Ingco Steel Measuring Tape 20m x 12.5mm HSMT8420

Our review

This is a long steel measuring tape from Ingco, sized at 20 metres long and 12.5 millimetres wide, sold under model number HSMT8420. The blade carries both metric and inch markings, so it works whether you think in metres or feet. Its standout mechanical detail is a 3:1 gear ratio, which means the rewind runs three turns of the handle for every turn of the drum, so winding 20 metres back in takes far less cranking than a direct-drive tape. The retracting gear is described as pure material, and the whole body sits inside an all-rubber cover with an integrated handle for carrying and storing.
Who is it for? Anyone measuring distances longer than a pocket tape can handle: builders setting out rooms, farmers marking plots, fencers running lines, or surveyors doing rough checks. The rubber cover and handle matter on site, where tapes get dropped and dragged.
Before buying, think about the trade-offs of a long tape. Twenty metres of steel is heavy and floppy over long spans, so it sags unless you keep it taut, and a helper is useful past ten metres or so. Check whether you need a blade lock or a hook end, since neither is listed here, and confirm the case fits your belt or bag. Compare against fibreglass tapes if you work near water or power, and against shorter 5m or 8m tapes if your jobs are indoor and close-range. The dual metric and inch scale is the main reason to pick this one over a single-unit tape.