Gear I've been using and stoked to talk about.
Gear I've been using and stoked to talk about.
Photo courtesy of OneUp Components
Gear Review:
Gear Review:
Jackson Goldstone Signature Grips Review.
Jackson Goldstone Signature Grips Review.
For many of us, mountain bike grips fall into the same bucket as tires. They are one of the first things we look at when personally customizing our bike, as they can totally change the feel of the bike and thus the experience. A grip that works for you, can give you confidence, and confidence can turn a good ride into a great one. Because of that, I'm always on the lookout for something worth trying, and when OneUp announced the release of the Goldstone Grips, I knew I had to try them.
I'll be honest... Part of what drew me to these was the story behind them. I love athlete inspired products where the athlete is genuinely involved and has had a hand in (no pun intended) the development process. That's exactly what happened here. Jackson Goldstone worked directly with OneUp's engineering team in Squamish, his hometown, from the very first sketches to the final product. The same prototypes he raced on his way to becoming the 2025 UCI World Cup Champion and winning the UCI World Cup Overall in 2025.
Those engineers must have been giddy for the opportunity. Typically, product development insights come from data, the sales team, or the engineers' own riding experience. Good inputs, but filtered. When you have an athlete of Jackson's caliber in the room providing direct feedback on exactly what he needs from a grip, the brief gets a whole lot clearer. The result is a product built around genuine performance need rather than assumed preference.
For many of us, mountain bike grips fall into the same bucket as tires. They are one of the first things we look at when personally customizing our bike, as they can totally change the feel of the bike and thus the experience. A grip that works for you, can give you confidence, and confidence can turn a good ride into a great one. Because of that, I'm always on the lookout for something worth trying, and when OneUp announced the release of the Goldstone Grips, I knew I had to try them.
I'll be honest... Part of what drew me to these was the story behind them. I love athlete inspired products where the athlete is genuinely involved and has had a hand in (no pun intended) the development process. That's exactly what happened here. Jackson Goldstone worked directly with OneUp's engineering team in Squamish, his hometown, from the very first sketches to the final product. The same prototypes he raced on his way to becoming the 2025 UCI World Cup Champion and winning the UCI World Cup Overall in 2025.
Those engineers must have been giddy for the opportunity. Typically, product development insights come from data, the sales team, or the engineers' own riding experience. Good inputs, but filtered. When you have an athlete of Jackson's caliber in the room providing direct feedback on exactly what he needs from a grip, the brief gets a whole lot clearer. The result is a product built around genuine performance need rather than assumed preference.
Jackson Goldstone is one of the most exciting athletes in mountain biking right now. So when OneUp Components worked with him to design a signature grip from the ground up, it caught my attention.
Jackson Goldstone is one of the most exciting athletes in mountain biking right now. So when OneUp Components worked with him to design a signature grip from the ground up, it caught my attention.
Product Specs:
Weight: 107g (Pair)
Durometer: Tacky 20A grip body with durable 45A outer flange
Length: 140mm
Body Diameter: 29mm - 33mm
Features:
Single inner clamp
Raised palm pad
38mm Diameter outer flange
Finger ramps
Knurled grip body
Core cutout under thumb (rubber runs straight to bar) for added comfort and damping
Dual durometer construction
Price: $29.99
Also, how freaking good at bikes is Jackson Goldstone?!?! If you've been paying any attention to mountain bike culture for the last decade you've surely heard Jackson's name mentioned, and it’s usually followed with "is him" or "is that dude!" Many of us remember watching him as a grom in the "Meet the Goldstones" video and reading about him in his Coast Mountain Culture profile piece. In a few short years Jackson has gone from a young freerider and all-around great mountain biker to a World Cup Champion and widely recognized as one of the best bike athletes on the planet. So when a product carries his name and his actual input, we should take notice.
Also, how freaking good at bikes is Jackson Goldstone?!?! If you've been paying any attention to mountain bike culture for the last decade you've surely heard Jackson's name mentioned, and it’s usually followed with "is him" or "is that dude!" Many of us remember watching him as a grom in the "Meet the Goldstones" video and reading about him in his Coast Mountain Culture profile piece. In a few short years Jackson has gone from a young freerider and all-around great mountain biker to a World Cup Champion and widely recognized as one of the best bike athletes on the planet. So when a product carries his name and his actual input, we should take notice.
Photos Courtesy of OneUp Components
"Jackson is probably the best downhill rider we've seen in quite a while... a game-changing athlete." — Jordi Cortes, Global Race Department Manager, FOX Factory. (The Search for Milliseconds)
"Jackson is probably the best downhill rider we've seen in quite a while... a game-changing athlete." — Jordi Cortes, Global Race Department Manager, FOX Factory. (The Search for Milliseconds)
First thing you notice is that these run slimmer than you might expect. Coming from chunkier grips, the first ride might feel a little different, but give it a few laps and the variable profile starts to make a lot of sense. I'd been running the Ergon GD1 Evo Factory grips before these, and the tapered ends feel noticeably different at first, in a good way. The raised palm pad is the real story though. It fills the void on the palm of your hand and guides you into the proper position to control the bars and quickly find the brake levers. The outer flange is a nice catch for the edge of your hand as you pull into a corner or need a little leverage on the bars. The combination of these two elements makes for a surprisingly comfortable, yet secure, feel when the trail gets rowdy.
One thing to pay attention to is the construction. OneUp was able to utilize two different rubber compounds at unique points in the same grip, a softer tacky material for the grip body and a firmer rubber for the outer flange. This results in a grip that feels great in your hand, with gloves or without, while still holding up to the kind of abuse that the end of your bars regularly take. The underside of the grip features angled finger ribs intended to provide some leverage when you need to pull up over a root, out of a berm, or in Jackson's case, pulling a wheelie across the finish line at a World Cup.
On the bike
On the bike
First thing you notice is that these run slimmer than you might expect. Coming from chunkier grips, the first ride might feel a little different, but give it a few laps and the variable profile starts to make a lot of sense. I'd been running the Ergon GD1 Evo Factory grips before these, and the tapered ends feel noticeably different at first, in a good way. The raised palm pad is the real story though. It fills the void on the palm of your hand and guides you into the proper position to control the bars and quickly find the brake levers. The outer flange is a nice catch for the edge of your hand as you pull into a corner or need a little leverage on the bars. The combination of these two elements makes for a surprisingly comfortable, yet secure, feel when the trail gets rowdy.
One thing to pay attention to is the construction. OneUp was able to utilize two different rubber compounds at unique points in the same grip, a softer tacky material for the grip body and a firmer rubber for the outer flange. This results in a grip that feels great in your hand, with gloves or without, while still holding up to the kind of abuse that the end of your bars regularly take. The underside of the grip features angled finger ribs intended to provide some leverage when you need to pull up over a root, out of a berm, or in Jackson's case, pulling a wheelie across the finish line at a World Cup.
Who are thse grips for?
Who are thse grips for?
Honestly? Jackson Goldstone. These grips have a specific point of view — the slim profile, the aggressive rib angle, the generous flange — all of it is dialed in around how one of the best mountain bikers on the planet likes to ride. If your riding style leans aggressive, elbows out and looking for feedback and control over pure comfort, you're going to love these. If you prefer a softer, chunkier grip and a more relaxed hand position, they might take more than a few rides to win you over.
Honestly? Jackson Goldstone. These grips have a specific point of view — the slim profile, the aggressive rib angle, the generous flange — all of it is dialed in around how one of the best mountain bikers on the planet likes to ride. If your riding style leans aggressive, elbows out and looking for feedback and control over pure comfort, you're going to love these. If you prefer a softer, chunkier grip and a more relaxed hand position, they might take more than a few rides to win you over.
The issue
The only real con is the same thing that makes them great. These grips were designed for Jackson Goldstone. If your riding style doesn't naturally align with his, aggressive, athletic and fully committed, it might take some time to feel at home on them. That's not a criticism of the product. That's the honest reality of athlete signature design done properly.
The issue
The only real con is the same thing that makes them great. These grips were designed for Jackson Goldstone. If your riding style doesn't naturally align with his, aggressive, athletic and fully committed, it might take some time to feel at home on them. That's not a criticism of the product. That's the honest reality of athlete signature design done properly.
A closing thought
A closing thought
After putting these grips through their paces on the trails around Anacortes I can say, I'm a fan. Everything about the design, the construction and the story behind them holds up on the trail. While I may not be chasing milliseconds like Jackson, they've truly added to the experience and have earned a permanent spot on my bars.
After putting these grips through their paces on the trails around Anacortes I can say, I'm a fan. Everything about the design, the construction and the story behind them holds up on the trail. While I may not be chasing milliseconds like Jackson, they've truly added to the experience and have earned a permanent spot on my bars.
More Gear Notes
This isn't a portfolio. It's a point of view.
Stay close to the conversation.
Stay close to the conversation.
Campaigns, gear and community worth paying attention to. No cadence. No spam. Just when it's good.
This isn't a portfolio. It's a point of view.
Campaigns, gear and community worth paying attention to. No cadence. No spam. Just when it's good.