Finding the best mountain bike grips for you doesn’t need to cost the earth. We’d always recommend choosing a lock-on design. This means you can fit them easily, take them off again to access other handlebar hardware and they won’t come loose, no matter how hard you twist them or how bad the conditions get. Grip patterns are incredibly varied, with knurled patterns for your fingertips, waffle pattern for your palm, or a raised mushroom profile for cushioning. Whatever you opt for, make sure there is a decent depth of rubber under your palm, and not a thin skin over the hard nylon core.
Ergon GE1 Evo
Best for perfectionists
Price: $34.99
These Ergon GE1 Evo Factory grips are a clever way of tuning your riding position. Because the padding is offset to the central sleeve, you can actually change your hand position in relation to the handlebar – perfect if you want to angle your wrists and elbows for a more attacking position without rolling your handlebars. And while they’re another tool in the box when it comes to setting up your bike perfectly, they’re also exceptionally comfortable, boast plenty of grip in this special soft compound version and do a great job of absorbing shock.
Buy NowRace Face Half Nelson
Best for bare hands
Price: $23.99
The Race Face Half Nelson is an award-winning grip, tested twice previously by us, and getting our seal of approval each time. It is a slim grip at only 28mm diameter, and is well-padded with an incredible amount of feel. The Race Face Half Nelson is perfect with gloves on and even better with bare hands.
Buy NowRenthal Ultra Tacky
Best for ultimate stickiness
Price: $33.09
As you would expect with a grip labelled as Ultra Tacky, riding the Renthals glues your hands to the bars like they're coated in tree sap. No matter the weather conditions, your hands remain stuck, limpet-like, to the bars, even without having to adopt the familiar white-knuckled, death-grip. A benefit is it allows you to relax your hold on the handlebar, reducing arm pump and fatigue on longer descents. Surprisingly, for a narrower, 31mm diameter grip they also offer a good level of shock absorption and cushioning, but the soft rubber does wear faster.
Buy NowODI Elite Pro
Best for sensitive palms
Price: $28.95
They have an eccentric core that puts more rubber in the palm of your hand and less on the underside of the grip where the fingertips rest. So you get all of the benefits of fatter grips without the bulk. The ODI Elite Pro is the best fat grip we’ve ridden to date. It’s a great grip for anyone with an open mind or sore hands.
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