Hockey Tape Brands Compared: Renfrew, Howies, Lowry and More

This is a factual comparison, not a ranking. Everything here comes from the brands’ own websites or catalogues, and hockeytape.ca has no deal with any of them. Any performance claims quoted here are the makers’ own words and have not been independently tested.

The brands at a glance

Brand	Based	Since	Cloth tape made of	Made in
Renfrew Pro	Renfrew, Ontario	1980	Polyester and cotton cloth base	Renfrew, Ontario (per its catalogue)
Lowry Sports	Winnipeg, Manitoba	1969	Poly-cotton blend, natural rubber adhesive	“Many” products made in the US or Canada
Howies	Grand Rapids, Michigan	2002	Poly-cotton, 68 strands per inch, natural rubber adhesive	USA (black); North America (white)
Comp-o-stik (North American Tapes)	Watertown, New York	Not stated	Cloth with adhesive	USA

Renfrew Pro

Renfrew Pro says it began making hockey tape in 1980. Its catalogue says it is based in, and makes its tape in, Renfrew, Ontario. The company is part of Scapa Group plc, and its site also labels it a Mativ brand.

Its Pro-Blade cloth tapes use a polyester and cotton base. The range includes white, black (including an XT version with serrated edges for easier tearing), colours, patterns, a black friction tape, Polyflex shin pad tape in clear and colours, and two grip tapes. Its custom-printed tape comes in 24 mm by 18 m rolls.

Lowry Sports

Lowry Sports says it started in Winnipeg in 1969 as a small local business. It describes its tape as a poly-cotton blended cloth with a natural rubber adhesive. Its tape page lists 30 mm by 12 m colour and printed cloth tapes, a 19 mm by 18 m black friction tape, a 36 mm cohesive grip tape, stick wax and clear name bar tapes. It says many of its products are made in the US or Canada, without saying which.

Howies

Howies says Howie Sieplinga founded the company in 2002 while playing ACHA college hockey at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It started in a garage. It now has a Canadian office and sells wax, laces, grip tape and apparel as well as tape.

Howies publishes the most detail on its cloth: a poly-cotton weave with 68 strands per inch and a natural rubber adhesive. Its 1 inch black tape comes in 24 yard rolls and is listed as made in the USA. It also sells 1.5 inch cloth, a 1/2 inch knob tape, a friction tape, clear shin pad tape, two grip tapes and a stick wax.

Comp-o-stik (North American Tapes)

North American Tapes makes Comp-o-stik tape in Watertown, New York, and labels it made in the USA. Its site explains some details other brands do not: black and white tape start from the same cloth, black is dyed and slightly thinner, and some rolls keep weaving seams with a few extra feet added to compensate.

What about Jerry’s?

Jerry’s Hockey is a hockey retailer that says it was established in 1975. On its site, the tape it sells is from other brands, such as Howies. We found no tape made under a Jerry’s brand, so it is not in the table.

How to compare brands yourself

1. Compare length, not just price. Roll lengths differ a lot. See widths and roll lengths.
2. Tape two sticks the same way, one with each brand, and use both in practice.
3. Check after a few skates: fraying edges, peeling ends, and how well it holds in the wet.
4. Try tearing it by hand. Renfrew Pro, for example, sells an XT tape with serrated edges made for easier tearing.

Whichever brand you pick, lay it on smooth and tight. See how to tape a stick.