D3O is a material in widespread use for impact protection in cycling, moto, and other applications. ODI has adopted it for use in grips to take advantage of its anti-vibration and shock absorption qualities. I’ve been running a set of the Vanquish Lock-on grips to see how they work on the trail.
Product features (via ODI)
- D3O material exclusive to ODI grips
- Claims to offer 2x additional vibration damping
- V2.1 lock-on single clamp system provides more usable grip space
- Double-reinforced ends for durability
- Unique waffle traction pattern
- Medium 32.75mm diameter
- Multi-layered padded top grip section for excellent shock absorption
- Micro-flange for added protection
- Available in 7 different colors
- MSRP: $44.95
First impression of the grips
The Vanquish offers a waffle traction pattern with a variety of shapes and textures. One thing I do like about this grip is that the larger sizes of the raised surfact shapes should result in a longer-wearing grip. The larger pattern pieces feel a bit stiffer compared to other grips, though, so it’s a bit of a trade-off.
If you ride without gloves and like a grip that feels soft, these are not the grips for you. They don’t feel squishy at all. On the upside, being a harder material means these should wear a bit longer.
I find that some grips feel better to me without gloves. I definitely prefer gripping the Vanquish grip with gloves. I’m mostly a glove wearer when trail riding, so this isn’t an issue. I do feel the grip pattern offers a good amount of traction, and while it feels stiff, I don’t notice additional vibration being transmitted.
After a day at the Timberline bike park – our local lift-assisted bike park – I didn’t experience any arm pump. These trails are quite bumpy, and in the past, I have indeed experienced hand fatigue here. Some of my riding buddies have gotten it so bad they’ve had to cut their day short. I haven’t had the opportunity to make it to Whistler this year though, which to me is the bar.
My review sample is grey and orange. Orange seems to be the default D30 material color, as my Moto jacket has orange D3O inserts. I’m not a fan of orange, but they are available in other color options. (I think the blue option is quite appealing)
V2.1 lock-on single clamp system
I’m torn on the next generation of the ODI single clamp design. While I can appreciate how it takes up less real estate on the bars, I found myself concerned with stripping the bolt. I didn’t measure the amount of torque that was required to get the grip to stop slipping on my bars, but it felt like it was substantial. I’m withholding judgment here, though, as this could simply be attributed to a range in tolerances — perhaps the grips I had were on the upper end. That said, I haven’t had issues with the grip slipping, and I’ve ridden it on a range of trails, including DH runs at the bike park. If you’re concerned like I was, a nice new bit attached to a torq wrench woudl be the way to go.
On the trail
I’d like to point out the double-reinforced grip ends, as I so often have my bike leaned up against something to take a photo of it. We all do it, and as I’m often writing product reviews of new components and accessories, I’m more guilty of this than most. As so often happens, the stick or object we’re using to prop up the bike slips, and the bike falls, only to land with the bars and grips hitting the ground first. I’ve lost track of the times I have had a fresh set of grips spoiled by damage from a fall like this.
That is not an issue with these grips! So they’ve won me over there. If they’re also comfortable, durable, and easy to hold on to, they’re already a winner in my book. And if they can also tone down vibrations from the trail, well, that’s just gravy.
Getting into the nitty-gritty of grips: I like the shape of the grip pattern, and I’m a big fan of the micro-flange on the inside. I wish all my grips had the inside micro-flange; it feels so BMX. That said, the small flange on the end (of said reinforced ends) of the grip are even more key for me, as that’s where my hands usually end up at speed. They have a bit of a lip which adds a feeling of security I quite like, and as I mentioned, the reinforced ends add a lot of longevity.
Does the D30 vibration damping work?
I haven’t experienced arm pump while running the Vanquish grips to date. Our local ski-lift-assisted park at Timberline has worn more than one riding buddy after a few hours of banging down over braking bumps. I haven’t made it to Whistler in the last season or two, so I haven’t been able to give it the Whistler benchmark, but so far, so good. I’m a fan of my D30 pads and the armor in my motorcycle jacket, so it’s been interesting to see it implemented in grip form.
The price of the ODI Vanquish lock-on grips is a bit more than some of the other lock-on grip options available, which tend to run around $30, with other options being less if you catch them on sale. Is it worth the additional cost? While I’m on the fence with the v2.1 clamp – though it hasn’t failed – I like the durability and traction of the grip. And so far, the anti-vibration claims seem to hold up – so far, they’ve proved to perform better than many of the other grips I’m currently testing and in rotation. Though they cost a bit more at $45, if the grip features are of value to you, I’d say they’re worth trying out.
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