With these you get a little sticky strip - but not like tape sticky, like grip sticky. So w/ them, you just place them flat and they grip. We had some hefty stockings and they stayed well in place. Once Christmas was over, simply lifted off - no marring or stripping of the mantel surface. Cool.These stocking holders are of very good quality. Very sturdy metal. I didn't use the 2 sided adhesive pads as I am using them for an empty stocking & 4 lightweight decorative doves. I think the pads wouldn't be needed as the design would provide for counterweight to keep things in place. This was a very good purchase.We used these (without the rubber adhesive) with BHD BEAUTY Burlap Stockings. I was impressed that they held the stockings up with no problems. Then we filled the stockings and my husband decided to see if it would work to hang them full - AND THEY DID!! Super impressed!The product is great, however it came with size hooks but only five slip resistant strips. I am unable to figure out how to contact the seller in order to get a replacement strip. I already have them assembled and do not want to send back the entire order for one strip, but I’m not happy that the order was not complete.I bought these because I was tired of Scotch-taping our stockings to the mantle every year. A lot of stocking hooks are weighted so that they can just sit on the mantle without adhesive and they are counter-balanced to hold the stockings without needing to be taped. That is NOT the case with these, so they come with an adhesive strip for each holder. Within an hour of putting them up, the adhesive failed to hold on one, so the holder fell and broke an expensive mercury glass candle holder. I ended up having to tape them all with packing tape to keep them on the mantle. Then I decided that was ridiculous and defeated the whole purpose, so I returned them for a refund. Now I'm back to just taping the stockings to the mantle. Very disappointing.Very sturdy and shiny. I haven't put anything in stockings to see if they hold much weight. I would tell young ones to wait for help so they don't tug and pull it down on themselves. I have older kids and these will work great. They come with a rubbery adhesive strip that goes on the underside which helps protect the mantle and also discourage slippage. I recommend!Good product and contained the anti-scuff pad to keep finish safe (wife thanks you). Held the large stockings even when full. Was just what I wanted and looked great next to the Christmas tree.These hooks are really nice and come with an adhesive-backed pad that sticks to the flat hook shelf base on one side and is a soft grip to protect your mantel on the other.