Building Pro Tape: How Friction Labs Developed the Highest-Performance Climbing Tape We’ve Ever Made

At Friction Labs, we’ve never been interested in making just another product. If it doesn’t clearly raise the bar for performance, durability, and feel, it doesn’t belong in our lineup.

That mindset is exactly what led to the development of Friction Labs Pro Tape.

Even though we already offer a solid athletic tape, we knew there was room to build something better—something purpose-built for climbers who push their skin, their fingers, and their limits every session. Pro Tape wasn’t an iteration. It was a ground-up rebuild.

Starting From Zero (On Purpose)

Rather than modifying an existing tape formula, we chose to start from scratch.

We partnered with a company that specializes exclusively in tape development — breaking tape construction down to a true material science. Their team approaches tape engineering at the microscopic level, studying how fabric structure, elasticity, adhesive chemistry, acrylic formulations, and surface finishes all interact with each other and with the intended use case.

The goal wasn’t to hit an industry standard. The goal was to define one.

From the beginning, the brief was simple but demanding:

• High stretch without losing structure
  
  

• Strong adhesion without tearing skin
  
  

• Durable enough for real sessions, not just one burn
  
  

• Clean tear, easy wrap, and consistent feel
  
  

On paper, that sounds straightforward. In reality, every variable affects another. Fiber choice changes stretch. Stretch affects adhesive load. Adhesive affects skin comfort. And climbers feel everything.

During development, the engineering team tested between 30–40 different adhesive options before landing on the final solution — an acrylic-based adhesive selected specifically for its performance characteristics and its compatibility with magnesium carbonate (chalk) environments. This was critical, since most athletic tapes aren’t designed to perform in constant contact with chalk.

On the fabric side, the final tape uses an elasticized cotton fabric with a specialized fabric finish that helps maintain adhesion and performance when exposed to chalk, sweat, and abrasive rock conditions.

The development process was highly iterative. With each prototype round, the engineering team made small but meaningful refinements — adjusting fiber behavior, elasticity balance, adhesive interaction, and surface finish — based directly on athlete testing feedback.

They even noted how valuable the Friction Labs testing feedback was during development, allowing them to dial in performance details that wouldn’t normally surface in traditional lab-only testing environments.

Which is why we brought athletes in early — and kept them involved the entire way.

Athlete-Driven From Day One

Instead of lab-only testing, we built Pro Tape alongside a group of professional climbers who are notoriously hard on gear and honest with feedback.

The athlete testing group included:

• Daniel Woods
  
  

• Cameron Hörst
  
  

• Paul Robinson
  
  

• Manny Quintana
  
  

• Timothy Kang
  
  

• Brennan Robinson
  
  

Over the course of development, these athletes tested five distinct prototype rounds, each with meaningful differences in fiber composition, stretch, adhesive feel, and durability.

The process was simple, but rigorous:

1. Athletes received a prototype version of the tape
   
   

2. They used it in real sessions, not controlled demos
   
   

3. We collected detailed feedback from each athlete
   
   

4. That feedback went directly back to the tape engineers
   
   

5. Changes were made
   
   

6. The next prototype went out
   
   

Then we repeated the cycle—again and again—until the tape met the standard we were chasing.

Tested on Real Rock, in Real Conditions

Pro Tape wasn’t tested on a single wall or a single style of climbing. Each prototype saw use across a wide range of rock types and environments, including:

• Fine sandstone in Colorado’s Front Range
  
  

• Hard granite in Little Cottonwood Canyon
  
  

• Sharp limestone pockets in Wild Iris, Wyoming
  
  

• Indoor training sessions on plastic holds
  
  

• Wood holds on indoor training boards 

This mattered. Tape that feels great on plastic can fail quickly on abrasive sandstone. Adhesive that holds on granite can feel totally different in limestone pockets. Stretch that feels supportive on a crimp might feel restrictive on a wide pinch.

Each environment revealed something different, and each round of feedback pushed the tape closer to the final version.

Cameron Hörst after testing prototype #2 at Wolf Point, Wyoming on Lion’s Share 9a/14d.

Iteration, Not Compromise

Across the five prototype rounds, changes weren’t cosmetic. They were structural.

Some versions stretched too much and lost integrity. Others held up forever but didn’t allow the taped fingers to feel rock. Some adhered aggressively but sacrificed comfort. Others felt great but wore down too fast.

Instead of settling for “good enough,” we kept iterating.

Athlete feedback drove decisions like:

• Adjusting fiber blend to improve stretch without deformation
  
  

• Refining adhesive balance for secure hold with clean removal
  
  

• Improving edge durability so the tape wouldn’t fray mid-session
  
  

• Dialing in the tear so it’s consistent and predictable
  
  

This back-and-forth continued until the feedback stopped being “almost” and started being “this is it.”

"You think it's better than our current athletic tape?"

Ya I think so. The flexibility is the main difference I notice that I like.

I think I could tape more of my finger for a quarter pad split and not be affected as much with range of motion.

And get more security for the split instead of having to only tape the split zone for finger mobility purposes.

-Daniel Woods on prototype #5– last iteration before the creation of Pro Tape

The Result: Friction Labs Pro Tape

Pro Tape is the result of months of development, dozens of test days, and hundreds of real-world burns. It’s built for climbers who tape because they have to, not because they want to.

It stretches when you need it to.
It holds when it matters.
And it lasts longer than tape has any right to.

Most importantly, it was shaped by the people who rely on it in the harshest conditions possible.

Why This Matters to Us

At Friction Labs, performance isn’t a marketing term — it’s a standard. When an athlete relies on a product, it has to deliver, every single time.

Pro Tape exists because we listened, tested relentlessly, and refused to cut corners. Because climbers deserve equipment built with the same intention they bring to every move.

This isn’t just tape.

It’s Pro Tape.