Forever in the pursuit of ergonomics, SQlab has brought refinements to its 70X grip in the form of the 70X 2.0 Pro. Ushering in a fresh rubber compound and a slightly redesigned shape, these grips bring improved performance in the shape of better vibration damping, more comfort, and a boost in grip. However, they’re not the best for gloveless riding, and the price may not sit well with some.
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SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro – Technical details
The 70X 2.0 Pro builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor by adding subtle but very real tweaks to both its rubber and the shape. As before, it’s a mildly contoured grip that’s designed to play in harmony with the natural curves and shape of the hand and wrist.
Designed with downhill, all-mountain, and enduro riding in mind, the grip’s shape has been carefully sculpted to provide support and a secure grip, but without necessitating a tight grip on the bar. As a result, SQlab reckons that it helps stave off fatigue and arm pump down lengthy descents. While the shape isn’t too dissimilar from that of the regular 70X (which you can still buy), there’s a small notch by the locking collar, which makes a great place for thumb placement.
Additionally, SQlab has put some work into the grip’s texture. Again, for the most part, it remains the same as the 70X, but the finger zone has received a finer texture that almost moulds to the fingertips.
The ‘Shock Absorption TPE Compound’ is the new formula of rubber that makes up the 70X 2.0 Pro, and that’s been formulated to improve vibration reduction, thus furthering comfort. The brand has tested it very heavily too by using electromyography measurements to measure electrical impulses in the muscle, as well as acceleration sensors on handlebars. With that in mind, SQlab says that the new rubber compound provides more damping and control.
As expected from the brand, these grips come in three sizes to suit different hand sizes, and it’s best that you measure yourself up before committing to the purchase (SQlab has a guide online). Additionally, each size is 5mm longer than the 70X to create more space for wider hands.
SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro – Performance
Having grown quite fond of the standard 70X grips, I was excited to see what SQlab had cooked up with the 70X 2.0 Pro, and while the differences are very subtle, the brand has successfully improved it. It still won’t be everyone’s favourite grip, however.
The upper part of the grip and the flare at the end are designed to follow the natural shape of the wrist, which is the most noticeable feature. That flare adds a heap of support, but without feeling like it’s too much. I like to ride with my hands right at the end of the bar, and this added loads of comfort and security compared to regular-shaped alternatives.
This is where a key drawback of the 70X 2.0 Pro arises, however. As the flared portion employs a large and mostly untextured pattern, traction is something left to be desired when riding without gloves. Once hands get sweaty, these little panels can get fairly slippery, which I found distracting when riding. That said, I rarely ride without gloves, and with them, this issue didn’t arise. Those who do ride gloveless will be better served looking elsewhere.
SQlab’s new TPE rubber brings serious benefits to its flagship grip, too. It’s noticeably softer than before, which clearly boosts grip but, more importantly, vibration reduction.
Generally, it’s a super comfortable grip, and as SQlab says, its shape alone does a lot to provide traction. It encourages the rider not to strangle the bar so hard, which in turn, reduces fatigue noticeably. But as it’s not a super thick grip, despite testing the medium thickness, bar feel is plentiful and right on the money, in my books.
A small change is the texture of the fingertip area, and that yet brings more improvements. Where there was a similar panel design as the palm-flare before, it now features more siping, which helps the grip deform to the fingertips, boosting grip. It’s a small change, but it’s one that pays back in dividends.
Durability is certainly not too shabby. I’ve ridden these grips week in, week out, and they’re showing little signs of wear, which is impressive given the softer rubber. The bar ends have been tweaked too, so where I’ve leant my bike against walls, put it on the floor and had the odd spill, it’s great to see that they’re still looking mighty fine.
SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro – Verdict
The biggest kicker behind the 70X 2.0 Pro is its price, and for less than £36, there are a whole bunch of excellent grips to choose from. Granted, none follow the beautifully contoured design, but excellent comfort, traction, and in some cases, fancy tech can be found elsewhere.
ODI’s Reflex grip is a key contender. They’re £28 and they’re loaded with vibration-reducing patterns. Although they’re of a more standard shape, I found excellent comfort and grip with these, and they’re a real favourite. To stick with ODI for a second, the pricier £40 Vanquish grips are worth looking at too. These have been developed with D3O and again, deliver excellent performance.
Ergon’s GDH grips follow a similar brief in that they’re crafted to deliver excellent bar feel and damping. Using a soft rubber compound and shaped to follow the contours of the hand, they’ve got a lot to give, but I found that the shape dictated a certain hand placement, which I didn’t totally get on with.
Although the SQlab 70X 2.0 Pro requires a reasonably serious justification for its price, it does deliver. It capably balances vibration reduction, comfort, and bar feel in a package that certainly fends off fatigue through that carefully considered shape and new rubber compound. Durability is excellent, too, which you would hope for at the price. It’s just not a grip for those who prefer to ride without gloves.
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