Deda tape is real nice, you can get it from Price Point for $10. Leather is dang expensive. Old-school cloth tape is durable if you shellac it.

You need to define "effective." All of the choices work. You need to decide what you need - padding, grip, thick or thin, etc. If you are not sure just start with some basic cork tape and see how it goes. Bar tape is easy to change and you don't have to keep it forever. There are a number of threads on this in the forums, search around and you will get all kinds of info.