That being said, if you are also looking for a fish tape for yourself, you have landed on the right page as we have already shortlisted some of the best fish tapes from the market for you. Choosing the right fish tape for yourself is completely on you, but make sure to check a few important things before buying such as:
Length of the Fish Tape: Not all fish tapes are designed the same way. While some fish tapes are meant for small-scale applications, they are generally about 50 feet long. On the other hand, fish tapes meant for large outdoor conduits and underground wiring work are usually longer in length and can be up to 500 feet long in length. Material: In general, fish tapes are usually made of either steel or fiberglass material. Fish Tapes made of steel are more often used for small applications and are highly durable. Fiberglass fish tapes, on the other hand, are more flexible and run more smoothly through conduits. Width of the tape: Checking the width of the fish tape is also an important task that every buyer should do before buying. Make sure the width of the fish tape is not much, otherwise you won’t be able to use the fish tape in conduits with smaller diameters.
Although these three factors are more than enough to check in case you want to buy the best suitable fish tape from the list for yourself. However, if you are interested to know more about fish tapes, you can consider reading the detailed “Buying Guide” which is mentioned down in this article. So, now, without wasting any time, let’s jump directly onto the list and see all the fish tape options that we have shortlisted for you.
Best Fish Tape 2023 List
Best Fish Tape Reviews
1. Klein Tools Fish Tape
Let’s start this list with one of the most popular brands that are well-known to make high-grade tools that come in handy for electricians. Klein Tools offers this fish tape at very interesting pricing, and since its build quality is amazing, most people have rated it the best. The fish tape comes in a high-impact resistant shell that keeps the fish tape safe from damages. Although it can’t be damaged so easily as the fish tape is itself made of steel. The length of the fish tape is about 50 feet and is almost ⅛ inches wide. That said, it’s one of the perfect tools for smaller applications as it can easily go into narrow conduits. Not just that, the fish tape also has measurement markings at every 1-foot distance that helps you measure the length of the conduit as well. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 50 ft. The width of the fish tape is ⅛ inches Made from Steel Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
The handle is large and grippy Compact design Easy to use
Cons:
Not ideal for large applications
2. Horusdy Fish Tape
In case you like to do DIY projects at home, this Fish Tape Pull Push Kit from Horusdy can be a good choice for you to pick. This kit includes about 10 rods with threaded brass connectors that can be attached with each other to make a 33 ft. long fish tape. Each of the rods is 3.3 ft. in length and has a diameter of 3/16 inches which is good. It’s a great fish tape kit to use if you want to work with narrow and small-size conduits. Moreover, since these rods are made from fiberglass, they are super-smooth to run through walls and help you complete your job in no time. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 33 ft. The width of the fish tape is 3/16 inches Made from Fiberglass and has brass connectors Comes with a 1-year long warranty
Pros:
Build quality is good Useful with narrow conduits Comes with a plastic storage case
Cons:
Connecting each rod is a time-consuming task
3. StartFine Fish Tape
Coming up next, we have a pretty decent fish tape option available from StartFine that claims that their steel fish tape has upgraded features and works better than most other options in the market, let’s see! Well, this fish tape comes with a plastic coating that provides both agility and protection to the steel tape. Moreover, it also keeps it safe from damaging or high temperatures as well. Thanks to the plastic coating, this fish tape is also applicable for telecom, electrical, wall, floor conduit as well. Speaking of its length and width, it’s 40 ft long and has a diameter of 3/32 inches. Pushing or pulling the cable with this fish tape is quite simple and easy as the red cap at the head of the fish tape grabs the cable perfectly and prevents disconnecting of wire in-between the process. In fact, the head of the steel wire is 360° rotatable, which helps the fish tape pass through conduit bends very easily. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 40 ft. The width of the fish tape is 3mm Made from steel and coated with plastic Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Made from high-grade materials Flexible and Rigid Stronger than fiberglass fish tapes
Cons:
No carry case included
4. RamPro Fish Tape
Next up, we have another handy and budget-friendly option from RamPro which is quite an ideal option to choose if you are looking for a long-size fish tape. This fish tape is about 100 ft. long in length and has a width of ⅛ inches that makes it a great option for pulling cables and wires through or behind the ceiling, walls/drywall, conduit, PVC, pipe, vent, duct, hose, under carpet and similar applications. Apart from that, the fish tape is made from steel, so you won’t have to worry much about the quality either. In fact, for additional protection, it comes in a high-impact resistant case that keeps the fish tape safe from damage. In addition, the fish tape also has a Multi-position handle that gives you a firm, steady grip while you work using this fish tape. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 100 ft. The width of the fish tape is ⅛ inches Made from Steel Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Made from high-grade materials Flexible and Rigid Stronger than fiberglass fish tapes
Cons:
No carry case included
5. KOOTANS Fish Tape
For those people who are looking for a smaller length fish tape, the KOOTANS 11 ft Fiberglass Wire Running Kit is one of the best options that we found in the market. The design of this fish tape resembles one option that we have already discussed in this article above. Despite being available in one single joined tape, this one comes divided into 10 sections of 1.1 ft that you can connect and make it as long as 11 ft. Moreover, the diameter of each rod is just 4mm so they can be used with narrow conduits easily. In fact, these fish tape rods are made from fiberglass which works better than steel and glides through conduits effortlessly. In addition, you get to attach up to 4 different head options with the fish tape, so it becomes easier for the users to work with any kind of cable. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 11 ft. The width of the fish tape is 4mm Made from Fiberglass Comes with 6 different accessories
Pros:
Brilliant build quality Highly flexible and strong Simple to use
Cons:
Connecting the rods is time-consuming
6. Southwire FISH TAPE
In case you are looking for a high-end fish tape that has good construction and long-length as well, the Southwire – FTS1/8-240 FISH TAPE is one good option that you can check out. This fish tape comes in a fairly compact housing, so carrying it along with other tools is not going to be a difficult task for anyone. Moreover, the casing of this fish tape is extremely sturdy and provides good enough protection to the steel fish tape. Speaking of its dimensions, the fish tape is almost 240 feet long and ⅛ inches wide which makes it one of the best options for home applications. Moreover, the handle of the fish tape is designed ergonomically and provides a decent grip and holding angle to the users. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 240 ft. The width of the fish tape is ⅛ inches Made from Steel Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Length is quite long Extremely rigid and flexible too High build quality
Cons:
A little pricey
7. Greenlee Fish Tape
Next up on this list, we have this affordable fish tape option from Greenlee that you will most probably like due to its handy and comfortable design. In this fish tape, you get a hard casing outside which covers the steel fish tape and provides it optimal protection. Unlike other fish tape options, this fish tape comes with a rotating pulling handle that helps to pull the wire through conduits conveniently. If we talk about the length of this fish tape, this steel fish tape is about 25 feet in length, hence, you can definitely consider purchasing it for you like doing DIY projects at your home. Even for small projects, we recommend this option for professional electricians too since it is so compact and easy to handle. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 25 ft. The width of the fish tape is ¼ inches Made from Steel Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Has a large handle grip Features a high-impact case A hole in the tip helps pull cable conveniently
Cons:
The quality of the winder could be better
8. Taxutor Fish Tape
For those of you who are looking for an affordable fish tape option, this fish tape option from Taxutor is one of the best and most affordable options present on this list. It’s a fairly simple tool to use as you get a long fish tape of 49 feet in length which is ready to use as soon as you receive the package. Since the diameter of the tape is just 4mm, it can be used with narrow conduits very easily. Apart from that, this tape is made from flexible fiberglass instead of steel, thus, it’s highly convenient to use and won’t cause any damage to the cables as well as the conduits. It’s not only flexible but also rigid at the same time, so passing it through the conduits is definitely an effortless process. Moreover, the material is lightweight, aging-resistant, and corrosion-resistant too. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 49 ft. The width of the fish tape is 4mm Made from Fiberglass
Pros:
Highly flexible and durable Little to no maintenance is required Corrosion-resistant material
Cons:
No mention about the warranty
9. Happybuy Fish Tape
In case you want a fish tape or duct rodder for large-scale applications, the Happybuy Fish Tape is quite a good option to choose as it’s fairly long in length as well as designed well for heavy-duty works. The size of this duct rodder is fairly big as it’s purposely designed for outdoor heavy jobs. The fish tape is itself 492 ft. long, so you can suppose it’s a good pick for underground wiring such as telecommunications, walker duct, etc. The cable has a diameter of 8mm and it’s made of epoxy fiberglass and covered with high-grade ABS material on the outside. The fish tape comes with a durable steel reel stand that is extremely sturdy and is completely non-conductive as well. Moreover, it’s rust and corrosion-resistant and also features a robust brake level as well that helps you control the fish tape and hold it in position. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 492 ft. The width of the fish tape is 8mm Made from Fibreglass and coated with ABS Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Durable Steel Reel Stand Strong Bending Property Hand-held bracket for portability
Cons:
Expensive
10. Greenlee FTS438-65 Fish Tape
Although we have already discussed one option from Greenlee in this list already, the brand is so popular and has a wide range of fish tapes available, so here’s another option that you might like. This fish tape is highly recommended for the electricians out there, thanks to its rigid body design and long length. The case is high impact resistant and offers decent protection to the fish tape which is good. Apart from that, the fish tape case also features a handle at the top that helps the users to manage the tape and hold it comfortably. If we speak about the dimensions, this fish tape has a length of 65 feet and is just ⅛ inches wide. That said, running it through narrow conduits won’t be a problem at all. Hence, it’s a perfect tool that every electrician should have in their toolkit. Moreover, the quality of the tape is absolutely robust as it’s made from high-quality oil tempered steel. Best Features:
The length of the fish tape is 65 ft. The width of the fish tape is ⅛ inches Made from Oil Tempered Steel Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Adequate pricing Comfortable and ergonomic design Highly durable and long-lasting
Cons:
The handle is made from plastic
Buying Guide for the Best Fish Tape
Fish tapes are used so extensively as they are such a helpful tool, and are often called an electrician’s snake as well. Since fish tapes help in almost all kinds of wiring jobs, owning one as an electrician is definitely necessary. However, if you like doing DIY projects at home, you should definitely have one too as fish tape can make the whole project a lot easier for you. Although we have already mentioned all the best fish tape options in the list above, if you are not able to choose one for your requirements, kindly read this buying guide until the end. In this buying guide, we will discuss all the major points that a new customer should be checking before buying a fish tape, so it’s going to help you a lot with the purchase.
1. Length
The first thing that you should be concerned about is the fish tape length. For basic home projects, any fish tape that is 25-50 feet long is good enough for you if you are going to handle everything on your own. However, if you are an electrician, we would recommend you choose a fish tape that is around 100 feet long. On the other hand, there are few options on this list that are even longer, up to 500 feet. Such options are ideal for outdoor jobs, so in case you want one for heavy-duty jobs, you can also check out such options on the list.
2. Width
Apart from the length, you should also check the width of the fish tape. Although most of the fish tapes are usually good for all types of conduits and ducts. But, in case you are working around a very narrow conduit, a wide fish tape might not be the best option to use. That said, you should always check the width of the tape and make sure it’s not too wide. In general, most fish tapes with either ⅛ inches or about 2mm or 3mm in width are good enough for home applications.
3. Material
These days, fish tapes are generally made using two materials only. Either you will find fish tapes made from Steel or Fiberglass. While steel fish tapes are good enough and rigid, some people believe that they cause damage to the PVC conduits. However, when it comes to metallic conduits, steel tapes perform quite good and are easily available in the market for cheaper prices. Fiberglass fish tapes, on the other hand, are considered to be more flexible and glide smoothly through all kinds of conduits. Moreover, since fiberglass is a lightweight material, such fish tapes are easy to manage and carry around. Maybe that’s also the reason fiberglass fish tapes are generally more expensive than steel ones.
4. Warranty
There’s nothing much to check for in fish tapes as they are quite a simple tool and buying one is quite an easy task. However, what most people usually forget to check is the warranty information. Since we have included options in our list from top brands only, most of them offer good after-sales services and offer warranty for their products as well. However, it’s still your duty to check for it and confirm the warranty details with the manufacturer as well.
Conclusion
This is it! So far in this article, we have covered almost all the best fish tape options that are available in the market right now. So, depending on your work requirements, you can easily find a suitable option for yourself on the list.
Apart from that, we have thoroughly explained the key features of each fish tape, so you can simply compare the products and find a suitable option. In case you are a new customer and don’t know much about fish tapes, we have included a detailed buying guide for you as well. On the other hand, if you are still not able to make your final decision, then picking one option from our personal recommendation will be a good choice for you:
Klein Tools is one of the most popular tools brands out there, hence, we highly recommend you the Klein Tools Fish Tape. It’s made from high-grade steel material and is almost 50 feet in length. Moreover, it comes packed in a high impact resistant casing and is also backed up by a 1-year warranty. In case you want a fish tape for DIY projects, the 33′ Horusdy Fish Tape Pull Push Kit from Horusdy is a great choice to pick. In this kit, you will get 10 fiberglass rods that you can connect with each other to make a 33 feet long fiberglass cable for taping. The quality of each rod is brilliant and each of the rods has a brass connector at the front. Moreover, the pricing is quite adequate and Horusdy also offers a 1 year long warranty as well.
On the other hand, if you want a fish tape for professional use, you can go with the RamPro Fish Tape, Spring-Steel Fish Tape Reel. It is 100 feet long in length and comes with an impact-resistant casing also. Moreover, the ergonomic handle at the top offers optimal grip to the user and makes it easier for the user to carry it around. In addition, RamPro also offers a 1 year long warranty for this fish tape which is amazing.
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