Hypafix and Fixomull Stretch are sister products from the same manufacturer, Essity, and both are wide non-woven fixation tapes. The practical difference is availability and stretch: Fixomull Stretch is sold mainly in Europe and Australia and is the stretchier of the two, while Hypafix is stocked across North America and has a reinforcing mesh that holds a flat dressing steady. On a flat area either works. Over a joint, the stretchier one has the edge.
People arrive at this question two ways. Either a clinician abroad used one name and the local supplier sells the other, or a forum thread recommended Fixomull and no US retailer seems to carry it.
Both readings are correct. The tapes are close relatives with different distribution.
In this article
- Are they the same tape
- Side by side
- Which to choose
- Swapping between them
- Getting longer wear
- Frequently asked questions
Are Hypafix and Fixomull the same tape?
Same family and same manufacturer, built a little differently.
Both are made by Essity, the group that owns BSN Medical and the Leukoplast brand. Both are non-woven polyester fabric tapes coated with a low-allergy polyacrylate adhesive, both are permeable to air and water vapour so skin underneath can breathe, and both are supplied on a printed release paper you cut to size.
Where they part company is the market they are sold into and how much they give. Independent testing by people who use fixation tape hard, such as long-distance walkers taping feet, consistently rates Fixomull Stretch at the top for conformability on moving skin, and rates Hypafix well but a step behind on wet adhesion and stretch.
That difference is a design choice rather than a fault. The mesh reinforcement in Hypafix is what stops a large dressing shifting sideways, which is exactly what you want on a flat back or abdomen.
How do they compare in practice?
| Hypafix | Fixomull Stretch | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Essity, sold as Leukoplast Hypafix | Essity, sold as Fixomull Stretch |
| Where it is stocked | North America, widely available | Europe, Australia, New Zealand, harder to source in the US |
| Carrier | Non-woven with a reinforcing mesh | Non-woven, more elastic |
| Best for | Flat areas, large dressings, ostomy and tubing security | Joints, shoulders, feet, skin that flexes |
| Stretch | Limited, holds a dressing steady | Higher, follows movement |
| Adhesive | Low-allergy polyacrylate | Low-allergy polyacrylate |
| Cut to size | Yes, gridded backing paper | Yes, gridded backing paper |
| Typical widths | 2, 4 and 6 inch | 5 cm to 20 cm |
If a European clinician recommended Fixomull and you are in the US, Hypafix is the closest equivalent you can buy without importing.
Which one should you choose?
Choose by the shape of the area you are taping, not by the brand name.
- Flat dressing on the abdomen, back, thigh or upper arm: Hypafix. The mesh keeps a large pad from creeping.
- Dressing over a knee, elbow, shoulder or foot: a stretch tape suits better. If you cannot get Fixomull, Cover-Roll Stretch is the elastic option stocked in North America.
- Holding tubing, a drain, or an ostomy appliance edge: Hypafix, cut into strips.
- Skin that reacts to adhesives: both use the same low-allergy adhesive, so switching between them is unlikely to solve a reaction. Look at removal technique and wear time instead.
Hypafix dressing retention tape, 4 inches by 10 yards, three rolls. Breathable non-woven fabric with a low-allergy adhesive, cut to whatever size the dressing needs.
Cover-Roll Stretch, a soft elastic non-woven tape that contours to shoulders, knees and torso and holds while the skin underneath moves.
Can you swap one for the other mid-treatment?
Yes, for ordinary dressing retention. Both hold a dressing against the skin and neither is a wound contact layer, so the dressing touching the wound stays whatever your clinician chose.
Two cautions are worth carrying with you. If a wound care plan names a specific tape, check before substituting, because clinics sometimes standardise for a reason such as a documented adhesive sensitivity. And when you switch, watch the first change for early edge lifting, since a tape with less stretch on a mobile area will show it within a day.
Our guide to medical tape types and when to use each covers the wider set of options if neither suits.
How do you get the longest wear out of either tape?
- Start with clean, dry skin. Lotion, oil and sweat are the usual reason a fixation tape lifts on day one.
- Cut generously. Overlap the dressing by about an inch on all four sides so the adhesive is bonding to skin, not to gauze.
- Round the corners. Square corners catch on clothing and start the peel.
- Lay it on, do not pull it on. Tape applied under tension pulls at the skin all day and can blister it, which is called tension injury.
- Press for a few seconds. Warmth from your hand helps the adhesive bond.
- Remove low and slow, peeling back over itself close to the skin while supporting the skin with your other hand.
For the removal side of this, see how to remove medical tape without hurting your skin.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fixomull the same as Hypafix?
They are sister products from the same manufacturer, Essity, and both are wide non-woven fixation tapes. Fixomull Stretch is more elastic and is sold mainly in Europe and Australia, while Hypafix has a reinforcing mesh and is the version stocked in North America.
Can I buy Fixomull in the United States?
It is difficult to source without importing. Hypafix is the closest equivalent from the same manufacturer, and Cover-Roll Stretch is the option to reach for when you need more stretch.
Which is better for a knee or elbow?
A stretch tape. Fixomull Stretch where it is available, or Cover-Roll Stretch in North America. Hypafix holds better on flat areas because it is designed to resist stretching.
Do they use the same adhesive?
Both use a low-allergy polyacrylate adhesive, so switching between them is unlikely to resolve a skin reaction on its own.
Is either one waterproof?
Neither is waterproof. Both are water resistant and breathable, so they tolerate a shower but are not made for soaking or swimming. See our guide on showering with Hypafix tape.
Fixation tape that is easy to reorder
Hypafix and Cover-Roll Stretch in the widths people reach for, FSA and HSA eligible, with free US shipping over $80.
Shop fixation tapes →This guide is general information, not medical advice. If a wound care plan names a specific tape, check with your clinician before substituting.