First Look: TOGS

One of the more interesting bike accessories Bikepackers Magazine discovered a few weekend’s ago at Outerbike were TOGS; thumb grips for your bike’s bars. “Grasping (fist-gripping) a handlebar consumes energy,” an all to common reality the team at TOGS is trying to change. TOGS provide riders an alternative grip position that’s sure to be appreciated by ulnar nerves everywhere. I installed TOGS new, snap-on grips on my bike and the benefits of the additional thumb/hand positions were noticeable after only a short ride. My Ergon GP3 grips combined with the TOGS offer me a plethora of hand and grip options and definitely provide additional climbing leverage. But a note of caution: Affixing horn like objects to the front of your bike could put you on the wrong end of the bull when you crash! I’m excited to further evaluate the Thumb Over Grip System on an extended bikepacking adventure this weekend. If that shake out proves successful, I anticipate running TOGS on the AZT in a few weeks.