KranX Stretta Primo-High Grip Anti-Shock Handlebar Tape

KranX Stretta Primo-High Grip Anti-Shock Handlebar Tape lives up to its name, with a texture that delivers impressive grip no matter the weather. Can it compete with the best bar tapes we've tested? Well, it's reasonably comfortable but not the thickest, which suits me but won't appeal to all. Coming in a few different colours, it can be a way to add a personal touch to your bike without being over the top.

Kranx claims it's the 'perfect blend of grip and comfort for ultimate performance'. At 2.3mm deep this isn't a thick tape, but that's something I like – I enjoy being able to feel the solidity of the bar below the tape and have never enjoyed using thick, squishy types. It still provides a decent amount of comfort, with six-hour rides not causing any hand pain for me. If you like a smooth tape, however, this may not be the one for you, as the texture could be classed as quite rough, but it helps with the grip factor.

And the tape really lives up to its name of high grip, so if you're someone like me who enjoys a maximum sprint then this tape is great. I've done plenty of sprints with it and haven't worried about my grip at all during any of them, which is great.

I have also been impressed by its grip in our wonderful British rainy weather, even during the worst downpours, with no concerns about my safety at any point.

I also haven't found any issues with the tape spinning, which I have with most tapes, leading to me needing to rewrap the tape after a week or so of use once it has stretched a little. Not having to do that with the KranX tape is great, though it is nice and easy to wrap, especially compared with some at the lower end of the scale, or even some high-end tapes that you're told to 'not stretch' when wrapping.

The double-sided adhesive on the back of the tape has a good amount of stickiness without acting like superglue and requiring the Hulk to be able to peel sections off. It also comes in super long rolls, which is great if you enjoy having your tape wrapped all the way to the stem, or for super wide gravel bars.

KranX offers the tape in five colours, but it's just a small hint of colour, which makes it a tasteful addition, I'd say, instead of many tapes I would class as garish and horribly bright. There's black, blue, fluoro green, orange and red.

The only things I don't like particularly are the bar end plugs. I prefer plugs that can be tightened with a hex key – especially if I'm paying £20-odd. This tape comes with a very basic set of plastic bung types, which to me is a bit disappointing, though not everyone feels the same. Our friends at off.road.cc absolutely loved Enve's tape, for example, which only comes with standard plugs, and that costs £35.

The Stretta Primo-High Grip Anti-Shock Handlebar Tape is the most expensive in the KranX line-up, coming in at £21.99, but that still makes it quite a bit cheaper than many we've reviewed with prices north of £30. You can pay less, though: Easton's Foam bar tape, which Liam reviewed a couple of years ago, for example, is just £11.99, and Prime's Comfort tape is £19.99 – which Liam also loved.

Overall, I've been happy using this tape. It lives up to its high grip name, and it was a pleasure to wrap. It's not the thickest, but if you don't like your bar tape too squishy, I'd have no issues recommending this.

Verdict

Not the smoothest tape, but lives up to its name with maximum grip, even in the rain