3M Scotch Bi-Directional Filament Tape 8959, Clear, 50 mm x 50 m, 5.7 mil

Best strapping/packing tape we have used- ( and we have tried many)-easy to apply and cut and very strong

First off, this is really strong packing tape. The quality is top-notch, and I have no concerns that the tape will tear or break during shipping. If you order a lot of things like I do...mostly from Amazon :)...you've probably experienced tape failure on some of the packages that you get in which the tape on at least one seam has ripped open. I highly doubt that would ever happen with this tape.That said, it's not a great value IMO unless you pack for a living and want to either save time or instill confidence in your customers. It costs significantly more than other packing tape, and if you have time, you can always put two layers of tape (or, heck, three) on a box and still have it be cheaper than this. If you want to save time, though, one application of this will do it. Plus, it does look higher "quality" on a box than normal packing tape, which could get you high marks from some customers.Value is up to you, but I docked it one star because...for the exact reason that it's such a strong packing tape...it takes a bit more effort to cut. My personal favorite packing tape is another Scotch product, their Tear-by-Hand Tape. In my experience, it tears very easily in the direction that you'd naturally want to take it off the role, but it doesn't tear once on a box. Not as robust as this tape, but it currently costs about one-third as much and it's very easy to use and also sufficient for most packing needs.

Scotch Bi-Directional Filament Tape is "heavy-duty" by the company's own description. This packing tape is reinforced with fiberglass yarns, encased in the tape in a grid pattern. The tape is impossible to tear, which is the point, but you will need scissors to cut it. It is 5.7 mil thick and clear, apart from the fiberglass grid, so that graphics and bar codes may be read through it. At least that is what Scotch claims, but I think I will stick to using clear packing tape to cover bar codes and addresses.The filament tape is intended for strapping, bundling, and reinforcing boxes for shipping, particularly if the contents are heavy. I intend to use it for boxes of books, but this tape would be helpful for any box whose contents are heavy enough that the box is in danger of losing its bottom when picked up or of bursting if it is dropped. I've had a few of those delivered in a mail bag after the contents spilled. If you seal all of the edges of the box, this filament tape should prevent that problem. Reinforced gummed paper tape also works, but the filament tape is more convenient.I compared it to Scotch Shipping & Packaging Tape and found that the filament tape adheres a little better. Scotch claims that it will adhere to "a wide variety of surfaces, including metal, plastic, and fiberboard." If you're worried about adhesion, you can always wrap the tape completely around the box. The Bi-Directional Filament Tape is expensive but probably worth the cost if you ship or store heavy items. It may save you having to file a few insurance claims.

OK, so I realize this tape is expensive, but wow, does it ever work well. One example: I had to send a reasonably heavy object by mail to a friend. I reused an old Amazon box for the purpose. Normally, I wouldn't feel confident at all about the box opening up, despite wrapping the heck out of the thing. Well, with just a couple very small strips (instead of the yards of tape I'd normally use!) the package was TIGHT and I had zero worries about it coming open. Love it! I also used it to temporarily tape a couple things to some wood in the basement, and, surprisingly, it clung very strongly here too. I am very, very impressed with this tape - you don't need a lot of it, and wowsers does it ever stick! One thing to be aware of, if this matters to you - you can't just tear off a strip of tape. It's so strong that you have to cut it, and cut it all the way through - no using your teeth or just ripping off a strip.All in all, this was the first roll I've ever had / used, but it most certainly will not be the last!!

As many others have mentioned, for most applications this tape is overkill. To be honest, I had no clue they even made packing tape at this price point.I make a living selling cd's & dvd's by mail order & use a ton of shipping tape. As a Vine reviewer, we often need to choose items without having the time to fully read the description; the popular items are often gone by the time you're done reading if one takes the time to read the full description. I originally thought I was offering to review a $2.00 roll of packing tape!I would guess that for those who need tape that will hold 100 pounds or more, if anything would do the job this likely will. For me, it's overkill; & the price is staggering (I wasn't aware of the price when I chose to review it).I was serious in the title: this tape is so sturdy that the blade on my tape gun will not cut it, I have to cut the tape with a scissors!This is one serious roll of packing tape!It's hard to give this product a star rating; it's obviously a very high quality packing tape; but I have a problem with the price.