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A Gripping Review: Wolf Tooth Components Fat Paws

we test the wolf tooth components fat paws to see if they help sore hands.
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In my quest to relieve nagging hand and elbow pain I have tried a number of different products. My latest grab at a quick fix is Fat Paws from Wolf Tooth Components. Made by Red Monkey Sports in the USA, they’re constructed of 100% silicone. Unlike most of the grips they make which have normal diameters, the Fat Paws are designed for riders with really big mitts. The 9.5mm thickness creates an outer diameter of 36-37mm.

They are if anything—fat.

Unlike other foam grips which have been around as long as mountain bikes themselves, the 100% silicone Fat Paws ($23.95) have a tacky exterior. Under a gloved hand, they almost feel like traditional rubber. They also have a springy rebound, unlike most foam grips.

My last go-round with silicone grips was several years ago in pursuit of gram-shedding. All of the grips in the Red Monkey lineup are extremely light and the Fat Paws clock in at just 45 grams for each grip, not counting the end cap. I’m not too concerned with grams these days, but comfort ranks high on my list.

we test the wolf tooth components fat paws to see if they help sore hands.

After a quick install using just a few drops of alcohol I hit the trail—and hated the Fat Paws immediately. They are huge. But, I was determined to give them a fair shake.

After two months I concede they didn’t help my hand pain or my wonky elbow. But I did notice a modest amount of deadened vibration. I expected them to relieve more pressure than they did and thought they would feel softer after hours in the saddle. In some ways, I’m glad they are not too squishy as that would certainly degrade the connective feel to the bars.

If I noticed one benefit, it helped me reduce my tenacious grip. As I noticed with the Revolution Grips I tried this spring, the Fat Paws promote a more relaxed grab. That in itself might have reduced a bit of my hand fatigue.

we test the wolf tooth components fat paws to see if they help sore hands.

With a width of 133mm, they’re no wider than the other grips made by Red Monkey. I didn’t encounter any slippage and they have held up well.  I sometimes wish they offered a more ergonomic shape. Red Monkey sells the Cäm Ergonomic grip, but it only has a pronounced flat edge. I would prefer something more contoured.

Overall, I think I will continue to use them. There is one strange tradeoff to using jumbo grips. Normal grips now feel like I’m hanging onto a No. 2 pencil.

www.wolftoothcomponents.com

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#THELEGEND
#THELEGEND
6 years ago

FWIW if your looking for a longer grip, Wolftooth also offers the Fat Paw XL which is 160mm long. Sadly they only come in black, but they are awesome for big hands. https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/fat-paw-grips-xxl

André
André
6 years ago

Has the editor ever used SQLab or Ergongrips?

nopers is bopes
nopers is bopes
6 years ago

soo basically the ESI chuncky for 1usd more, 1mm more and cooler wolf end plugs lol.

Artemis Entreri
5 years ago

ESI Chunky Diameter installed – 32mm
ESI Extra Chunky Diamater installed – 34mm

Wolftooth FatPaw installed – 37mm
– (equates to 13.6% larger than ESI chunky, and 8.2% larger than Extra Chunky)

Tom
Tom
6 years ago

I’ve run these for a couple of years now, and LOVE them. I’ve got big hands, am getting up there in years, and have a really wonky finger that needs all the love it can get.

I get more comfort and control from them than any lock on grip I’ve tried, including the usual standard suspects plus Ergon GA2s, and have switched back and forth between the Fatpaws and Ergons three times just to play around.

Two hundred mile mtb races and two fifty milers. Probably not going back!

Mike
Mike
6 years ago

Try ODI Vapor grips , they made a big difference when compared to the WT grips which I found too big.

maros
maros
6 years ago

esi chuncky

Artemis Entreri
5 years ago
Reply to  maros

ESI Chunky Diameter installed – 32mm
ESI Extra Chunky Diamater installed – 34mm

Wolftooth FatPaw installed – 37mm
– (equates to 13.6% larger than ESI chunky, and 8.2% larger than Extra Chunky)

Jason West
6 years ago

Quick install? These took me a crazy amount of time to mount.

laserrobottime
6 years ago
Reply to  Jason West

I just mounted a set with soapy water. Went on in a quarter of a second…

laserrobottime
6 years ago
Reply to  Jason West

Little soapy water and they slide right on!

Andy R
Andy R
6 years ago
Reply to  Jason West

Put them on with an air compressor. Easy.

Ashok Captain
6 years ago

Try hand sanitiser. Grips slide on and it dries quickly.

Kuttermax
Kuttermax
3 years ago
Reply to  Ashok Captain

Hand sanitizer was a great tip. Helped me get these on a lot easier than just using alcohol.

Robert Anke
5 years ago

love these grips! and i have comparatively small hands for a guy that rides a large bike. i bruised my palm really badly in a crash and used them while recovering, but found- by surprise- that they greatly reduced arm pump and hand fatigue when I brought the bike to the park. Like them so much I put them on my dh bike, and then on every bike I’ve had since. Regular grips feel tiny and unforgiving now.

Artemis Entreri
5 years ago

ESI Chunky Diameter installed – 32mm
ESI Extra Chunky Diamater installed – 34mm

Wolftooth FatPaw installed – 37mm
– (equates to 13.6% larger than ESI chunky, and 8.2% larger than Extra Chunky)

david lhuillery
david lhuillery
3 years ago

One more time please.

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