Cycling · Head-to-head
ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips vs ESI Grips Chunky Grips
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Bike Grips: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Elite Pro is the safest default: it clamps to the bar so it cannot rotate, its texture works gloved or bare, and the reinforced end is designed against the most common way grips die. ESI Chunky is the better answer if vibration and numbness are your problem rather than grip security.
ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips
Buy itA lock-on grip that solves rotation, blowout and glove traction in one part.
- The v2.1 single clamp system frees up more usable grip space than a two-clamp design.
- The end is molded from a soft but durable reinforced material specifically to prevent grip blowout.
- A variable knurl alternates smooth and sharp texture, which is what makes it tolerable on bare hands.
- ODI does not publish an installed diameter, which matters if you are trying to match a grip you liked.
- No weight figure is published either, so it is not a grip to buy for a weight-conscious build.
- Lock-on hardware adds mass and cost compared with a push-on grip.
ESI Grips Chunky Grips
Buy itSilicone that damps vibration, with one of the two fullest spec sheets here.
- ESI publishes the numbers: 60 grams the pair, 32mm installed diameter, 5 1/8 inch length.
- ESI states the silicone is latex and rubber free, which rules out a common skin reaction.
- ESI calls out grip shift compatibility, which many lock-on grips cannot offer.
- There is no clamp, so installation depends on isopropyl alcohol and a clean bar.
- Silicone scuffs and tears more easily than rubber if you drop the bike on rough ground.
- It is a plain cylinder with no ergonomic shaping or bar-end support.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips Our pick | ESI Grips Chunky Grips | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Mountain and gravel riders who want a grip that will not move and will survive going down. | Riders whose hands go numb, and anyone running grip shift who cannot fit a lock-on. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| How they attach | Lock-on, single clamp | Push-on, friction |
| Material | Compound not published, reinforced end | Silicone, latex and rubber free |
| Installed diameter | Not published | 32mm |
| Surface texture | Half-waffle front plus variable knurl | Smooth silicone |
| Stated weight | Not published | 60 grams, plus or minus 5 percent |
| Stated length | 130mm | 5 1/8 inches |
| Effect on bar width | None stated | None stated |
| Where it is made | Not published | USA |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips if
mountain and gravel riders who want a grip that will not move and will survive going down.
Know before buying: oDI does not publish an installed diameter, which matters if you are trying to match a grip you liked.
Pick the ESI Grips Chunky Grips if
riders whose hands go numb, and anyone running grip shift who cannot fit a lock-on.
Know before buying: there is no clamp, so installation depends on isopropyl alcohol and a clean bar.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the ODI Elite Pro Lock-On Grips - A lock-on grip that solves rotation, blowout and glove traction in one part. Choose the ESI Grips Chunky Grips instead if riders whose hands go numb, and anyone running grip shift who cannot fit a lock-on.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Bike Grips: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).