ODI’s Ruffian grip is a proven performer and a go-to choice for many gravity riders. The tried and tested lock-on design remained solid and play-free throughout our testing, and the burly end caps stayed in place despite our fair share of offs.
The new ‘Soft’ rubber compound is nice and grippy in the wet, and seems to have a damping effect on high-frequency trail buzz too. There’s no waffling or ribs to isolate the hands from vibration, but the rubber itself does a good job of staving off hand pain, and the simple design gives a direct feel on the bar.
Related: Trail Tech: Ditch the slipping grips
The downside of the softer rubber is, of course, that the Ruffians will wear out faster. That said, after a lot of hard use, our grips were still looking pretty fresh at the time of writing.
The broad lockrings stop you placing your hands right at the ends of the bar, as some riders like to, but if you don’t mind this, they’re a very comfortable set of grips.
