Buyer's guide | Handlebar tape

Materials

The used materials are the fundamental factor in creating a comfortable and practical handlebar tape. We use PU, EVA, and Microfiber material through our range of handlebar tapes. All materials have their own specific benefits and it is up to you to make a decision about what is important to you.

PU or Polyurethane is mostly used in handlebar tapes for its flexibility, it can be wrapped around the handlebar tightly and shapes easily to avoid any wrinkles. Besides, it is easy to clean and will repel mud and water.

EVA or ethylene vinyl acetate is one of the classics and provides you with great comfort and damping abilities. Besides, it gives you a firm grip and a comfortable contact surface for your hands.

Microfiber is well-known for its toughness. It will last significantly longer than other materials and is super easy to clean while still maintaining a great appearance.

Surface

Let's start with the surface of your handlebar tape. This is one of the few contact points between you and your bike. It is therefore a very important aspect to create control a comfortable grip. It is important to realize that every person has his own preferences in regards to the amount of grip of handlebar tape. We cannot give you any advice on this, as you have to go with your gut feeling and experience. All our handlebar tapes have a grip level between 1 and 9 to give you an indication of the amount of grip you can expect. Both high and low levels of grip have their own pros and cons.

Thickness

The thickness of your handlebar tape has also a great effect on its comfort. Also, personal preference plays a major role in this. The thickness of your handlebar tape essentially changes the thickness of your handlebar. Choosing a thick handlebar tape means that there is more surface area to evenly spread out the pressure on your hands. This will keep the blood flow in your hands better and therefore makes your ride more comfortable and your hands less tired.

On the other hand, choosing a handlebar tape that makes your handlebar too thick can also be uncomfortable. If you have smaller hands or you cannot comfortably wrap your hands around your handlebar anymore, it is better to choose a thinner handlebar tape. Our 3,5 mm thick GravelRibbon and RaceRibbon Gel are our thickest handlebar tape, developed for comfort and good absorption of vibrations. Our other handlebar tapes are all 2,5 mm thick and can be seen as a good balanced comfortable thickness.

Grip

Grip is one of the most important facotrs of a handlebar tape. A bit less comfort can be annoying, but a bit less grip could a fatal! We have divided our handlebar tapes in grip categories good, better and best. Although, this does not mean that a handlebar tape with the best grip is also best for you. Some cyclists like more freedom of movement so that they can move their hands easier over their handlebar. Others might like a more grippy hold. especially good for rough terrain. As you can see, the choice is very personal and you have to discover yourself what is best for you. Ask your cycling friends what they like, and try some different handlebar tapes if you can!

Demping

Damping of your handlebar tape reduces vibrations and creates a barrier between your hands and the harsh and rough riding surface. A handlebar with no handlebar tape would feel uncomfortable from the start, as you feel every little bump in the road, and the vibration will tire out your hands really quickly. A good handlebar tape absorbs the unwanted and uncomfortable vibration and works as a suspension between your bike and you. Although, too much damping can reduce control and 'feeling' with your bike. It can water down the feedback you get from your bike and the surface you are riding on. It is therefore important to determine the right amount of damping that your personally prefer. In the specifications of our handlebar tapes, we have indicated the amount of damping.

You are ready to go!

When applying your handlebar tape yourself, you only need a pair of scissors. All the rest is included with the handlebar tape to get you back on the bike as quickly as possible. Both finishing tape and handlebar plugs are included and the handlebar tape itself is long enough to easily cover your whole handlebar.

The special gel or glue strips on the back of our handlebar tapes make it easy to apply to your handlebar. Our more expensive handlebar tapes even have a gel strip which means that you can reapply your tape again and again. It provides good fixation on your handlebar and together with the finishing tape and handlebar plugs your handlebar tape is perfectly secured on your handlebar. If you prefer different handlebar plugs or you would like to have a spare pair, we also sell a range of different handlebar plugs in different colors and designs to fit your bike. Go for a pair of ScrewOn handlebar plugs for a luxury appearance, as super-secure hold and limitless (re)usage!