Lock on grips vs. slide on grips. Which is better?

Whenever I look at my bicycle handlebar I start to think, lock on grips vs. slide on grips, efficiency-wise which is better? Now, one could argue that both are better. When in reality it all depends on the type of bike you are riding, the activity that you do on your bike, your grip strength, comfort of grip and riding style, or your affordability.

See, there are many factors that make a rider take the decision between these two different grip types. You as a rider could just go out for a fun ride or go through a rough path to find an adventure. It all depends on your choice.

In this article we are going to discuss which grip is better suited for you. We will talk about their weight, cost, comfort, grip, size and many more to finally answer which is more efficient.

What is a Lock on Grip?

Lock on grips are sturdy grips. They have a plastic or metal tube on the inside to allow the grip to easily slide on the handlebar. This tube is a bit larger in diameter than the handlebar, to help it slide on easily. The main thing that you will notice about the lock on grip, are the two metal collars on the end of each side of the grip. These collars could be on both ends or just on one end, but their main purpose is to lock the grip on the handlebar. Hence the name “Lock on grip”.

These metal collars or rings on the grip can be tightened or loosened with an Allen bolt. When the bolt is tightened, the rings or collars clamp down on the grip on the handlebar. This makes the grip stay firmly on the handlebar and not move. They never slip out.

Most lock on grip models are made to an ergonomic shape with materials like rubber. 

Pros and cons of Lock on grips

Pros:

The lock on grips are very easy to install and remove. All you need is an Allen Wrench. You can pretty much install or remove them anytime you want. The tube on the inside makes them pulling out or pushing on the handlebar very easy.

They have a very secure attachment and they never slip out, because of the rings on the grip end. This makes them safe on rough roads because the shaking does not make them slip out or rotate on the handlebar.

Cons:

Lock on grips are heavier in comparison to slip on grips. Their metal collar and inside tube makes them weigh more than slip on grips. An average pair would weigh around 150 grams.

Lock on grips cost more as well. An average lock on grip costs around $40 – $50.

On top of that some lock on grips don’t fit on carbon fiber handlebars. Carbon fiber handlebars are actually stronger than Aluminum handlebars in some cases. 

What is a Slide on Grip?

Slide on grips do exactly what their name says. They slide on to the handlebar of the bike and stay on the handlebar with friction. The inside of the grip has no tube. It is a solid rubber base. The inside diameter of the grip is slightly smaller than the handlebar diameter. This is so that you have to forcefully slide the grip on the handlebar. This makes the grip stay on the bar with friction.

This type of grip is usually made of materials like silicone, rubber or foam. These materials make the grip soft and stretchy. When you put the slide on grip on the handlebar, it takes the form of the handlebar. Some people use glue on the inside of the grip to make the grip not slip out. This is why some people call this grip ‘Glued on grip’ or ‘push on grip’. Sometimes they are called ‘Slip on grips’ as well.

Pros and cons of Slide on grips

Pros:

Slide on grips are very light because they don’t have a tube inside them. Usually they are 50 grams lighter than lock on grips. An average pair would weigh around 80 to 100 grams.

Slide on grips are cheaper as well. Costs somewhere close to $10 on average.

They can fit any handlebars. Handlebar materials do not matter for slide on grips.

Cons:

Slide on grips are always very hard to install and remove. Some people use lubricant to remove them. If you have used glue to make them stick to the handlebar, good luck pulling them out.

One of the most annoying problems of slide on grips is that they can rotate or slide out of the handlebar anytime. Lock on grips couldn’t do that, but these can.

Slide on grips can adjust to any shape or size of handlebar, but they are very difficult to adjust.

Which one has more efficiency? Lock on grips or slide on grips?

This question can only be answered by one thing, defining what you want out of a grip. You may want to just go out, ride a bike and pass your time. You may want to exercise or be in a competitive race. You also may want to go on adventure and take on risky paths. Whatever activity you choose decides how you want to grip your bike.

Some people don’t care about the efficiency, whether it is a lock on grips or a slide on grips. They just go with their mind. Let’s check some activities where each of these grips are normally used.

Mountain biking

There are some riders out there who want to take on risky and dangerous paths just for thrill. They want to be at the top of the mountain with their bike and then ride down the hill with it at high speed. This type of activity is very risky because there are a lot of chances for injury. No one would want a rusty bike in this case, especially a one that has weak grips on the handlebar.

While lock on grips and slide on grips both work on mountain bikes (a special type of bike for mountain climbing), we believe a lock on grip is much better. Lock on grips, by their function, locks on to the handle bar and does not rotate. They never slip out like slide on grips. They remain sturdy and give full control of the bike handle. Slide on grip on the other hand might slip or rotate during descending. This could make an already dangerous activity even worse, by making the rider lose control of their bike.

So we believe a lock on grip is much more efficient in this type of activity.

Competitive events

You might be someone who wants to go to competitive events. There are some people out there who buy a bike just for racing. They train themselves for days and then go on an event. There are 4 categories for bicycle racing. The top category is class A with the best racers and the lowest category is class D with the beginners.

If you are someone who wants to improve on his racing and actually win a race, then you will need a good no slip grip. And this already tells you which grip we will recommend. That’s right, the lock on grips. They are the most efficient in this category.

Slide on grips may slip out or rotate in the middle of the race. Lock on grips, on the other hand, don’t slip or rotate, unless you screwed the bolts loosely. The chance of a lock on grip slipping out is very rare.

Free roaming

By free roaming we mean going somewhere on a bike freely or traveling. Some people just want to take their bike and go wherever they want to go. And we can understand why they do it. It is fun and a great way to preserve money, because travelling can be expensive.

For someone who wants to reach a destination may not need a super secure grip. He or she may not need to spend money on buying an expensive grip which won’t be necessary for them. In cases like this, we recommend a slide on grip. It will prove more efficient and it will be an effective decision.

Exercising

When it comes to exercising the grip really is not important here, it is the pedaling. The more you pedal the more calories you will burn. The whole focus is on the feet work, intensity and the time. Whether it is on a spinning machine indoor or on a bike outdoor, the feet work matters the most here. This is why most people choose a slide on grip for the grip for this kind of activity. 

Hobby

Bike riding as a hobby in general doesn’t even need a high quality bike. If you want to just ride a bike because you enjoy it, then expensive gears and equipment won’t be necessary. Just a regular slip on grip might be good enough, unless you really want to pour money on your bike for some reason.

From all of the above activities, it is quite clear which activity requires which type of grip. Like we’ve said before, the use of the bike determines the grip choice. And by that we hope you understand which grip is more efficient, it maybe lock on grips or slide on grips.

Recommendations

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Final Thoughts

The grip of a bike may look small and inexpensive, but it is the most important part of the bike. Its role is to make connections between the rider and the bike. Without the grip the rider will have a difficult time steering the bike.

It makes the rider become one with the bike.Which grip the rider uses, depends on the motive of the rider. Lock on grips for more secure attachment to the handlebar and slip on grips for a simple solution. This does not mean that slide on grips cannot be taken to more serious activities, but they are not as competent as lock on grips. Most lock on grips are ergonomic in design.

Slide on grips are just like soft and stretchy sleeves for the handlebar. Both grips are different from one another and both have their purposes. It is hard to end the debate on lock on grips vs slide on grips. Maybe both are good and the riding mainly depends on the cycling skill. We will just leave it to you the rider, to pick which one you find best.