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I have ESI's on both of my bikes - thin ones on the hardtail, and thicker ones on the following. they seem to be pretty good - I don't struggle from arm pump, I never slip off the bar - they are comfortable with and without gloves.
The thicker ones are looking a bit tatty. Anything 'lockon' style or hard rubber is going to see me adding 100g to my bike - but then again I never see any pros outside of world cup xc using them.
Any reason not to buy another pair?
They look tatty very quickly, and are expensive. But they are great otherwise!
No. I just won't do it. Buy two pairs of each, and you've got spares for the next off that tears them up. I totally love mine. Won't ever buy anything else, unless ESI stop producing them.
ESI grips are great, apart from their durability.
Not great for bar honkers either, as I found, wearing them out in 6 months. I moved on to other things reluctantly, because they were too expensive to replace at that interval.
I moved on to these.
Which for the money I took a punt on. They are like a slightly firmer ESI and take a few rides to break in, but I now prefer them! They also do them in a 36mm diameter which is great for my ogre hands. If they last 6 months at that price, its not so bad.
Not as good as death grips
I've switched to ODI's Floats- they're a rubberier and much tougher foam grip. The feel is a little different but I've still got ESI on one bike and switching between them doesn't cause me any bother, neither really feels much better or worse.
Try ODI or DMR instead of ESI
I’ve got some esi Extra Chunky grips which I love and will keep on some of my bikes.
However, I just bought some of the brand new Oury v2 lockons which are Even better for me. They are soft, comfy, and have the most hand traction of all grips I have tried. These are staying on my Gnariest hardtail.
I found the larger and softest version of the Deathgrips to have excellent grip, but they were too hard for long rides.
I found the Spank Spike grips better than the Death Grips. They have the same traction but are easier on the hands.
ESI grips here, moved to death grips as they were free, well daughter bought them and never fitted them, I agree above good grip but too hard for long rides.