Lizard Skins has been around since 1993 when it began making protective products and later introduced grips to its portfolio. The grips consist of the brand’s innovative materials, Durasoft Polymer or DSP – a polymer-based construction providing world-class grip and soft comfort. With so many options among the best MTB grips, it is easy to overlook the type of rubber and choose instead by brand, style, colour and size. A popular rubber compound used on most grips is synthetic Kraton rubber for a soft compound, a Vexk rubber for a more durable, harder makeup and a Kevlar seen on Renthal.
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Lizard Skins Gradient Single Clamp Ergonomic Grip – Technical details
The most obvious feature of these grips is the shaping. There is a fin-type design that offers more comfort due to its ergonomic shape. The shaped section gives your hands more contact with the grips and should, in theory, alleviate some pressure on your hands and give more comfort because of its flatter surface. The groove or ledge also gives your fingers somewhere to grip with more vigour than a standard round grip.
The grips have varied thicknesses for better vibration reduction with their flared-style shaping. They also have a unique grip structure designed for better traction. The placement of the grooves is ‘multi-directional’ with a mixture of lines, crisscrosses, hexagons and anything in between.
The grips have a lock-on clamp on one side and a solid end on the other, so there is a specific left and a right. A branded Lizard Skins logo is featured on the end of the grip. A single stainless steel M4 bolt holds them on securely.
Usually, a normal grip diameter is between 30 and 33mm, depending on the brand, but these have a graduated size range from 30.5 to 36.5mm, with the thicker part near the end of the grip for a better, more comfortable hold feel. The grip length is 136mm which seems fairly long as the industry standard is 130 – 134mm. According to the brand’s website, the grips should weigh 115g a pair. On our scales, they came in at 57g each or 115g – spot on with the claimed figure.
Lizard Skins Gradient Single Clamp Ergonomic Grip – Performance
Fitting the grips is straightforward. All it takes is loosening the bolt off and sliding the grip onto the bar. With the grips needing to be on the correct side for the best positioning, it was a little more tricky to figure out which one goes on which side, as even though they look identical, there is a specific left and right side. Once the grip was on the bar, I needed to rotate it so that it was in the best position to achieve that ergonomic feel. Once set in the best position, I found the grip design comfortable.
The ledge for my fingers is a great design aspect and gives my fingers more support and confidence. The only downside was that almost straight away, I felt the grips moving around. But a quick tightening up made me good to go. But it did make me ride with caution for a while to be on the safe side. The bolt feels like I was over-tightening the clamp, so it was fiddly to get right, and I feel confident it will hold a more extreme ride.
The grip shaping is a little chunky and flares towards the end. As I have smaller female hands, I have to shuffle my hands towards the centre to brake with my index finger. But this meant I wasn’t using the ergonomic ledge to its full advantage.
The grips are comfortable to hold and offer instant support, especially with the shaping. They allowed my hands to sit securely on a flatter section and my fingers to sit against the ridge. The ridge gave my fingers something to pull back against for extra support and to move the bike around more easily.
I tested these on short rides and a good few hours of trail ride, and I noticed that over longer distances my hands weren’t so comfortable. My hands ached, and I had to intermittently take my hands off the handlebars and relieve some uncomfortable pressure. I think my achy hands are down to the wider, chunky part of the grip as I usually use ultra-thin grips as the design offers better control and purchase. I found the more technical terrain where I needed to grip harder and manoeuvre the bike more vigorously, the more my hands ached.
Lizard Skins Gradient Single Clamp Ergonomic Grip – Verdict
Compared to other grips in the same category with a similar ergonomic design, the Ergon GA3 MTB Grips come out at £32 and weigh 115g, the same as the Gradient. With this, you also get a single clamp but the level of grip structure doesn’t look as performance-orientated. With the design shaping aimed at those who favour comfort, the Gradient Single Clamp Grips by Lizard Skins will be suited to a niche select group of riders compared to those who want a lightweight, ultra-thin and performance-orientated design.
Another option to look into if you’re in the market for ergonomic grip is SQlab’s 70X. SQlab is a brand that’s all about ergonomics and the 70X takes its flared and contoured design and packs it into a trail-friendly grip. It’s comfortable but it’s best used after measuring your hands and it’s £30. Like other ergonomic grips, it takes some getting used to but SQlab’s approach is a little more involved, so they won’t be for everyone, even those who like to boost ergonomics.
The quirky design focuses on comfort and user experience thanks to ergonomic shaping. The downside is that the wider section of the grip can cause hands to fatigue after a few hours of use and when riding more extreme terrain. This may take some time if you’re not used to a wider grip circumference. But these are ideal for shorter rides where comfort is the main driver. They look great and offer excellent grip and support for all parts of your hands. They’re priced price for a smart-looking grip with a lock-on clamp and a unique shaping design for a more comfortable feel. But you will either love or hate them. They will either transform your riding for the better or cause too many niggles that would make you go back to round and simple.
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