Top 13 Best Mountain Bike Grips Reviews In 2020

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In need of an upgrade to your bicycle grips, but still unsure which one you should choose? Then you’re at the right place.

There is, however, a seemingly endless array of options with different features, which can be cumbersome for you. I’m here to guide you through the 13 best mountain bike grips currently on the market.

Make sure to read everything carefully before scrolling down for helpful buying tips and other in-depth reviews.

Why You Need A Good Pair Of Mountain Bike Grips?

What distinguishes a quality pair of mountain bike grips from a cheaply made one is not only the feelings of hands, but also the hours of happy and enjoyable riding.

A good pair of mountain bike grips should deliver the maximum comfort to your hands over an extended period of time, and it should give you adequate and precise steering control.

Not only that, the component choice and construction should contribute to the grips’ durability and, most importantly, its life shell.

Benefits Of Using Mountain Bike Grips

Designed with comfort in mind, mountain bike grips promise to deliver you:

• A great amount of cushioning and padding
• Good vibration damping (Shock absorption)
• Ergonomic design to keep your hands comfortable (Little or no hand fatigue)

What Are The Best Mountain Bike Grips To Buy In 2020?

To warm up, take a quick look at the summarized list of 13 best mountain bike grips which I’ve carefully picked for you:

• Best Overall: Race Face Half Nelson Mountain Bike Grips

(Well-built, low-profile design, channel away dirt and debris, outstandingly responsive, sticky and tacky, perfect for down-hill, all-mountain, cross-country rides)

• Best Value: GPMTER Mountain Bike Grips

(Economically designed, added protection with tri layers, nice grip, excellent vibration and shock damping, ideal for most types of bikes, offers extensive warranty)

• Best Budget: Vktech Mountain Bike Grips

(high-quality components, effortless installation, comes with manufacturer’s guarantee, compatible with most handlebars)

•  Best All-Weather Grips: Outerdo Mountain Bike Grips

(High-quality component, greatly reduce shocks and vibration, can be used with or without gloves, suitable for various bike breeds)

• Best for All-Mountain Rides: Ergon GA2 Mountain Bike Grips

(Carbon bar-friendly, constructed with quality and details, great amount of cushioning, varied thickness for maximum damping)

• Best Surface Pattern: MARQUE Mountain Bike Grips

(Attractive patterns, slim and comfortable design, secure locking system, outstanding grip under all circumstances)

• Best Comfortable: Schwinn Mountain Bike Grips

(Ergonomic design relieves all tensions and pressures on hand palms, high-quality and durable Kraton components, large palm area, textured pattern)

• Best for Big Hands: Odi Rogue Mountain Bike Grips

(Very cushioned, high-quality construction, deep grooves to channel out any dirt, includes snap cap end plugs)

• Best Dual-Lock Grips: Fifty-Fifty Mountain Bike Grips

(Highly grippy and comfortable, quality and durable construction, tacky feeling)

• Best Grips With No Gloves: ODI Ruffian Mountain Bike Grips

(Knurled pattern provides excellent traction in all conditions, double lock protects handlebar from damage, locking clamp included, nice fit)

• Best for Gravity Riders: Ergon GE1 Mountain Bike Grips

(Little gripping force needed, compatible with carbon bars, improves body’s posture for better cornerings, adjustable angle grip, 2-year warranty)

• Esi Chunky Mountain Bike Grips

(Effortless installation, lightweight and comfortable, compatible with RockShox Twist Loc, custom fit, secure hands and handlebar)

• ODI Elite Pro Mountain Bike Grips

(Affordable quality, feels great on bare hands, responsive, excellent amount of traction)

Best Mountain Bike Grips Comparison Chart 2020

I’ve also included a comparison of 13 best mountain bike grips to help you choose the one suited you best.

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Top 13 Best Mountain Bike Grips Reviews In 2020

I can’t wait no more to introduce you to the 13 best mountain bike grips. Let’s dive right in!

Best Overall: Race Face Half Nelson Mountain Bike Grips

The Raceface Half Nelson grips will definitely impress you as they provide sufficient cushion as well as a decent response to your palms.

They have a slim and low-profile shape which provides a desirable tacky feeling, and the soft, durable, yet grippy compound gives you a comfortable feel throughout the journey.

Featuring topographic moisture channels, they work to deliver you a comfortable feeling and reduce any hand numbness or slick when sweat. Since they’re made of silicone, the grips are soft, durable and you’ll also feel a bit tacky on your palms whether or not you’re wearing gloves.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Value: GPMTER Mountain Bike Grips

With the GPMTER Mountain Bike Grips, you won’t be disappointed and save yourself tons of money. It’s beyond my expectations when it comes to feeling, materials, and of course, price point.

The rubber feels great on hands. It feels super soft even when you wear gloves on. That being said, it’s incredibly comfortable when riding without gloves thanks to the padding.

Also, the product comes with an allen wrench which serves to help you with installation or so. The grips, too, do have an adjustable locking collar to meet a variety of needs.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Budget: Vktech Mountain Bike Grips

Though offered at an incredibly cheap price, this mountain bike grip from Vktech lives up to my expectations.

Though they fit snugly into practically any bike’s handlebar, they are larger than I expected, measuring 120mm in length which in turn gives you more comfort and ease off hand numbness.

Should the grips be tight, just use soap and water so that they can easily slip in. Also, a pair of padded biking gloves is useful for longer rides, especially for off-road mountain adventures since there isn’t enough padding on the grip, and your hands can get hurt.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best All-Weather Grips: OUTERDO Mountain Bike Grips

There’s nothing special about this pair of mountain bike grips, but surely it gets the job done and feels nice on the hands, and I do appreciate the fact that it features a BMX-like design, which recalls an “old school” feeling whenever I ride it.

It appears to be longer than some bike grips I’ve used, but you can trim them so that they can fit your handlebar. A small tip for installing: wet the handlebar and spray a bit of vegetable oil inside the grips, and they will slip in right away. Don’t worry about your bike’s handlebar getting slippery because the oil will dry out after a few hours.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best for All-Weather Rides: Ergon GA2 Mountain Bike Grips

Don’t skip these German-made Ergon GA2 grips if you need to upgrade your bike for a mountain ride.

The ergonomic shape is not only comfortable but is also absolutely aggressive, perfect for mountain riders looking for a locked-in feeling. The grips are thicker than those Specialized SIP grips, thus delivering better shock absorption.

What’s more, it’s comfortable even when you wear gloves on. Riding with bare hands will also not strain your wrists at all as the aluminum, carbon bar-friendly clamp provides you a full area of grip to which you can hold.

Just like other products, these grips from Ergon are also available in multiple colors to suit your taste.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Surface Pattern: MARQUE Mountain Bike Grips

These grips from Marque will definitely satisfy you with the unique visual design, perfect for those wanting to do a fancy upgrade.

Thanks to the unique multidirectional ergonomic surface, handling on the handlebar is a piece of cake, crisply and confidently.Moreover, these grips would give you a more race-y and aggressive feeling due to the micro-cavities on the surface, which help enhance comfort and grip also.

After a couple of uses, I feel that the grips are a bit thinner than other counterparts, and seem to be longer as well, but you can easily trim it off depending on your bar length.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Comfortable: Schwinn Mountain Bike Grips

Schwinn has long been well-known for its high-quality product line of cycling equipment, and the Schwinn Mountain Bike Grip is no exception.

The large palm pad alleviates the tension on your wrists, which is helpful for those who travel over long distances. Also, they can be somewhat adjusted in terms of rotation to help you to get the most efficient and comfortable handling position on the handlebar.

I love the design because it gives you the ability to climb up steep hills with more confidence and firmness. Moreover, the front edge is narrowed down so it won’t block your blood circulation.

All in all, it’s yet another comfortable, grippy and sturdy pair of grips from this popular brand.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best for Big Hands: ODI Rogue Mountain Bike Grips

I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to this top-quality pair of mountain bike grips from Odi.

To be honest, they’re the most comfortable grips I’ve ever tested, and look amazingly cool and sporty on the handlebars.

The metal lock rings clamp on to the bar easily, and the plastic end caps lock in tightly.

The best thing about these grips is that they’re made for large hands, so you’ll not experience any strain or numbness on your long epic riding adventures.

The reviews and photos on Amazon wouldn’t do justice, you just have to try it yourself!

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Dual Lock-On Grips: FIFTY-FIFTY Mountain Bike Grips

If you’re looking for the most grippy bike grips, then you’re at the right place. The Fifty-fifty grips won’t let you down.

It’s super easy to install, and it grips very well with bare hands, and even better with gloves. The grips clamp onto the handlebars tightly by tightening the collars on both ends, so there’s no chance of falling off.

The pattern is what makes the Fifty-fifty grips unique. Though it has larger ribbed areas, your comfort will not be compromised. These grips have been designed with natural feel in mind, so don’t worry about being uncomfortable when not wearing gloves.

Overall, it’s a perfect grip for anyone intending to travel aggressively as the dual-lock feature ensures more stability.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best Grips With No Gloves: ODI Ruffian Mountain Bike Grips

Don’t be surprised when I introduce you to another pair of grips from Odi as this company produces one of the best grips ever.

The rubber material is a bit tacky, but it doesn’t wear off easily, and black finishing means less cleaning compared to other color options, which is very convenient.

The lock-on is a bonus and will not fail you, and the small diamond cuts into the grip provides not only great traction, but also that grippy and tacky feeling.

A feature which I really like is that you don’t have to cut them off when you need to access the shifter and brakes. All you need to do is to remove them off and reinstall again. Installation, however, is a breeze – no more struggle with lubrication and sliding them into the bar.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Best for Gravity Riders: Ergon GE1 Mountain Bike Grips

Not sure which pair of grips to get for gravity riders? The Ergon GE1 Mountain Bike Grips will not let you down.

The ergonomic design is awesome, resulting in a soft, grippy feeling and delivers the exact amount of cushioning. This design will also change your riding posture a bit, which allows your elbows to stay up for better cornerings.

What’s more special about these grips are that they’re asymmetrical, meaning that they can constrict to allow you to wrap around with fingers to give you more control.

In short, these grips from Ergon are a great combination of function and comfort – a worthy upgrade for any riders.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

ESI Chunky Mountain Bike Grips

Say goodbye to those long days of hand fatigue as the ESI Chunky mountain bike grips is here to make it disappear.

Due to the fact that these grips are made of silicone, they are lighter than lock-on ones. Moreover, they are much more effective than standard grips when it comes to vibration damping, which eventually leads to hand numbness. The more you ride, the more you’ll appreciate this.

They have medium thickness suitable for most riders out there. Since they’re offset, one side is slightly thinner than the other. Make sure to face the thinner end underneath your fingers and the thicker one to your palms.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

Odi Elite Pro Mountain Bike Grips

Here comes another quality product from the experienced company Odi which I’m sure will satisfy you.

Featuring a slim design, the Odi Pro Elite grips are highly responsive, providing feedback about terrains and tires as you ride.These grips are a perfect combination of comfort and control – grippy and tactile.

The new single collar design is secure not only on regular handlebars, but carbon bars as well. What I truly appreciate is that the integrated end caps on these grips have resolved the issues I found with the Race Face Half Nelson Mountain Bike Grip, which are moving around the handlebar and trapping dirt.

I particularly love the waffle pattern because it gives me more space to which my fingers can grab, and the small inside flange is something I cannot do without.

Product specs:

To learn more about this bike grips, please watch this review video:

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Mountain Bike Grips In 2020

What to look for when buying a new set of grips? Here are several key factors you need to pay attention to before making a decision:

Type of grips

Grips can be classified into 2 main types: push-on and lock-on.

Lock-on grips: These grips are made of rubber, and have metal rings at one or both ends, which clamp onto the handlebar. They are very secure and 100% slip-free. Dual lock-on grips provide the highest level of security.

Push-on grips: They’re also made of rubber, but need liquid adhesive or compressed air for installation. These grips deliver better shock/ bump absorption because they’re in direct contact with the bar.

In addition to rubber, many grips are made of silicone or foam. They don’t have lock-on collars or integrated bar ends, but are popular among long distance riders for their good vibration damping.

Size

Mountain bike grips differ in size. A common sense is that smaller hands suit smaller grips and vice versa. Not only that, some manufacturers do use padding to offer more cushioning to the hands.

Make sure to get the right grips for your hands for ultimate control and comfort. You don’t want to get achy hands or strain on your wrist, right?

Pattern

There are various patterns on the grips, from simple cross-hatched to lines and even words. However, there are three most popular patterns on the market which I’m sure you have all come across are waffle pattern for palm cushioning, knurled pattern for fingertips, and mushroom profile for thumb cushioning.

Again, it all comes down to personal preference for pattern choice. My only recommendation,  if you plan to get rubber grips,  is to get a pair of grips with a small amount of pattern for a good grip.

Compound

Just like tires, grips also come in different compounds.

My only advice is that choose a set of grip with a fairly thick rubber covering (not too thick and not too thin). Why? These grips will provide good vibration damping, and won’t cause hand fatigue, at least for a particular period of time.

FAQs

How do I choose mountain bike grips?

It depends your riding style (hardcore, rough terrains or paved trails, etc.), bar length and personal preference (color, pattern, etc.).

Generally, choose a pair of grips that deliver just the right amount of cushioning (for comfort), sufficient or ample vibration damping, and of course, is offered at a reasonable price point.

Are lock on grips good?

Since lock-on grips have to be clamped on, they provide a high level of security and sit tightly on the handlebar. That being said, it’ll take a lot of force to make them slip.

How do you keep your grips from slipping off?

Getting annoyed because the grips keep sliding on and off? Watch this video for how to make them ‘unmovable’:

Do BMX grips fit mountain bikes?

Definitely yes, and may be even better than regular grips because they are specifically designed with special features for a particular riding style.

Are all mountain bike grips the same size?

The inner diameter of the grips have been standardized to 22.2mm to fit virtually any handlebars, but they vary in lengths and outer diameters. Riders can choose among these grips for a custom fit and, most off all, suit their personal taste.

My Top Pick

My most favorite pair of mountain bike grips is inarguably the award-winning Race Face Half Nelson. They feature a slim profile design and a well-padded surface that addresses all problems related to hand fatigue. As highly responsive as they are, I am able to tell whether or not my tires need a top-off.

That’s it! Which product comes first to your mind? What do you like about it? Do you have any issue with your current grips? Please comment down below. I hope my review helps you with making the right buying decision. Stay tuned for more updates!