I must agree with the majority here. I'm always ready to try an "improved" model -- but this has broken now after very little occasional use and will no longer lock. I'll be looking for something like the old style to replace it. You can certainly buy worse/cheaper tapes than this but it's sad to see what has become of what used to be a quality product.

I've always been a huge fan of the LeverLock style tapes. The old style Stanley LeverLocks were great. I still have a neon green one that is struggling to survive. But these new LL tapes are of poor design and quality. I've owned a 30' and a 25' so far and regret wasting the money on them. Here's why:

1. The actual tape seem to be much cheaper now. My 30' tape only lasted a couple months before it tore and wound itself up inside the case. I then purchased the 25' thinking it would be a thicker more sturdy tape. It was not.

2. The new rounded, "futuristic egg" looking design is just goofy looking.

3. The actual lever mechanism is too weak. You can't even set the tape down while it's extended because it's own weight is enough to press the lever and make the tape retract. What a glaring design flaw. Stanley should be embarrassed.

4. I guess their solution to this was to add a little red button that will lock the lever and not allow it to be depressed. Maybe it seemed like a good idea to the design engineer that came up with it, but to real people using this tape in the real world it is simply an unwanted extra step in the process of trying to use this tape. That stupid button was always getting accidentally engaged and was a constant source of irritation. I ended up just cutting it off with a razor knife.

5. Why does Stanley continue to refuse to offer a "Fat Max" version of the LeverLock? Do they think us LeverLock users have no need for a wider, more sturdy tape? Are they really that out of touch?

If you can find an older style LeverLock tape maybe on ebay or something then get it. (They were more square shaped and most often seemed to be in colors of neon green or bright orange.) However I cannot recommend these new, kinda-egg shaped LeverLocks. They have no redeeming qualities at all and are greatly inferior to the older style.

The only other tape currently being made that uses an identical lever mechanism is made by Craftsman. They call them "bottom locking" tapes. Their design is far superior to this new Stanley design. The Craftsman tapes are not perfect either, but they are a much better choice than these Stanley models. I'd recommend at least checking them out.

I am a professional carpenter and have used the LeverLock tapes since I was a sales clerk in a hardware store 25 years ago. The only problem that I had with the original was that the case would crack after repeated drops, and that the clip would then spin on the case. I never had any other problems. The new one is ALL problems. My biggest one is that it doesn't quite lock (the case continues to slide away when suspended), and that the first couple of feet of the blade become illegible after a few uses. Ditto all of the complaints others have left. Stanley PLEASE bring back the "OLD" LeverLock.

The bulbous shape makes accurate inside measurements nearly impossible. That goofy little sliding button determines whether the blade will lock or not, regardless of user preference, and on mine, stopped working entirely after about a month (permanently unlocked). Stanley should do a Coke, and bring back the "LeverLock Classic." It WAS a well-designed, functional tool.

This tape probably works fine for the homeowner. However, I'm a professional carpenter and I use a tape measure daily. I loved the old style of this tape - I HATE this one! It's awkward and fits in a tool-belt tape holder like a round peg in a square hole. I wish the "think tank", that probably never cut a piece of wood in their collective lives mind you, that had the idea to change the design of this tape, would just change it back.