Flex Tape vs Gorilla Tape: Which to Choose?

When you need a tape that’s stronger than duct tape, where do you turn? It depends on what you’re applying the tape to and what job you need it to fill. Flex Tape and Gorilla Tape are both great products that offer superior adhesion and water resistance. So, which one should you choose?

To give you a proper answer, we’re going to have to take a closer look at each of these tapes and see where they excel and where they don’t perform so well. There are times when each tape is the better choice, and we aim to help you understand when those times are, so you can determine which tape is going to fulfill your needs better.

Overview of Flex Tape:

Flex Tape is a waterproof repair tape that’s intended for use in repairing everything from automotive parts to camping gear. It’s even great for home repairs and DIY projects. But is it better than Gorilla Tape? In some cases, but not always.

Rubberized for a Formed Fit

What’s special about Flex Tape is that it’s rubberized. This allows it to offer excellent waterproofing characteristics and a formed fit around whatever you’re applying it to. It can be molded around many shapes, and it offers great adhesion. You can use it to stop leaks since it can even be applied to a wet surface and it will stick.

Seals Against Air and Water

Whether your leak is water or air, you can use Flex Tape to seal it. You can stop air or water from getting in or out, making it great for repairing everything from kayaks to pipes.

Works Underwater

One of the best features of Flex Tape is its waterproofing. This tape is so waterproof that you can use it underwater. Even if it’s submerged for extended periods, Flex Tape will continue to hold, sealing water out.

It’s Not Very Strong or Efficient

While Flex Tape is very much waterproof, it’s not that strong. If you pull on it, it will break pretty easily; especially compared to Gorilla Tape. Moreover, Flex Tape takes 24 hours to fully adhere, which is a long time to have to wait for some repairs.

Works on Most Materials

Flex Tape is pretty versatile and will work on a variety of materials. However, it’s not suitable for use on some types of plastics and waterproof materials. It can be used on some plastics, but not others, making it hit or miss if you’re repairing something plastic.

Overview of Gorilla Tape:

Gorilla Tape is from the same brand that makes Gorilla Glue. It’s similar to duct tape, only superior in almost every regard.

Triple-Strength Adhesive

One of the main traits that make Gorilla Tape so much better than duct tape is the triple-strength adhesive that allows it to stick better than duct tape ever could. Once you put Gorilla Tape on an item, it will not come off without a serious fight. This makes it a great tape for making all sorts of repairs. Anything you would consider repairing with duct tape can be repaired with Gorilla Tape, plus many other items that you couldn’t repair with ordinary duct tape.

Resists Water and UV

Gorilla Tape is UV-resistant and water-resistant, and it has an all-weather shell with a tight weave. It can withstand extreme temperatures at either end of the spectrum. Most impressively, it won’t lose any of its adhesion, even after a week of being submerged.

Adheres to Almost Anything

Gorilla Tape is one of the most versatile tapes and will stick to almost anything. If you can think of a surface, Gorilla Tape is practically guaranteed to stick. It will even adhere to porous surfaces like brick, stucco, and concrete. Plus, it will adhere to standard materials, such as metal, stone, wood, plastic, and anything else you might want it to stick to. However, it won’t stick well to wet surfaces. You’ll have to get them dry to ensure excellent adhesion with Gorilla Tape.

Incredible Strength

The tight weave used in Gorilla Tape gives it superior strength compared to just about any type of tape. It takes 85 pounds of force to break Gorilla Tape if you’re pulling on it, but you can still rip it with your fingers, making it easy to apply when you’re on the go and don’t have any tools.

Likely to Leave Residue Behind

On the downside, Gorilla Tape is so sticky that if you ever have to take it off, there’s probably going to be some adhesive residue left behind. And you’re going to have one heck of a time getting the tape off in the first place. So, you should only put Gorilla Tape on something if you want it to be a permanent addition.

Flex Tape is Better on Wet Surfaces

If you need to apply tape to a wet surface, you will want to go with Flex Tape. Gorilla Tape is waterproof, but it won’t stick as well to a wet surface. Flex Tape will. This will especially come in handy in some repair situations. If you have a pipe leaking water, you can apply Flex Tape as an immediate band-aid that will allow the pipe to function while preventing flooding.

Gorilla Tape for Versatility And Strength

For most situations, Gorilla Tape is likely the best choice. It’s far stronger than Flex Tape and adheres almost instantly. Once you apply it, it’s on. While this can make it a bit more difficult to work with, it also makes things more efficient. You can apply Gorilla Tape and get on with your day. Plus, Gorilla Tape will work on just about anything. Granted, Flex Tape is still very versatile and will work on many surfaces, but it won’t work on certain plastics and waterproof materials, making Gorilla Tape the better choice for many situations.

Conclusion

If you’re repairing something that’s still wet, such as a leaky pipe, you should use Flex Tape because Gorilla Tape won’t stick as well to wet surfaces. For most other situations, we’d recommend using Gorilla Tape instead. It offers faster adhesion with incredible strength, and it will stick to pretty much any material you can find. Both tapes offer excellent waterproofing, but Flex Tape takes 24 hours to form a good hold.