Forestry Supplies and Logging Tapes

Buying guide

Logging tapes

A logging tape has a nail or hook on the end that grabs the log so you can walk the tape out alone. Spring-return housings reel it back in when you finish. Look for a length that covers your typical cuts, and keep a refill tape on hand, because the blade is the part that wears.

Some tapes are marked for diameter on the back so you can measure stems for volume or felling plans. Clip the tape where it will not catch on brush or your saw.

Other forestry tools worth carrying

Beyond a logging tape, many crews carry a diameter tape or calipers for measuring trunks, a lumber crayon or spray paint for marking cuts, and a belt or vest to hold it all. These small forestry tools save time when you are bucking logs for a mill, firewood customer or crane pick.

Logging tapes take a beating from mud, sap and sawdust. Rinse and dry the blade now and then, avoid kinking it, and replace the blade when the markings wear off. A refill costs far less than a new tape and housing.