DeWalt 100 ft. Fiberglass Long Tape

First impressions and build

I spend a lot of time laying out runs for fences, patios, and outbuildings, and I’ve come to appreciate a long tape that’s simple, quick, and predictable. DeWalt’s 100-foot fiberglass tape hits those marks. The housing is compact without feeling cramped, and the overall unit has a reassuring sturdiness without being a brick in the hand. At 2.7 pounds, it carries well from stake to stake and doesn’t fatigue the forearm over a long day.

The frame is mostly plastic with rubber where it matters—on the grip and at the bumper—so it shrugs off knocks in the back of the truck. A metal crank handle folds out for winding and tucks back in neatly, and the rubberized main handle gives a secure hold even when dust and sweat inevitably mix. Small detail, big difference: there’s a housing clip that corrals the end ring when you’re on the move, so you’re not listening to metal clatter against the frame or snagging it on brush.

Blade and markings

The 3/4-inch-wide blade is a sweet spot for a long tape: wide enough to read at a glance, narrow enough not to act like a sail in light wind. The high-contrast yellow helps the black graduations pop. Print is double-sided—imperial on one face, metric on the other—so I can work in feet and inches with one crew and flip to meters with another without digging for a different tool.

Fiberglass brings some practical benefits to the jobsite. It won’t rust, doesn’t kink like steel, and it’s non-conductive—useful around active utilities or electric fencing. This blade is constructed with multiple fiberglass strands (64 in total), which, in practice, keeps stretch to a minimum and improves durability when the tape is dragged over gravel or damp clay. Fiberglass will scuff and fuzz if you abuse it on sharp edges, but after several weeks of mixed use, the print remained legible and the edge showed only light wear.

A wide end ring lives at zero. It’s sized to drop over a grade stake or hook onto rebar, and it sits flat enough that measurements start cleanly without a fussy angle. The ring is also big enough to loop a small carabiner through if you like to hang your tape from a lanyard between pulls.

Rewind and handling

The 3:1 gear ratio is the feature that quietly makes the workday go faster. After a 100-foot pull, that ratio lets me reel in the line quickly without cranking like I’m starting a lawnmower. The metal crank feels solid, and it doesn’t flex under a fast wind. There’s a rubber stopper near the hub that absorbs the last bit of travel so you’re not slamming the blade into the housing.

When the tape is extended, a blade lock lets me freeze the line at a given length. I’ve found that handy for one-person layouts—set 36 feet, lock it, and walk to place your paint mark or set a stake. The lock holds well enough for typical tension; if you yank hard, it will slip, but I don’t see that as a failure—it’s better than tearing fibers.

In the field

I put this tape through typical general-construction and landscaping duties:

• Squaring a 10x20 patio with the 3-4-5 method and verifying diagonals
• Laying out fence post spacing across uneven ground
• Checking trench length for conduit pulls
• Marking runoff control lines on a slope with stakes and string

Hooking the ring over a stake and walking the run solo is where this tool shines. The ring stays put, the blade glides over turf and dirt without snagging, and the 3/4-inch width resists twisting. Rewinding is quick enough that I’m not tempted to hand-feed the blade into the housing (a good habit to avoid, especially in gritty conditions).

In bright sun, the markings are easy to read without hunting for shade. The yellow background isn’t overly glossy, so glare is minimal. At 50 feet and beyond, I typically pinch the blade between thumb and index finger to keep it off the ground, and the width makes that comfortable even with gloves.

Accuracy and stretch

Fiberglass has a reputation for stretching more than steel, especially under heavy tension or in heat. With the multi-strand construction here, stretch was a non-issue in real use. Spot-checking against a known steel reference at 10 feet and 50 feet, I recorded no measurable difference under normal pull. Can you force it to creep if you reef on it? Sure. But if you maintain a firm, consistent tension in the ballpark of 5–10 pounds—typical for layout—it holds true and returns to length.

For survey-grade tasks where sub-millimeter accuracy is needed over long distances, a steel survey tape still has the edge. For construction layout, landscaping, and athletic field marking, this fiberglass tape is accurate and repeatable.

Durability and maintenance

The blade’s fiberglass composition resists moisture and mud well. After muddy trench work, I hosed the tape off, let it air dry, and saw no swelling or delamination. The edges do pick up abrasion if you drag it over sharp rock or curb corners; that’s a general fiberglass truth. I recommend lifting the tape at transitions and rinsing it after sandy jobs. Grit inside the housing will accelerate wear and make rewind feel scratchy.

The crank mechanism remains tight, with no wobble at the pivot. The rubber bumper at the base does its job protecting the hub from hard stops. I like the fold-away finger loop near the grip—it gives you another index point for steady winding and doubles as a hanging point in the shop.

Ergonomics and portability

Two things I noticed on longer days:

• The grip shape is friendly to gloved hands. The rubber is tacky without being soft, and it doesn’t roll in the palm when rewinding fast.
• There’s no belt clip. For me, that’s not a deal breaker; I tend to set a long tape down between pulls or drop it into a bucket. If you like to carry on-body, plan on a carabiner through the end ring or parking it in a tool bag. The housing clip that captures the ring is great for transport—no flailing hardware.

At 100 feet, the tool is compact enough to stow in a milk crate with layout gear (string line, paint, stakes). The square-ish footprint sits flat and doesn’t tip over easily on uneven ground.

Where it shines—and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- Fast, smooth rewind with the 3:1 gearing
- Readable, double-sided markings with a practical 3/4-inch width
- Wide end ring that genuinely enables one-person measuring on stakes or rebar
- Non-conductive, rust-proof fiberglass that holds length well under normal tension
- Solid crank and comfortable grip; tidy transport thanks to the ring clip

Limitations:
- Fiberglass edges can fuzz with repeated abrasion against sharp concrete or stone; lift rather than drag at transitions
- No belt clip; if you prefer hip carry, you’ll need a workaround
- In strong wind, any long tape becomes a kite—this one is no exception, though the width helps

Tips for best results

• Rinse grit off the blade before rewinding to keep the mechanism smooth and preserve the print.
• Use the blade lock for solo layouts to hold a fixed length while you set marks.
• Seat the wide ring fully over a stake head to start at a consistent zero.
• Avoid excessive tension; firm and steady beats brute force for accuracy and longevity.

The bottom line

After using DeWalt’s 100-foot fiberglass tape across multiple jobs, I trust it to be quick, readable, and durable enough for everyday site work. The combo of a 3:1 rewind, a wide and legible double-sided blade, and a genuinely useful end ring makes it easy to work alone without slowing down. The fiberglass construction resists the elements and holds its length under normal use, and the ergonomics encourage good habits—no wrestling with a flimsy crank or a slick grip.

Would I recommend it? Yes. If you’re laying out fences, flatwork, landscape beds, sports lines, or general construction runs, this long tape balances speed, accuracy, and durability at a level that suits both pros and serious DIYers. The few trade-offs—no belt clip and the typical fiberglass vulnerability to sharp-edge abrasion—are easy to live with and easy to manage. For most field measuring tasks up to 100 feet, it’s the tape I reach for first.