3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Medical Tape — Stronger Hold, Gentler Removal
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3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Medical Tape — Stronger Hold, Gentler Removal, Tears by Hand, 6 Sizes
The enhanced version of 3M's soft cloth tape — stronger adhesion for challenging applications, gentler adhesive for sensitive and at-risk skin, breathable and tear-by-hand for easy clinical use. 3M Medipore H Soft Cloth Medical Tape is a non-woven polyester soft cloth tape specifically engineered for applications where standard tape falls short — at-risk and sensitive skin requiring repeated taping, catheter and IV line securement where a reliable hold is non-negotiable, and wound sites where swelling and body movement would cause less conformable tapes to lift. The "H" designation indicates an enhanced adhesive from the 3M Tegaderm and Durapore adhesive family — providing a stronger, more reliable hold than standard Medipore tape while simultaneously reducing skin stripping, adhesive residue, and irritation upon removal. The lateral perforations allow the tape to be torn cleanly by hand at any length without scissors — a critical advantage in clinical settings where scissors are unavailable, time is limited, or gloved hands are in use. Bi-directional cross and diagonal stretch accommodates swelling, distension, and body movement throughout wear, keeping the tape securely in place without the tension that causes pressure injury under standard rigid tapes.
✔ Enhanced H Adhesive — Stronger Hold Than Standard Medipore, Gentler on Sensitive Skin ✔ Lateral Perforations — Tears by Hand at Any Length, No Scissors Required ✔ Bi-Directional Stretch — Accommodates Swelling, Distension & Movement ✔ Breathable Non-Woven Polyester — Reduces Maceration, Maintains Skin Integrity ✔ Hypoallergenic & Latex-Free — Safe for Repeated Applications on At-Risk Skin
Product Details
| Manufacturer | Solventum (Formerly 3M) |
|---|---|
| Product | Medipore H Soft Cloth Surgical Medical Tape |
| Available Sizes | 6 standard roll sizes — Item #s 2861, 2862, 2863, 2864, 2866, 2868 — plus single-patient-use formats (see guide below) |
| Tape Material | Highly breathable, porous non-woven polyester soft cloth — white |
| Adhesive | Enhanced H adhesive from the 3M Tegaderm/Durapore family — pressure-sensitive acrylate, stronger hold and gentler removal than standard Medipore |
| Stretch | Bi-directional — cross and diagonal stretch accommodates swelling, distension, and body movement |
| Perforations | Lateral perforations — tears cleanly by hand at any length, no scissors required |
| Breathability | Highly breathable porous construction — maintains skin integrity, reduces maceration under tape |
| Water Resistance | Water-resistant — not fully waterproof |
| Edge Design | Edges resist curling — does not stick to itself — easy to handle with or without gloves |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes — reduces risk of skin irritation and allergic reaction on repeated applications |
| Latex | Not made with natural rubber latex |
| Sterility | Non-sterile |
Clinical Applications
- Wound dressing securement — primary tape for securing all types of wound dressings and added pressure dressings
- IV line and tubing securement — reliable hold for peripheral and central IV lines
- Central venous catheter securement
- Chest tube and surgical drain tube securement
- Ostomy pouch securement to fragile or sensitive periostomal skin
- At-risk skin where repeated taping is required — reduced irritation and skin stripping vs. standard tapes
- Post-surgical dressing securement where swelling or movement is anticipated
- Catheter and device securement in patients with sensitive, edematous, or fragile skin
- Any application requiring a conformable, breathable tape with stronger hold than standard paper or cloth tape
Application Note: Do not pull or stretch the tape during application — stretching during application may result in tension blisters as the tape attempts to return to its original state. Apply with firm pressure to activate the adhesive and achieve full skin contact. Do not pull the tape perpendicular to the skin during removal — for tape strongly adhered to fragile skin, use a medical-grade adhesive remover to soften the adhesive along the peel line.
How It Works — Enhanced H Adhesive + Bi-Directional Stretch
Most medical tapes present a trade-off — strong adhesives hold well but strip skin on repeated removal, and gentle adhesives are skin-friendly but lift prematurely on movement, sweat, or swelling. Medipore H is engineered to resolve this trade-off. The H adhesive — drawn from the same adhesive family used on 3M Tegaderm transparent dressings and Durapore surgical tape — uses a thin layer of pressure-sensitive acrylate that bonds to skin through surface contact pressure rather than aggressive chemical adhesion. This mechanism creates a stronger, more consistent hold than standard cloth tape adhesives while generating significantly less epidermal stripping and adhesive residue on removal — particularly critical for patients requiring repeated tape applications at catheter sites, IV sites, or chronic wound dressings where skin breakdown from repeated taping is a real clinical risk. The non-woven polyester construction provides bi-directional stretch in both the cross and diagonal directions — the tape moves with swelling, body flexion, and patient positioning changes without lifting or creating edge tension that marks and injures skin. The porous breathable construction allows air and moisture vapor exchange throughout wear, reducing the maceration and skin breakdown that non-breathable tapes cause during extended application.
- Enhanced H pressure-sensitive acrylate adhesive — stronger hold than standard Medipore, gentler removal than aggressive surgical tapes
- Minimizes skin stripping and adhesive residue — critical for at-risk, sensitive, and repeatedly-taped skin
- Bi-directional cross and diagonal stretch — moves with swelling, distension, and body flexion
- Porous breathable non-woven polyester — moisture vapor and air exchange reduces maceration under tape
- Lateral perforations — tear cleanly by hand at any length, no scissors needed in any clinical setting
- Edges resist curling — does not stick to itself during application or handling
- Easy to handle with gloves — non-curling edges and perforations allow gloved application without fumbling
- Water-resistant construction — maintains adhesion in environments with moisture exposure
- Single-patient-use roll format available — reduces cross-contamination risk in multi-patient clinical settings
Medipore H vs. Standard Medipore — What's Different
| Feature | Medipore H | Standard Medipore |
|---|---|---|
| Adhesive Type | Enhanced H — Tegaderm/Durapore adhesive family | Standard Medipore adhesive |
| Hold Strength | Stronger — for more challenging applications | Standard — general wound and dressing securement |
| Gentleness on Removal | More gentle — less stripping and residue | Standard gentleness |
| Best For | At-risk skin, repeated applications, catheter/IV securement, swelling sites | General dressing securement on healthy intact skin |
| Tape Material | Same non-woven polyester soft cloth | Same non-woven polyester soft cloth |
Choosing the Right Size
| Item # | Width x Length | Rolls/Box | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2861 | 1" x 10 yd | 12/box | Narrow securement — IV lines, small tubing, finger and toe wounds, compact dressing edges |
| 2862 | 2" x 10 yd | 6/box | Standard width — the most widely used size for general dressing securement, IV sites, and catheter tape applications |
| 2863 | 3" x 10 yd | 4/box | Medium width — broader dressing securement, added pressure applications, securing foam and island dressings |
| 2864 | 4" x 10 yd | 3/box | Wide — securing large dressings, chest tubes, surgical drain tubes, and ostomy pouch borders on fragile skin |
| 2866 | 6" x 10 yd | 2/box | Extra-wide — securing large post-surgical dressings, abdominal wounds, and broad coverage applications on fragile periwound skin |
| 2868 | 8" x 10 yd | 1/box | Widest roll — maximum coverage applications, large abdominal and thoracic dressings, and high-volume clinical settings requiring the broadest coverage per roll |
Also Available — Single-Patient-Use Rolls: 2" x 2 yd (2862S), 4" x 2 yd (2864S), and 6" x 2 yd (2866S) — shorter rolls designed for single-patient application to reduce cross-contamination risk in multi-patient clinical environments. Ask our team about single-patient-use format availability.
Not sure which width is right for your application? Call 1-866-218-0902 — Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm EST
Why Buy From Medical Department Store?
- 30+ years serving home medical, wound care, and clinical supply customers
- 110% Low Price Guarantee — we beat any competitor's price
- Medical supply specialists on the phone — not a call center
- Ships to all 50 states — 5 Southwest Florida locations for local pickup
- Full-service medical supply store — Home Medical Equipment, Mobility, Respiratory & Beds
Questions about 3M Medipore H tape or any of our medical tapes and securement products? Call 1-866-218-0902 — our team is ready to help.
