Analogous to other materials, analyzing the mechanical properties of tough hydrogels is essential to assess their capacity for specific engineering applications. Generally speaking, the mechanical properties describe the hydrogel's behavior when subjected to load and determine its ability to withstand, deform, and return to its original shape as a direct consequence of such loads. The precise characterization and assessment of the material's mechanical properties further allows prediction of its performance over time and under various environmental conditions. While mechanical loading of hydrogels can occur in various modes of deformation (shearing, tensile, compression, bend or hardness testing), we will primarily focus on tensile tests.