You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Looking for comfort and not out right grip, for commuting and light off road.
I was looking at These Specialized and Ergon GA3
Uberbike Lock-ons. On pretty much all my bikes. But then I like thin grips.
If I want a bit more padding and comfort, then I'd go for ODI Rogues.
Nukeproof Sam Hills for me.
Lock-ons are the SPDs of the grip world.
At least that's what I might be led to believe.
I've currently got some ESI MTB Chunky Silicone grips on my commuter, had them on for a month (with less commuting than usual due to festive break) and am doubtful of their longevity. Comfy though, but not cheap (especially for what they are).
edit: Actually, the ESI grips were not expensive, it just happened they were twice the price of the ODIs I got super cheap in an offer.
specialised ones work brilliantly for me.. I suffered badly from carpal tunnel. now I'm happy. after 5 years!!!
I have both those grips. The Specialized is thinner and feels better under my fingers. The GA 3 is much softer under the palm but feels fatter in terms of gripping. The spec.ones are comfortable but not as plush and don’t remain comfy for as long as the GA3.
If you wear heavily padded gloves the specialized ones may be better.
DMR Deathgrips, turbo comfy. The Ergons that Seagrave rides are supposed to be pretty good.
Deathgrips they’re obviously not marketed for OPs requirements, but they’re very comfy with the thick bit.
Ergon GP2 with the stubby bar ends for SS gurning and long distance.
A stock of 99p ESI chunky silicone copies off ebay for everything else.
Tried loads and found ESI chunky to be the best combination of comfort and grip.
Ergons for me, look similar to the ones OP put up, I can’t ride any more than a few hundred yards without them. Same ones on both my mtbs.
Got some raceface grips on the hardtail - they’re very thin but give good control with gloves. Wouldn’t recommend them from a comfort perspective though.
I have some uberbike lock ons which I bought to replace the race face ones, but they’re actually a bit short in length so swapped them back for now until the raceface ones properly die.
The fs bike has Nukeproof Sam Hills on it - they’re much fatter grips than the raceface ones and more comfy. I can’t decide if they’re too thick though - they’re similar to the uberbike ones but a bit longer.
Lizard skin Charger. Non odi so more rubber and much softer than the odi equivalent. CRC £6.99
ESI chunky on both my bikes, unless you're a clumsy oaf they last well.
I've been through countless grips due to wrist pain and nothing has come close to esi chunky. The only issue I've had is them tearing on uplift days when bikes are strapped to the trailer by the grips, but if you're not doing uplifts they're great.
Renthal super tacky push ons here. First non lock on grip since lock ons first came about, so at least 15 years or more. Was sceptical about the faff of slipping grips etc, but thought I'd give them a go. Easy to go back to lock ons if they got annoying I thought.
Glued them on with renthal's grip glue and they've not budged in nearly a year in all weathers. Most brakes and gears have split clamps so removing them not an issue. I'm now a convert, can't see me going back to lock ons now. The lack of plastic inner really helps with comfort and the rubber offers tonnes of grip in all conditions. Cheaper too. Win.
I've got a few pairs of the production privee ones with the adjustable offset. Very long lasting and very comfy.
ESI chunky on Jones Loops on the fat bike and FS, one of the Ergons on Velo Orange Crazy Bars on the hardtail.
I fitted a set of Ergon Gp3 grips to my new bike a few weeks ago. Done a couple of rides since then and massively impressed. Very comfy and I use the short bar end pretty much all the time.
Only grips I have used for years that have stopped the numb hands. Best £32 I have spent on a bike part.
Ergon GE1 Factory ultra sticky things. Brilliant things
Oury Lock-ons on both my bike...been using them for years, can't even remember what i used before them
Joystick Builders
Nice squish but never lose grip. Tried multiple grips including deathgrips and RF half Nelson's but these are just right for me with and without gloves
Just fitted a set of Ergon Gs2's. They were intended for just using bikepacking but think I might leave them on. If not those, raceface half nelson's have been great.
Ergon GD1 are surprisingly comfy, liked them on my mtn bike too. Renthal push ons are even thinner but just as comfy. I like thinner grips though and thicker gloves if on the road.
ESI chunky over here too.
ODI longneck loc ons
Like the death grip.... But comfy along the whole length👍
Just fitted some eBay copies of the ESI Chunky grips.
All of £1 from China. They look and feel identical to the (imo overpriced) originals.
I've tried some ESI copies. They were ok to begin with but after a few rides they compressed and lost all padding. I stick ESI now.
Thanks for the reply's, Looks like ESI Chunky and Ergon GP2 are the main contenders, the Spech grips look good but I doubt they will last like I've read elsewhere. Ive ordered some GP2's they tick lots of boxes for me.
Ergon GP2 for long distance stuff and half nelsons for everything else.
Oury lock-ons. Big and chuncky for my shovel hands.
ODI Elite Pro Lock-ons. No problems with arm pump since switching to theses.
Half Nelsons for me. I used to tend toward chunky grips but bought a pair of Half Nelsons by accident and discovered that for me at least (XL gloves) they were far more comfy than the chunk grips and instantly solved all the various hand pains I'd been ignoring and assuming were to do with vibration and hence assuming thicker grips = better. Also no pump issues.
I briefly tried the Ergon style grips and can honestly say that the write ups they get they were a huge let down. Definitely on the list of things that would get removed from a new bike if present.
I've got odi mushrooms. Comfy with or without gloves 😁.
KCNC Foam weight-weenie grips on both of my HTs … cheap, effective and weigh next to nothing (12g for the pair!!):
I have the GA2s. Sorted out my wrist problems on longer rides.
Deathgrips they’re obviously not marketed for OPs requirements, but they’re very comfy with the thick bit.
I agree with this, but Oury push-on grips might be even better for OP's needs. Hard to track down though.
Ergon look like an expensive gamble to me.
Renthal lock-on on one bike. They will get swapped because whatever the bar witdh, I always seem to ride with my hands at the end of the bar and the metal lock ring's not too comfortable, although they are very, very tacky and decent otherwise.
Have Hope grips on the main bike and they're still my favourites. Not quite as tacky as the Renthals, but much more comfortable.
I like esi chunkies but I am a part-time clumsy oaf and hit the occasional tree causing the things to immediately tear. So my slightly more durable solution are supercaz gripz. 95% as comfy, one lock-on collar and (a little bit) more tree resistance. They wear fast though so you'd only get a year out of them I reckon.
I like lock ons but I don't like lock on clamps the outside of my bars.
Race Face Half Nelson have seen me right for the last few years and have worn OK. I have a set ready to go when current ones die.
DMR Death grips would be another option.
Avoid Hope.
Super sticky, but fairly low-ish profile. Great for hard riding, but rubbish for comfort and long days in the saddle.
Thick DMR Deathgrips for me - quite like the look of the fabric 50:10 ones though. Definitely prefer thicker grips, but everyone's different!