Force Tape vs Breathe Right — Honest Chemist Comparison (2026)
Force Tape vs Breathe Right: an honest Australian comparison of price, lift strength, adhesive and materials. See why Force Tape is stronger, better value in bundles and plastic-free versus the default chemist strip.
Breathe Right is the legacy chemist strip — a proven, decades-old design from global healthcare company Haleon, stocked in nearly every pharmacy. Force Tape Airflow+ is the Australian performance strip: a stronger lift that opens the nose up to 50% wider, a sweat-proof ForceLock™ adhesive, and plastic-free satin fabric. On price Force Tape is cheaper per strip too (Force Tape $35/30 ≈ $1.17 a strip, dropping to $0.70 in a bundle; Breathe Right is $43.99/30 ≈ $1.47 a strip) — while giving more lift. Want the familiar name off the shelf tonight? Breathe Right does the job. Want a stronger, plastic-free strip that also costs less per strip? Force Tape wins.
Force Tape vs Breathe Right — side by side
| Metric | Force Tape Airflow+ | Breathe Right |
|---|---|---|
| Pack price (AUD) | $35 / 30 strips | $43.99 / 30 strips (Regular) |
| Cost per strip | $1.17 single · $0.99 (3-pack) · $0.70 (6-pack) · $0.58 (sub) | ~$1.47 (Regular 30-pack) |
| Nasal opening | Opens up to 50% wider | Gentle single-strip lift |
| Spring / band | Ultra-strength spring band | Flexible flat plastic bands |
| Adhesive | ForceLock™, sweat-proof, humidity-tested | Standard hypoallergenic adhesive, built for dry sleep |
| Backing material | Breathable satin fabric | Flexible strip with plastic bands |
| Materials | Plastic & latex free · medical-grade, skin-safe | Latex-free; contains plastic bands |
| Sizes / options | Black Sport, Clear/Lite, Mini | Regular/Large, Clear/Tan, Extra Strength |
| Brand & shipping | Australian-owned, local dispatch; free shipping over $70 | Global (Haleon); in-stock at chemists |
| Reviews | 10,000+ happy customers, 4.8/5 | Long-established, widely reviewed |
Lift strength
This is where a performance strip earns its place. Breathe Right uses flexible flat plastic bands that give a light, comfortable lift — enough for many people with mild congestion, and deliberately gentle so it suits the widest audience. Force Tape uses an ultra-strength spring band engineered to pull the nasal valve harder, opening the passages up to 50% wider. More outward tension means a bigger drop in breathing resistance, which matters most for stubborn congestion, a narrow nasal valve, snoring, and athletic breathing under load.
Honest read: if your nose only needs a nudge, Breathe Right's gentler lift may be all you want. If you've found chemist strips too weak, a stronger spring is the upgrade.
Adhesive & skin
Breathe Right's adhesive is a proven, skin-friendly formula — but it was designed for a still, dry face during sleep, and it can lift when you sweat. Force Tape's ForceLock™ is a medical-grade adhesive built specifically for athletes and humidity-tested for a sweat-proof hold, so it stays put through exercise, heat and restless nights. On skin tolerance, Force Tape is latex-free and medical-grade skin-safe, making it a strong choice for nightly wear on sensitive skin.
Materials: plastic-free vs plastic bands
A real, often-missed difference. Breathe Right's spring is made from flat plastic bands embedded in the strip. Force Tape is built on breathable satin fabric and is free from plastic and latex. For shoppers who care about what sits on their skin all night — and about landfill from single-use plastic — that's a genuine point of difference in Force Tape's favour, alongside the more flexible feel a fabric backing gives.
Price in Australia
Let's be straight about this, because it's the part people actually care about. A Breathe Right Regular 30-pack sells for around $43.99 in Australian pharmacies (≈ $1.47 per strip). A single Force Tape 30-pack is $35 (≈ $1.17 a strip) — so Force Tape is already cheaper per strip than Breathe Right, even before you bundle, and it's the stronger, plastic-free strip.
Where Force Tape pulls clearly ahead is buying in a bundle: the 3-pack works out to $0.99 a strip and the 6-pack to $0.70 a strip (just $0.58 on subscription) — less than half Breathe Right's per-strip price, for a stronger strip. If you wear one nightly or train several times a week, that bundle pricing is the real saving. Better strip, better value at volume.
Who should pick which
Pick Force Tape if you…
- Want the strongest lift and up to 50% wider opening
- Sweat, train, or move in your sleep and need it to stay on
- Wear a strip regularly and want the best bundle value ($0.70/strip)
- Prefer plastic- & latex-free materials on your skin
- Like backing an Australian brand with local dispatch
Pick Breathe Right if you…
- Want a familiar name you can grab at the chemist today
- Only need a strip occasionally
- Prefer a gentler, lighter lift
The honest verdict
Breathe Right earned its shelf space — it's proven, gentle and everywhere, and there's nothing wrong with it for light, occasional use. But head to head, Force Tape is the stronger, better-value strip for regular users: more lift, a sweat-proof ForceLock™ hold, plastic-free satin materials, and a lower cost per strip at every pack size. For nightly users, snorers and athletes who want maximum lift that stays on without paying chemist prices over time, Force Tape wins.
Upgrade from the chemist strip
Stronger lift, sweat-proof hold, plastic-free — and cheaper per strip when you bundle.
Shop Force Tape Nasal StripsShop all Force TapeFrequently asked questions
Is Force Tape better than Breathe Right?
For lift strength, sweat resistance and materials, yes — Force Tape opens the nose up to 50% wider, uses a sweat-proof ForceLock™ adhesive, and is plastic-free. Breathe Right's advantages are chemist availability, a gentler lift and a long track record, which suit occasional users.
Is Force Tape cheaper than Breathe Right?
Yes. A single Force Tape 30-pack is about $1.17 a strip versus roughly $1.47 for a Breathe Right Regular 30-pack — so Force Tape is cheaper even before bundles. The 3-pack ($0.99/strip) and 6-pack ($0.70/strip) — and a subscription at $0.58/strip — widen the gap to less than half Breathe Right's per-strip price.
Do Force Tape strips stay on better than Breathe Right?
Yes. Breathe Right's adhesive is designed for still, dry sleep and can lift with sweat. Force Tape's ForceLock™ adhesive is humidity-tested for a sweat-proof hold, so it's built to survive exercise, heat and movement.
Are Force Tape strips plastic-free?
Yes — Force Tape is free from plastic and latex and built on breathable satin fabric. Breathe Right uses flat plastic bands embedded in the strip. If you'd rather not have single-use plastic on your skin overnight, that's a clear difference.
Where can I buy?
Breathe Right is stocked in most pharmacies, including Chemist Warehouse and Coles. Force Tape is sold direct at forcetape.com.au with free shipping over $70, plus a growing list of stockist gyms and chemists.