The GA3 feature a “Mini-wing” design that offers more comfort and wrist support for GA2 grip fans and riders with smaller hands who found other winged grips to be too big. The highly functional and ergonomic grips utilize advanced materials and designs and shapes, to fit the hand as naturally as possible for increased comfort and decreased hand issues.
The all-mountain comfort grip combines the relief benefits and wrist support of ergonomic wing grips with the freedom of movement of rounder mountain bike grips. Utilizing ergonomically optimized shapes allow for low gripping forces, and specific textures are adapted to functional grip zones for your hands. The super soft, UV-stable rubber compound allows greater control even on demanding trails and the wall thickness of the inner core is double butted to increase damping comfort.
Impressions
The grips were simple to install and used a stout single bolt clamp on the inside that’s tightened with a 4mm hex key. The clamp has a UP marking for initial positioning and then three ticks marks on either side to match them up tuning purposes. It took some trial and error out on the trail to get them appropriately tuned since the wings need to sit in a particular location to stabilize your carpal tunnel and Ulnar nerve and keep your wrists comfortably propped up, though my final place was pretty close to their UP position. I ended up having the wings more horizontal than seemed proper at the outset, but that is what felt comfortable and functional while riding. During all my riding adventures they never slipped on me, even when hammering through gnarly terrain.
Once I had the grips correctly positioned they offered excellent comfort, stability, and control. The wings provided superb Ulnar nerve support, which alleviated some numbness and hand pain, and I felt a considerable improvement in my hand problems. The moderate flex or squishiness of the wings helped to absorb some of the trail bumps and allowed some give as you rock your hands on the bars during your ride. All of this worked in synergy to offer excellent comfort and helped reduce fatigue for my hands and arms, but it never felt like it was overly sloppy.
The grips contours and shape offered functional and optimized ergonomics and provided a secure hold for the hands, which decreased fatigue, and improved leverage, and security. It does share a common problem with all winged grip designs; it limits your hand to a somewhat singular position due to its shape, but the narrowness of the wing and its flexible tips alleviated some those issues.
I liked that most of the inner grip had a more typical round shape and then it flared out to the wing design at the ends. The textures were different between the top and bottom, and the bottom offered a bit more texture for optimal grip for your fingers, providing additional leverage and control.
The rubber compound was super soft but hasn’t worn out along the main body, although the ends get chewed up slightly when they get smashed and crashed. The end plugs are replaceable, which is a good thing since mine are starting to wear.
Bottom Line
The GA3 Grips offer excellent ergonomics due to their functional shape, contours, textures, and soft rubber, and the wings provide superb Ulnar nerve and carpal tunnel comfort. I like wings on grips as they optimize the pressure distribution to the Ulnar nerve, but they’re usually just too wide for my tastes, but the slightly narrower GA3 relief wings are about perfect. They’re wide enough to provide lots of comfort and hand relief, but not too much to get in the way. The rubber is slightly soft, and the wings have a tad of flex, both of which offer just enough cushioning for the hands without being sloppy.
It comes in one size, five colors (black, blue, orange, red, berry) and retails for $29.95.
For further information ergon-bike.com