Any real off-road enthusiast will tell you... You need grab handles for various places on a rollbar or roll cage.  Why?  Well, just getting in or out of some off-road vehicles can be a chore but when the terrain gets a bit treacherous, your passengers need something to grab onto in order to feel secure.  Kind of like that feeling when you ride a roller coaster.  During an off-road thrill ride, these grab handles then become the "Oh sh*t handles."

Please keep in mind that Epinions didn't declare a manufacturer for this product, so I kept this review about the style of grab handle rather than brand specific.  There are at least four companies that make a similar type of grab handle - including Mastercraft, Rugged Ridge and Smittybilt.

What are these handles made of?  More often than not, they're made of heavy duty nylon with straps that grab rollbars or cages with Velcro straps.  Most use plastic oval rings for the straps to travel through.  The better handles use thicker plastic but I believe they should start using metal rings instead.  I swapped metal rings into all of my grab handles for better piece of mind.

The price of grab handles vary greatly.  From the poorly designed and manufactured "imports" ($10-12 per pair) to the well-designed and well-made versions that cost in upwards of $45-65 per pair.  You'll probably ask yourself why anyone would spend more than $40 on a pair of grab handles.  Well, when your body is being tossed around an off-road vehicle, you need to depend on a secure grab point.

The inexpensive versions have two anchor points while the better handles have three anchor points.  This is very important.  They cost more and they're worth it.

When you purchase your handles, make sure that the actual Velcro grip section will be large enough for the circumference of your bar.  That includes the thickness of any roll bar padding - if any.

Less expensive models have no padding where your hand comes in contact - so you're grabbing nylon material and run the risk of burns or cuts.  Better grab handles (like the ones pictured in this review) have padded grab areas to protect your hands.

Some manufacturers offer various colors to accessorize your 4x4 vehicle.  To cut down on productions costs, some companies offer the handles in one or two colors - usually black or red.

They also make a great gift for someone with a 4x4 vehicle.  Just don't waste your money on the cheap versions.  Grab handles are available at any 4x4 shop or catalogs like Quadratec.com or 4WheelParts.com.

Have fun out there and tread lightly!

OlllllllO (Jeep Wave)

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