The Finest Mountain Bike Grips of 2023

Why You Ought to Belief Us

To be able to discover the most effective mountain bike grips accessible right now, we mounted each grip we might get our paws on and hit the paths to check the cushioning, management, and robustness of every. The GearJunkie employees consists of quite a lot of path hogs who like to crank out lengthy days, and we put our collective expertise collectively to check the most effective of the most effective mountain bike grips.

In contemplating which grips to check, we surveyed our path companions, scoped out parking heaps, and dealt with a whole lot of handlebars to get a really feel for the way every grip matches 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.

The mountain biking market continuously modifications, and our testing follows that development. As new mountain bike grips hit the market, relaxation assured that we’re placing them to the check and can replace our information accordingly.

Purchaser’s Information: Find out how to Select Mountain Bike Grips

Slide-On vs. Lock-On Grips

Lock-on grips have a inflexible inside coated by a rubber compound outer. They 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.

This additionally permits the diameter of the within of the grips to be a bit wider than the diameter of the handlebar, so it installs over the handlebar simply. This contrasts with a slide-on grip, which has a smaller inside diameter than the handlebar, utilizing friction to maintain the grips in place. A slide-on grip is an easier design with a rubber compound tube that slides over the handlebar.

Lock-on grips are simpler to put in and are typically safer. Nonetheless, they’re additionally heavier and are usually costlier than slide-on grips, as they’ve a inflexible tube core and metallic collars. This core additionally makes some lock-on grips incompatible with carbon fiber handlebars.

Slide-on grips are suitable with any handlebar materials. 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, typically requiring lubrication. They’re additionally harder to regulate and might transfer if improperly secured.

In case your precedence is safety and ease of software, lock-on grips are the way in which to go. But when chopping weight and saving cash are before everything, slide-on grips are the higher possibility.

Form & Size

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

Probably the most primary 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 want a greater grip are inclined to go together with this feature, particularly with the flange (a rubber disk close to the within of the grip) to assist forestall the hand from sliding off.

For cross-country riders, ergonomic grips characteristic a flat part close to the skin of the grip so as to add help to your hand or wrist, which may supply help to extend consolation and battle fatigue on longer rides.

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

Bar Plugs

Bar plugs and bar finish caps are designed to guard the handlebars and grips throughout a crash or when using by way of tight terrain. Typically manufactured from plastic or polymer, they match throughout the handlebars to maintain particles out, present some safety, and add sturdiness to the ends of light-weight carbon fiber handlebars.

Materials

A lot of the grips available on the market are made up of rubber compounds. The categories and quantities of rubber within the compounds range between makes and fashions, however they’re designed to offer a mix of grip, cushioning, and sturdiness.

Silicone foam grips are well-liked for cross-country using and touring, as they supply snug cushioning, however much less so for technical using due to their lack of grip and sturdiness.

Patterns

The feel and sample of every design are distinctive. Some grips mix a number of templates in focused spots beneath the hand, on the outermost fringe of the bar, beneath the fingers, or the place mud and rain might drop or spray.

As an example, some journeys mix chevron, rib, waffle, and different patterns. The chevron feels snug to some riders. The ribs, separated by slim gaps, forestall side-to-side play. And waffle pockets are designed to forestall hotspots. These mountain bike grips can usually require mounting in a particular orientation to work finest.

Alternatively, 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. 

In the end, patterns are a really tactile selection, and the best choice is decided by every individual’s private choice, hand form, and measurement.

Thickness

The quantity of cushion in a grip design is as necessary because the sample and in addition comes down to non-public choice.

Shut-fitting, slim, less-cushioned designs present an athletic really feel beneath the palms. Some riders want a extra delicate, aggressive touchpoint and responsiveness.

On the different finish of the spectrum, thick and well-cushioned grips supply consolation. Pillowy blocks and ribs will help forestall fatigue on lengthy, powerful rides or extra enjoyment for much less skilled riders. Cushioning may also assist help some riders with hand or wrist illnesses.

Worth

Grips vary in worth with easier designs which might be near $17 and high-end, ergonomic, and texturized choices at as much as $35.

The upper value usually means the design incorporates a lock-on grip versus a slide-on. The grip is also extra cushioned, and the grip might be ergonomically formed. The design may also characteristic a extra complicated sample or a number of patterns mixed for varied performance and really feel.

FAQ

That relies on the kind of terrain you typically experience. Should you are inclined to experience extra technical terrain or want downhill, management goes to be at a premium, as you’ll be cranking on the handlebars to seek out the proper line. Grips with a lock-on design are an ideal selection right here, as they don’t have a tendency to slide.

Additionally, search for grips with an aggressive tread sample. They’ll preserve your arms from slipping off and can drain away moisture and any particles that you simply kick up.

For longer rides, consolation is king, so search for a much less aggressive tread and extra padding. As a softer, lighter slide-on grip is an efficient technique to go, think about a silicone foam grip. An ergonomic grip or built-in bar ends will assist take stress off of your wrists on lengthy rides as effectively.

Selecting the right handlebar grips to your setup broadly relies on the kind of terrain you experience, your experience type, and your hand well being.

Firmer grips supply a extra athletic, responsive connection to your chassis and a extra delicate studying of the terrain beneath the tires. Softer materials offers extra cushion, absorption, and luxury, which might be most well-liked for longer rides, sure hand or wrist accidents, or only a private choice.

Every grip additionally has a novel sample that helps with dispersing moisture and particles, in addition to stability and slip prevention. Should you’re unsure a couple of sure texture of grip, cease by your native bike store to get your arms wrapped round among the accessible patterns.

Most grips are 130 mm to 140 mm lengthy, however riders with massive arms can discover grips as much as 150 mm. For smaller arms, there are grips as brief as 90 mm.

So far as the diameter is anxious, a grip that you could’t absolutely wrap your hand round is simply too massive, as you’ll pump your arms out attempting to take care of a grip on it. However a grip that’s too small limits your contact with the grip.

Riders with smaller arms ought to go for grips within the 29mm to 30mm vary, whereas riders with bigger arms ought to go together with 32mm to 34mm grips.

Mountain biking grips might be formed for an enhanced, extra naturally feeling grip on the bars for some riders. Some discover non-round grips to supply wanted help, typically accommodating for hand or finger accidents.

On our record, top-of-the-line decisions for ergonomic mountain bike grips is the Ergon GA3. The flared rubber grip seems like a small wing beneath the palm, which is designed to offer wrist help and conform to the form of the rider’s arms.

So far as becoming a motorcycle goes, most grips are designed to suit a handlebar’s 22mm diameter, with some variance. Grips are available in a variety of shapes to accommodate all kinds of riders and mountain biking kinds. All of it relies on how deep into the weeds you need to get along with your kind of using.

Most plain gauge grips will do effectively in any mountain biking state of affairs. However if you wish to cater your grips to the way you experience and the way snug you need to be, there are myriad choices to select from.

The longevity of grips relies on person care, experience type, terrain, and crashes. Should you’re navigating technical or rocky terrain and infrequently rub towards boulders and cliff faces, and if you happen to drop your bike — or worse, take a tumble — that’ll undoubtedly chip away on the grip materials.

Should you’re a bikepacker, dropping or setting down the bike or leaning your bike upright towards a fence put up with that heavy load will trigger stress on the fabric over time.

If in case you have an inclination to put your bike flat on the bottom, lean your bike at a pointy angle, or lay your bike at the back of a truck mattress versus upright in a rack, that’ll additionally trigger put on and tear to the grips.

The pure parts additionally break down the fabric over time, so rain, sweat, oils out of your arms, and direct daylight can lower the product’s life. In fact, the extra miles you cowl and the extra aggressively you experience, the sooner the grips will break down.

In brief, a brand new pair of stable grips ought to final years versus months.