In my quest to relieve nagging hand and elbow pain I have tried the chunky ESI grips, made in the USA and they’re constructed of 100% from silicone
I’ve been running them for almost a year now. Basically since I started mountain biking last year. Because the silicone forms to my hand’s position, they prevent any pain in my hands or arms. They are also available in various sizes.
The Extra Chunky model is made for large hands, the Chunky for medium and the Racer’s Edge for smaller hands.
They came in 130mm width they’re pretty light only 66 grams including the bar caps which make them a perfect choice for XC racers or any lightweight build.
They’re also available in a large color range easily you’ll find the perfect match to your bike. Another positive is that they stay super grippy all the time, even in wet weather, with or without using gloves.
The best way to install / remove ESI grips:
The only negative thing to say about these grips, has to do with their durability. When not wearing gloves, sweat and friction tend to wear them down quickly. However, with the amount of riding I do, this is no surprise. The bar end caps also get beat up quickly, but they are available at a good price so exchanging them isn’t a problem.
Also if your shifter, dropper remote or brake lever doesn’t have a split clamp, it can be a little annoying to swap/install components, but again, not that big of a deal.
Even with my complaints, with the low cost $20 and overall amazing comfort and feel, I will continue to recommend and use them in my builds.
I believe that ESI grips are truly the best for Cross Country riding. Silicone is the ideal material to form to the hand’s shape and maintain grip in all conditions. I can only recommend giving them a try.
The vibration damping is brilliant, and the amount of grip they provide is great for technical descents or times when you need to have firm contact with the bars. That said, the surface does not have the tacky feel of its stablemates.
Check out the full review on YouTube: