This small and shiny Craftsman pocket tape measure might be small, but it packs a couple of nice features into its compact size.
To start, the new Craftsman tape measure, CMHT37109S, is small and pocketable, which makes it convenient.
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It has a 9-foot tape, which Craftsman says is long enough for use on standard lengths of building materials. I don’t usually like using tape measures at their maximum extension, but if you want to use to measure ~8 foot boards and sheets, you can.
Ooh, it’s got a magnet. A tape measure you find easily is a tape measure you’re less likely to lose or misplace.
And… a bottle opener. Because… why not?
It’s a compact 9-foot tape measure that you can fit in your pocket, stick to your steel tool cabinets, workbench legs, or most refrigerators, and the bottle opener might also come in handy.
Price: $5
Now, to answer the question posed by my headline, the Craftsman pocket tape measure has everything except for… a pocket clip.
If you are okay giving up the bottle opener to gain a pocket clip, check out Dewalt’s pocket tape measure, also with a 9-foot tape.
There’s also a Milwaukee 10-foot keychain tape measure with LED light. Personally I like their smaller keychain tape measures better.
Travis (@toolsbydesign) snagged one of the new Craftsman tape measures already, check out his IG post for more angles:
John
Most important thing about tape measures is how accurate are they to known correct sources. I have needed to throw away tape measures because they were off. Every few years I put all my tapes out and see which ones are off from the others. Worst one was throwing away a German tape from a high quality manufacturer and a free Mirka tape.
Bottle opener is just a novelty and sort of stupid. Pocket clip is used far more often.
Hoser
Buy a Lixer and stop throwing nice tape measures away. I calibrate my tapes when new and periodically through their life.
Ryan
Lixer says “calibrate”, but aren’t you really just “checking”? If the rivets are worn out or off from the start, no way to fix.
I take a starrett ruler to the store and check tapes. I had to go through at least 6 before I found one that was acceptable (Stanley’s leverlock) last time. No one ever discusses accuracy when reviewing tapes.
Hoser
If a tape is dropped on the hook it can bend. The Lixer allows you to check both the hooked and butted into accuracy. A bent hook can make both inaccurate. The Lixer has a built in hook bender to bring them into calibration. Between the shop, garage, job trailer, few tool belt setups, and misc. tapes for grab and go use I probably only keep about 25 tapes in use at a time, but I’ve never seen a calibrated tape measure with markings that were 1/32” off. with that being said, I don’t buy cheap tapes, not saying that you guys do, but all of mine are quality tapes, with the exception of a Stanley 6’ here or there.
Ryan
What brands do you prefer?
John
The printed markings can be off as well with no way to fix. It’s simply not always the issue of the rivet placement. I use plenty of retractable tape measures, folding rulers and straight rules. If anything is a 1/32″ off from the rest, it gets thrown away. Less than that is a judgment call. I’ve had Starrett branded adhesive measures that were off and simple Stanley tape measures dead on. No consistency these days to paying a little or a lot to determine quality.
MrWeedley
If you use the same tape every time you measure it will never be off. Using different tapes on the same project you are asking to be off.
Ryan
No single measuring tool can do it all. Tape, ruler, longer ruler, etc.
Also, that’s only true if you’re always measuring from the hook.
Mopar4wd
The more you can be consistent with measuring tools the better off you are. The lixr calibrated Stanley’s we have at work still have some variance at different points.
Years ago when training as a boat builder I was lofting a frame with another guy and we were both using our own tapes. Ended up almost 1/4 in off.
Similarly a while back hanging sheetrock in my house I was calling out measurements from the 2nd floor to a relative in the driveway. Did not go so well.
Matt
This is Sears gimmicky. Most bottles are twist off caps now. Add to it, it’s a tape measure, not a bottle opener. A clip would be far more useful. I’d just never use the bottle opener these days and it just looks like something to snag and rip your pockets or cut your finger.
I do like the magnetic back though. And if it had the leverlock like the Stanley it would be even better. My most used Craftsman tape measure these days is my 12 ft. heavy duty touch lock tape #45070. It’s my favorite small tape measure, moreso than my leverlock even. It was dirt cheap but it’s durable and goes with me everywhere.
Stuart
This isn’t a Sears product…
Still plenty of bottle caps out there, such as on sugar (and not corn syrup) Coke and Fanta sodas.
John
Can’t wait to see the advertising showing workmen cracking open Fanta bottles with their Craftsman tape measure. Never going to happen.
Stuart
Craftsman are aimed at hobbyists, enthusiasts, homeowners.
Marketing wouls likely show it used on “artisinal microbrew” or similar.
Although… look at the above marketing photo. Looks like orange soda to me.
fred
As a bit of trivia: Fanta is one of the few holdovers from Nazi Germany that doesn’t carry with it the more vile and disgusting aspects of that era
A W
Along with Volkswagen, the Autobahn, rocket science, and swept wings.
The atrocities of Nazi Germany, especially around the Holocaust, were horrific.
But WWII incubated an incredible advance in aerospace science, with many advances pioneered by German engineers. The moon race between America and the USSR was largely built upon the research, scientists, and knowledge that each side acquired in 1945 during the fall of Germany.
Matt
Oh Stu, I know this isn’t Sears. It just reminds me of Sears (towards the end anyway). Lots of gimmicky Craftsman tools that IMO hurt the brand. Every time I see something that looks like a novelty item or a gimmick when it pertains to tools I think Sears Craftsman. Lampert era in particular…
I guess I’m wanting SBD to hold Craftsman to a higher standard.
Stuart
Ah, got it. I can’t ever make assumptions because a lot of people still don’t know that Sears doesn’t own Craftsman anymore and that Craftsman is part of Stanley Black & Decker along with Dewalt, Irwin, and other brands.
Ignoring the bottle opener, the small size and magnetic back are good features.
Garrett
Honestly, I think it’s the perfect tape to keep in the family kitchen. Let it live on the fridge. How many times are you in the kitchen or adjoining room and you just need to measure one quick thing? Maybe you already even know the measurement but want quick peace of mind. And how many times have you grumbled because you have to go “clear out to the garage”?
If they were smart, though, they’d have packaged it with a magnetic pocket clip so you could keep the clip on your belt / pocket but the tape still pulled away quickly. Now I have to figure out who sells magnetic pants.. 😛
Gary R
For $5, I think a bottle opener with a refrigerator magnet and a built-in tape measure sounds like a good deal!
Bolt
I mean I keep my little dewalt tape measure on the side of the fridge since the clip on it stinks so a bottle opener would be an improvement.
Thom
For $6 it would be handy to keep in the truck. I prefer the white color tapes Craftsman makes.
David Zeller
I never use a clip, so that doesn’t bother me at all. My tapes are always placed around the shop or the house. The magnet is nice; this could become the kitchen tape that always disappears under the mail, etc.
Hmmm, a beer opener on the kitchen tape. Perhaps they’re onto something.
Corey Moore
I’m a fan of the Dewalt, it’s simple, I don’t like things that hang, and the magnet is strong. Main DeWalt flaw, as mentioned above, is the clip. I like the design and it seems robust, but it has little to no actual grip, and the thing will lift off your belt or pocket very easily just moving around a job, sitting in your truck, bending, reaching, ect. Mine stays securely on the inner lid of my gang box for quick rounds of short measurements during which it won’t leave my hand lol Could easily be a deal breaker for anyone, but I deal with it because I’m still fond of everything else on it. The Milwaukee is good also, I’ve recommended it with the DeWalt to several people. Keychain additions just aren’t for me.
teicher
I bought one over the weekend. Looks durable and feels nice in your hand, magnet is great and I prefer the white color over yellow tapes. I think it’s easier to read. Bottle opener is fine, doesn’t affect tool usage and might come in handy some day. At $5 it’s hard to find fault with this thing. I don’t even care about the lack of a clip, hardly ever use them anyway.
Nathan
putting one the garage fridge just for the gimmick – 5 dollars
having something odd but useful sitting on the door of the beer stash in the garage – priceless.
you know what else I have sitting in my media room wet bar? Some years ago Kobalt made some cap lifters that were cast as if they were ratchet blanks. I think I paid 9 dollars for it on christmas special sale. It works well looks odd and if I had to I chip ice with it. best 9 dollars I think I’ve ever spent at Lowes.
Erik
I think a lot of people are missing that it’s a $5 tape measure. Is the bottle opener gimmicky? Yes, but for $5 it’s a damn decent stocking stuffer.
ktash
I have a keychain Milwaukee that has both metric and imperial. In my opinion, that’s another thing missing. Sometimes I need metric. Love the magnet on the Craftsman. Good that it could go on the fridge and occasionally used when you need a bottle opener.