Best Mountain Bike Grips (Buying Guide In 2023)

Grips are an essential part of your mountain bike as it is one of the few contact points you have with the bike.

A bad grip can be pretty annoying on the long ride and hampers your mountain biking experience. Grips can be too thick or too thin, and you need to find one that fits your palms.

Here are some of the best mountain bike grips you can buy today. You’ll also find a buying guide at the bottom of the article.

 

Best Mountain Bike Grips

Below are some of our recommendations on mountain bike grips. It’s not an exhaustive list but it should be sufficient for you to decide on one that suits you.

1. Lizard Skins Northshore Grip

This Lizard Skins grip comes in various colors including green, blue, black and grey.

It comes with a diameter of 33 mm which is probably bigger than the standard size. If you’re a fan of bigger grips or if you simply have larger hands, you may want to get this grip for your mountain bike.

This Lizard Skins Northshore also has a pattern of square sections that allow better air flow. Even if you sweat a lot, it does not normally become slippery. It’s still pretty sticky.

Why buy this grip?

• If you like wider grips, then this one is very suitable for you.

• Square patterns on grips help to give better grip and air flow.

• It’s sticky even after prolonged use, giving you better control of the bike.

• Has a lock-on to secure the grip.

Cons

• It’s only suitable if you like thick grips.

 

2. Oury MTN Grip

Next on the list is the Oury MTN Grip which comes in many colors including black, pink, glue, green, orange and grey.

This one’s cheaper than the Lizard Skins making it suitable if you have a lower budget for grips. Even with the lower price, it still has a good rubber padding and provides quite a good grip.

That being said, it’s only good for bars below 5 inches long as it’s pretty short. If your bike has a longer handle, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Pros of the Oury MTN

• Very affordable. At a lower budget price, you still get a relatively good grip.

• Comes in many colors giving you a lot of choices.

• Padding is thick and comfortable.

Cons

• Too short for certain handles.

 

3. ODI Bike Grips

Next up are mountain bike grips made by ODI. This one also comes with a lock-on grip to secure it tightly to the handle.

Unlike some of the modern grips, this one is on the thinner side. Not everyone likes fat grips, and ODI might be a suitable alternative.

One good feature is that it’s really easy to install. Unlike some grips which require using lubrication and so on, this one easily fits on the bar.

ODI also comes with an aluminium end clamp which makes it more solid.

It comes in black, green, purple, blue and red.

Pros of the ODI grips

• Installation is easy. This seems to be the best feature of this grip.

• Suitable for those who prefer thinner grips.

• Comes with lock-on.

Cons

• Not suitable if you like thick grips.

 

4. BV Bike Handlebar Grips

This one is pretty unique as it was inspired by the Mayan patterns. Visually, it looks pretty cool.

It also comes with double clamps, which helps to secure the grips in place and give it an additional touch in its design.

Like most grips, this one is also made of material which absorbs shock.

The BV Bike grips come in five colors, i.e. red, blue, green, yellow or just plain black. Like the first grip featured above, this one also comes with a 33 mm diameter which is on the thicker side.

This grip also has a double lock-on system which helps to keep the grip in place on the handle.

Why buy the BV Bike grip

• High quality material to reduce shock and vibration, thereby reducing fatigue in long distances.

• Comes with a clamp.

• Has a double lock-on system.

• Cheaper than most grips featured here.

• Fits most handlebars.

Cons

• Not suitable if you dislike the patterns.

 

5. Fifty-Fifty Bike Grips

Next up, we have the Fifty-Fifty Bike Grips which come in six different colors including red, orange, purple, yellow, green and black.

Like good grips, this one also comes with a dual lock on. This means it has a clamp design and the lock-ons help to keep the grip in place. You won’t have the tube sliding off the handlebar when you’re mountain biking.

It also uses rubber which helps to absorb shock when riding in rough terrains. With its textured design, it also helps to provide extra grip.

This grip is suitable for those who prefer smaller grips as it is only 30 mm externally.

Pros of the grips

• Has a dual lock-on to secure the grip.

• Made of rubber suitable for comfort as it absorbs shock and is grippy enough for your mountain biking adventure.

• Easy installation.

• Good for those who prefer narrower grips.

Cons

• May not have enough grip cushion for some people / need to wear gloves.

 

6. Prunus Bike Grips

Unlike the grips featured above, this one is designed differently. This Prunus grip comes with a much larger surface area for you to put your palms on.

It also has a bar end horn on each grip, and the whole aim of it is to reduce fatigue by supporting your palms.

The inner tube of the grip is different as it’s made of plastic, keeping the grip in shape and making it easier to fix the grip on the handlebar.

Why buy the Prunus grip

• Larger surface area. The grips come with a larger surface area which should provide a better comfort for long distance biking.

• Easy to install.

Cons

• Not everyone may like this design or feel comfortable with it.

 

7. Ergon GA3 Gravity Mountain Grips

Another mountain bike grip worth considering is this one by Ergon. It comes in different colors including orange, blue, red, berry and black.

They also use a rubber compound to provide a good grip and also comfort while using it.

The size of the grip is pretty standard. Most of the grips on this list has a 22.2 mm diameter internally (externally about 30 mm or more) and this one also has the same internal diameter.

This means it should fit most handlebars properly.

The design is also a little different, and is more similar to the Prunus. It also has a removable end cap.

Why buy the Ergon mountain bike grips

• Padding of the grip is comfortable enough.

• Design gives more support to palms.

Cons

• More expensive than many grips featured here.

 

8. TopCabin Bicycle Grips

If you don’t have much of a budget for grips, then you may consider this one by TopCabin. The diameter of the grips is similar to most grips and will be suitable for standard mountain bikes.

Design-wise, it looks minimal but it’s actually covered with many small anti-skid rubber patterns. This helps to prevent your palms from slipping off the handle.

The grips do not have a thick padding but a rather standard one. It also comes with the usual locks to put the tubes in place on the handlebar.

Why buy TopCabin grips

• One of the cheapest grips in the market.

• Quality much better than the price indicated.

Cons

• Not suitable if you prefer thick padding.

• Visually not that appealing.

 

How to choose the best mountain bike grips for you

Now that you’ve seen some of the options available in the market, how do you make a buying decision?

Here are some factors for you to consider in making a purchase.

1. Grip size

Before you buy a grip, you need to know if you prefer your grip padding to be thick or thin. Many modern ones come with a thicker padding to give you comfort in long rides, but it doesn’t suit everyone. Some may prefer thinner ones especially if they have smaller palms.

Also, check if the inner diameter of the grip actually fits your handlebar. Most of the grips do, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Length of the grip

You should also look at the length of the grip sold and whether it fits onto your handlebar nicely.

3. Price

Price is a usual factor when buying anything at all. There are some cheap grips that are still good, so you may want to get those if your budget is limited.

4. Lock-on system

Good grips should come with a lock-on system.

It helps to put the grip in place so that it doesn’t slide off the handlebar while you’re cycling.

5. Material and pattern of the grip

The material of the grip probably determines the comfort level of it. Many grips use some sort of a rubber compound to provide comfort and some are stickier to give you a better grip of the bar.

Also, check on the pattern of the grip. A good pattern should give you a strong grip and at the same time, ensure good air flow while using it.

6. Is it easy to install?

Last but not least, certain grips are easier to install than others. If you’re not good with installation, this may be an important factor for you.

 

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