Enve 3DXC Grips Review - Thoughtfully Designed, Futuristically Constructed

Words and photos by Jared Erickson

3D printing is all the hype nowadays. In the MTB world, we've seen 3D printed saddles, pedals, even entire bikes. Now, Enve has applied the technology to a couple of XC grips. The question is, how do they stack up against other similar push on grips?

Introduction & Overview

According to ENVE, The ENVE 3DXC is "a purpose built, lightweight, cross-country race grip that delivers performance and durability previously inaccessible in traditional foam and rubber." At first glance, plus having seen plenty of bikes with tattered looking foam push on grips, I'd have to agree with the marketing jargon for now. But how would they hold up after plenty of abusive miles on my Yeti ASR? And how do they feel compared to some of the best foam grips on the market? 

It almost goes without saying, but these grips were quite easy to install - with some isopropyl alcohol sprayed on the bar and inside the grip, plus with the help of an air compressor they were on the bike in seconds. There is a left and right hand orientation so you'll want to keep that in mind when installing them. 

Ride Impressions

I've been testing out the larger diameter 34.5mm grips and at first they took some getting used to, even coming from a slightly larger diameter grip (32mm) in the Trail One Hell's Gate grips. However, after a few rides I've really come to appreciate the benefits of the larger diameter. In my experience they have almost a Tempur-Pedic like quality to them in that if you squeeze them they will conform to your hand shape and stay like that for a short while, but they will rebound to their normal shape after a few moments.

Some of the touted benefits of push on grips over lock on grips is their ability to mute some of the vibrations that make their way through the bike to the handlebars, and I would have to say that this is a very real and tangible benefit of the 3DXC grips. On a lightweight bike with stiff carbon wheels and skinny tires being ridden hard and fast, you tend to get some unwanted trail feedback through the bike into your hands - not so much with these grips. They give you an extra layer of cushion and comfort that reduces fatigue and calms things down a little bit when things get rowdy. 

The question most people initially have when switching from lock on grips to push on grips is will the grips spin when I'm riding? Well, so far so good - I haven't experienced any slippage even when pulling up for bunny hops and ripping around on the bike. I really enjoy how they conform to your hands when you grip them, especially around your thumbs where you grip the bars, which gives you a certain level of security through the grips that I haven't experienced with other grips. Even with my excessively sweaty hands, the grip material and lattice construction does its job well of keeping your hands in the right spot.  Other push on grips have a tendency to get extremely slippery when wet and it seems like the ventilation of the lattice in the 3DXC helps with that a bit, even though it may not seem like it at first glance.

The grip shape tapers a bit towards the end of the handlebar and is a tad skinnier where your thumb wraps around the bar. This gives the grip a bit more of an ergonomic feel and makes your hands feel at home quickly. As an enjoyer of thinner grips as well, I would like to try the thinner diameter version of these eventually, but for now I am really enjoying these grips and look forward to plenty of miles on them. 

Final Thoughts

If you enjoy push on grips or have been curious to try them, the ENVE 3DXC grips are certainly worth a shot. These grips genuinely change how your hands feel while riding your bike. The vibration damping, tuned comfort of the lattice construction and durability benefits of the 3D printed material culminates in an interesting and refreshing take on a mountain bike grip. The 3DXC grips are a great example of how technological improvements can lead to a very compelling product.