The Finest Handlebar Tape of 2024

Handlebar Tape is an usually ignored improve that may vastly enhance your relationship along 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 vastly influence your consolation and management.

Most bikes’ unique handlebar tape is chosen for its low value, however a well-chosen and high-quality roll will maximize management and luxury whereas refreshing your bike’s look and amplifying its model. Whereas it received’t rework your driving talents, the correct 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 unlimited array of supplies, constructions, thicknesses, floor textures, costs, and colour/sample choices to swimsuit various wants and preferences.

For many riders, as soon as they discover a tape they like, they have a tendency 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 provides a nicer really feel. However with a whole lot of choices to select from, discovering one of the best handlebar tape is usually a problem. To assist, we gathered 15 of one of the best and hottest handlebar tapes available on the market to check and evaluate.

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 possibly can 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 supplies helpful data, and we’ve obtained solutions to frequent questions in our FAQ part.

The Finest Handlebar Tape of 2024

Better of the Relaxation

Comparability Chart

Why Ought to You Belief Us?

The crew at Bikerumor takes biking very severely and we’re lucky to get to spend numerous time driving bikes and attempting 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 on the subject of our consolation. And within the case of handlebar tape, it additionally performs a serious position in our management. As such, we’re at all times 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 really examined all of those bar tapes ourselves to see how they carry out in the actual world.

For our handlebar tape purchaser’s information, we leaned on the experience of Bennett Shane to check the vast majority of the choices on this evaluation and sprinkled in a few choices which are favorites of our employees 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 targets, and lengthy rides by way of the countryside and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. With over twenty years of driving expertise, Bennett may 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 distinguished manufacturers within the biking business and has an uncanny depth of data and expertise utilizing, or at the least tinkering with, practically 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 delight on each journey. 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.

Nearly all of these handlebar tapes have been examined by Bennett over the course of a number of months throughout the fall and early winter within the Pacific Northwest. Every tape was wrapped on the handlebars of one among his highway machines, starting from carbon superbikes to boutique metal customized builds, and ridden for a whole lot of miles within the wildly variable climate of the PNW. Within the house 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 actual world. Tapes that weren’t examined by Bennett have been examined by one among our employees writers and used for a number of months or extra. After intensive testing, we compiled this listing of our favorites and people who excel in particular methods in comparison with the remaining.

Shopping for Recommendation: Find out how to Select Handlebar Tape

There are actually a whole lot of choices for handlebar tape available on the market. So many, that determining what you want might be complicated and downright irritating. It’s essential 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 model. There are many variables to think about in selecting tape together with thickness, floor texture, stretch, colour or sample choices, and, in fact, value. And, consolation on the bike doesn’t cease on the handlebar, so it’s essential 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 have been manufactured from 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 through the years and are actually being touted as efficiency upgrades, with claims of decreasing rider fatigue. 

Today, 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 strategy with a single materials all through. Every tape may have a floor texture inherent to the fabric, like Microfiber/artificial leather-based, polyurethane, or Microtex, or that has been added throughout 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 likely to perspire or who journey in moist circumstances, extra texture normally can’t damage. 

Thickness/Cushioning

Handlebar tapes are available in a variety of various thicknesses to swimsuit various wants and preferences. Today, 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 supplied 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 possibly can select which is finest in your wants. What works finest for you usually is determined by the dimensions 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 supplies. Most tapes have a cushioning layer of froth that’s largely liable for its thickness, and the extra there’s, the extra it might take in highway buzz and vibration over tough surfaces. After all, thickness isn’t the one figuring out issue, because the density of mentioned foam additionally performs a job in its cushioning capabilities. And, given latest developments in foam know-how, trendy 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 properly.

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 want 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 principally comes all the way down to rider desire.

Stretch

Handlebar tapes have various ranges of stretch relying totally on the supplies and development. Tapes with extra stretch are usually a bit extra forgiving throughout 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 can even 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 soft it turns into, and vice versa.  

Type: Colours and Patterns

Your handlebar tape is among the most cost-effective methods to precise your private model in your bike. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for one thing subdued and stylish or shiny and flashy, there are alternatives to swimsuit nearly each style and match any construct. Some tapes are available in just a few colour choices, whereas others are available in an unlimited array of colours and/or patterns to select from. Whereas we wouldn’t essentially suggest selecting a handlebar tape primarily based solely on the colour, you need to be capable to discover one thing that meets each your efficiency wants and elegance too.

Worth

Bar tapes have elevated considerably in value 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 can even present all three of those however usually lack in one among these areas. The least costly tapes, like Cinelli Cork Ribbon, can carry out properly however could degrade sooner, both by tearing, compressing, or shedding stickiness on account of floor erosion, however they’re reasonably priced to switch. After all, repeatedly cleansing most tapes with delicate cleaning soap and water will vastly prolong their lifespan and usefulness. Relying on how a lot you journey, it’s affordable to anticipate to get a full season, or probably a number of, out of your handlebar tape, even with cheaper choices.

Often Requested Questions