Minimum Thickness
Thinner than a tab. Zero residue on string.
Two passes of Guard-Tex is thinner than any commercial finger tab while blocking the string friction that causes burns and blisters. Zero adhesive contacts the bowstring.
Protect — Archery
Guard-Tex wraps the three draw fingers that absorb full draw weight — blocking string friction and preventing the blisters that build across high-volume shooting sessions. Zero adhesive on bowstrings or fingers.
The index, middle, and ring finger of the draw hand hold the full draw weight of the bow across a contact area smaller than a postage stamp. At 40-60 lbs, that's intense compression and friction on every draw-release cycle. Fifty arrows in practice means 50 high-force friction events. Tournament shooting doubles or triples that count. String burns, blisters, and callus cracking are inevitable without protection.
Finger tabs add bulk between fingers and string that changes release feel. Shooting gloves alter release dynamics. Many barebow and traditional archers prefer minimum material for maximum string feedback — but minimum material means maximum skin damage.
Barebow — no tab, no release aid. Guard-Tex on my three draw fingers gives enough protection without killing the string feel I need for clean releases.— Barebow Archer, Field Competition
Guard-Tex provides minimum-thickness protection directly on draw fingers. Two passes of cotton gauze is thinner than any tab while managing string friction before it reaches skin. No adhesive transfers to the bowstring. No residue changes string behavior or serving condition.
Minimum Thickness
Two passes of Guard-Tex is thinner than any commercial finger tab while blocking the string friction that causes burns and blisters. Zero adhesive contacts the bowstring.
Draw-hand string protection. Index, middle, and ring fingertip pads absorb full draw weight. Guard-Tex wraps these three fingers with cotton that manages string friction without tab bulk. Maintains maximum string feel for clean releases.
Blister prevention during high-volume shooting. Tournament and practice sessions of 100+ arrows create cumulative friction damage. Guard-Tex absorbs string friction before it reaches skin — preventing both acute blisters and chronic callus cracking.
Cold-weather shooting. Cold stiffens fingers and increases string friction against numb skin. Guard-Tex adds cotton insulation that maintains finger flexibility and blocks the increased friction of cold-weather shooting.
Barebow and traditional archery. Barebow shooters who refuse tabs for maximum feel can wrap Guard-Tex for friction management at minimal thickness. The cotton is thin enough to feel string settle into the hook for clean barebow releases.
| Feature | Guard-Tex | Athletic Tape | Bare Hands | Gloves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| String feel | ✓ Thin cotton — feel string settle | Tab adds bulk, changes feel | ✓ Maximum feel | ✗ Thick material |
| String residue | ✓ Zero — no adhesive | ✗ Tab wax may transfer | N/A | N/A |
| Adjustable thickness | ✓ Add passes for more protection | ✗ Fixed thickness | N/A | ✗ Fixed |
| Cold-weather use | ✓ Cotton insulates, still flexible | ✗ Tab stiffens in cold | ✗ Numb fingers | Moderate |
| Cost | ✓ Pennies per session | $20-80 per tab | Free | $15-40 |
Two passes on index, middle, and ring fingertip pads — the string contact zone. Leave finger backs bare for knuckle flexibility.
Pro tip: Wrap only the string-contact pad of each finger. You need full knuckle range for grip changes.Dry-fire your grip a few times (without drawing) to let the tape conform to your hook shape. The bond sets in seconds.
Pro tip: Apply to dry fingers before shooting. Bond strengthens once you start sweating.Guard-Tex holds through 100+ arrows of full-draw cycling. The cohesive bond maintains under compression and friction of string contact.
Pro tip: For tournament days of 120+ arrows, check tape between scoring ends and add a pass if wear shows.Peel off — zero residue on fingers. No adhesive contacted the string, so serving thread and string wax are unaffected.
Pro tip: Compare finger condition after taped versus untaped sessions. Most archers see dramatic reduction in string burns.
Most Popular
Self-adhering, non-stretch cotton. Zero adhesive on skin or equipment. One roll lasts weeks of use.
Shop Now"Barebow — no tab, no release aid. Guard-Tex on my three draw fingers gives enough protection without killing the string feel I need for clean releases."— Barebow Archer, Field Competition
"Tournament day — 120 arrows. My string fingers were blistered by the third round before Guard-Tex. Now I finish the full tournament with clean skin."— Target Archer, NFAA
"Cold weather outdoor league. My fingers were cracking on the string every winter. Guard-Tex insulates just enough to shoot comfortably to freezing."— Outdoor Archer, Winter League
"I teach beginners — every new archer gets string burns that discourage them. Guard-Tex on their draw fingers and they practice without pain. Retention is way up."— Archery Instructor, Youth Program
Guard-Tex provides thinner protection than any finger tab. Many barebow and traditional archers prefer it for maximum string feel with friction management.
Guard-Tex contains zero adhesive. Nothing transfers to string, serving, or nocking points. String condition is unaffected.
Wrap the three draw fingers with two passes of Guard-Tex before shooting. Cotton gauze manages string friction without bulk.
Yes. Guard-Tex holds in cold, wet, and field conditions for both practice and hunting.
Yes. Two passes is thinner than any commercial tab. Most archers report full string awareness.
One application lasts 50-100+ arrows. Check between scoring ends at tournaments.
Self-adhering tape. No adhesive on skin or gear. Made in Elk Grove Village, IL since 1935.
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