ODI VANQUISH GRIP REVIEW
ODI TEAMS UP WITH D3O SO YOUR HANDS DON’T VIBRATE
Words & Photos by Travis Reill
February 20, 2025
For over 40 years, ODI has kept our hands comfortable on bars. From the Mushroom BMX grip that put them on the map in the ‘80s, ODI branched out into anything involving handlebars — moto, ATV, sport bikes, snowmobiles, jet skis, and MTB — just to name a few. ODI continues to innovate, this time by teaming up with materials specialists D3O® to create the Vanquish Grips.
ABOUT THE ODI VANQUISH GRIPS
ODI teamed up with D3O for the Vanquish Grips, bringing their shock-absorbing GRIP material into a mountain bike grip. D3O’s GRIP compound promises “2x more damping than traditional grip materials,” along with increased control, both physically and mentally, due to less mental focus on fatigued hands.
The Vanquish Grip has a geometric waffle grid pattern made of tiny hexagons and slightly larger triangles, similar to what we’re familiar with on other D3O products, such as knee pads. A strip of larger, diamond-shaped material runs along the bottom of the grips. In addition to this familiar waffle pattern, the grip’s construction consists of a multi-layered padded top section that adds to its shock absorption qualities and helps it to maintain traction.
Thanks to their V2.1 lock-on single clamp system, ODI’s Vanquish Grips are 135mm long. Paired with double-reinforced ends, the Vanquish Grips have more usable space for hand placement than double-locking grips. They come in a “medium” 32.75mm diameter, which could be fatter than other brands. Despite a one-size offering, ODI offers three colorways for the Vanquish Grips: black, charcoal, and orange. The black and charcoal colorways are accented with D3O orange, while the orange colorway is a reversal of the black.
THE DIRT
Grips are a complicated review. Unlike other products, where there are usually more distinct conclusions, grips are very much based on personal preferences—what works for my hands may not work for yours, and vice versa.
Given this, my experience with the ODI Vanquish Grips was positive. We received the grips shortly after Sea Otter 2024, and I have had them on various bikes since, although they have primarily lived on my trail bike. After nearly a year of riding the ODI Vanquish Grips, I was impressed with their comfort and overall performance.
But that is just my hands. Both Drew and Robert didn’t get along with the Vanquish Grips. Drew felt like his hands were getting beat up using them, and Robert thought they might be just a bit too fat for his liking. My hands got along with the 32.75mm diameter grips well. While the size of this “medium” diameter grip is closer to other “fat” or “thick” grips from some other brands, I found the squish of the D3O layer allowed my hands to settle in nicely. This squish and the Vanquish Grips’ geometric pattern kept my hands in place on the grips.
My biggest question is if the D3O GRIP layer is actually noticeable. Now, I don’t question the claims ODI and D3O make about the Vanquish Grips or the companies’ measurable data. While I believe the Vanquish Grips did “offer 2X more vibration damping,” I’m just unsure if that data translates to real-life, noticeable riding differences.
In my experience, switching to a carbon handlebar made a much more significant difference with hand vibration damping than the grips. While it wasn’t a precise scientific experiment, I tested this on the Rocky Mountain Altitude I reviewed last year. Our C70 Coil came spec’d with alloy bars and ODI Elite Pro grips. Switching to the Vanquish Grips on the stock alloy bars didn’t noticeably reduce hand vibrations. However, switching to a carbon handlebar did, regardless of whether I used the Vanquish or the Elite Pros — both of which I very much like.
The bottom line is that ODI makes excellent grips. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve used an ODI grip that I haven’t liked, which could probably be expected from a company solely focused on handlebars. With that in mind, I’m unsure if spending an extra $15 for the Vanquish Grips is worth it when other ODI grips cost less.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Once again, ODI has made a fantastic MTB grip — something we’ve come to expect from the brand. The Vanquish Grips were comfortable, provided ample traction, and are still on my bike today. However, the extra cost of vibration-damping D3O GRIP may not be worth it, especially when great grips like the ODI Elite Pro and Elite Flow grips are $15 less. 
Price: $44.95
Website: ODIgrips.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes
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