25 ft. Chrome Auto Lock Tape Measure

Well i bought this tape thunking it was good but No, the blade its loose andit bends so easy, Was doing some cuts and all my cuts were short 1/4 (the blade loose) did alot of cuts and none of them worked so i got yelled for measuring wrong(cause of this tape) WOULD NOT RECOMMED.

This is a high quality thirty-five foot long tape I intend on having for years based on my first uses. The housing is very smooth and the screws are recessed perfectly. I have a lot of twenty, twenty-five and thirty foot tapes but sometimes when I am alone on a job a longer tape is needed to quickly move through the measuring paces. I could only get the tape to stand out seven feet but that is still better than the other tapes I have. The nylon coated blade is also smooth and catches well when standing out or being used on the ground. Nice tape and a good quality value.

This tape measure is a great one for the price. It's easy-read for beginners, but also accurate for those who are seasoned veterans. It has about an 8' stand-out, which isn't bad for a standard tape vs. a fat max or others. The finish is great, but is easy to ding. That's the only thing I would put against this tape measure is that it's probably not as durable as some of the other tape measures available.

This is a nice tape measure by Empire, a name I typically associate with good quality levels. The 3-inch L x 3-inch H x 1-1/4-inch W body of this tape measure is clad in chromed plastic that easily show fingerprints and smudges. The tape measure features a metal spring clip for attachment to a belt. The manufacturer claims the approx/ ¾-inch wide tape is capable of a 6-ft standout, but I was only able to achieve a standout of 5-ft. 4 inches, which is still pretty good for a compact tape measure. The nylon coated blade is secure by 3 rivets, and the numbers on the tape are easy to read with special markings at every 12-inch and 16-inch increment. The tape requires a little effort to lock because it’s stiff and the hard plastic button doesn’t protrude much from the body, but it may become easier to lock over time with use. A rubberized button would have allowed for a better grip on the button. The backside of the tape measure features a 1-1/8-inch x ¾-inch marking surface for scratching down notes and measurements. The scratch area is small, and I tend to write large and carry a pad of paper, so I’m not sure how useful it is for me personally, but I understand the manufacturer wanting to make use of space that otherwise would be unused. Although the blister packaging indicates the tape measure is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, details of the warranty were no where to be found. I guess you find out what the warranty is when and if you return the tape measure to the store for an exchange. Overall, I’m satisfied with this tape measure. It’s a good size for a tool box or glove box.

The blade is soft and after one day use, it bent. A piece of junk and I really disappointed by "Empire" brand due to high-quality Level and other products.

It is a tape measure after all, there isn't much to it. The exterior case is durable, and the chrome is pretty. I think this is a tape measure best suited for light duty applications around the home. I currently am using it for my go to small tape measure. The action on the tape is smooth and the autolock feature works well. The return is crisp. I think my favorite thing about this little tape measure is the graduated fractions. They are clear and easy to read. I really like a tape measure that has the fractions because it makes projects that much easier to glance and know. For a short tape measure under ten bucks, I don't think you can go wrong with empire.

This review is for the Empire 30’ chrome tape measure, model 300-30, which I was given a chance to check out. Empire is part of Milwaukee Tools, and the 300-30 model comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Fit and finish are excellent, the belt hook has no sharp edges and holds the measure securely on my belt but isn’t bothersome to take off. (I’ve had a couple of tape measures that had so much tension built into the belt hook that the things weren’t all that easy to remove for use; the Empire doesn’t fall into that trap). The 300-30 does not offer “autolock” on the blade; it’s a traditional slide lock. The slide lock has a position to temporarily lock the blade, and another to firmly lock the blade in position. (Of course, there’s also a “completely unlocked” position for retracting the blade into the housing). The “firmly lock” position is quite hard to engage, requiring more effort to engage than other tape measures I have. I was surprised when I first engaged the “firmly lock”; it took more force that I had expected. Retraction is nice and even – the blade doesn’t come whipping back at me. It isn’t slow, it just doesn’t whip around. Nice. Empire claims an 8 foot stand out (that is, the blade can be extended straight out to 8 feet without bending or falling); my example doesn’t quite make the 8 foot range before it bends. However, if I use one hand to help support the blade about a foot away from the housing, it can hold 8 feet. Unassisted I can extend the blade about 6 and ½ feet. The blade itself is nylon coated and feels substantial, so possibly the unit I received isn’t quite up to what Empire intended. For my usage I wouldn’t return the tape measure for the failure to hold 8’ stand out but YMMV. If it’s an important feature for you, I’d advise trying one in the store before purchasing. The blade markings are easy to read (see photo); not only are feet marked, but 16 inch distances are marked as well. I like the layout of the blade very much. On the back of the tape measure housing is a small area (1 inch x 1 ¼ inches) for penciling in measurements. This is a nifty feature, one that isn’t on any of my other tape measures. I made some notations in pencil and they were easily read and easily removed with an erasure. Nice to have if all you need to remember is a couple of numbers. Not being a professional tradesman, just a home DIY’er, I’m not into spending large amounts of money on tape measures – I don't abuse them, but I do misplace them or loan them out and generally don’t require best-of-breed performance. The Empire 300-30 market price suits me well and the tape measure itself seems solid. It would rate a five star review except for the harder-than-necessary blade lock and the fact that I just can’t get the claimed 8 foot stand out to work without using a second hand. With the competitive market price, the Home Depot 90 day return policy, and a limited lifetime warranty, it’s a solid competitor in the tape measure world. HTH Regards, Jim

This tape measure is quite nice. I like the old school look of it with the chrome case, but it has a rubber bottom for better grip and handling which is nice. I really like that the fractions are on the tape and that there is a nylon coating for increased durability. This tape measure is different from most common types in that it ALWAYS locks and you need to press a button for it to return. So, essentially opposite from most others. It's a nifty feature. There is a little piece of paper/plastic on the back that they say is for jotting down measurements - I think this is just silly but some may find it useful. The body is plastic that doesn't seem terribly thick, and a fall from a 10 foot ladder would probably do this tape measure in. So just consider that when you make your purchase and the type of situations you will find yourself in while using this. It's not flimsy, but not what I would call professional grade. That being said, I would not recommend for a professional or for frequent, heavy use, especially on ladder/roof, etc. work. For light, residential use or for use in a shop, this tape measure gives you everything you need.

The Empire 25' Auto Lock Tape Measure, works very well and is accurate. Has great features like fractional printing,marking surface,auto lock, clip for your belt or wall and 8' standout. I marked the marking surface with a sharpie and used a little WD-40 and came right off, so pencil or pen will be fine.I would highly recommend this product. Happy Measuring!

This is a large size tape measure. It looks like it has a metal casing, but it is plastic so may not be that rugged for contractors. Other than that the quality is satisfactory. I liked the was they marked the scales on the tape. It has all different US units possible on it, which saves you from calculating smaller units. It has a spring slide on it, so the meter is automatically locked unless you press the button to release it