like the big hook for most applications. It is removable, and the lock can be "locked out" so the tape functions as an auto retractor; sometimes that is handy. Overall, a great tape measure, even though it's a little spendy and a little heavy. Well made and tough. Stanley; if you are listening please make an additional tape in short version; like 8'. This would reduce the weight and about 90% of what many shop carpenters do is under that length.

Probably my favorite measuring tape ever. Very nice design and very durable. Far reaching distance and quality measuring. I’ve tried every tape from snap on to the cheapest of all. Best bang for your buck right here.

I have always used FatMax tape for as long as I can remember. No other tape compares! I have a Craftsman auto-lock tape and they are nice but just not a FatMax.

This is a very nice tool. The auto-lock is amazing - I don't know how I got along without it all these years. Standout is so long it's a little scary. Be aware that this is much larger and heavier than your average tape measure. It's about 2 1/8" wide! It definitely lives up to the "FatMax" name. It may not fit into standard sized tape measure pockets or compartments. The markings are easy-to-read black and red on a yellow background. It feels solid and well-made. The extra-wide hook can be left attached to the end of the tape or stored (fairly securely) on the unit itself. There's a magnetic version of this tape that could be handy if you do a lot of metal work. All in all, this feels like a tool that will last for a while and not fall apart and turn into crap after using it for a few months.

Out of the box this tape seemed great. After 6 months of use it is starting to give me problems. The retraction was never very great but now it is so weak you need to practically pull it back in manually. The blade itself is starting to become quite rusty and scratched. The auto lock button is starting to get jammed up and is very difficult to switch to auto lock and free retraction. I always wiped the tape down with a dry rag if it would get a little wet or particularly dirty which was not very often. I realize that tape measures take a lot of abuse but honestly I would expect more than 6 months of life for the money. I guess I will give Milwaukee tapes a shot and see how they work out. Every pro seems to have one of these on their belt but I really didn't have great live out of this one.

This is the best tape measure I've owned. I've been using it for about 4 months in a dusty construction environment and it still works great. I've had other self locking tapes mess up pretty quickly, but not this one.When I originally purchased it, I wasn't completely sure about the extra wide tape because I was afraid it would be too heavy and uncomfortable to have clipped on all day. The extra weight actually isn't really noticeable and the additional width keeps it from giving, very handy when trying to get a measurement alone and on a ladder.I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's looking for a tough and easy to use tape. If mine ever breaks I will be purchasing again.

I am a union construction electrican. This tape measure fits my work needs perfectly and is made in USA!

I purchased this wanting my first "real" tape measure after I realized my Hazard Fraught one was reading an 1/8" off. I also wanted an auto-lock tape. I'm not at all a professional user, this should have been overkill for home projects. It worked at first, but on just the second day of usage I noticed the auto-lock function seemed weak. Very light pushing on the tape would cause it to retract slowly. The third day of usage it would not lock at all. The tape slowly creeped back into the body. I couldn't believe it. This from a US made FatMax professionals rave about?I took the tape apart and the auto-lock works by using a small metal tab as a spring that wedges a triangular rubber bumper in the crevice of the tape between the reel and where it uncoils so that it can be pulled out, but not retracted. The spring and wedge are attached to a fulcrum with the button being on the opposite end. Pushing the button pivots the mechanism pulling the tab out of the crevice and it retracts. The problem is the thin metal spring tab inside produces far too little tension, and once some dust started building up on the rubber bumper from the tape running in and out over it, its friction was slowly being reduced and it quickly lost its ability to lock the tape. Poorly engineered. Also, the provided hook is nice, but it does not attach securely to the body when not in use. I seriously doubt it would last long before falling off and getting lost if the tape is daily used on a jobsite.I cleaned the dust off the bumper and bent the metal tab a little to get more tension out of it. It's currently working better than it did even new, but I really don't know how long it will last. I may have to re-engineer it a little inside in the future. Regular FatMax tapes may live up to the hype, but stay away from the auto-lock one.

Love it. But it’s not for me, it’s too big n heavy for my hands. I’m keeping it though.

The auto lock is nice but requires much more maintenance than a manual lock tape measure. Even lubing and wiping the blade will cause the auto lock to not catch properly; it just doesn't have the hold of a typical lock.

its a good tape but the button/switch needs to be redesigned. Between the 16 and 25 foot autolocks i have bought 7-8 of them in the last 2 years and the button always falls/cracks off.

I really like this tape. It’s my favorite of the FatMax options as it doesn’t come with the big stupid end on it. It’s easy to read, good stand out and seems to last rather well if taken care of. I also like having the auto lock feature when I need it.

The lock lets the tape slide sometimes when it's placed on the floor. Other than that it's the typical quality from fatmax