The Greatest Handlebar Tape of 2024

Handlebar Tape is an usually missed improve that may enormously enhance your relationship together with your bike. The tape in your handlebar is kind of actually the place your fingers connect with the bars, serving as a vital contact level between you and your machine and one that may enormously affect your consolation and management.

Most bikes’ unique handlebar tape is chosen for its low price, however a well-chosen and high-quality roll will maximize management and luxury whereas refreshing your bike’s look and amplifying its fashion. Whereas it received’t rework your driving talents, the proper tape can enhance efficiency by offering the specified grip and vibration-dampening traits. And like the rest in biking, handlebar tape is available in an enormous array of supplies, constructions, thicknesses, floor textures, costs, and shade/sample choices to swimsuit various wants and preferences.

For many riders, as soon as they discover a tape they like, they have an inclination to stay to it, pun meant. That mentioned, if it’s been some time because you tried one thing new, there could also be one thing higher that makes use of extra superior supplies and presents a nicer really feel. However with lots of of choices to select from, discovering one of the best handlebar tape generally is a problem. To assist, we gathered 15 of one of the best and hottest handlebar tapes available on the market to check and examine.

After months of testing, we’ve chosen our favorites with our prime suggestions listed under, adopted by one of the best of the remaining that are all high quality choices that we really feel are worthy of consideration. You’ll be able to try our comparability chart to see the fashions we examined at a look. If you happen to need assistance deciding what to purchase, our shopping for recommendation offers helpful data, and we’ve obtained solutions to widespread questions in our FAQ part.

The Greatest Handlebar Tape of 2024

---

Better of the Relaxation

Comparability Chart

Handlebar Tape Mannequin	MSRP	Thickness	Size per roll (claimed)	# of Colours
Supacaz Tremendous Sticky Kush	$45	3mm	2,160mm	8 Star Fade, plus Basic and Galaxy choices
Zipp Service Course Bar tape – Highway	$27	3.5mm	1,900mm	3
Silca Nastro Cuscino 2.5	$50	2.5mm (examined), 3.75mm	not specified	6
ENVE Handlebar Tape	$40	3mm	2,500mm	3
Fizik Tempo Bondcush 3mm Gentle	$45	3mm	2,350mm (+/- 20mm)	5
Arundel Wraptor Wrap	$27.95	3.3mm	not specified	5
FSA PowerTouch	$33	3mm	2,000mm	8
Camp and Go Sluggish Western Rattler	$44	1.9mm (measured)	3,300mm	2
Cinelli Cork Ribbon Bar Tape	$20	Variable with stretch	“matches bars as much as 46cm”	12
Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape	$45	1.8, 2.5 (examined), 3.2, 4.6mm	2,080mm (varies barely by thickness)	16
Ergon BT Allroad	$37.95	2.5mm	2,100mm	5
HiFi Precision Premium Bar Tape	$30	2mm	not specified	1
Fizik Vento Microtex Cheesy	$35	2mm	2,350mm (+/- 20mm)	15
Arundel Gecko Grip	$22.95	not specified, however comparatively skinny	2,200mm	6
Easton Microfiber Tape	$30	not specified	not specified	6

Why Ought to You Belief Us?

The staff at Bikerumor takes biking very significantly and we’re lucky to get to spend a number of time driving bikes and making an attempt totally different merchandise. Spending as a lot time driving as we do, we’ve discovered that the touchpoints on our bikes are of vital significance in terms of our consolation. And within the case of handlebar tape, it additionally performs a significant position in our management. As such, we’re all the time on the lookout for and testing out one of the best merchandise that may improve our expertise and enhance our efficiency on the bike, handlebar tape included. And, this isn’t a listing we’ve simply thrown collectively, as a substitute, we’ve truly examined all of those bar tapes ourselves to see how they carry out in the true world.

For our handlebar tape purchaser’s information, we leaned on the experience of Bennett Shane to check nearly all of the choices on this overview and sprinkled in a few choices which can be favorites of our workers writers. Bennett is a dedicated highway, and typically gravel, bicycle owner who lives within the Portland, OR space and rides year-round for enjoyable, health, and product testing. Whereas he has a racing background, Bennett has shifted his focus lately to non-public challenges, vertical objectives, and lengthy rides via the countryside and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. With over 20 years of driving expertise, Bennett could be very meticulous about bike setup and upkeep and takes pleasure in dialing in his cockpit to perfection with completely wrapped handlebar tape. He’s additionally spent years working for quite a few outstanding manufacturers within the biking business and has an uncanny depth of data and expertise utilizing, or a minimum of tinkering with, almost each product available on the market. Spending as a lot time driving as he does, Bennett deeply understands the significance of the contact factors on his bicycles and the position they play in his consolation, management, and pleasure on each trip. Moreover, Bennett has contributed to our purchaser’s information of one of the best highway bike saddles, bib tights, biking shoe covers, highway bike tires, and a number of other different classes of equipment and equipment.

The vast majority of these handlebar tapes had been examined by Bennett over the course of a number of months in the course of the fall and early winter within the Pacific Northwest. Every tape was wrapped on the handlebars of considered one of his highway machines, starting from carbon superbikes to boutique metal customized builds, and ridden for lots of of miles within the wildly variable climate of the PNW. Within the residence workshop, we analyzed the benefit of wrapping every tape, and on the highway, we thought of the grip (gloved and gloveless) in each moist and dry circumstances, suggestions, cushioning, thickness, and the general really feel of every tape whereas driving in the true world. Tapes that weren’t examined by Bennett had been examined by considered one of our workers writers and used for a number of months or extra. After intensive testing, we compiled this listing of our favorites and those who excel in particular methods in comparison with the remaining.

Shopping for Recommendation: The way to Select Handlebar Tape

There are actually lots of of choices for handlebar tape available on the market. So many, that determining what you want will be complicated and downright irritating. It’s necessary to think about what you need from a handlebar tape, whether or not that’s cushioning, an excellent direct/excessive suggestions really feel, moist climate grip, or perhaps a enjoyable and funky fashion. There are many variables to think about in selecting tape together with thickness, floor texture, stretch, shade or sample choices, and, after all, price. And, consolation on the bike doesn’t cease on the handlebar, so it’s necessary to think about different contact factors like a high quality saddle, well-fitting bib shorts, and the proper pair of highway bike sneakers too.

Materials/Texture

Whereas handlebar tape is available in rolls and sometimes has sticky backing, “tape” is a little bit of a misnomer since we’re speaking a few multi-layered wrap designed to offer grip and cushioning with solely the minimal adhesive properties wanted to remain safe as soon as it’s tightly wrapped. Historically, bar tapes had been product of leather-based, material, or easy cork-infused foam. Different choices used gel inserts to offer cushioning, however tended to be fairly heavy. Like all issues within the bike world, handlebar tapes have undergone regular marginal enhancements over time and are actually being touted as efficiency upgrades, with claims of lowering rider fatigue. 

Lately, handlebar tapes are available in a wide range of supplies, usually consisting of a cushioning layer bonded to a floor layer the place the fingers make contact with the tape/handlebar, whereas some nonetheless take a less complicated method with a single materials all through. Every tape can have a floor texture inherent to the fabric, like Microfiber/artificial leather-based, polyurethane, or Microtex, or that has been added in the course of the manufacturing course of. Totally different supplies, textured or not, present various ranges of grip or tackiness for gloved or gloveless fingers and in moist or dry circumstances. Textures can add tactility and grip, and for riders who are inclined to perspire or who trip in moist circumstances, extra texture often can’t damage. 

Thickness/Cushioning

Handlebar tapes are available in a spread of various thicknesses to swimsuit various wants and preferences. Lately, you could find handlebar tapes in thicknesses starting from round 1.5mm as much as roughly 5mm, with the overwhelming majority of tapes falling between round 2mm and three.5mm. Some tapes are even provided in a number of thicknesses, just like the Lizard Skins DSP which is available in 1.8mm, 2.5mm, 3.2mm, and 4.6mm, so you’ll be able to select which is finest to your wants. What works finest for you usually is determined by the scale of your fingers, the kind of driving you do, the surfaces you encounter, and the way a lot (or little) cushioning you want.

Typically talking, the thicker the tape, the extra cushioning and vibration-dampening it offers. Most tapes have a cushioning layer of froth that’s largely accountable for its thickness, and the extra there may be, the extra it will possibly soak up highway buzz and vibration over tough surfaces. In fact, thickness isn’t the one figuring out issue, because the density of mentioned foam additionally performs a job in its cushioning capabilities. And, given current developments in foam know-how, fashionable bar tapes can present enhanced cushioning with out including extreme thickness, thus providing riders properly balanced ranges of consolation and management with thinner tapes as nicely.

Tape thickness additionally impacts the efficient diameter of the handlebar, making it adaptable for riders with different-sized fingers. Riders with bigger fingers, for instance, could desire the texture and management supplied by utilizing a thicker tape that makes the handlebar match extra proportionally of their fingers. Likewise, riders with smaller fingers could discover {that a} thinner tape helps them grip the handlebar and subsequently management the entrance finish of the bike a bit extra simply. This largely comes right down to rider desire.

Stretch

Handlebar tapes have various ranges of stretch relying totally on the supplies and building. Tapes with extra stretch are usually a bit extra forgiving in the course of the wrapping course of and make it a bit simpler to get round tight bends and the hoods whereas tapes with little to no stretch require a bit extra care to wrap completely. Moreover, one may also alter the thickness and/or cushiness of a stretchy tape relying on how tightly you wrap it. The tighter you pull it, the thinner and fewer comfortable it turns into, and vice versa.  

Model: Colours and Patterns

Your handlebar tape is without doubt one of the most cost-effective methods to precise your private fashion in your bike. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for one thing subdued and fashionable or shiny and flashy, there are alternatives to swimsuit nearly each style and match any construct. Some tapes are available in just a few shade choices, whereas others are available in an enormous array of colours and/or patterns to select from. Whereas we wouldn’t essentially advocate selecting a handlebar tape based mostly solely on the colour, it’s best to be capable to discover one thing that meets each your efficiency wants and elegance too.

Worth

Bar tapes have elevated considerably in price not too long ago, with most rolls costing over $30 and a few upwards of $50. Tapes on the dearer finish of the spectrum, just like the Supacaz, Silca Nastro Cuscino, and Lizard Sins DSP, usually will present low weight and bulk, supreme consolation, and hard-wearing sturdiness. Mid-price level tapes may also present all three of those however usually lack in considered one of these areas. The least costly tapes, like Cinelli Cork Ribbon, can carry out nicely however could degrade sooner, both by tearing, compressing, or shedding stickiness attributable to floor erosion, however they’re reasonably priced to switch. In fact, usually cleansing most tapes with gentle cleaning soap and water will enormously lengthen their lifespan and usefulness. Relying on how a lot you trip, it’s cheap to anticipate to get a full season, or presumably a number of, out of your handlebar tape, even with inexpensive choices.

Regularly Requested Questions