Did you ever almost toss them before giving them a real shot? I used to roll my eyes at cheap grips like that, figured they'd die in a week or barely get warm. Then I rode a buddy's bike in January with a $30 pair and my fingers were fine the whole time. Turns out the price tag doesn't tell you much when you actually need them. Cold mornings have a way of making cheap gear look pretty good. You still running those same grips now?