Tape measure with tape blade profile increasing tape standout

A tape measure comprising:

• a housing;
• a reel rotatably mounted within the housing;
• an elongate blade wound around the reel, the elongate blade comprising:
• an upper surface;
• a lower surface;
• an elongate metal core having a first thickness, T1, between 0.12 mm and 0.14 mm;
• a length between 15 feet and 40 feet;
• a flat width greater than 33 mm;
• a curved profile such that the upper surface of the elongate blade defines a concave surface and the lower surface defines a convex surface;
• a curved width, wherein a ratio of the curved width to the flat width is between 0.6 and 0.8;
• wherein the curved profile is located at a location between 5 feet and 15 feet along a length of the elongate blade measured from a hook located at an end of the elongate blade;
• and
• a retraction system coupled to the reel, wherein the retraction system drives rewinding of the elongate blade on to the reel.