Keep reading to learn more or skip to the bottom for answers to the most frequently asked questions about what to look for when buying a set of the best MTB grips.

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. The Elite Pro grips were developed in conjunction with Curtis Keene, an enduro world series racer. But before you think that these are ‘Enduro specific’ (at least they’re not e-MTB specific…) these grips have been designed for anyone who wants extra grip and padding, but isn’t fussed about a little bit of extra weight. The grip has a slight ergonomic shape reminiscent of the Ergon GE1, but I’ve fitted it both ways and not noticed any difference. Unlike the company’s Half Nelson and Love Handle grips, the Getta Grip also has a closed end, so you’re not going to plug bar with dirt in a crash, and it also conforms to most race rules.Equally, it could be that 20-plus years of testing mountain bikes with skinny grips reinforced that early-formed relationship. Either way, I’ve never got along with fat grips… Now, though, I won’t ride anything else.

The dual tread design is reminiscent of the DMR Deathgrip and works similarly well. The raised hard-ish end of the grip is a bit uncomfortable for riders who hang off the ends of their handlebars, however. But what’s this got to do with fatter grips? Well, Specialized fits fat grips to all of its size Large bikes and above. They’re 30.5mm in diameter rather than 28.5mm. The idea being that bigger riders have bigger hands, bigger hands need bigger grips. I know this, as I’ve been removing them from test bikes for years now and fitting the skinny ones instead. I normally use a set of DMR Deathgrips in the hard compound option, but have been wanting to try out a grip with a dual sided waffle pattern to seek out a little more cushioning. With the ODI Elite Pro grips, I certainly haven’t been disappointed. They fit my hands perfectly, and those 12 small boxes add an unexpected amount of padding and dampening to trail buzz. This is welcome for me, as I tend to ride without gloves, except for in the absolute coldest of conditions. Despite riding gloveless though, I can say that on hot summer days with sweaty hands, I’ve still had a load of traction and haven’t been concerned about my hand slipping off – something that I have experienced with some other smaller and less textured grips. It will also depend if 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? We put the “Motion” on our DH bike as it has the thinnest diameter and doesn’t have a raised area under the palm or a waffle pattern either. We liked the idea of a thin grip that won’t squirm on a DH bike, thus giving a very positive feel when you’re death gripping like a champ.The Oxford Driver grips tip the scales at 100g and come in fives colours, so you can have them match your bike if you so wish. 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.