Review: Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm Bar Tape

Bar tape on a road bike is something most riders don’t pay all that much attention to, yet as a key contact point the choice can make a considerable difference to your ride. Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm Bar Tape offers a wider, super comfortable feel with better shock absorption.

Considerably thicker than your standard cork based bar tape, the DSP 3.2mm is designed for added comfort. So much so that it was the bar tape of choice for our own MTN-Qhubeka as they took on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix this year.

Specs

Weight: 78g per set (including plugs)

Thickness: 3.2mm

Material: Durasoft Polymer

Colours: Black, Red, Green, Blue, White, Grey

On the bike

Installing the DSP 3.2mm is a straightforward process. Thanks to the rubbery synthetic material there’s a decent amount of stretch in the tape. It is also backed with a self-adhesive strip and in the box you’ll find additional pre-cut strips for the levers, plugs and finishing tape.

The added thickness of the tape is immediately noticeable with a slightly wider, yet comfortable grip compared to ordinary bar tape. The feel of the Lizard Skins is quite unique: it’s got a spongy, slightly cushy feel and is rubbery to the touch.

An initial concern was how grip would hold up in wet or sweaty conditions. Even without gloves the grip was good through all conditions. In the wet the tape remained tacky thanks to the texture etched into the surface.

Out on the road shock absorption and vibration dampening were the winning features for me. Having snapped my carbon bar some time ago, I’d found the switch to aluminium came with a far harsher ride, especially riding sans gloves. The comfy Lizard Skins though took most, if not all, of that harshness out leaving my hands, wrists and arms in better shape on bumpy surfaces.

If the wider grip and spongy feel are not to your liking (or your weight-weenie-ness is just that strong), Lizard Skins also offer the DSP Tape in thinner, lighter 1.8mm and 2.5mm options.

Verdict

While comfort and grip of the Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm tape comes at a premium, the benefit to the feel of my ride is well worth it.