Expensive bar tape. Is it worth it???

Bumping a thread.

Price has doubled. I thought picture might be helpful to someone. Wears well. 2 years later and product remains spongy, grippy dry and wet.
I bought tape because
1. Cheap.
2. Cork hence biodegradable (without knowledge of dyes but hoping non toxic landfill rather than rubbish post service life)

Todays price is $3.80 Australian. Twice of two years past. I doubt I'll need to replace the tape per many many years.
Cork. Not as racy a direct feel but fantastic comfort when commuting.

I'm going to disagree slightly with the consensus - I don't think you need to spend megabucks but the really cheap stuff is a false economy. I've overhauled a few bikes on the cheap for people lately so I've learnt the hard way.

Mu favourite tape is Fabric Hex Tape which can be had between £15-£20. Grippy without being tacky like LizardSkins, strong and easy to clean. I don't use gel pads beneath and don't use gloves unless it's cold.

This has already been said by others but I'll add a +1 to the, 'bought Lizard Skins, was dissappointed' response.

That's the cheap tape. I taped my other bike first hence I managed to get the tape on the ends with this one. My mate offered me Lizard Skins with a stunning review but I used that. It's a fixie, it's comfortable tape at speeds my legs can do, it doesn't look like it will last as long as the above tape yet I think I'll get many many years out of it.
Tapes at 5-10 quid seem to get great reviews here. That tape is about 3 quid delivered. Losing a bit of response but it's as thick as shit hence super comfortable. Maybe similar a middle handle being a thick sponge type gel cell seat.
The other bike with the cheap tape was ridden daily 6 months.. Often used. No problems besides initial installation but now knowing better if I need to tape a bar I'd probably do such slowly and measured.

I guess that tape good tape. I just bought the bike. $100 with quality lights and tyres. That tapes awesome. Thin enough to feel response yet thick enough to cushion. The last time I rode her I was going to fast and skidded a mountain drop hairpin. Every bit counts.

I use cheap cork tape. Cost 2.5-3 quid per set.
I bought two sets to match red, green port, starboard on two bikes to continually assist with my knowledge.

I don't think it's as good as many other tapes but it ain't wrong neither and it is cheap and comfortable!

Initially a bar end wouldn't hold a tape end and it unraveled during a ride but maybe because I layed it on thick. I layed it thick because I couldn't sit it properly. I'm no expert.
I redid the tape leaving the last inch or 2 of the bar ends absent of cork but thin wrapped the ends using gaff tape.
It's comfortable, it works, it feels good on the drops with a more direct feel and there is another bike here with good tape that feels better on the bars but I didn't wrap that. That uses masking tape as hood covers. Lol. The layers layed properly are probably easier to do with most of the more expensive tapes and being thinner it allows better responses to be had while riding.

Weight of cheap tape ain't an issue. An alloy bike with alloy rims at 7.1 kg with 28 mm heavy tyres.
Best of luck..

Yep, I've used gel pads rather than double wrapping, just in the place where my hands rest most often (this can vary from bike to bike so it tends to be something to do once you've ridden for a while and worked out where that is.

3.5 years & 3 handlebars..?

wow!!

thanks for that

Anyone uses gel "pads" under the tape?

Or even has two layers of tape?

You have three contact points with your bike: pedals, seat and handlebars.  No point in having an expensive rig if these touch points make it uncomfortable or look a mess.  Decent bar-tape is the easiest of these fixes and when put on properly lasts for ages.  I use F:zik tape, wrapped tightly (over gel and old tape on Thomson carbon bars).  Done properly its a fixture.  Mine has lasted 4yrs + at well over 10,000k per annum. I use electrical tape on the tape ends to make sure 

I do like the feel and tackiness of Lizard Skins, it costs a bomb and it wears out quicker than I'd like in my experience. 

I recently brought some rubber 'Pro' (shimano) tape, I'm very pleased with it so far, has the same tackiness and also feels sturdier somehow, time will tell if it is.  Still wasn't cheap though.

Depends what you want it for.

Tarting up your bike? Given that the difference between cheap and expensive is about a tenner, I'd say it's a cheap way to do that.

More comfort or grip? I doubt you'll be able to tell the difference unless you currently have the cheapest of the cheap, worn out tape.

Longer lasting? I have Deda Mistral (£8) on my commute bike and I only change it when the sun has faded it (it's hi viz yellow to go with the details on my T3 frame).

This is a particularly timely thread for me, as I intend to wrap the loop on my Jones H bar.

I don't think that I have wrapped any bars since the early 90s.

I'm thinking a middleish price, not too cheap and not very expensive.  The Cinelli Tennis tape sounds about right.

Is it necessary to use finishing tape, or will electrical tape sufice?

I’m mainly a Deda and a Fizik guy. Most expensive departures were Brooke’s to match a saddle, Fabric Hex for a particular blue I wanted and Tortec quite padded, the latter in white.

they’ve all lasted well, including being rewrapped, but how do you get the darned things clean??

At a stretch (pun intended) you can use silicone plumbers/electrical tape. Plenty of colours, sticks to itself, durable, easy to apply and remove. But based on some of the prices in this thread, probably more expensive than real bar tape.

PlanetX currently have a bunch of genuinely lurid Bike Ribbon tapes at 99p.

It's worth it for those who like the sight of 'em and are willing to pay for looks rather than strictly functional aspects.  Don't have to be a fool for that.

Lifeline stuff is just about all you need. If you want more cush, wrap it twice...

I'm 3 years in on some Lizard Skins tape - no signs of wear, no movement in that time, easy to clean, still looks great.  Money well spent as far as I'm concerned.

I've used all sorts of bar tape previously, even including some from Wilko as an emergency stop gap while waiting for some Deda tape to be delivered, but I can honestly say that the Fizik Performance tape I'm currently using is by far the most comfortable I've ever used. I don't like padded gloves and prefer the cushioning to be on the bar itself. For that, the Fizik 3mm stuff is perfect for me.

A fool and their money are soon parted, and these expensive bar tapes are snake oil for the gulible.
Most expensive I've paid is for Fizik at about £11. Good tape, goes on easy. But I tend to buy cheap tape, Deda, BBB, Lifeline all good, no issues. Put some Ritchey on my best bike as all the stem and bars are Ritchey, that was also good and clever bar end fixing meant the R was nice and vertical.

No.

The Lifeline stuff at £5 or so is every bit as good. 

It's bar tape. just needs to be soft and grippy.

I spent almost three hours wrapping the bars on my tourer with Brooks microfibre tape, which is around £20. Hateful stuff, but it matches my saddle and it actually comfy in use. So little stretch in it my shoulders were aching afterwards from having to keep tension on it whilst wrapping.

I am currently stocking up on cork tape from Planrt X for about £4 a time, wrapps easily, comfortable and good grip when wet. Some shocking colours too if that is your thing.