When you are on your mountain bike, you have only three points of contact, Feet and sitting on the saddle the other two beside your grip.
Mountain bike grips are essential as you need to maintain control of your bike. Besides this, you need them to be easy to install when you change them if you have to do so on the trail.
You can quickly discover there are many types of grips for all manner of uses. If you are struggling to decide which are the best grips, you can use our reviews to find the best MTB handlebar grips.
By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of what you need as a pair that offers everything, or a pair of grips you can have as a replacement in case of emergencies.
Contents
Why You Need Good Mountain Bike Handlebar Grips?
You can ride for several hours without having hand tiredness with the right mountain bike grips to hold onto. Grips should help keep your hands on the handlebars, as the main contact points.
When steering or carrying out tricky maneuvers, or even crossing rough terrain, the best MTB grips can keep you in control. (Find the Best Mountain Bike for Beginner)
The difference between sore hands and several hours of joyful riding can be a strong pair of grips with an ergonomic shape and shock absorption.
As you can get sweaty hands or start to rain, grips are crucial when riding without gloves. No matter what the weather, the best MTB grips will remain sticky and give a strong grip.
Top MTB Grips Reviews
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1. Vktech 2pcs Non-Slip Soft Rubber Mountain Bicycle Handlebar MTB Bike Handle Grips
When you want to get out there, you’ll discover the no-frills Vktech’s Slide-on Grips are the best in simplicity. All you need to do is slide on the grips, and you’re good to go.
The Vktech grips are made from soft, tacky durable rubber, and strong wearability. They have a raised waffle pattern design that offers a solid grip for rolling over rough ground or bouncing downhill.
The antibacterial rubber keeps infections at bay. The grip size is 120 mm in length and a diameter of 22.2 mm. Once fitted, they are suitable for all riding types and small hands or larger hands.
You will also find copious amounts of comfort and cushion from the slide-on grips on any bars.
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Pros
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- Soft, durable rubber, with anti-bacterial features for comfort
- Custom anatomic raised surface for max traction
- Non-slip and easy to put on or remove
- Very affordable[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Not as durable as some grips
- Can be damaged by impact[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a current guide price of less than $5, you get the best mountain bike grips for the money to cover all situations. They are light enough and cheap enough to keep a few extra pairs in your backpack and still be cheaper than the alternatives.
2. RaceFace Half Nelson Locking Grips
The single metal lock clamp-on design grip from RaceFace offers a super slim low profile design that is lightweight and comfortable to use.
For the quality grip, it uses soft and durable super tacky VEXY. The design is half-waffle, and you can have the lock on the inside or outside depending on preference.
With the topographic moisture channels, you have a good grip when wet, yet they may be slippier than some.
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Pros
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- Firm tack grip
- Lightweight
- Slim design for small hands
- Can adjust where ridges go[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Low profile rubber can peel from center core
- Grips can remain loose on some handlebars[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just under $19, they are not the most expensive, and neither the cheapest grips. If you need lock-on grips that offer design and function, you can find the Half Nelson a great pair of mountain bike grips.
3. BV Bike Handlebar Grips Double Lock-on Bicycle Grip Handle Bar End Holding Locking Grips for MTB BMX Mountain Downhill Folding Bike
The BV double lock grips are made from TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber), Aluminum Alloy, and Plastic. The length is a little over 5 inches and the diameter 1.3 inches on the outer.
You can fit the double locking grip to any standard straight MTB handlebar, or stunt scooter using a 3mm Allen wrench., however, this isn’t included.
The grips come with a Maya inspired anti-slip design to offer excellent control and feedback while hitting the trails.
The TPR material is soft enough to offer lots of shock absorption against shock and vibration.
With the BV bike handlebar, you have a double clamp design that is easy to install and remain in position without twisting. The aluminum C-ring keeping your grips locked in position.
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Pros
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- Durable end logo caps are integrated
- Great design
- Offers protection against shock and vibration
- Fits standard handlebars[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Expensive
- The pattern is uncomfortable without gloves.[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just above $23, it is higher up in a riders grip budget. They do have a great look and are durable. However, there are a couple of reports of uncomfortable grip if riders don’t wear gloves and are not as tight on your handlebars.
4. Ergon – GA3 Ergonomic Lock-on Bicycle Handlebar Grips
The Ergon GA3 handlebar grips are made for long-distance trips thanks to the grip design. They have a flared rubber grip designed to offer wrist support, thus conforming to the shape of the rider’s hands.
The ergonomic shape enables riders to maintain control without gripping tight and can help reduce fatigue.
The soft rubber 136 mm exterior is sticky when wearing gloves, and offers great control when on bumpy trails. The rubber is also UV-stable to prevent drying out and cracking through sun exposure.
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Pros
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- Added wrist support
- Sun-resistant
- Two sizes available
- Reduces fatigue on long rides[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Small outer diameter
- End plugs can fall out[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price starting at just over $25, they offer a unique experience. While comfortable for some users, riders who like to grip all around the handlebars may find the ergonomic shape off-putting.
The grips come in two sizes, and twist shift, riders with large hands and small hands can have a suitable fit.
5. ODI Rogue Bicycle Grip Bonus Pack
When conditions are wet and slippery, the ODI Rogue lock-on grip provides great grip for the best stability.
If you are plugging your way through a muddy trail, you have the extra-large raised pads for enhanced grip friction. The deep grooves channeling dirt and water away.
The 130 mm lock-on design grip makes sure the grips won’t slip no matter where your bike takes you.
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Pros
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- Large channels to clear dirt
- Lots of grips
- Double lock stops grips slipping
- Includes snap cap end plugs[/su_list][/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]
Cons
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- Raised pads can hurt without gloves
- End caps can fall off[/su_list][/su_column][/su_row]
With a guide price of just over $22, you have lots of grip, and if you are comfortable, you will find this sticky with or without gloves. The raised pattern provides 100% slip-free performance, so you have an option regardless of what kind of riding you do.
Best MTB Grips Buying guide
Mountain bikers have a few things to consider when looking for grips. Here’s a few things to watch out for. (Find the Best Bike Repair Stand)
Slide-On vs. Lock-On Grips
Lock-on grips feature a rigid interior covered by rubber compounds. They fasten to the handlebars using a locking collar.
This lets the inside diameter of the grips be larger for ease of fitting.
A slide-on grip has a smaller interior than the handlebar and uses friction to hold the grips in position.
Lock-on grips are easy to install, more secure, heavier and more expensive. You can find some models are not compatible with carbon fiber.
Shape & Length
Most grips are between 130 mm and 140 mm in length, although you can find shorter for small hands or grip shift at around 90 mm. Large handed riders can find grips up to 150 mm.
The common shape is a plain gauge grip and has the same thickness all over. Ergonomic grips feature flat sections to the outside of the grip to add support to hands or wrists.
Material
Various rubber compounds make up most grips and differ to offer grip, cushioning, and padding. Silicon foam grips are popular, yet lack grip and durability.
Bar Plugs
Bar plugs or end caps protect handlebars and grips in crashes. They are made of plastic or polymer and fit in the handlebars. Some push in and can fall out. Slide on handlebars often forgo these and have rubber on the end.
Final Verdict
In testing, we saw fancy models or no-frills models of bike grip. A lot can depend on the bike riders on what they like, yet when recommending, you need to look with different eyes.
The best mountain bike grips are not always the most expensive, and the Vktech 2pcs Non Slip Soft Rubber Mountain Bicycle Handlebar MTB Bike Handle Grips showed this.
They were the cheapest mountain bike grip in the review, yet offered the best performance. The super-soft grip was the best on the handlebars and in the hand out of any.
The rubber compound was comfortable on mountain bikes on longer rides, and the grip system great for rough terrain or jumps. The grips may not come with bar ends, yet the rubber is tough enough to offer protection for many bumps.
These are the best mountain bike grips you can get for mountain biking for the performance and the price.
Read more: Best Mountain Bike Shoes
