The PRO Pioneer Performance Handlebar Tape is relatively easy to install and looks great. It offers lots of comfort for gravel riding, but sadly it’s hard to recommend over the multitude of options out there given its poor durability during testing. After one gravel event, the grip stripes had started peeling off where the hands come into contact with the bar.

If you’re in need of more cushioning to cancel out those bad vibes on your gravel rides, then you’ll need some chunky bar tape. There are plenty of options out there when it comes to gravel-specific tape, so what does Shimano’s component arm PRO offer with its Pioneer Performance Handlebar tape, which is specifically designed for ‘gravel racers and riders’?

PRO’s gravel-ready handlebar tape range actually includes four options altogether, but frustratingly the website doesn’t really make it all that clear what the differences are. I suspect there isn’t much in it.

In terms of specs, the Pioneer Performance option is 3.5mm thick – wider than many tapes I’ve come across – and comes at a decent length for good coverage of even a wider handlebar.

That said, given I was wrapping a 40cm wide carbon gravel bar, I couldn’t tell you for definite whether it would be able to cover some of the super wide options out there. Nevertheless, when I was finished wrapping, there was still plenty left in reserve, and I like to wrap my tape pretty tightly.

Aesthetically, the PRO Pioneer Performance Handlebar Tape consists of a shock-absorbing EVA construction with an embossed stripe pattern on top, which offers further comfort and extra grip. On the underside you get a ‘smart gel’ which is said to, “add damping and firm adhesion.”

You also get a pair of chunky recycled polypropylene end caps featuring the PRO logo. (The Team version of the tape comes with alloy end caps – the only difference between the two tapes that I could identify.)

2026-PRO-Pioneer-Performance-Handlebar-Tape-boxed.jpg
2026-PRO-Pioneer-Performance-Handlebar-Tape-boxed.jpg (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Installation was easy enough. I’ve wrapped bar tape roughly a million times due to a mild obsession with swapping out handlebars (and no, I don’t get paid to do this). I did find that the PRO Pioneer Performance tape was slightly stiffer than I was expecting, and the tape didn’t fully conform to the curvature of the bar as it was being wrapped. It didn’t cause any issues, but it wasn’t quite as neat a finished product as I’ve found with other tapes that have offered a slightly more seamless result.

There are no finishing strips included in the box, but I never use them anyway as you can cover the sides of the shifter with multiple wraps of the tape.

The end caps are pretty substantial, so there’s plenty there to push the tape in, although again due to the tape’s slight stiffness, it was a tiny bit reluctant to go inside the bar. Nothing major, but overall I would say installation has been slightly smoother and neater with other bar tapes.

Looks are all well and good, but the real proof of the pudding with bar tape is how well it performs. A couple of long road rides confirmed that there was plenty of comfort and grip, but the real test came on a gravel event in North Wales at the end of April. If you’ve never ridden the gravel in this part of the UK then I highly recommend it. It’s not too dissimilar to that you’d find in Kielder, which is essentially champagne gravel for the most part.

There are some rough surfaces to contend with, however, and overall the tape was comfortable to hold for the three hours it took for me to finish the 50-mile route. Sometimes I get palm pain on the nerves near my thumbs, but I was completely pain-free.

All good then? Not quite. After about 30 miles I noticed the striped surface pattern peeling off in sections wherever my hands were in contact with the bar. While this didn’t have any discernible effect on comfort or grip, I was left with bits of rubber all over my palms and, well – it just looks a bit naff.

The temperature was about 19 degrees and my palms do get sweaty, and I wasn’t wearing gloves – but I don’t think I should have to.

Interestingly, the PRO Pioneer range includes a ‘Sport’ version which does away with these stripes, so I reckon that would be a much better alternative.

Value

I still haven’t found a better option for road or gravel riding than Cinelli’s Gel Cork Bar Tape. It costs just over a tenner, looks brilliant, is super comfortable and basically lasts forever (and can even survive multiple re-wraps). I use it on both my gravel bike and my road bike.

Alternatively, BBB’s GravelRibbon Bar Tape is only a little more at £20, and Stu rated it for its comfort, grip and durability, unlike PRO’s tape on test here.

> Best handlebar tape for cycling — get some cost-effective comfort and grip by choosing quality bar tape

Conclusion

The PRO Pioneer Performance Handlebar Tape is a comfy option for gravel riding and great to look at, but the top layer lacks durability. It’s also on the more expensive side, and honestly, there are plenty of other options out there.

Test Report

What does the manufacturer say about this product?:

Gravel and ultra-endurance riders requiring the improved comfort from their handlebar tapes will benefit from the increased cushioning and broader width of the PRO Pioneer Performance Handlebar Tape.

It allows you to create an overlapping wrap thanks to its longer 2,100 millimeter length and wider design. These factors combine with a 3.5 millimeter thickness, a 3D embossed EVA upper, and a thick recycled EVA comfort layer.

A choice of two colors allows you to match your bar tape to your bike with either black with black artwork or black with PRO Discover artwork. The PRO Recycled Polypropylene End Cap combines with the smart gel backing to ensure a secure wrap, which further enhances your comfort and ensures control by ensuring you can keep a grip on your bars when the gravel roads get rough.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:

Handlebar Tape for Gravel Racers and Riders
Enhanced Comfort
Wider and Longer Tape for an Overlapping Wrap
Shock Absorption Properties
3-Layer Construction
Available in 2 Tape Colors
Includes PRO Recycled Polypropylene End Caps

Rate the product overall for quality (1-10):
2/10
Rate the product for performance when used for its designed purpose (1-10):
6/10

But plausibly 9/10 at the outset.

Rate the product for value (1-10):
5/10

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:

It’s pricey – on par with more premium options (such as Ergon’s BT Orthocell bar tape), but about three times the price of the superior Cinelli Cork Gel bar tape that I normally use.

Did you enjoy using the product?

Yes – apart from the wear issue

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your overall score

Great performance, but it’s expensive and the durability issue makes this a hard handlebar tape to recommended.

Overall rating: 4/10

About the tester

Age: Height: cmWeight: 175kg

I usually ride: Condor Italia RC custom buildMy best bike is:

I’ve been riding for: 10-20 yearsI ride: A few times a weekI would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: Commuting, Touring, Club riding, Sportives, Mountain bike XC, Mountain bike Enduro, Mountain bike downhill/freeride,