A composite tape comprising a first web and a second web welded together according to a welding pattern comprising a plurality of welding points arranged in arrays extending along a first direction and spaced apart in a second direction, perpendicular to said first direction, with adjacent arrays offset from each other in said first direction, and with said welding points in each array arranged in groups spaced apart in said first direction, wherein the first web has a plurality of hollow protrusions alternating with welding points, both in said first direction and in said second direction, and wherein the second web has a plurality of ribs extending along said first direction and separated from each other by said arrays of welding points.