Your bike's grips play a huge role in how your bike feels to ride. Not only is a fresh set of grips one of the most affordable upgrades you can invest in, but they can revitalise your bike's ride, while the right grips for you will stave off arm pump, allowing you to ride harder for longer. Here are the best we've tested.

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Best grips 2025

• SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro
• DMR Deathgrip2
• OneUp Components Thick Grips
• ODI Vanquish
• Race Face Chester
• WTB Wavelength
• Prologo X-Shred
• ODI Vans v2.1 MTB Lock On Grips
• Lizard Skins Northshore
• All Mountain Style Berm
• DMR Deathgrips Flangeless Race Edition
• ESI Fatty's silicone handlebar grips
• Lizard Skins Charger Evo Single-Sided Lock-On grip
• Oxford Driver Lock-on MTB Grip
• Race Face Getta Grip lock-on grip
• Renthal Push-On Ultra Tacky Grip
• ODI Elite Flow Lock-On Grips
• RevGrips Pro Series Grips
• ODI Elite Motion Lock-On Grips
• ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips

SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro

£37

Coming from a brand that's all about ergonomics, the 70X 2.0 Pro takes the foundation of the original 70X grip and turns it up to 11. It introduces a softer rubber compound and a slightly revised shape that boosts comfort and traction while reducing fatigue and arm pump deep into lengthy descents.

SQlab uses proper science to design the shape of its grips, too, and we can confirm that the brand's research works. However, these aren't the best for those who prefer to ride without gloves, and you're paying for that development.

If you're looking to bring more comfort to your bike's cockpit, head over to the SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro grip review to learn more.

DMR Deathgrip2

£24

DMR's Deathgrip earned itself a rightful place as a go-to upgrade for many a mountain biker but it's been on the market for a good while now. That's why the brand brought the most famous grip back to the drawing board to refine its aesthetic while bringing improved performance.

And DMR managed to achieve exactly that. The Deathgrip2 grips are available in a range of configurations, so with or without flanges and in a super soft Race compound which we found performed exceptionally, despite being faster wearing.

For more details on the Deathgrip2's upgrades, here's the DMR Deathgrip2 grips review.

OneUp Components Thick Grips

£25

Despite establishing itself for the EDC Tool, OneUp has been quick to expand its lineup, and here are its grip options. Available in different diameters, we tried the Thick grips and found that they provide loads of cushioning and plenty of traction. 

They're priced rather well, too, while looking good and being seriously durable.

Here's the OneUp Components Thick Grips review for more.

ODI Vanquish

£40

If you like your grips to be as tech-filled as possible, look no further. ODI's Vanquish grips come after a collaboration between ODI and D30, which has resulted in a special rubber compound that focusses on damping vibrations and improving grip. Additionally, there's a neat bit of D30's non-Newtonian material at the end of the bar, bringing improved durability.

The result is a grip that does exactly what it's designed to do. It's comfortable, grippy, and it does a great job of eliminating low-level vibrations. It is pricy, however, so be prepared to fork out the cash.

To find out more about what makes the Vanquish so good, here's the ODI Vanquish grips review.

Race Face Chester

£25

Another grip to sit at the £25 mark is Race Face's Chester grips. The brand says that they're built with the softest rubber that it's ever formulated with a thick 20A durometer, all in a bid to minimise arm pump. The Chester grips get a convex and wafered thumb pad as well as an angled wafer main tread to guide excess moisture away from the hand's contact patch.

As for the performance, our Ty was impressed thanks to their cushioning, diameter options and the well-placed finger ridges.

Here's the review for his full thoughts - Race Face Chester grips review.

WTB Wavelength

£30

WTB's Wavelength grips are all about simplicity and top-level vibration damping. Although they're set within the most competitive price bracket, and they're not as durable as others, we appreciated the squishy texture, tapered profile, and finned texture.

Here's the WTB Wavelength grip review if you would like to learn more.

Prologo X-Shred

£24

Prologo's X-Shred grips stand out because well... They're rather different. Its unique texture employs hollow stipples laid out in a hexagonal arrangement that are designed to pair well with the brand's gloves.

The result is a comfortable grip that provides loads of traction, all while being fairly affordable.

Check out the Prologo X-Shred grips review to find out more.

ODI Vans v2.1 MTB Lock On Grips

£30

Synonymous with skateboarding, shoe brand Vans has collaborated with ODI to bring its waffle shoe tread to grips. Not only do the ODI Vans v2.1 MTB Lock On grips look excellent, but the distinct waffle texture works excellently on grips.

These are rather thin grips, so there's excellent bar feel, however, traction is top-notch, and we're big fans of the checkerboard locking collars.

Head over to the ODI Vans v2.1 Lock On grips review for the full lowdown.

Lizard Skins Northshore

£32

If chunky grips are your thing, Lizard Skins' Northshore grips should be at the top of your list. Although they sit at the more premium end of the price scale, our tester found that the Northshores provide excellent comfort and tonnes of grip. They look rather cool, too.

Get Josh's full thoughts over in the Lizard Skins Northshore grips review.

All Mountain Style Berm

£25

Better known for its range of stylish frame protection, AMS, or All Mountain Style, offers more than just sticky film. Here are the Berm grips, and as you might expect from the brand, they bring big style in an otherwise simple but effective package.

The Berm grips use a tapered profile that balances big comfort, vibration reduction, and exemplary bar feel. That's all at a price that certainly won't break the bank.

Find out why we liked these grips so much in the All Mountain Style Berm grips review.

DMR Deathgrips Flangeless Race Edition

£23

The Deathgrips are a household name in the world of handlebar grips and with very good reason. They are the product of a collaboration with DMR and Brendan Fairclough. We tested a thin version of the super soft, flangeless ‘Race Day’ edition, which proved to be super grippy and comfortable but a little bit delicate to knocks and bumps.

They combine two classic textures, diamond and mushroom, resulting in a grip that's become loved by the masses, and installed on many mountain bikes. 

• If these grips look like your cup of tea, check out the full DMR Deathgrips Flangeless Race Edition.

ESI Fatty's silicone handlebar grips

£28

 

ESI is synonymous with silicone grips and is widely regarded as one of the go-to producers of this option. Unlike most of ESI's grips, black is the only colour option offered on the Fatty's. As the name suggests, the Fattys are on the large side and boast a 35mm thickness, which supplies a feeling of comfort and security.

They are easy to install, but once in place, they can be a pest to remove, so if you are a rider looking to swap them between bikes, a lock-on style grip might be a better solution. It's also worth remembering that silicone grips are not as durable as rubber-style grips, so unless you are careful, they won't look box-fresh for long. 

Read the full ESI Fatty's silicone handlebar grips review.

Lizard Skins Charger Evo Single-Sided Lock-On grip

£30

Lizard Skins claims that this grip is its most complex option, combining a dual pattern with a soft compound rubber, all to provide riders with a comfortable grip.

The Charger Evo grip clamps to your bar via a single lock-on collar. The aggressive pattern and soft compound also provide decent vibration-damping properties. These particular Lizard Skins grips have a closed-end, so you will have to look elsewhere if you like to store trail-side tools inside the ends of your bars.

For information on how they performed during testing, read the Lizard Skins Charger Evo grips review.

Oxford Driver Lock-on MTB Grip

£15

The budget-friendly Oxford Driver lock on MTB grip uses a web and waffle mix of textures for grip and comfort. It uses a single collar end clamp that secures tightly and can also be moved from bike to bike.

The Oxford Driver grips tip the scales at 100g and come in five colours, so you can have them match your bike if you so wish.

At 130mm long with a 30mm diameter, they aren't especially long or bulky. That said, they are not the softest option available, but they will go the distance when it comes to wear and tear.

Read the full Oxford Driver Lock-On MTB grips review.

Race Face Getta Grip lock-on grip

£24

With a 30mm diameter, the Race Face Getta Grip is a low-profile offering. These grips use the company's proprietary rubber compound coupled with a hexagonal texture at the bottom - they use a single lock ring collar to clamp onto the bars. 

The grip is aided by the tacky rubber compound, which works well with or without gloves. However, if you are searching for a vibration-damping grip for those longer adventures, you might want to consider the thicker Race face 33mm diameter option instead. This thin and firmer design means they are durable and hold up well during the test period with minimal signs of wear. 

For more details, read the Race Face Getta Grip lock-on grip review.

Renthal Push-On Ultra Tacky Grip

£15

Renthal's Push-On grips offer a slender profile with an improved feel for more comfort. The Ultra Tacky compound does offer unprecedented levels of grip in the wet, but these have a higher rate of wear than regular rubber compounds.

The Push-On design is available in this Ultra Tacky version alongside its soft, medium, hard, and Kevlar compounds. With bare hands, the level of traction, even in wet conditions, is unprecedented. Owing to the push-on nature, they will take a little more effort to fit than a lock-on type grip. Renthal suggests that you secure these by using its grip glue (available separately at an additional cost).

To learn more about how they fared on test, read the Renthal Push-On Ultra tacky grips review.

ODI Elite Flow Lock-On Grips

£28

ODI was one of the first manufacturers to produce the lock-on style product, so it would be fair to say it knows a thing or two about grips. The ODI Elite Flow grips are one of three options in the ‘Elite’ series, and are suitable for riders who are looking for more comfort without sacrificing durability.

The Elite Flow grips feature offset padding, a single clamping collar, and a rubber compound in a knurled or diamond pattern with a half-waffle design on the underside for your pinkies to grip hold on.

The soft pro compound offers buckets of traction whether your hands are muddy, dusty or sweaty. The grips relayed good feedback from the trail, absorbing all but the gnarliest of downhill track chatter. 

Get all the details by checking out our ODI Elite Flow Lock-On Grips review.

 

RevGrips Pro Series Grips

£100

The RevGrips are available in three sizes spanning 31-34mm diameters and come in a range of colours – there are eight for the clamps and five for the sleeves, allowing a good level of customisation.

The RevGrips clamp on, leaving a gap between the main sleeve and the bar. The alloy clamps hold the sleeve firmly above the surface, while small rubber inserts provide a degree of twist and extra insulation from trail vibrations. The amount of flex and twist is tunable by means of thin metal spacers. This design is to help cure and prevent arm pump, hand pain, and rider fatigue. 

They are by no means cheap, but if your regular mountain bike ride is on the roughest and toughest gravity trails that are causing you serious fatigue, they might be your fix.

Keen on what you see here? Read the RevGrips pro series grips review.

ODI Elite Motion Lock-On Grips

£28

 

ODI Elite motion lock-on grips will suit riders with smaller hands thanks to their thinner 30mm diameter. They offer slightly more thickness where you want it under your palms. At 130mm long, they will fit without the need to push your shifters and brakes too far inboard on the bar.

The single clamp collar is coupled with a screw-in plug that hugs the grip. The knurled pattern comes in what ODI phrases as 'soft pro compound'. They are slightly tacky and are available in five colour options to ensure the collar matches the cuffs if you will.

If you have smaller hands and are looking for thinner grips, our ODI Elite motion lock-on grips review is worth a browse.

ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips

£28

The ODI Elite Pro Lock-On grips combine a single collar design with a sturdy plastic bar end plug for safety and security. The outer edge is raised to ensure you know where your hands are placed and to prevent you from slipping off the grip.

The rubber grip utilises a combination of a diamond knurl and a squared waffle pattern in the palm area. The ODI finger grid is perfectly placed on the underside, further boosting your grapple. The ODI Elite Pro grips also have a small inner flange that doesn't hamper ergonomics but rather boosts comfort thanks to the vibration-damping oval shape. 

Read all about it in our ODI Elite Pro Lock-On grips review.

How to choose the best MTB grips

If you have worn out your old grips or just want to upgrade your bike's critical touchpoints,  this section will address some of the most frequently asked questions about the best MTB grips to ensure you get the right product to suit you and your riding style.

What type of grips is best for MTB?

Slide-on grips are basically just a rubber sleeve that slides onto the end of your handlebars. They tend to be one-ended, negating the need for bar-end plugs. You can use lock wire that sits in a pre-cut deep groove and is twisted tightly around the grip. Alternatively, grip glue is available, or hair spray is an option that works.

The very simple nature of traditional slide-on grips means that they can be the cheapest option and are offered in thin sizes and are comparatively light. The downside is that they can slip unless they are tightly secured or if they get moisture underneath them. The cheaper options also don't offer the most grip, but they might last significantly longer.

Foam grips don’t incorporate any lock-on collars or integrated bar ends. Foam or silicone grips are popular with long-distance riders due to their damping properties that help to reduce fatigue from high-frequency vibrations. They are simple, cheap and another bonus is that they weigh very little. They mould to your hand after a few long rides and offer a personal touch to your bike's controls. Unfortunately, the soft construction also means they are not the most durable and can be easily damaged in a crash. 

Lock-on grips are rubber grips that feature metal collars at least on one end, if not both. These collars feature a grub screw or Allen key bolt that clamps and ‘locks’ them into place on the handlebar. These types of grips are popular on all different types of mountain bikes due to their security and versatility. They are also available in various colours, patterns, sizes, and compounds. 

Lock-on grips are simple and easy to install, but are generally more expensive than traditional types. However, even with the rubber coating around the inner sleeve, lock-on grips usually aren't quite as forgiving as the slip-on traditional offerings. Another word of warning, the collars can interfere with your palms, causing discomfort on longer rides, and they're not usually quite as thin as other types. 

Other alternatives include RevGrips, designed to reduce fatigue, and arm pump by allowing a small amount of float and twist to reduce vibrations and chatter. They are more difficult to install and are also more expensive to buy. As a result, they will need to be a carefully considered purchase to cure particular discomforts while riding.

Are all MTB grips the same size and length?

To put it shortly, no. It'll take a bit of experimenting to find the right size for you, but the effort will be well worth it for ultimate control and comfort. Though some grips are best chosen after taking particular hand measurements.

Generally speaking, smaller hands suit thinner grips. Fitting grips that are too fat or thin may result in you having achy hands, arm pump, or problems regulating your braking and reaching levers for shifting and dropper post-actuation.  

Grip length usually ranges between 128-140mm long, measured end to end. This measurement is useful to maintain the current positioning of your brake levers and shifters.

Alongside length, the shape can vary. Round grips offer a better bar feel, and an oval or ergonomically shaped grip is focused on comfort. Some manufacturers construct their grips so that the padding is offset and added only where it is needed. So the grip is thicker on one side than the other, allowing for a more cushioned palm area where the most pressure is exerted and a thinner area where the fingers cover. Grips sometimes have a flange on the inside, like a motocross or BMX grip. Depending on its size, this flange can restrict you from reaching any controls mounted inboard of your grips.

The diameter or thickness measurement will change between models of grips. The diameter is usually from 25mm right up to 40mm, but the majority are in the middle at around 30(ish)mm and are a good place to start. These figures indicate the vibration-damping properties of the grips. The thicker grips offer a comfy ride with better vibration damping, but won't suit smaller hands.    

Should I replace my stock grips?

The humble grip is more important than it might seem. As a contact point with your bike, it is a crucial part that needs to fit and feel comfortable for you. Having the best MTB grips will enable you to spend hours on the bike in control and comfort. Nothing is necessarily wrong with the stock-fitted grips; there is no need to change them immediately unless you are looking for a specific fit or performance. These will, of course, eventually wear in time. 

Which grip material and texture is the best?

Just like tyres, the best mountain bike grips come in different patterns and compounds, too, from uber tacky to the less so. The softer or 'tacky' compounds are grippier but will wear faster. The choice is down to cost and personal preference, whether you go for a grippy compound that will need replacing quicker or a harder one that will last you a lifetime. 

Many patterns are available, varying from a simple cross-hatched, waffle, or dimple pattern as found on ODI Elite Motion Lock-On grips to some that manufacturers opt to use their brand logo as a pattern and sometimes include a combination of a pattern and lettering. Some grips offer a combination with a raised grid that is designed to be rotated so that it is positioned on the underside of the handlebar to offer enhanced grip in the areas where your fingers wrap.

A low-profile pattern on the rubber is all that is needed to produce surprising levels of grip. Thicker and larger patterns might actually result in a lack of 'feel' and feedback through the bars, but will deaden the chatter or vibration better; as a result, it mostly comes down to personal preference. The ESI silicone grips are almost smooth and better suited to disciplines that spend longer in the saddle, like XC or marathon. Thanks to their damping performance rather than out-and-out grip.

It will also depend on whether you tend to ride with or without gloves, riders who regularly wear gloves tend to prefer smaller, less aggressive patterns.

How do I know when I need to replace my grips?

Even the best MTB grips will wear out eventually. How long your grips last will depend on how often you ride and the rubber compound used. Softer compounds with thicker grips can tear and generally won't last as long. A telltale sign that a grip is getting towards the end of its life is that the rubber gets smoother and stickier and begins to attract dirt. 

You should also think about replacing your grips if you are experiencing discomfort in your hands during your ride. Maybe you are finding sores or blisters; it might be time to try a different pair of grips.

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