Arundel Gecko Grip Handlebar Tape

I tried this tape a couple years ago, didn't really enjoy, and had it changed out within a week. To be fair, I use white tape, so a tendency to show dirt and not clean up easily is a showstopper, and that's exactly the problem here. One ride and the dingy look begins and doesn't clean off completely. Several rides and it's hopeless, whether I use detergent, alcohol, or Chlorox wipes.

One further issue is worth mentioning: the outer, textured layer isn't durable. The backing tape will tearmit off if you're attempting a little repositioning, and finishing tape will tear the hell out of it. My favorite tape is Deda Mistral, much cheaper, stays white indefinitely and can easily be repositioned. Feels fine to me, more like cork but no tackiness if that's what you like. I think it's that very Gecko Grippy quality that makes the stuff so attractive to grunge.

I was seduced by the many good reviews and reasonable price, and got a second pair of rolls, installed it, then quickly recalled the experience with my first pair. These happy customers probably didn't try the white version! Never again.

I've tried everyones bar tape. I like most of them, some are more durable with less padding and grip, some softer with more padding but don't last. Since I change tape annually or semi annually on three different bikes I usually look for a good value. The Arundel Gecko Grip tape appears to be just what I was looking for. Great feel with adequate padding. It was easy to install with the sticky backing. Didn't have to stretch the tape to much while wrapping. Never felt like the tape was going to rip while installing. I haven't had them on my bars long enough to speak to durability. I am using the tape on my cross bike for racing and find they provide good cushioning and grip. We are in a drought here in CA so I haven't raced them in the rain yet. Overall rating of four stars because I haven't had them long enough to consider durability.

I love the texture, the color, the very slight amount of stretchy-ness (may not be enough for some BUT it never feels as if it's going to rip), the amount of padding - almost all of it. The issue is that as soon as you try to reposition it even a little bit, the topmost layer starts to peel off. Like, instantly. And there's an unsightly difference between the top veneer and the layer underneath. So you've got to get it exactly right the first time, and forget about ever reusing it. That's a big miss for me.

Easy to set up. If any mistake done, it's easy to unwrap and wrap again. It's not the sturdier nor stay clean long, it's yellow, but it's soft and mushy, damps lots of vibration and really helps to avoid hand fatigue and numbness. Serves its purpose.

Have it on all my bikes. Wouldn�t use any other product.

I purchased the red tape. Bright color, easy to install and comfortable to the touch. It is starting to get dirty so I will try some soap and water on it to so how it cleans up and holds up.

Been using this Gecko Grip for about three years - probably four cycles of new tape - so I like it enough to buy it again, a few times. Only issue is wrapping - the tape is does not flex very well and wrapping around curves leaves some gaps and bumps (or maybe I just can't wrap well...). Once on, the padding is just what I want with gloves, and pretty good without gloves on shorter rides that I have done without gloves. The texture is good, easy to get a good grip, but not tacky or sticky. The tape lasts about three-quarters of a year for me (a year is about 5k miles), and sometimes I push it and develop wear-spots above the levers that let other riders know I have been riding! Would like tape that wraps better, but otherwise this tape is very good.

Looks great but after only a few rides, it showed signs of wear at the points where my hands are most often

I've been using Arundel gecko grip since I got my road bike, about 7,000 miles ago. I've only chanced it twice. Once, because the red tape was way too dirty. The second time, I crashed and messed up a large portion of the tape, so I wanted new tape to replace it. I'm about 2,000 miles into my current bartape and I have nothing but good things to say for it. It is easy to install, comes with absolutely gut busting instructions, the bar ends that it comes with kick hard ass and have never come out and It grips like hell, with gloves or without!

It's much thinner than I expected it to be, initially, but it has never felt uncomfortable on my hands and grips my bars like a good pair of aero lycra shorts. This tape has been with me for casual rides, training rides, crits, climbs, descents, you name it, it's been there with me! Anybody who has problems with this tape is either A) inept at putting bar tape on or B) a terrible person. I'm looking forward to throwing more of this tape on my bars in the future! Thanks, Arundel!

This tape was bad from the start, sticky tape peeled off with white protective strip. It is nice and cushy but does not conform to the bars. Particularly around brake levers. I will stick to Fizik or Lizard Skin. More money but you get what you pay for.

Maybe a fluke, but, I unwrapped the first roll to install (after taking off my old tape.. bad move!, and the 'sticky' tape came off with the protective tape. Obviously, useless, as the tape would slide all over.

Great tape. As good as all of the tape that costs more. However, the wrapping instructions are awesome. Buy some for a good laugh and for quality tape.

Like most of us, I have tried every tape you can think of over the years. Based on the reviews I thought I would give Arundel a shot. The downer is, it's difficult to install. The tape is thick with an adhesive backing and won't lay down flat. It's stretch is nil, so you have to overlap about 12 width and pull tight. With tape this thick I don't think it needs an adhesive backing. It tends to bunch up. If you persevere, go slow, take your time and check your overlays it goes a lot easier. When I got to the top and applied my electrical tape finishing tape (note Arundel says on the box don't use their finishing tape, it makes a better chain stay protector lol). I noticed I had screwed up at the bottom and had to unwind the tape and start over. When I did this, most of the adhesive backing pulled off, and it went on a lot easier the second time. The tape could be longer. I had to unwind and rewind the tops until I could get the right length. I don't know about durability, but the feel is great and it helped reduce road shock. Before I used gel tape and this stuff works better. Great grip, and no problem holding on with sweaty hands. I think I will make this my go to tape as others have mentioned. You can get three rolls of this for one roll of Lizard Skin. This stuff is just as good. Excellent value for this product. Besides all the problems with the install, it was well worth the effort!

My go-to bar tape. Thick-ish, grippy without being sticky, yet also stays reasonably clean for a long time. And it's better priced than comparable tape. Comfortable under my hands for hours at a time, with and without gloves. I usually buy a few rolls at a time on sale to stock up for my bikes.

I like the feel, wear, and look of this tape. It's medium thickness, relatively firm, but it provides good cushioning on rough roads. It does not seem to wear out - I replace when I replace cables once a year (I use black tape, so maybe I don't see the wear...). It looks good on my bike - sort of a matte finish that looks better from some of the dull finishes on tapes of similar price.

Arundel is my favorite handlebar tape that I've ever tried. It has a classy look. It is very tacky and provides good cushion without feeling big and soft. Perhaps the only downsides are that they are a little more expensive than other tape and they wear a little faster than others that I've tried. I still think they are worth the money and will probably only use Arundel. I haven't tried shellacked cotton tape though.

Wears out too quickly. Won't buy again.

I feel as though I've tried every handlebar tape out there, from simple Deda carbon-look to Fizik that super pricey Lizard Skin stuff. I have always trusted my Arundel bottle cage, so I figured why not try it? It's really grippy, not too thick, a solid black with a pleasing texture that feels really secure. Nice all around.

Good tape. Long enough, tacky without being sticky, and easy to wrap.

The price is really low, especially considering the quality. Used on TT aero bars and they are slightly tacky to help with grip. In several hours of use, they are as good as new.