fun fact, I've been wrapping bars top to bottom for years. no need for tape on the top to keep it affixed and I find that it grips my hand better. Also, for those who deal with hand fatigue who want to avoid gel inserts may I suggest using an old innertube? cut out the valve, tape it into place, make multiple tight wraps until you get to the end of the bar, cut off excess, use some tape to keep it in place and wrap with your preferred bar tape, works very well.

Just an FYI - those of you that have Aluminum handlebars should probably take the tape off once in a while to make sure you can get the bars clean. The salt from your sweat will corrode the bars if left unchecked for an extended length of time causing bar failure.

There are many manufacturers that use a sticky silicone strip instead of the typical adhesive on the back. Supercaz, Fabric, Specialized, and PRO are tapes that I have used. However, they cost more than the traditional ones.

Just like what we had in the 1960s and 70s. Serfas sells a woven tape.

Looks like nice tape. Seems like since since you had so much extra tape you could have increased the overlap to make it a little bit more cushioned.

Isopropyl works to get tape gunk off bars. I'm diggin this non-tape tape, like that you dont need electrical to "seal" it at the end and rubber undercoat is a really great idea for bar grip. Rubber band ribs on bars could also be a workaround with actual bar tape-tape if you don't wanna stick the adhesive.

Been using Grepp for a year or two now. Always tinkering on my bikes, and it's just so handy that you can re-use this basically an infinite number of times. No fraying to speak of at all. There is some discolouration (I have both the black and rain drum (brown) colours), but that's basically cool patina anyway. The only downside is that it is so darn durable and reusable that you better make sure you get the right colour, cause there's not going to be a reason to replace it for a loooong time once you have it. Would love to see some patterns, like a collab with Campandgoslow would be epic...

Alternative to gel inserts, I’ve been using punctured butyl tubes to much success in adding more cushion to my bars.

I've used old inner tubes before. Worked great.

I've had really good luck with Bontrager Gel Cork bar tape, the adhesive isn't super-duper sticky, and it unwrapped and re-wrapped very well one year after I initially installed it. For sub $20 tape it's hard to do any better.

This is a great product, reusable, washable, no sticky guage, the future of bar tape! They’d be smart if they had an option for including gel pads with the product. I’m gonna look for this for my vintage Bianchi which needs new tape.

The Wolf Tooth supple tape is amazing as well, no adhesive and very thick for cushioning.

For future reference - use red scotch-brite pads to knock off the stuck bits on your bars. The red has abrasives, the white ones are nonabrasive, the grey ones are in between, and the green is super aggressive. You can also spray a small amount of citrus cleaner on to help it go a little faster.

In the old days we always wrapped our bars with part of the brake lever clamp showing. I don't remember ever needing to grip the bars where the little gap was in the tape. But times have changed and aesthetics are important.

I had some cloth tape from BTP. It was pretty durable. After a crash, I replaced it not because it was too shredded -- it was just a little shredded -- but because of all the blood on it. I didn't think of laundering it.

I love the idea of this, and would 100% get on it if I rode with Curly bars. I do use tape on my butterfly bars, but I put some brooks cambium tape on them years ago and haven't needed to change it, but I can swap out controls without de-taping. Great looking product, designed reusability in a product is edgy AF in this day and age

Good idea to solve an ongoing issue and it looks nice too. I see someone else reported using old inner tubes, a good reuse option. I used to get rubber wrap from a hardware store meantvfor hammer wrapping. It wirked great, had cushion and could be reused. Downside it was onlynin black. Thanks for continuing to seek out fixes for annoying and expensive bike issues

One can wrap bottom up from the bar ends to the hoods and then top down from the stem to the hoods, hiding the cut ends under the hoods. That’s how I did it when I harlequin wrapped my bars. Come to think of it, one could go the other way round, too. You’d just have to tape or twine both ends.

I've had relatively good experience recently with Brooks Cambium: had to redo it after about a month, and it was both not deformed and not too sticky. Also really like how grippy and cushioned it is. Thought about the grepp, but I'm very sensitive in my palms and wrists and feared that even with pads underneath it would be too hard

I am about to change my bar tape but have already bought the standard stick stuff. Will certainly look out for this on my next change of tape.

One thing that has intrigued me is that all the videos I've seen on bike cleaning and restorations is that you never see them cleaning the handlebars if the tape is being changed. Great to see a make of handlebar tape that doesn't have adhesive. Well done video as always.

I’ve had good luck using a heat gun so “loosen up” the adhesive when removing stubborn bar tape. That said, it can still be a pretty unpleasant process on older bars so I fully support this adhesive free alternative!

Handlebar tape is always recycled into chain stay protection in this house. The "bling-er" the chain stay, the better.

Wrapping top-down is a no-go for me. When the tape is wrapped top-down, you'll end up with the overlap facing the wrong way (up), meaning the overlap will tend flip over after some use, particularly around the brake hoods. Been there, done there, even got the T-shirt. Also, the tape seems to not be stretchy, which will make a nice installation harder and perhaps even frustrating. If you don't like the adhesive, take it out before you use the handlebar tape. Most adhesives are just narrow double-side tape. Or get handlebar tape that has non-adhesive silicone backing.

I had some Lorica h'bar tape made by TTT that lasted for over a decade on a couple bikes. Lorica is synthetic leather, like what Sidi uses for their shoes. It used no adhesive. This tape showed great durability during cross racing, crashing, 'learning from mistakes' and off-road touring. You can still find it. I reinstalled mine countless times. Stitch on leather tape is also extremely durable. It's a quite a bit more effort to install though and more permanent. Quite costly too. If you know what you're doing, you don't need the adhesive on h'bar tape. Especially when you change bar set ups lots. Practice makes perfect. Just don't remove the backing tape and stretch it on tight as it's installed. It's easily reusable if you're careful. I reuse tape over and over if it's not torn. I like rubberized tape like Bikesmart's Skyline. Nice durable tape that's affordable. If it tears from some rough play, no biggy. It's inexpensive.

I NEED THIS. I'm also fiddling with my bikes a lot and swapping parts. I buy cheap tape for that reason but it's still $20 every time I need to remove it. $34 sounds like a good deal to me.

Looks like a great product! Makes so much sense, and really pleased to see it's available from Alpkit in the UK. Consider wrapping the bars in an old inner tube before using the tape to add a "little" cushioning.

I really like the Brooks Microfiber bar tape. There is essentially no adhesive to be worried about and can be re-wrapped pretty easily. Worth a try.

Enve bar tape has a silicone backer that is grippy but not sticky, allowing you to reuse it multiple times without any issues. I've rewrapped my bars 3 times now with the same roll of Enve bar tape and could easily do it again. It's got a little cushion and doesn't get slippery in the rain. Expensive, but worth it imho.

I like this one. I’ll check it out on my next build, with gels of course. Thanks for sharing.

I'd be concerned wrapping the "wrong" way means riding in the drops degrades the tape. There's a reason you start from the bottom.

Awesome product from the looks of it. I've always used newbaums wrapped over cork or gel tape for the added cushion but that nice cotton feel. And always wrapped from the top for aesthetics

3:22 that is actually a really useful workshop tip if you are using conventional tape! I went back to using self-adhesive fabric tape a couple of years ago. Sure it isn't padded but I just work out where I need my padding and use scrap bits of old padded bar tape, hold them in place with electrical tape, then cover the lot with fabric tape...

Just wrapped with Grepp a few days ago. Its deffo a bit hard on the hand and slightly slippery but also ride with gloves on longer rides. On commutes it doesnt matter really. Wondering what will happen when riding in rain in summer. How quickly will it dry out or feel damp. Considering its not that thick, will probably dry pretty quick in sunshine? Got a yellow one and its for sure bright and slightly shiny at the beginning. Think of buying white sneakers and going out to the street the first day. Blinding everyone. Cant wait to get them slightly dusty and worn in. But easy to wrap and love the idea.

Like someone said, just like the 60s and 70s. We also started the tape at the top and stuffed the end in the bar. But my hands rubbed the exposed edge. That's how the tape was usually destroyed. I'm interested if that happens on your bike.

Love my silicone tape without adhesive but my gloves eat up the surface. I was already thinking about adding a protective tape on top, keeping the silicone for cushion and I kind of like chunky grips.

That looks very pretty! It would be interesting to see how long it lasts before starting to look ratty, even after washing. I've been getting ~1200-1500 miles out of "modern" padded tape (including multiple re-wraps) before it is worn out/through. The last time I changed taped on my "good" bike I used the old (Supacaz) tape to replace the stuff on my commuter bike, I swapped sides and wrapped it so that the worn and grimy parts were underneath the cleaner previously unexposed part.

I like that it seems as if they don't skimp on the length. I feel like a lot of tapes are made with 42cm bars in mind.

This looks interesting, thanks for reviewing it. I’ve been using Bontrager and Enve tape for years and both can be reused numerous times. Enve for the win.

I may try this kind of tape in the future. Thanks.

Being a fabric tape I’m wondering how it does with moisture. If you are riding and get rained on does the tape stay wet longer than a more traditional tape?

nice vid! When I wrapped my Grepp tape, I went the "normal" way - from the bar ends up to the stem, and haven't had any issues. I also overlapped quite a bit and still had plenty left, on a fairly "normal" width 46cm bar. I used a small strip of Newbaum's to finish it and hold it in place, and the adhesive on the back of that hasn't caused any problems so far. Oh, and I also found using a figure-8 pattern around the lever got rid of the gap without leaving a big bulge of tape or having to cut an extra piece.

A toffee wheel attachment on a drill will sort left over glue or alternatively a cheaper option is Zoff wipes more labour intensive but no scratches

Profile Drive Gel...and it's even longer than the regular Drive tape. Silicone backing, nice stretch, super easy to wrap, nice padding without being too thick.

Looks great. Wondering about compatibility with wider bars - I have 50cm Curve Walmer.

Been running this on my road bike for a while and really like it, pretty sure same color. Doesn’t seem to be discoloring as quickly as my previous celeste green tape.

might want to try specialized roubaix tape. mine has been taken on and off three times by now, has been in the wash once and it still sticks... a bit... when dry

I've been using Planetbike organic cotton bar tape for several years. The glue isn't as aggressive as Newbaum's, so it doesn't leave a lot of residue, and I can easily re-use it or re-wrap if I want to change quill stems. In a perfect world removable face-plate quill stems wouldn't be hopelessly out of stock, and apparently NONE OF US LIVE IN THAT WORLD. So I choose reusable cloth wraps as much as possible. I picked up some Grepp Gripper tape recently, Olivine--because I always buy grey tape and thought a change would be nice. But my frame is lilac, so it looks like I was going for a Joker-themed build, and I absolutely hate it. Now I'm hoping that I can adjust the color with amber shellac, but no one seems to be stocking that anymore. The moral of this story is buy grey or brown and that I still don't know if you can shellac the Grepp Gripper tape.

When I worked in bike shops 1978-1984, we always started by the stem, and cut a piece to hide the triangle at the brake lever. Generally easy to finish with bar end plug, except bar-end shifters, you had to minimize the excess. Inquiring when did starting location change?

I am curious to see if this tops my current favourite cheap tape, which is old inner tubes, or my close second which is three layers of hockey tape. ... The hockey tape does have the adhesive problem and is single use.

great video!! learned a lot. but what is that front bag support stem adaptor?

Nice one! I'll try it if I can get it.

Very old school style of tape. Been out for along time but it did not have the rubber on the inside like this think ill have to get some. Just for the clasic feel and look

I used strips of thin closed-cell mat. Butt (edges&ends) joined with contact adhesive, plus some stick points to stop movement. Any high wear areas could be easily cut out and replaced.

I use leather strips specific for handlebars, local production. 2 years, re-wrapped several times, no sticky glue. Under the tape, for long distance added comfort I use stripes of inner tube.

BTW, that is the way that handle bar wrap was done before the modern "tape". I still wrap all my bikes this way just to avoid using tape on the bars and I love the look.

Curious to see how it goes with mud and dirt. I don't see myself untapping my handlebar every month to wash it, even if it is easy to do.

I might have to give this a try. Most of the thick tape I have used eventually compresses and loses its cushion over time anyway and honestly, I never seem to miss the cush factor even without gloves. I couldn't tell how you worked it at the hoods, but you might figure 8 it to cover the small, exposed area. Being able to figure 8 with thinner tape is also a benefit.

Where can I get this in the US? The site doesn’t have the option.

Why from the top? You start from the bottom so your hands don't work against the grain. If the seam on the overlap is upward and also going towards the stem the tape will move and slide easier. That's why you always want to start from the bottom.

Does it play nicely with bar end shifters?

I noticed the front rack for handlebar bag..can anyone tell me what rack that is

I was pleasantly surprised by some fizik tape recently when it survived an unroll an re-roll without damage from the (actually weak) adhesive. That said, thanks for the info: the machine washable aspect will be the winner here if true -canvas bar tape as just a strip of canvas is around since donkey’s era AFAIK, I didn’t get there yet because they say it’s difficult to get clean once dirty…

Would this work with bar end shifters at all?

Just wondering what handle bars are on your bike that you just taped.

I've always just wrapper the new tape over what remnants of the ole bar tape was there with no problem. Also never had a problem re wrapping tape. Plus, with no cushioning it's a big ol no go.

I can recommend 100% silicone bar tape, like ESI RTC Wrap. It only sticks to it self and is washable.

I had an old bike here in Brazil like 10 years ago, but the bike was from de 70's. Back then, handlebar tapes didn't have glue, you just rolled them and they stayed in place

This looks a bit nicer than that shiny stuff we had in the 1980s (which you also wrapped from the top) but I'll stick to padded. Cinelli cork gel and BBB are two brands I've used that usually go back on OK without leaving chunks of stuff on the handlebar.

I also want your experience with removing the end caps. I think that's gonna suck. But there appears to be way plenty of tape to do the double-reverse-diamond-wrap under the brake levers (which would also allow the optimal inside-to-out wrap direction on the drops). I'll go check it out. OTOH, I like to use cheap, bright tape, and change colors every now and then. I guess I could buy a few colors of this and keep 'em in storage... Please update with your experience.

I haven't had that issue with bar tape. However I will try that tape. I really like the concept.

Really cool idea, going to check this out

Much different the the camp and go slow rattler tape?

Grepp, where have you been all my life - I just ordered 3 sets from Crust. Awesome, awesome, awesomeness! Thanks Russ for the tip.

I’ve been using Arundel tape for a while now that doesn’t have adhesive on it and is soft and squishy. I originally got it for the lack of adhesive.

One trick to deal with an overly sticky adhesive strip: press the tape on your shirt to pick up lint, like a lint roller does. That takes the stickyness down a lot, more like a post it.

Stoked, bought some as soon as I saw it

I've been test riding my new bike for a week or two while I figure it out, with no tape or grips at all. This would have been good to find out about a month or so ago lol

When installing new bar tape, I rub the adhesive side on the front tire and it becomes only mildly tacky. I've never had a problem reusing it or having residue on the bars. FWIW.

How often do you have to replace bar tape? For me it is a once a decade job. I'm perplexed

I think the cool kids use to wrap with used inner tube. I haven't tried that but it is on the bucket list. Once I've ticked that off this tape looks the go 👍

I like the look and the reusable part of it... I would not use it on my gravel bike for long rides, as i'm worried about padding and abrasion ; but for a daily urban commuting bike, i'll sure give it a try !

This was good. I started watching your videos as an aid to replacing handlebars due to numb hands. Your comment about this tape not having planned obsolescence as a lot of recent bike stuff is good to know about. Nice color too. Now I just wait for the handlebars as they travel on the slow boat from China.

Looks good. Thanks showing it.

I like that stem-mounted rack. What's the info on it? Also, love the content, thank you for making it!

Thanks! Have been curious about those for a while.

Can someone with handlebar end shifters put this on? Should these people avoid "finishing tape," as it might gunk up the cloth at those locations? Which gel inserts are you speaking about? Pls and thanks in advance!

Nice input for more sustainability. I‘ll get one. Thx chris

Great idea! I've been spending the last 3 months developing a break and gear lever connecrtion link to allow hanledbar swap-outs and almost ready to look for manufacture!!

The only issue with wrapping top to bottom, is that the hands will naturally slide down with gravity and try to roll those edges of the tape, like a cheese grater effect (its like if you lay the roof tiles top to bottom, they will catch all the rain water ). but if you replace it often or don't ride too much it's not a big issue..

I feel like they could build in more cushion by using a thicker amount of rubber... very curious - may have to give them a try...

Grip tape for badminton and tennis as alternative?

I do leatherworking often enough to keep veg tan on hand. As a result, I just cut a long strip when I need bar tape, albeit usually with a seam near the hoods. Super grippy on the hands, natural cooling when wet, lasts years of heavy use. That said...you do have to rewrap it a few times in the beginning as the leather stretches over time. And I wrap it from the top as well. I use a gel pad underneath.

Esi silicone or wolf tooth are other options to consider

Cloth bar tape was pretty standard back in the day I believe. First bars I ever wrapped 15 years ago were with cloth tape and starting at the stem

What’s old is new again. And in this case, also improved!

seems like the woven rubber bits could either stick to the bar or eventually dry up and crumble. also, why must you wrap down? hand friction can eventually catch the edges and make a mess.

I like it, it reminds me of the Velox cloth tape we used back in the day.

The handlebar grip I've found never had adhesive. I'm sure with adhesive it's easier to fit, but definitely more difficult to remove. In tennis rackets, they never use adhesive on grip tape, it's not needed. You just need to pull it a bit taut so that it'll keep it on.

You should give a try to those compression bandages. Those are mega supple!