Grip tape on lights?

[riceboy72]

All of my lights have knurling except for one: the Regalight WT-1. I really wish this light had knurling to help with the few times when the light's become a bit slippery in my hands.

With that thought in mind, does anyone here use grip tape on their light bodies to increase or facilitate grip, especially on smooth bodied lights with no knurling? If so, how do you like it and does help the grip of the light at all? I'm thinking of slapping a few strips on the body to give it some texture.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with grip tape, it is commonly called skateboard deck tape or stair tape - essentially an adhesive backed tape that has a gritty surface to it, used to line smooth or slippery surfaces for better purchase when stepping on it. In the gun culture, it is used frequently to provide better grip on the frontstrap of the gun, as seen on my Kimber (sorry, I don't have a pic of a light with grip tape on it; this is the best I could do):

Any feedback/help would be appreciated!

 

[metlarules]

I don't use grip tape. You might try heatshrink tubing on the barrel of the light. I use grip and clips from niteize on my maglites though.Nice Kimber by the way. You have to love 1911's.

 

[relic1300]

I've never really liked "grip tape". It's just sandpaper with an adhesive backing. I had one bad experience with a subcompact 9mm (sorry, can't recall make or model) several years ago that really chewed up my hand because of the tape.

I've used "hockey tape" on 3D Mags before. It's more rubbery than abrasive, but still provides a pretty decent grip.

 

[gallonoffuel]

I use grip tape on my shotguns and handguns, as well as on my large capacity Maglites. I wrap one piece on the tailcap end like a baseball bat grip. I also adhere a few strips around the knurling. Maglites are the most slippery lights I own. The grip tape makes them more usable. I bought a roll of the 3M ladder tape, i think it's 2" wide by maybe 15 feet long?

 

[bltkmt]

I have used silicon "Tommy" tape on a few lights...very grippy, and it comes in GITD!

 

[alfreddajero]

I use tennis grip on mine, they come in a roll for like 4-5bones and you can get them just about anywhere.

 

[Sgt. LED]

I never liked grip tape.
O-rings are fine as are just a bunch of rubber bands. Not pretty but super functional and dirt cheap!

 

[nyyankeefen]

I don't use grip tape that what the knurling is for

 

[alfreddajero]

The reason i use it is because my hands sweat in the summer and dry as hell in the winter.

 

[riceboy72]

Thanks for the replies. I have a few o-rings that I'll slip on tonight and see how it feels. I've never taken off grip tape; if anyone has, how sticky is it should I decide to slap some on the light?

Oh, and thanks for the other good ideas. I'd hate to have the Regalight hit the pavement because it slipped from my hand.

 

[Sgt. LED]

Very very sticky.

Nothing that alcohol and vigirous rubbing won't fix!

 

[Solscud007]

To be honest, I dont like grip tape. However my usage of grip tape sees more usage and wear than normal use.

It is a common trick, for automotive enthusiasts to cut grip tape and tape it to their pedals. Clutch, brake, and gas pedals. It works great for about a week or two of normal driving. but the constant pressing of all three pedals, wears out the grip tape. also when wet, you lose traction very quickly, specially if you have wet sneakers.

 

[swampgator]

All my minimags are paracord wrapped, with an Alice clip (used on US military rucksacks & load bearing equipment) innerwrapped. Gives a good non-slip grip, plus has the advantage of an anti-roll due to the clip.

 

[Solscud007]

got pics?

 

[surfinsmiley]

I`m with the Sgt. Rubber bands rock.

 

[swampgator]

got pics?

Nope. But the idea came from the Ranger Digest. I just checked Rick's website and the are no longer any pics of it.

 

[Team Member]

I´ve tried grip tape on guns and that worked well. But don´t use to much cause it will tear down anything that it comes in contact with..clothing and such.. Gloves will look like you have sanded them down after a day at the range..

But I`ve seen some guys that have glued velcro on their lights. And then you just sew or glue the other side of velcro to whatever area that you think will be usefull. Like on your bodyarmour, inside your car or even under a table. It will also work with smokegrenades, spare mags..

 

[iocheretyanny]

I like to use 3M Rubber shrinkwrap tape. Works really well for grip and protects the lights really well especially from drops if mounted near ends of lights.


Some pictures:

 

[riceboy72]

I decided to buy a one foot strip of 3M stair tape and give it a shot on the Regalight. This is actually better than what I have on my Kimber because it's not gritty and doesn't have specks that flake off. It's certainly more aggressive feeling and the flashlight certainly is no longer slippery. The flashlight body is round with three flats; I applied tape in between the flats on the round sections so I'll see how that feels. I was going to slap some on the flats, but I don't want to cover up the logo unless I have to. $1.79 and what used to slip now has grip, and I have quite a bit of tape leftover.

 

[kosPap]

hmmm I just occured to me that there was also a rubber stick-on material for gns that had a surface with "blimbs"They were hi and soft and stuck in the hand well...