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Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape

9
£45.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Expensive, but an exceptional bar tape that's grippy, easy to wrap, reusable, and cushioned
Grippy
Cushioned
Reusable
Easy to wrap
Expensive
Only available in black or white
Weight: 
162g

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Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape is well cushioned, easy to wrap, grippy, and can even be reused, but it doesn't come cheap.

Rewrapping your handlebar after you've had the same tape on for a few years is a simple pleasure, but something that has a massive impact on your riding experience.

I've never been very good at wrapping bar tape, but Cannondale's HexTack doesn't have an adhesive back which makes things easier. If you get it wrong – the obligatory gap around the shifters – you can just do it again...

2022 Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape fitted 2.jpeg

The tape is made from a foamy silicone, and though it doesn't directly stick to the bar, it stays in place. It hasn't shifted in the 300km+ of riding I've done since fitting it, which has included some horrendous weather. It's particularly impressive given that I tend to ride on the bar tops a lot, where I would have expected to see some shifting.

2022 Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape fitted 3.jpeg

Though the tape has a relatively slim profile it's nicely cushioned – it's noticeable how it deadens bumps and rough patches.

It's also grippy, which I tested to extremes during this review. It hasn't rained a huge amount in the last couple of months, but the action of clipping into my pedals seems to act as some kind of rain dance. Not the best for a pleasant ride, but ideal for testing the tape's level of grip even in biblical conditions – and it's impressive.

This is unsurprising given that it is not only made from silicone, but also has a hexagonal pattern across the entirety of the roll. Theoretically, it means Cannondale has vastly increased the surface area compared with typical tape, and therefore increased friction.

2022 Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape.jpg

In the box you get bar ends, two lengths of tape, and a couple of strips for putting behind the shifters.

It does only come in either black or white, so if you're after something a little jazzier you'll need to look elsewhere.

Though this is very good bar tape, it comes at a price. At £45 it's the second most expensive bar tape we've ever reviewed on road.cc, though just a penny more than the Selle San Marco Presa Corsa Team Iridescent Handlebar Tape and offering far superior performance in terms of cushioning and grip, according to Jez's findings.

(The Souma Leather bar tape Shaun tested in July is currently £60.16 – but then, that's leather, and made in Italy…)

> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best bar tapes

Liam tested the Wolf Tooth Supple bar tape a couple of years ago and found that similarly cushioned, although it doesn't have quite as much grip. That's now £45 as well.

All in all, I've been really impressed with this bar tape. It's grippy, well cushioned, and can be reapplied when you get the wrapping wrong. There is no doubt that it is expensive, but in this case, I think you get what you pay for – fantastic bar tape.

Verdict

Expensive, but an exceptional bar tape that's grippy, easy to wrap, reusable, and cushioned

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Cannondale HexTack Silicone Bar Tape

Size tested: One size

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Cannondale says:

More comfort, more control.

Quality silicone and an engineered foaming process, produces a great feel with unrivaled all-weather grip that can be washed and re-wrapped.

Where it thrives

Any road it goes on, out in the elements

What it's built for

Grip, durability

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Cannondale lists these highlights:

Silicone and a hexagonal dimpled pattern provide the perfect balance of shock absorption and grip feel

Hardwearing and washable construction results in a long-lasting fresh look / Includes: 2x tape rolls, lever strips, bar end-plugs, and finishing strips

Thickness: 2.7mm, length: 200cm, weight: 165g

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well made, and with the silicone construction and hex pattern it is not only robust, but grippy too.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Does exactly want you want, offering excellent cushioning, grip, and ease of wrapping.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

It's silicone, it can even be removed, washed, and reapplied.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

Nicely cushioned without making your bar look like some kind of 1990s Gladiators weapon.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

It's expensive bar tape, though comparable with others – and better performing. It's going to last a long time and is comfortable and grippy to boot, so worth the money.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performed very well, offering great grip, cushioning and wrapability.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The grip – very impressive even when using it in soaking wet conditions.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There is no getting around that price.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's among the most expensive we've tested – Selle San Marco's Presa Corsa Team Iridescent Handlebar Tape is a penny less, and the Wolf Tooth Supple bar tape is the same price, £45. The leather tape from Souma is more – currently £60+ – but you can get much cheaper options.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's expensive, but worth it for the performance – it's exceptionally grippy, cushioned, and easy to wrap. Overall, it's excellent.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: CAAD13  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed,

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

Add new comment

9 comments

Avatar
cyclisto | 1 year ago
1 like

I envy the love life of the guy who makes them.

If he can ask 45£ for two pieces of foamy plastic that don't require any special care to store and transport and still has positive answers, he could probably have the hottest girls.

Avatar
Freddy56 | 1 year ago
1 like

No one jumping in with When did bar tape become £45? Please don't blame it on the Russian war.

Avatar
stomec replied to Freddy56 | 1 year ago
5 likes
Freddy56 wrote:

No one jumping in with When did bar tape become £45? Please don't blame it on the Russian war.

Can we blame it on Brexit instead then?

*runs away*

Avatar
wtjs | 1 year ago
1 like

I think this is a very useful review- the re-usable non-sticky feature has been under-emphasised previously. The instructional video is also very useful, but I can't see me being able to bring myself to cut the end of the tape off- I would need to re-wrap it, which is why it needs to be re-usable!

Avatar
cdamian | 1 year ago
1 like

Since the Fabric Knurl seems to be discontinued, this seems like a good alternative.
Did Fabric completely vanish?

Avatar
Mayhem SWE replied to cdamian | 1 year ago
5 likes
cdamian wrote:

Since the Fabric Knurl seems to be discontinued, this seems like a good alternative. Did Fabric completely vanish?

All of the new Cannondale bartapes (including the one being reviewed) are the ex Fabric tapes. What used to be the Fabric Knurl is now the Cannondale KnurlTack.

Both brands are owned by Pan Holdings, and someone for some odd reason decided to move all of the tapes to the Cannondale brand instead. Which is a shame, as they are now available in fewer stores at generally higher prices.

Avatar
cdamian replied to Mayhem SWE | 1 year ago
0 likes

Thanks! That is good to know.
And an odd decision.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel replied to cdamian | 1 year ago
0 likes

Fabric knurl was pants for me.  Mine wore out at <1000km.  Possibly why it was rebranded?

Avatar
mark1a replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 year ago
1 like

Not surprised it didn't last, using bar tape for pants. 

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