DSP 2.5; the series with the assorted colors.

I used to be a hater of Ourys, but then I tried them. They're awesome.

I've used Green Grips cloth tape.
Love the feel and easy to wrap.

i am a bartape ***** lol
for some reason i think out of all the amatuer bike mech stuff ive learned over the last few years, taping bars is the one thing i enjoy the most (although i just really like building bikes in general)...
i have 3 different tapes on one bike lol, half aesthetics half actual function (i like certain tapes in certain areas, and finish the ends of sections of tape with cloth tape to make small hand "nubs"

anywho the tapes i like the most and for what:
cloth tape: real easy to work with. sticky back, stays in place, but still easily removed without damaging itself when removing (some tapes' sticky back tears the tape when removing)....also the whole back is sticky, instead of just that line of stickiness down the middle. gives added traction to bars while being thin if you dont want padding (sometimes you dont). you can shellac the tape once you are done, which cements the tape in place further (while still being removable down the line), gives it a little water proofing and anti-staining, and if you use amber shellac it changes the hue of the tape you used....so red goes to a deep maroon (which can look nice). i like using it also to finish the ends of other wrapped tape, just wrap over the black electrical tape a few times. looks allot nicer and finished IMO. i bought a box of 10 in black and use it allot.

fizik dual: great on my road bars, very nice padding, good grip. the dual stitching of the two panels together is nice for wrapping (the foam colored panel seems more firm while the other black side conforms more) as well as looks nice (i have the gray/black which is more subtle but nice looking).

brooks leather: kind of ****** status lol....extremely pricey. good thing my roommate bought some and only needed one roll, and gave me the other for basically buying him dinner. used it on the flat section and curves of bullhorns (then finished the rest of the horns with cloth) looks GREAT with same colored brooks saddle. whats nice is, being leather, will pick up a nice patina from the moisture/oil in your hands the more you ride. feels nice on the hands. definitely more padded feeling than cloth, but still has that "in tune" feeling with the bars. i dunno what you call it. you know what i mean lol.....cant compare brooks leather to other leather tapes, or synth tapes, no experience. perhaps they are just as good.

those are my 3 favorite tapes.
fourth would be cork tapes. ive tried cinelli, deda, and bontrager cork tapes. they all seemed the same more or less.


i also have some crazy clear fubar tape im going to try on another build. thick, rubbery/plasticy. and well, clear lol

i personally like those lumps that are created. function a little like finger grooves. but its definitely not a super padded tape which is i guess why you find it rock hard.

ditto.
for their price they cant be beat in terms of comfort. i just really like the feel of them, hipster cred or no. in fact hipster tarck builds make me cringe, many of which feature ourys (which im assuming oury's bad rap is stemming from)...but black ourys are definitely my favorite grips for risers in terms of comfort and looks.

although i think you said in a different thread, grips are like saddles....different anatomy = different preference. i dunno. oh yah this is NOT a grip discussion lol

Damn hipsters! LOL I went to 3 stores here looking for Silver/Grey/Dark Grey ones. All I could find was....lime green, red, orange, and yellow. WTF? You would think stores would carry more of the muted colors/hues? Ended up getting black Salsa Hot Chili peppers :-(. Did you find that the chopped risers and lock-on grips dont mix? Yes I have risers now Scrod. Hahaha

Another vote for the Fizik Microtex. Not a fan of the thick gel tape.

By the way DEDA Chrome tape= Garbage. No wonder it was half off. Impossible to install, not flexible at all and no grip at all in the rain. It did look great for about 1 month though.

I like the look and feel of cotton, and Newbaum's is by far the best I've used.

Nice and stretchy for a beautiful wrap, none of that Tressostar bull****

Might I ask has anyone used the Charge Synthetic leather bar tape please and for observations on it's quality ? It looks pretty cheap and nasty but I was considering it for an old beater for a casual cyclist friend of mine who likes the look of leather tape but doesn't want to part with 30 quid for Brooks or similar.

I dont mind a charge saddle, I have to say, for the price they do a job. But the bar tape makes me think twice...

Cinelli cork is my usual preserve.