Peaty’s Monarch Pro Mushroom Thick Grip review

What’s new about these? Still dual compound (15a/30a) but there’s now a cutaway in the inner plastic sleeve.

• Brand: Peaty’s
• Product: Monarch Pro Mushroom Thick Grip
• From: Peaty’s
• Price: £29.99
• Tested by: Jim Clarkson for 3 months

Pros

• Damn comfy
• Durable
• A valid updated grip

Cons

• Erm.
• £30 grips may be ‘normal’ but still…

The new Monarch Pro Grip from Peaty’s offer a refinement and noticeable improvement on an already excellent grip. They have excellent bar feel, comfort and retain a decent life span. I’ve run the originals on both my bikes, and the Monarch Pro is now one of my all-time favourite grips. 

Constructed on a 80% recycled ocean plastic core that claims to dampen impact, its covered in a 15A Durometer soft rubber for the upper surface, with a 30a Duralite compound on the bar ends and where your fingers grip. So soft for palms, firmer for higher wear places. Clever.

The top of the grip I tested is mushroom style, aimed for Trail comfort – with the Knurl style for ‘race performance’, I think more depending on what you prefer for riding, but essentially mushroom grips are softer, and the knurl style is firmer with perhaps a more direct bar feel.

Underneath are lines of blocks that help secure your finger tips, giving an edge to hold to. I liked the feel of security this provides – both versions use it.

The 130mm grip area is plenty big enough, without being overkill, and is clamped with an 8mm locking clamp made of alloy, it’s effective and slimline, and doesn’t interfere with the actually grip. The end is fully covered and has happily shrugged off various knocks and crashes. There are two diameters offered, 30-32mm (Thin) and 32-34mm (Thick) – we tested the thick. Preference here comes down to the rider, and having fairly large hands the Thick felt good, but then again I also liked the direct feel of the Thin on the previous versions!

Riding a lot of mainly rocky trails, the Monarch Pros have been superb – the core cut out definitely improves comfort, with larger hits feeling minimised, and hands felt less tired. It’s marginal, but directly compared to the older Monarchs, they are better. I rode with gloves and bare hand. Bar grip remained good in wet or dry conditions, and only bare hands in the wet felt less secure. 

There is little else to mention about them – comfy, loads of colours (six in all), two options on grip style, and price wise, good for performance and longevity. There is a lot to like here, and actual improvement on an already decent grip. It does feel more ‘Pro’ – if that means refined and noticeably more comfortable when riding. If you’re not a fan of the Mint colour above there’s also: Sage, Brick Red, Plum Purple, Storm Blue or Black. Recommended.