Comparison
RhinoGear vs Hostage Tape: Honest Mouth Tape Comparison (2026)
RhinoGear Gentle Mouth Tape vs Hostage Tape — adhesive strength, design, beard-friendliness, AU price and who each is best for.
The short answer
Hostage Tape is the US viral brand — full-mouth coverage, very strong adhesive, designed for heavy beards. RhinoGear Gentle Mouth Tape uses a vertical centre-strip design that leaves the corners of the mouth free, making it gentler, less claustrophobic and easier for first-timers. Hostage wins on raw stick power; RhinoGear wins on comfort, safety, AU shipping and per-strip price.
The two designs
Hostage Tape covers the entire mouth with a large adhesive patch, X-shaped or full-coverage depending on the SKU. Its selling point is extreme stick — built to survive heavy beards and thrashing sleepers.
RhinoGear Gentle Mouth Tape uses a vertical centre-strip — a slim band running down the middle of the lips, leaving both corners free. You can still part your lips, talk, cough or breathe through the side if you ever need to.
Quick comparison
- Coverage: RhinoGear vertical centre-strip · Hostage full-mouth seal
- Adhesive strength: RhinoGear medium-strong · Hostage very strong
- Beard-friendly: RhinoGear yes (centre only) · Hostage yes (designed for it)
- Claustrophobia risk: RhinoGear low · Hostage moderate (full seal)
- Price per strip (AUD): RhinoGear ~$0.85 · Hostage ~$1.50–$2.00 imported
- Shipping: RhinoGear from Melbourne, free over $40 · Hostage from US, longer waits + import fees
Safety profile
Mouth taping is generally safe for healthy adults with a clear nasal airway, but the safer designs are the ones that leave a way to breathe through the side of the mouth. RhinoGear's centre-strip is intentionally engineered with that escape route built in.
Hostage Tape's full coverage is what gives it its viral 'won't fall off' reputation, but it's also why it's not the right starting point for first-time tapers, anyone with mild reflux, or anyone who hasn't checked their nose can breathe freely all night.
First-night experience
Most first-time RhinoGear users report no anxiety — the tape feels like a small bandage rather than a seal. Hostage Tape often takes 3–5 nights of acclimatisation, and a meaningful fraction of users abandon it after the first night.
Cost in Australia
RhinoGear Gentle Mouth Tape is $25.95 AUD for 30 strips, ~$0.85 per night. Hostage Tape is sold from the US — landed in Australia with shipping it typically works out at $1.50–$2.00 per strip plus a 1–2 week wait.
Who should pick which
- Pick RhinoGear if: you're new to mouth taping, you want a gentle and safer-feeling option, you have mild reflux concerns, you want fast AU shipping, or you sleep with a partner who needs reassurance you can still breathe.
- Pick Hostage Tape if: you've already used centre-strip tape and need more stick, you have a very heavy beard, or you're an extreme thrasher who needs full coverage.
Verdict
For Australian first-timers, RhinoGear is the better introduction to mouth taping — gentler, safer-feeling, cheaper and faster shipping. Hostage Tape is the right tool when you've outgrown centre-strip designs and need maximum hold. Both can coexist in your routine.
Ready to put this into practice?
RhinoGear nasal strips and gentle mouth tape are made in Australia, drug-free, and shipped from Melbourne with free delivery over $40.
Frequently asked questions
Keep reading
Sleep
Mouth Taping for Sleep: Safe, Effective or Dangerous?
A practical, evidence-led guide to mouth taping at night — what it does, when it helps, who should never use it, and how to do it safely.
Comparison
RhinoGear vs Breathe Right: Honest Australian Comparison (2026)
An honest, side-by-side comparison of RhinoGear and Breathe Right nasal strips — price in AUD, materials, adhesive, lift strength, AU shipping and who each is best for.