The best gravel bar tape will help keep your hands more comfortable and add grip when you're riding on gravel. It will serve equally well to add some extra comfort for road riders too.
As you head for longer, rougher rides, it can be nice to have a bit of extra cushioning under your hands, and the best gravel bar tape will do just that. Instead of thinking about this list as being gravel-specific, you might want to think about it in terms of options designed for more cushion and the ability to take more abuse. It doesn’t matter if your riding is endurance road riding, all-road, or all-day gravel; you can find something that will work for you.
Don’t overlook that price detail either. Unlike most bike upgrades, the cost of entry with bar tape is low. You can spend time browsing and obsessing all you want. When you are ready to take the plunge, it won’t break the bank. It only takes a short amount of time to replace the tape on your bike, and when it’s done, your bike takes on a whole new shine. It’s a great way to get ready for a big ride or the new season, and if you decide you hate your choice, no problem. You’ll have to replace your bar tape soon enough anyway, and again, the cost barrier is low. How many other things on your bike can be a big upgrade for not much money?
Best gravel bar tape options available today
➕ Long lasting
➕ The best finishing tape around
➕ Non-stretch rubber upper
➕ Works in the wet
➖ Chunky bar end won’t always fit
The feel is very similar to the Rapha Pro, however, the Brooks option does a bit better in the wet and there are colour choices. The bar end plugs are a push-in style made from rubber, and I have run into some bars that they won't fit in.
What I really love about this bar tape is that it lasts forever and it’s always the same thickness as the Cambium tape, which doesn’t stretch when wrapping.
➕ Inexpensive
➕ Plenty of colour options
➕ Washable
➖ Not the best feeling option
If you don’t like the idea of spending a lot of money on bar tape and just want something that works and looks good, this is it.
In my opinion, it's not the best feeling, but it fits the bill as a classic, inexpensive foam bar tape, and it's well-made. And at 2.8mm thick, it also happens to be on the thicker side when it comes to these types of tapes.
➕ High-quality bar ends
➕ Very sticky
➕ High-quality finishing tape adds style
➖ Only light colour options
Rapha, as always, absolutely nails style. You will find Rapha's signature words of encouragement embossed in the tape. When wrapped, they're a little tough to read, but wrap carefully, and they will be visible near the end of the drops. Sadly, the black tape is not currently available, with only high-viz pink and white currently on offer.
Along with all the style features, the performance of the Pro bar tape is top-of-the-line. The top feels like natural rubber, and it's very sticky even when wet. There's not a lot of texture, plenty of padding, and all the extra finishing pieces are high quality.
➕ Colour options
➕ Smooth and tacky
➕ Arrangement of logos make it easy to wrap
➖ Low quality finishing pieces
The texture of the Terra Microtex Bondcush bar tape is smooth and tacky with a construction that uses two different types of synthetic foam. There's plenty of grip when it's dry, but it does diminish a bit when wet.
The 3mm foam helps to kill any road buzz, but don’t expect this to be a gel tape though, as despite the mention of it in the description, it’s only a thin strip coated with adhesive. Also, keep in mind that if you have a nice set of aluminium bar plugs, it might be worth holding on to them; the Fizik tape only has simple black plastic ones.
➕ Super comfortable against the skin
➕ Thicker than standard
➕ Shrugs off dust
➖ Slick when wet
The ESI Silicone Wrap is a super interesting product; the company refers to it as a wrap because there's no adhesive on the back, but what's really unique is the 3.5mm silicone construction. There's no gel or foam, just an extra-thick layer of silicone and a series of slits. The silicone already offers more cushion than other bar tape options, but the slits allow for extra compression and even more comfort.
The silicone also laughs off dust and is easy to wash, as well as being exceptionally soft against your hands. It does get a bit slick in the wet, but if you are looking for a summer gravel option, this is a joy to ride with.
➕ Includes silicone padding
➕ High quality expander plug
➕ Excellent value
➖ Lacks behind the hood finishing piece
➖ Looks used quickly
The Spank package is only a small increase over the price of the tape alone, and once you’ve got the gel, it tends to last for a long time, so next time, you can buy the same tape without the gel.
The bar tape itself is a soft suede-feeling foam construction that feels exactly the same when it's wet. The downside to it is that it behaves a bit like real suede, and it gets smoother in the spot where you hold your hands.
On the upside, it’s long enough to wrap wide gravel bars with lots of flair. Spank also includes really nice bar ends, but it doesn't include a separate piece to use at the curve.
➕ Bar end is gorgeous
➕ Colours are vibrant and fun
➕ Logo texture adds style without being overdone
➕ Very sticky top
➖ Lacks behind-the-hood finishing piece
There are certainly less expensive options for bar tape, but if you are looking for something better than basic foam, the PNW Coast is a bargain. The construction is 2.4mm foam with a top that feels very similar to something like the Rapha tape.
PNW offers seven bright and fun colours as well as a texture that's based on the logo but stays abstract. The bar ends are a high point as well. In terms of longevity, I've personally covered over 2000 miles with this bar tape, and it's only just starting to show a bit of wear. The only thing I'd like to see added is either extra length or an already cut piece for behind the controls.
➕ Pattern is also a guide for neat and even wrapping
➕Extra thick but with a foam feel
➕ Works in the wet
➖No finishing for behind the controls
➖Plastic push-in bar end
Ergon offers three bar tapes that range from 2mm for a road-specific solution up to 3.5mm for the gravel option. The only other option on this list that thick is the ESI and that's a drastically different feeling bar tape. The Ergon uses a standard foam construction, but the top is stickier than a cork style. There's a texture that provides tackiness, but it also helps you line up the tape as you wrap and even has options for how thick you want the final product. The back has a subtle angle difference, and depending on how you layer it, you'll get a thicker or thinner final product.
➕ Often on sale
➕ Uniform texture
➕ 3mm thickness
➕ Colour options
➖ Lacks finishing strips
The FSA Powertouch bar tape hits all the right notes. It's not the cheapest bar tape you can find, but the price is on the lower end, and it's often discounted. The 3mm tape is also available in a decent range of colours. Perhaps more importantly, it feels really nice. The texture won't cause any pain in your hand, even without gloves, and it's very tacky. There's a bit of stretch to make wrapping easier, but it's not so much that it's hard to get the thickness correct. There's also a silicone backing to help with wrapping, but no adhesive to get stuck on the bars. The only thing I don't like is that, like many of the options here, there's no extra piece to go behind the controls.
How to choose the best gravel bar tape
Bar tape is one of those times when it makes a lot of sense to experiment. The cost barrier tends to be low, and you have to change it regularly, even if you love it. The worst that will happen is uncomfortable hands for a ride or two and you can swap the bar tape again. What I like to look for is a nice thick bar tape with all the finishing pieces and a texture that won't bother my hands. That might mean smooth and tacky, or it might mean a texture, but it shouldn't be overly noticeable.
Is there anything special about gravel bar tape?
No. If you have a bar tape you love, it doesn't matter what it's called or what the manufacturer says it's for. The primary differentiator when companies add gravel-specific bar tapes into their lineups is thickness. Gravel riding means rougher riding over rougher surfaces. Gravel riding has also tended to mean longer, more endurance-focused riding. The combination of riding for a long time over rough surfaces is a recipe for hand, arm, and shoulder fatigue. For the most part, the answer to that need is to add more material.
How thick should gravel bar tape be?
The obvious follow-up question is, if thicker is better, how thick should you go? Personally, I prefer as thick as possible. One of the reasons I prefer thicker bar tape is that I ride without gloves unless it's for warmth. Given that preference, I'll take as much cushion as possible. If you ride with gloves, then you might not need as much cushion, and the drawback of a thicker bar tape is that your finished handlebars will be larger. Those with smaller hands might prefer a thinner bar tape.
Do gel pads help?
If you find that the vibration of your bars over long gravel rides gets tiring or your hands are getting numb, you may find that gel pads help alleviate the problem. They can be positioned where you usually place your hands, such as the bar tops, and most sets include a curved gel pad for the bends, making riding on the hoods more comfortable.
You'll usually need to buy gel pads separately from your tape, but the Spank tape above includes them in one package. Fizik and Selle Italia sell gel pads as a separate item. Gel pads will increase the diameter of your bars, as well as add cushioning, so make sure you'll be comfortable riding with oversized bars.
What finish is best for gravel bar tape?
Another point of preference is the feeling at the top of the bars. How sticky do you need it to be vs how soft? There's no right answer, but it will, again, have a lot to do with your preference for gloves or no gloves. If you ride without gloves, then you'll really need to think through the right balance. Too sticky can lead to sore hands on long rides, and you might want to back off just a bit. You also have to think about performance in the wet, even if it's for a summer bike, because your hands will be wet and sweaty on every ride. For those who ride with gloves, you probably want to look for the stickiest bar tape you can find.
Do I need adhesive on the back of gravel bar tape?
You could ask the same question of road bar tape, but either way, those who are new to tape are going to wonder which is a better choice. The adhesive makes it easier to wrap bar tape because it helps hold it as you wrap. It does help, but it's more minimal than you might think. You need to hold the bar tape as you wrap anyway, and once it's on, the adhesive doesn't do anything. If you are new to wrapping bars, it's helpful to have it, but don't worry about it if you like something that doesn't have it. You’ll also want to consider that if you rarely change bars, the adhesive can get stuck over time. I’ve had bars with adhesive so fused to them that it took me hours to get off.
Some bar tape has a grippy backing that's non-adhesive, so you can easily reposition the tape if you need to when wrapping. It also ensures that the tape won't move around over time and makes for easy removal.
Should I get a coloured gravel bar tape?
One of the best things about bar tape is that it's relatively inexpensive and it's temporary. You have to change bar tape often anyway, so grab a colour and have fun. There are a couple of things to keep in mind though. Gravel riding is dirty, and coloured bar tape will show it more than black bar tape. You'll really want to think about the washability of the tape, and no matter how washable it is, black bar tape will last longer. Colour is fun, but it's going to need more frequent replacement.
How do you test gravel bar tape?
I mentioned multiple times that bar tape is something that needs to be changed regularly. That's even more true for me because I have to test handlebars and that means regularly changing the bar tape. Given how much I ride and the frequent need to test parts, I change bar tape a lot, and that means a lot of opportunity to test different options. Every gravel bar tape option I’ve included is something I’ve tested over several hours on a bike and something I’m proud to suggest.
