Superlatively Yours: PNW Loam Grips are My Palms’ Personal Favorites [Review]

PNW Components Loam Grips

• Price: $24
• Available from PNW Components and Amazon

A preference for the crust cut off or left intact with PB&J sandwiches is an early choice that a lot of American kids hold onto throughout our lives. Later, with our bicycles, grips and saddles and underwear (or lack thereof) are deeply personal ride elements, and my hands have a noted bias for these PNW Components Loam Grips. With or sans gloves, these things feel fantastic.

A pair of Loam grips weigh about 90g with an average diameter of 30mm across their 133.5mm expanse. The single-lock-ring cylinders come in 9 colors and cost a surprisingly low $24 (often on sale for under $20). The soft 25a rubber prizes skin-traction over durability, and the grip against your palms is worth replacing them a little more frequently than you might with other mountain bike grips.

That supple rubber is what makes these touchpoints special. What PNW calls “water-shedding fins” also work well to flex and absorb vibration beneath your fingers, creating a solid and cushioned connection with your skin even when rides become hot and sweaty. If you like to ride gloveless on warm days, the rubber fins that allow rain to exit will do the same for perspiration, eliminating the need to powder your hands with soil before each descent.

While those fishy little fins stand tall and supple, the rubber is not gummy like some softer grips I’ve gripped. After a few months of daily use, the rubber provides consistency and feels similar to the first rip. The taller fins that stand where your fingertips rest are super cozy, and the alternating pattern across the surface creates a positive connection with the hand.

Pros and cons of the PNW Loam Grips

Pros

• Super grippy
• Cut vibration and add comfort
• Great feel without gloves and when wet

Cons

• Need to be replaced more frequently
• Not available in glittery gold

Conclusion

The Loam Grips also match all the other PNW Components gear, like their Loam dropper post (collar) and lever, and the logos on their recently updated PNW Range handlebar. I went with the Cement Grey colorway to sit well with other components that will be tested alongside these, but there are certainly spicier options available.

• Price: $24
• Available from PNW Components and Amazon