What's the best cork handlbar tape?

[e-rider]

I have tried Cinelli, Easton and 3T.

The Cinelli tape is very nice and is the original cork ribbon. It's quite thin and wraps beautifully but wears out quickly (1500 miles) and is so sticky that removing it is a real pain in the ar$e and involves lots of white spirit. It's also fairly short and a roll struggles with 44 or 46 width bars IMO.

Easton tape is very thick and as a result you get a lumpy appearance. It is however, very soft and more hard wearing that Cinelli or 3T. Length is good and seems to be calculated using 46 width bars so most people will have some spare. Very neat end plugs too.

3T standard cork tape is very similar to Cinelli and 'might' even come off the same production line but with a different logo. Same problems removing it with excessive stickyness. Looks and feels very nice though.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

It is like asking who makes the best road groupset isn't it? Which of course by definition is Campagnolo. (Quickly donned tin hat, body armour, hid under the stairs ).

Since you did not ask who makes the longest tape, or the easiest to take off, but what's the best, so the answer must be Cinelli. Same answer for handlebar and stem BTW . Gooey stuff can be removed readily by an oily rag - even vegetable oil will do.

 

[GrahamG]

I like deda for standard cork tape but for 'alternative' material then it has to be the specialized synthetic bar tape (the one without the gel pads) - lovely smooth texture, really well padded and still looks like new after c.2000 miles

 

[PpPete]

I like the Bontrager non-adhesive one.

 

[Alembicbassman]

+ 1 for the Bontrager, you can unwind it if you make a bollox of it first time.

The kit is 7.99 from JE James and includes end plugs and finishing tape

 

[Mark_Robson]

I really like the Specialized Phat bar tape. It's very easy to apply and very comfy once on. Oh and it comes as a kit with the gel pads.