Review: SQlab 711 SY locking grips

SQlab is a German brand focused mainly on fit points: grips and saddles. The 711 grip looks like the Incredible Hulk wrapped his mighty paw around a round grip and gave it a squeeze. It’s perfectly shaped to fit your hand as you hold it and comes in three sizes to fit nearly any hand.

The shape is constructed to reduce pressure on the ulnar nerve, just like many of the “wing”-shaped grips that are popular now, but without the bulk. The body is a very firm rubberized material that transmits a lot of feedback to your hands. The texture is also quite rough to provide grip on your gloves. Then again, I thought riding them without gloves would destroy my palms but it wasn’t so bad.

Because of the very ergonomic shape there is really only one way to hold these grips, and if you move your hands around a lot or hang your pinky off the end of the bars, these might not be for you, but SQlab makes a 711 MX grip with a smaller wing.

I have big hands and prefer extra-fat grips, but I think these are going to stay on my bars as long as they last. For $29 they are also priced competitively compared to other ergonomic grips. SQlab products can be ordered from its distributor, Radsport USA or purchased at your local bike shop.