Genetic Silicone Bar Tape

Genetic's Silicone Tape is very grippy, simple to use and even reusable, which certainly improves the value score.

• Pros: Easy to fit and reusable
• Cons: Limited range of colours

Unlike a lot of other tapes, the Genetic Silicone doesn't use any adhesives to stick to the handlebar, relying instead on its own tackiness to keep it in place – and it works well. After plenty of miles the tape hasn't budged at all, even on the high-wear areas like around the hoods.

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Comfort is great thanks to the squidgy feel of the material, and the slightly sticky feel means that grip is brilliant even with wet hands and no mitts on.

In the pack you get two rolls of tape each measuring 1.8m in length, so there is plenty of material going on for even the widest of bars especially when you give it a stretch.

This tape is hugely pliable which makes it very easy to fit and allows you to play around with the thickness too as you wrap it around the bar.

You also get two strips of tape for wrapping behind the levers to hide any gaps, but I found the tape so easy to manipulate that I didn't need to use them.

The great thing about that lack of glue is that if you don't get it right first time you can keep going until you do, plus if it starts to look a little worn or too dirty to clean you can unwrap it to give it a proper scrub. The same if you need to change your handlebar or a cable – no need to throw it away.

The tape has a retail price of £22.99 and yes, you can get cheaper, but for this type of tacky tape it's well priced against others we've recently tested.

For instance the Fizik Terra Microtex Bondcush Tacky tape offers plenty of grip and comfort just like the Genetic, but it'll set you back £32.99.

The very similar Guee Silicone bar tape costs £25.99.

Overall, the Genetic Silicone tape pretty much delivers it all for me when it comes to ease of fit, comfort and grip at a decent price. It's available in black, blue, pink, red and white, but a few extra colours would give more options for colour coding.

Verdict

Squidgy bar tape that offers loads of comfort and grip, plus it's probably the easiest I've ever fitted