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Some grips are kept as simple as possible, while others are designed to pack in the features. Peaty’s Monarch Pro grips come from the latter school of thought and perform admirably on the trail.
In fact, they've quickly become a favourite of mine, thanks to a great mix of handlebar feel and comfort, as well as plentiful grip and how easy they are to live with.
However, the non-black options show dirt very quickly.
Peaty's Monarch Pro grips performance
On paper, fitting grips sounds easy. However, there’s a sliding scale (pun not intended) of ease – some slip right on, while others can put up a battle.
The Monarch Pros sit in the middle, with a tapered core adding resistance as the grip nears full fitment. There’s a single bar clamp with a 3mm hex bolt that has a deep head, so proper tool insertion is easy to avoid stripping it. As with most grips, the bolt sits under the bar, so a ball-ended hex key is easier to use because you often have to navigate around dropper levers or shifters.
The grip’s internal core is made from 80% recycled ocean plastic, which is a nice touch, and the packaging is all cardboard. There’s a cut-out within the core, sitting under your palms, meaning the softer outer rubber is deeper, adding compliance.
The mushroom grip pattern I’ve tested is built for comfort (with a knurl version designed for race performance). The in-built ridges offer a little side-to-side movement and squish.
I’ve found deeper mushroom grip patterns can lead to a vague feeling in more technical terrain. However, the depth of the ridges on this narrow version of the Monarch Pro blend comfort requirements with a more accurate feel on the trail.
The mushroom portion of the grip is made from a softer 15a durometer rubber, while what Peaty’s calls the ‘fingerbars’ on the underside of the grip and the end cap are made from stiffer 30a rubber.
These fingerbars add an element of security when pulling on the bar, and work with the shallower mushroom ridges to add control and stability when holding on tight.
The bumper on the end is exposed to scuffs and knocks, unlike a sturdier plastic end cap or metal collar. It’s more likely to get torn up in a crash and doesn’t glance off trees quite so smoothly. However, it’s more likely to stay put if you lean your bike against a wall.
The bumper offers a little ridge against your little finger, which adds a sense of hand security, and there’s also a small flange on the inside that isn’t deep enough to interfere with the controls.
The Mushroom variant comes in two thicknesses: 30-32mm and 32-34mm. The thicker option should offer more comfort, however as someone who prioritises grip comfort over ultimate control, I’ve been more than happy with the thinner option.
The grips come in six colours, with colour-matched collars. After a couple of months, the ‘Sage’ grips I’ve tested are looking dirty, which I don’t think would be a problem if I'd opted for black. That said, the wear rates have been acceptable, even in the softer rubber areas.
At £29.99, the Monarch Pro grips aren’t cheap, but they’re also not overly expensive considering how well they perform. You'll miss out on free shipping if you buy direct from Peaty’s, but they’re available from a wide range of shops.
How I tested
I’ve been testing the Monarch Pro grips on my Last Glen long-term bike over the past few months. They’ve been ridden on a wide variety of trails in everything from bone-dry to wet and muddy conditions.
I’ve ridden them on fast and rough tracks to test their comfort, and steep and technical trails to ensure my hands stayed firmly attached.
Peaty's Monarch Pro grips bottom line
The Monarch Pro grips are already a firm favourite, doing everything a grip should do – offering comfort and control – and nothing they shouldn’t.
Their mushroom design takes the sting out of the trail but doesn’t add any side-to-side vagueness.
Their only real fault is that the Sage colourway discoloured quickly when dirty, and the rubber bumpers were fast to scuff up – although it makes leaning a bike up a little easier.
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