Spy Finds is a daily series that unveils the coolest, under-the-radar products that you haven’t heard of until now. Each product is curated by our team of editors who want to help you discover cool finds you didn’t know you needed.
When it comes to having the right tools, a trusty tape measure is up there with having a solid screwdriver and a handy set of pliers. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most overlooked. Sure, you can run down to the nearest hardware store and pick up the first (and cheapest) tape measurer you see, but if you’re planning detailed jobs that require precise measurements, whipping out that crappy measuring tape that’s too limp to hold its own weight won’t be doing you any favors.
Meet the eTape digital tape measure, the first digital tape measure we’ve ever seen that runs laps around the one you have in your hardware drawer. While it looks just like an ordinary tape measure, it’s able to provide precise measurements due to its digital tracking applications. What’s more, it actually saves your measurements for you, so you can check them at any time.
The eTape’s digital display makes it easy to see your exact measurements at any given moment, which is a must when you’re in a tight spot. And the ability to instantly convert your measurements from inches to centimeters, as well as into feet, fractions and decimals is definitely a nice touch. You can even convert your measurements from standard to metric and back again.
Another welcome feature is the eTape’s ability to measure either from the front of the tape or from the back, which is particularly useful when measuring walls where you need to actually bend the tape to get an accurate reading. You can even set it to mark the center point of any given space, making it easier than ever to hang pictures or set a marker on the wall.
Whether you’re a novice DIYer or a pro, this tape measure makes a seriously smart addition to your toolset. And at under $25, it might just be one of the smartest (and cheapest) tools you’ll ever buy.