Handlebar grips play a major role in your bike’s comfort and handling. After all, they are one of only three places that your body makes contact with the bike. Your grips affect your ability to steer, shift, and brake. Riding with the wrong grips can lead to hand numbness, blistering, cramping, and fatigue. This guide outlines all of the types of bike grips to help you chose the best and most comfortable style for your hands.
In this guide, I’ll talk about grip types, materials, attachment systems, sizes, shapes, and more. The second half of this guide outlines another handlebar grip option: bar tape. We’ll also look at cycling gloves and bar ends.
Bike Grip Styles and Designs
When it comes to choosing grips for your bike, the most important consideration is the grip design. Grips come in a wide range of shapes, thicknesses, and textures. This section outlines the various styles of handlebar grips you have to choose from.
Ergonomic Grips
These non-round grips feature a ‘wing’ or flat rounded section that sticks out to provide additional support for your hand and wrist. The goal of the design is to encourage you to hold your wrist in a natural and healthy position.
This comfortable hand position reduces wrist pain and hand numbness. Without ergonomic grips, you tend to twist your wrist back as your hands tire out. This can cause discomfort. The position also promotes good posture which can reduce back and neck pain.
When installing ergonomic grips, position them in a way that the wing sits slightly lower than where your wrists naturally rest while riding. When you tire out and relax your wrists, the wing holds them up in the ideal ergonomic position.
Plain Gauge Grips (Also Called Standard or Traditional Grips)
These are the most basic and common style of grip. Plain gauge grips have the same thickness throughout their entire length. They are shaped like a cylinder. They usually slip on and are made of rubber, silicone, or foam. Some models have ridges or bulges that sit between your fingers.
Grips with Integrated Bar Ends
Some grips integrate bar ends into the design. Bar ends are short bars that point forward from the ends of your grips. The purpose of bar ends is to give you a second-hand position on flat bars. This can improve comfort and reduce fatigue on long rides. Bar ends are great for touring. Many ergonomic grips have bar ends. I’ll talk more in-depth about bar ends later on.
Dual Compound Grips
Dual compound grips are made from two different types of materials. Usually different types of rubber. A harder material forms the base layer of the grip. A softer material forms the top layer where your hands hold the grip.
The idea is that the harder base layer grips the bar to prevent the grip from slipping around or twisting. The softer layer is more comfortable to hold. The design works well but there is one drawback. Generally, dual compound grips are on the thicker side. Riders who prefer thinner grips may want to stay away from dual compound grips. This comes down to personal preference and your hand size.
Flanged / Flangeless grips
Flanges are rubber disks near the opening or inside of the grip. They are mostly a personal preference. They give the bike a classic kind of look.
The function of flanges is to prevent your hand from sliding off the grip. They are common on BMX bikes and some mountain bikes. Most grips are flangeless.
Lock-On Grips
Lock-on grips have metal collars on the ends that lock on to the handlebar with Allen bolts. They bolt in place. The benefit of this design is that the grips don’t slide around or ‘throttle’ on the bars. These are gaining in popularity across all categories of cycling that use grips including mountain biking, bicycle touring, and commuting. I’ll talk more about lock-on grips later on.
Grip Thickness
Grips come in a variety of thicknesses. Riders with large hands may find a thicker grip more comfortable. Riders with smaller hands may find thinner grips more comfortable. This choice comes down to personal preference and your hand anatomy. To find which grip thickness suits you best, you’ll just need to try out a few different sizes.
Generally, thicker grips are preferred across all categories of mountain biking. Thicker grips also offer better vibration dampening because there is more material for shock absorption. Some riders feel that thick grips remove some ‘trail feel.’ You can’t get as much feedback from the tires and ground as you can with thinner grips.
Grip Texture or Pattern
A number of different patterns are used on the grip surface. Some grips are smooth. Others have a waffle pattern. Some have ridges between the fingers or palm bulges.
The pattern plays a role in the comfort of the grip. It also acts as a kind of tread to give your hand traction so it doesn’t slide around on the grip when it gets wet or sweaty. Generally, a grip with a more aggressive tread works better for cycling in wet weather. Some grips are designed to be used with gloves and some are designed for bare hands. You’ll want to try a few grips to find which texture suits you best.
Bike Handlebar Grip Materials
The material plays a major role in the durability, comfort, cost, aesthetics, and overall feel of the grip. Some materials feel great on the hand but break down or tear easily. Others last forever but cause blisters if used without gloves. Some materials look beautiful but are too slippery. You get the idea. There are trade-offs.
When it comes to choosing a grip material, a few things to consider include whether you ride with gloves or bare hands, the climate you ride in, and your budget. The most popular bike handlebar grip materials include: