KontrolFreek Grips (Hardware) Review

KontrolFreek’s newest product line seeks to give gamers a better grip on their controllers.

I’ve been fortunate enough to use KontrolFreek products before, and have been pretty impressed with what the company puts out. A while back, I reviewed the actual analog stick extenders that they offer, called FPS Freeks, and found them to do exactly what they’re supposed to do- give you enhanced control over your games.

In essence, that’s what the company’s mission statement really comes across as, as they’re not in the habit of offering outlandish contraptions and massive new control options. No, what KontrolFreek specializes in are things that you’ll actually use on a daily basis in your gaming, and more importantly- stuff that you’ll want to use again and again. I’m happy to say that I still use my FPS Freeks on my 360, and I think I’ll be keeping these new Grips around for a good long time as well.

The latest in the line from KontrolFreek, the Grips are a set of applicable pads that stick to the handles on your controller. They’re available for the Xbox One and PS4, though the ones that we’re looking at here are of the Xbox variety.

Actually applying the Grips is a simple task, but one that’s a little bit deceptive. The documentation is complete and telling enough, but it’s extremely easy to get them stuck in the wrong position and have to pull them off and re-try. That’s not the end of the world, thanks to the fact that you’re pretty easily able to remove the Grips and stick them back on as you see fit.

I had a sort-of tough time with them for the simple reason that I use the headset adapter for the Xbox One, and applying the Grips under that little add-on just doesn’t work. As a result, I found that the headset adapter didn’t sit flush anymore, the Grips supplied just enough space that it didn’t connect to the controller. So, I pulled the pads up at the corners, attached the adapter, and played them back down.

It’s true that that’s not the ideal form for the Grips, but it doesn’t diminish their actual functionality in any way, and makes using the adapter possible (which is a must if you have a wired headset and an older Xbox One controller). I will add here that I don’t think I could really repeat that maneuver too often, so I just keep the adapter permanently attached at this point, and everything works hunky-dory.

Aside from that one little issue though, I love these things. They don’t move an inch, and they do exactly what KontrolFreek says that they do- they provide a nice comfortable surface for your hands.

Now, I don’t really have the whole ‘sweaty palms’ issue, but the Grips are supposedly very good for that, as they’re made from a soft and breathable material. And they also have a honeycombed surface, so they wick away moisture right from under your hands, and feel really neat while they do it.

Softness isn’t something that anyone would really think of when a video game controller comes to mind, but the Grips provide just that. The spongey texture gives a comfy feel to the pad, while cushioning your hands a bit. This not only is comfortable, but it also means that you won’t be loosing your grip too often, if you’re prone to that kind of thing.

KontrolFreek also says that the Grips are re-positionable, if you feel like moving them around on your controller, though I don’t think I’d recommend that. Although I didn’t have much trouble moving them while I was applying them initially, I did find significant resistance when I did the same thing a few days later.

It’s not that they’re permanent at all, you can definitely get them off (and you’ll find no residue underneath either), but they’re not exactly easy to take off. I ripped the corner of one of them free form the adhesive when I tried, so I now have a little piece that flaps loose. It isn’t a hindrance while I use my controller any, and is probably more my own fault rather than that of the Grips, but it’s slightly annoying all the same.

Final Thoughts

Despite the little issues here and there, the Grips are an excellent addition to my stock controller. I like the feel and texture a lot and the grip that they provide is really great. Although I ran into that slight problem with the headset adapter, it was easy to fix, and I’m really enjoying using the add-ons on my Xbox One controller.

They actually do what KontrolFreek says that they do, and you can’t get too much better than that. True, they aren’t going to give you some kind of unfair advantage, or set the world on fire, but for $12.99 USD, they add a level of comfort to the stock controller that you just don’t get anywhere else.