Mountain bike grips are one of the three touchpoints on your bike.
You use them to steer your bike and navigate the trails.
But all too often, they are overlooked. Countless riders run the same grips that came stock on their bike until they are absolutely worn out.
However, you’re not one of those riders. You understand that your touchpoints dramatically influence your riding experience, and you want to take care of them.
Well, you’re in the right spot. This blog covers the best mountain bike grips in the market. So whether you’ve totally blown out your current grips or are just looking to add a pop of color to your rig, this blog will guide you to the right grip for you.
Disclaimer: This article may contain affiliate links.
The 8 Best Mountain Bike Grips
ODI Elite Pro
The ODI Elite Pros are a great all-around grip. The waffling on the bottom plus the flared ends creates a nice cradle for your hands, and the rubber has a nice tacky feel. These grips came stock on my previous bike, a Transition Sentinel, and I loved them. They are a little narrow if you have big hands, but they are tough to beat at this price.
DMR DeathGrip
I am currently on my third pair of DeathGrips and have nothing but praise for them. This grip comes in both a slim and thick size. This allows you to dial in the grip to the size of your hand. Further, they are also available with a flange, flangeless, and in a super grippy race compound. The grip pattern is a nice complex mixture of waffle and knurl grip. I have found that these grips wear out quite fast and aren’t very long-lasting. However, I still like to pretend I am Brendan Fairclough, and the pros of these grips outweigh the cons for me.
Ergon GD1 Grip
The Ergon GD1 Grip is Ergon’s gravity grip. However, it works well for all disciplines. This grip is unique because there is a designated left and right side, along with a taper from a smaller inside diameter to a larger outside one. Compared to the two previous grips, the rubber compound on the GD1 is quite hard. But when it comes to ergonomics, Ergon knows what they’re doing. Just look at their name.
(Going on a mountain bike ride soon? Learn how to dress correctly for your rides here.)
PNW Components Loam Grip
PNW is one of the smaller companies in this grip round-up. But this hasn’t stopped them from becoming a competing force in the market. Their Loam grip is a great all-around grip that suits cross country riders, trail riders, and gravity riders alike. I am a big fan of the built-in progressive flange. It gives you an extra feeling of security when you’re mashing down those rough tracks. It comes in a variety of bright colors and sports a very reasonable price tag. If you want to support a USA-based brand, and want a no-fuss grip, check out the Loam grip.
OneUp Lock-On Grips
Hailing from Canada, OneUp made a name for themselves in the industry with their EDC (everyday carry) tool, which I have had on my last two bikes. Now they’re branching into touchpoints. This grip is very straight to the point and features a lock-on collar with finger ramps along the bottom of the grip. It comes in a variety of colors and is reasonably priced. Everything OneUp makes is quality, and these grips are no different.
ESI Chunky
Do you love long days in the saddle and Type II fun rides? If so, the ESI Chunky grip is for you. Used by cross country riders all over the world, this grip has set the standard for its damping characteristic and lightweight quality. This grip is different from the rest because it is 100% silicon and is slide-on only. If you don’t wear gloves when riding or ride a lot in wet conditions, I might stay clear of this grip as it can become slick when wet. But if you ride somewhere dry and want added cushion, this grip is for you.
REV Grips
Rev Grips are the most sophisticated grips on this list. What makes these grips unique is that they feature internal elastomers that let the grip slightly rotate while you’re holding it. This allows them to act as suspension, which reduces the chance of arm pump.
Since these grips are more mechanically advanced, they also require more maintenance. You have to replace the elastomers every couple of months. You can purchase replacements directly from REV, and you can choose between different compounds to fine-tune the feel.
I personally haven’t ridden these, but one of my good friends swears by them. All I know is that he’s never the one complaining about arm pump.
Renthal Lock-On
Do you love moto and pretend your mountain bike is a 450? If so, the Renthal Lock-Ons is your grip. Renthal is popular in the moto world, but they also make quality mountain bike products. These grips come in many different compounds so that you can choose the correct grip for your favorite type of riding. They don’t offer any bright colors, so your selection is limited to earth tones. Also, it’s worth mentioning that they have an outside locking collar, so if you like to hang your hand off the end of the bars, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re focused solely on the performance of your grip, these are a worthy contender.
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