How to Care for Leather Bicycle Grips & Make Them Last a Lifetime

Introduction: Why leather is the best material for bicycle grips

Leather is a unique material from nature, that cannot be replicated by any artificial process. No synthetic material can match the quality and feel of high-quality, vegetable-tanned leather . This material closely resembles our skin—and that's precisely why it has been used for centuries to cover products that come into close contact with human skin.

This is especially important for bicycle grips . While synthetic plastic grips become sticky over time and break down into microplastics due to constant contact with our palms, the exact opposite happens with leather grips :

• Good leather does not wear out, but rather becomes better and more beautiful over time.
• The natural oils from your skin automatically care for the leather.
• The fine structure of your palms continuously polishes the surface.

This means: the longer you use your leather handles, the more comfortable and elegant they become.

But not all leather is the same – choosing the right leather quality plays a crucial role.

Not all leather is the same: Important differences in tanning

If you're investing in high-quality leather bike grips , you should be aware that there are significant differences in leather quality. The tanning method determines how durable, safe, and long-lasting your leather grips will be.

Chrome-tanned leather: Cheap, but problematic

Chrome tanning is the cheapest method for producing leather for mass production. Chromium-V is used as a chemical tanning agent to make the hide durable. The problem?

• Chromium is toxic and can enter the body through skin contact.
• Chrome-tanned leather is less robust and does not age beautifully .
• Many cheap leather bike grips are made of chrome-tanned leather because it is cheaper.

For this reason, at Manoli Grips we Do not use chrome-tanned leather – because there is a much better, but more expensive alternative for high-quality bicycle grips. 

Vegetable-tanned leather: The premium choice for bicycle grips

Vegetable tanning is the traditional, high-quality method of leather processing. It uses only natural plant tanning agents (tannins) from bark, leaves, and fruits .

Advantages of vegetable tanned leather for bicycle grips :

• Non-toxic – Vegetable tannins are completely harmless.
• Extremely durable – perfect for everyday use on your bike.
• Becomes more beautiful over time – develops an individual patina.
• More sustainable than chrome leather – no use of problematic chemicals.

At Manoli Grips, our goal is not to produce the cheapest, but the best possible leather bike grips . That's why we only use premium vegetable-tanned leather .

Durability: How long do leather handles really last?

Bicycle grips made of vegetable-tanned leather are extremely durable when properly cared for – and you'll essentially never need new grips again.

An example:
Our Manoli test pilots on average ride more than 10 km every day with their Brompton .

• Cheap plastic handles lasted an average of 6 months before they became sticky and worn.
• Manoli leather handles show hardly any unwanted signs of wear even after 3 years – just a beautiful patina that gives the handles character.

High-quality leather handles are made to last forever.

The right care products for leather bicycle grips

1. Automatic maintenance through use

Leather is a very dynamic material and responds to daily use. Through contact with your hands, it remains supple and develops a sophisticated patina. Therefore, high-quality leather handles often require no additional care !

2. What to do if the leather becomes dry?

If the leather appears brittle due to strong sunlight or long dry periods , you can refresh it with a colorless leather polish .

Pay attention to:
❌ No waterproofing! (This contains chemical additives that are not ideal for skin contact.)
✔ Colorless leather polish for shoes is perfect – it also conceals small scratches.
✔ Manoli leather polish – soon available in our shop!

Do's & Don'ts for long-lasting leather handles

✅ Do's: How to keep your grips perfect

✔ Regular use keeps the leather supple.
✔ Dry, shady storage protects against drying out.
✔ Occasional care with leather polish maintains elasticity.

❌ Don'ts: What you should avoid

❌ Leave your bike out in the rain – Constant soaking damages the leather.
❌ Direct sunlight for long periods of time – Can dry out the leather.
❌ Aggressive cleaning agents – These can damage the material.

A simple tip: Don't store your bike outdoors for long periods of time! Constant moisture and extreme temperature fluctuations will not only damage your leather grips , but also other parts of your bike.

Summary: Why leather handles are the best choice

• High-quality leather grips last significantly longer than plastic grips.
• Vegetable-tanned leather is sustainable, safe and durable.
• Leather handles develop a fine patina over time.
• Maintenance is minimal as your hands naturally keep the leather supple.

💡 Conclusion:
Once you invest in high-quality leather bike grips , you'll never have to search for replacements again. Leather grips are a lifetime upgrade—for your Brompton and any other bike.