The flatback is my apron-pocket standby. I never thought I’d use a tape that doesn’t stand out, with no rigid blade, and I swore I never would, right up until I used this one. Because the body lies flat and close to the work, dropping a mark right on the tick is easy, and for relatively precise layout and marking cut lines that flat profile earns its keep every day. It will also measure around a curve or a cylinder when you need it to. I don’t do that often, but when it comes up it is an outstanding feature to have.

It carries the whole ProCarpenter feature set too: the note window, the built-in pencil sharpener, and the lever-action belt clip that is worth the price on its own. This is an awesome auxiliary tape to have in the shop, especially for woodworking. I’m about to swap mine for the lefty-righty flatback so I can read it from either side, but the standard flatback has been the one in my apron for a long time, and it’s where I’d tell anyone to start.