The Finest Mountain Bike Grips of 2024

Your mountain bike grips are one in every of solely three contact factors between you and your bike and are essential for consolation and management. For such a seemingly easy part, the appropriate grips can enhance your consolation with the appropriate match, cushioning, and ergonomics whereas making certain you keep your grip via no matter comes down the path.

In comparison with most different mountain bike-related upgrades, grips are among the many most reasonably priced, so it’s straightforward to clean up the appear and feel of your journey. However with so many choices to select from, discovering the appropriate pair to fit your using type and preferences is usually a problem. Completely different diameters, supplies, cushioning ranges, patterns, and attachment kinds can all play a task within the mountain bike grips which are finest for you.

Our crew of testers have a long time of using expertise and have tried practically each mountain bike grip available on the market. We examined the fashions included right here for months — in some instances years — to provide you with this curated record. So, whether or not you’re after a gravity-oriented grip just like the Ergon GDH Group, a light-weight slide-on just like the ESI Chunky, or one thing in between, we’ve received suggestions to steer you towards one of the best.

To study extra about what traits distinguish mountain bike grips, check out our Purchaser’s Information and Value & Worth part on the backside of this text. You can even see how the grips we examined examine side-by-side in our Comparability Chart.

Editor’s Word: We up to date our mountain bike grips purchaser’s information on October 24, 2024, with the addition of our new Value & Worth part.

The Finest Mountain Bike Grips of 2024

Better of the Relaxation

Mountain Bike Grips Comparability Chart

How We Examined the Finest Mountain Bike Grips

At GearJunkie, we’re all the time searching for one of the best merchandise to reinforce our consolation, management, and delight whereas using our mountain bikes. Over time, we’ve realized that selecting the best set of mountain bike grips is a good, reasonably priced strategy to clean up our bike’s cockpit and dial it into our particular wants. Our crew additionally simply loves testing out and reviewing new gear to offer our readers with trustworthy suggestions and suggestions to assist them select one of the best merchandise for his or her wants.

The GearJunkie workers consists of path hogs who like to crank out lengthy days within the saddle. Our lead tester of mountain bike grips is Jeremy Benson. Benson is an editor at GearJunkie, and he’s been mountain biking for 3 a long time and professionally testing and reviewing mountain bikes and associated equipment for the previous eight years. He spends an inordinate period of time within the saddle whereas coaching for races, testing bikes, equipment, and attire, or using only for enjoyable and health. He’s used effectively over thirty completely different mountain bike grips in his seek for the proper match and sometimes will get to attempt completely different fashions when testing full mountain bikes. As an individual who hates hand numbness, arm pump, and the shortage of management that goes together with it, he’s very explicit in regards to the grips he chooses for his private bikes.

Contributing authors Morgan Tilton and Matthew Medendorp additionally offered suggestions for this information. Each are skilled mountain bikers who put in massive miles and have been testing and reviewing out of doors gear for a few years. Their using and testing expertise makes them each significantly adept at scrutinizing the gear they use.

In contemplating which grips to check, we surveyed our path companions, scoped out parking tons, and dealt with a number of handlebars to get a really feel for a way every grip suits into the market. Then, we put within the work climbing, descending, and mashing about on our bikes to check the sturdiness, texture, and really feel of every grip. In an effort to discover one of the best mountain bike grips obtainable at present, we mounted each grip we may get our paws on and hit the paths to check the cushioning, management, and robustness of every. From shuttle runs to cross-country races, every set of grips on this information has been examined for at the very least a month. Others have been in use for over a 12 months, and a few we preserve going again to 12 months after 12 months as a result of they’re nice.

The mountain biking market consistently modifications, and our testing follows that pattern. As new mountain bike grips hit the market, relaxation assured that we’re placing them to the take a look at and can replace our information accordingly.

Purchaser’s Information: Learn how to Select Mountain Bike Grips

For such a easy part, selecting the best mountain bike grips may be harder than you would possibly anticipate. There are fairly just a few components to contemplate, which we’ll clarify beneath. And in the event you’re among the many many that suffer from hand or wrist discomfort or numbness whereas using, it’s possible you’ll discover some useful data in our article particular to mountain bike grips for sore arms.

Slide-On vs. Lock-On Grips

Mountain bike grips fall into two common classes based mostly on how they connect to the handlebar.

Lock-on grips

Because the identify suggests, lock-on grips safe on handlebars with a locking collar — a metallic ring-shaped clamp on one or each ends of the handlebars with a bolt, which locks them in place and prevents them from sliding or rotating. These sometimes have a inflexible plastic inside sleeve lined by a rubber compound outer.

This design additionally permits the diameter of the within of the grips to be a bit wider than the diameter of the handlebar, so it’s straightforward to put in, take away, and modify. This contrasts with a slide-on grip, which has a smaller inside diameter than the handlebar and makes use of friction to maintain the grips in place.

Lock-on grips are simpler to put in and are usually safer. Nonetheless, they’re additionally heavier and are usually dearer than slide-on grips, as they’ve a inflexible tube core and metallic collars.

Slide-on grips

A slide-on grip is a less complicated design with a rubber or silicone foam tube that slides over the handlebar. As a result of they lack an inner core and collars, they are usually a lot lighter than lock-ons. That stated, they’re harder to put in, generally requiring lubrication. They’re additionally harder, or not possible, to regulate and may transfer if improperly secured.

In case your precedence is safety and ease of utility, lock-on grips are the way in which to go. But when slicing weight and saving cash are at the start, slide-on grips are the higher choice.

Form & Size

Choosing the proper form and size can depend upon the rider’s anatomy. Most grips are between 130 mm and 140 mm in size. However there are shorter 90mm choices for riders with small arms and 150mm grips for riders with bigger arms.

Probably the most fundamental and customary form is the plain gauge grip, which has the identical thickness all through the size of the grip. Riders who downhill usually or who merely desire a greater grip are likely to go along with this feature, particularly with the flange (a rubber disk close to the within of the grip) to assist stop the hand from sliding off.

Ergonomic grips characteristic a wide range of completely different shapes that intention to enhance the alignment of your wrists and arms on the handlebar. These can embrace a flat part close to the skin of the grip so as to add help on your hand or wrist, which may enhance consolation and combat fatigue on longer rides. Different grips could also be tapered or have variable thicknesses.

An extension of that is the built-in bar finish — a brief bar that factors ahead from the tip of the grips — which permits riders a second outboard hand place.

Bar Plugs

Many grips are open on each ends, whereas some lock-on grips are closed on the outboard finish. For these grips with open outboard ends, bar plugs or bar finish caps are designed to suit into the tip of the handlebar to guard the handlebars and grips. Typically product of plastic or polymer (some alloy choices can be found), the tip plugs sometimes simply get pushed into the tip of the handlebar. They serve the aim of defending the ends of the bar from scrapes with trailside obstacles, contact with the bottom when setting the bike down or crashing, or from the handlebar impaling your physique in a crash.

Supplies

Many of the grips available on the market are comprised of varied rubber compounds. The kinds and quantities of rubber within the compounds differ between makes and fashions, however they’re designed to offer a mixture of grip, cushioning, and sturdiness. Typically talking, a tougher plastic sleeve extends from the lock ring, which is then lined within the outer rubber layer.

Silicone foam grips are common for cross-country using and touring, as they are usually lighter weight and supply snug cushioning. Given the silicone materials, most of those are usually slide-on designs, that are much less handy to put in and take away. The silicone materials can be extra inclined to break within the even of a crash. There are some lock-on silicone grips available on the market as effectively, which simplifies the set up and elimination course of.

Patterns

The feel and sample of every design are distinctive. Some grips mix a number of textures in focused areas across the grip to offer various cushioning or grip traits and moisture administration.

As an example, some grips mix chevron, rib, waffle, and different patterns. The chevron feels snug to some riders. The ribs, separated by slender gaps, stop side-to-side play. Waffle pockets are designed to stop hotspots. Patterned and textured mountain bike grips usually require mounting in a selected orientation to offer the specified cushioning and grip advantages.

However, different grips have the identical sample all the way in which throughout and round. And different designs are completely easy, with no strains or divots in any respect. Finally, the most suitable choice is decided by every individual’s private grip/cushioning preferences, hand form, and dimension.

Diameter

Since our arms are available in a spread of sizes and shapes, mountain bike grips do, too. Selecting a diameter that matches your arms finest can improve your consolation and bike management. The grips we examined vary in diameter from 29 mm as much as 36 mm. Riders with smaller arms will sometimes discover higher grip and luxury with smaller grips within the 29 – 30 mm diameter vary. Riders with particularly giant arms might gravitate in direction of thicker grips of 34 mm+ in diameter or extra. Most riders will fall in between these two extremes, which is why so many grips are available in a 32 mm diameter.

It’s not simply hand dimension that dictates what diameter is best for you. Many individuals have preferences that may steer them in some way. Fortunately, you may normally wrap your arms round some grips on the bike store to get a really feel for the completely different sizes to see what’s going to work finest for you.

Cushioning

The quantity of cushion in a grip design is as essential because the sample and likewise comes down to private desire.

Slim, less-cushioned designs present an athletic and really direct really feel below the palms. Some riders desire a extra delicate, aggressive touchpoint and responsiveness. This type of grip doesn’t present as a lot damping for the arms. As an alternative, it prioritizes suggestions and exact management.

On the different finish of the spectrum, thick and well-cushioned grips provide consolation. Pillowy, siped blocks and ribs may also help stop fatigue on lengthy, robust rides or extra enjoyment for much less skilled riders. Cushioning may assist help some riders with hand or wrist illnesses. Usually, a brilliant cushioned grip sacrifices a contact of steering precision in commerce for the consolation it gives.

Reasonably cushioned grips are the candy spot for many riders. These grips are likely to stability the advantages of just a little little bit of cushioning with a direct and responsive bar really feel. That is sometimes the place we gravitate when selecting grips for all-around using.

Value & Worth

Mountain bike grips are comparatively a lot cheaper than most different issues we connect to our bikes. Even the dearer choices we’ve examined are a cheap strategy to refresh your bike’s feel and appear. The grips we examined vary in value from less complicated designs, that are near $19, to high-end, ergonomic, and texturized choices, which may be as much as $40.

Funds

The least costly grips are sometimes easy slide-on silicone foam tubes. With little complexity within the development and no lock ring, these grips simply price much less. They’re just a little extra concerned to put in and take away, however they get the job achieved whereas additionally being the lightest choices available on the market. The ESI Racer’s Edge ($19) and the ESI Chunky ($20) are two of the least costly grips you could find and likewise among the lightest. This price-to-weight ratio runs opposite to most different issues within the bike world, the place you sometimes spend extra for issues that weigh much less.

Our price range lock-on choose, the PNW Elements Loam ($26), will price you a couple of bucks extra, but it surely’s the least costly lock-on mannequin we examined. These grips look nice, work effectively, and are available in two diameters to swimsuit different-sized arms. Realistically, you don’t must spend extra as a result of these are superior.

Mid-Tier

Climbing simply barely larger up the value ladder — just a few {dollars} — reasonably priced lock-on grips will normally price you round $30. The addition of a lock ring, an inner plastic sleeve, and an exterior rubber compound implies that these grips price a bit extra for the supplies and barely extra advanced development. Nonetheless, they aren’t precisely costly, and most of the people ought to have the ability to discover a grip that may serve them effectively with out spending extra.

Our favourite all-around grip is the ODI Elite-Professional ($30). This grip has been round for years, and we’ve been using them for years due to the good stability of cushion, tactility, precision, and value. Equally, the Wolf Tooth Echo Lock-On ($30) is one other of our new favorites. Not solely are these grips comfortable, however the choice to color-match your lock rings to different parts in your bike is fairly neat.

Premium

It nearly feels foolish to name grips within the $35 to $40 vary premium, however they’re a bit dearer than different choices. Most higher-end grips are lock-on, and sometimes, these embrace some ergonomic or extra intricate design options. The Ergon GDH Group ($40), for instance, makes use of a cheesy rubber compound and a extra advanced sample to differ cushioning and grip traits. Whereas they aren’t wildly completely different from different grips available on the market, the stability of tactile grip and cushioning is actually notable.

There are much more costly grips available on the market. We haven’t examined them, however Revgrips ($60 to $90) is a novel providing that gives “suspension” by permitting the grips to rotate barely along with your arms — impartial of the handlebar — with the aim of isolating them from shock and vibration. This method requires a extra advanced design with twin lock rings, washers, and elastomers, so it isn’t too stunning that they price extra. We’ve heard blended opinions, and we hope to attempt them out for ourselves quickly.

Continuously Requested Questions