Need some assistance.

As you can see from the above my fresh bars are unpainted stainless as I quite like the look. However while I have the box bolted on so it cannot move which is good I will not be running the box very often. Mostly the bars are just going to have various things strapped to them which is never going to be as tight a connection as those U bolt fastener. This is giving me cause for concern as the old mild steel bars are plastic coated which affords some grip especially against metal items like feed troughs. So I'm looking at something that I can use to cover the bars that has some grip but is very durable and not too ugly? I have considered pipe lagging as it comes in grey and it's easy to fit though it is easily damaged. I have also thought about something like heat shrink but I can't get it over the feet without splitting it while wouldn't work. I also thought about duct tape and again I don't think it's durable enough. Finally I thought about splitting some blue water pipe but again it's then a matter of securing it as I don't have a plastic welder. 

What other options can we think of?

I think you can plastic coat stuff yourself, I seem to remember dipping hot metal in powder stuff at school (disclaimer - VERY long time ago) and getting quite a good result. Perhaps you can still find that stuff, take them off, heat up with blowtorch and dip?

Or maybe send to the guys who powdercoat wheels and ask if they can just do the cross bits?

What about Handlebar tape for push bikes. Comes in all sorts of colours and finish?

Plastic blue/black water pipe (HDPE) is very slippery stuff.

How about wrapping the tubes with solid neoprene strip? Do a search on eBay for solid neoprene strip and you'll find a range of sellers and sizes. Wrap the ends with self amalgamating tape to stop it unwinding.

An option I've used a few times before is radiator hose, slit down it's length. Radiator hose is pretty tough stuff. Use black cable ties to hold it in place. Ideally you want hose that has a slightly smaller inside diameter than your rail outside diameter.

What is the diameter of your roof bars?

I have some black outdoor grade woven heat shrink that will go over tube 30mm diameter, possibly 31/32mm with a bit of encouragement if that would fit?

It was bought for sealing antenna connections in exposed areas and is pretty tough stuff.

Let me know if it will fit and what length you need?

Robin

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationIf it is bigger eBay have heat shrink up to 50mm diameter

It's schedule 10 304 stainless tube od is 26.7mm. the feet are welded so shrink tubing is probably out as the feet are 100mm minimum. Handle bar tape sounds good as does the solid rubber.

Sorry, didn't realise the feet were welded on. Handle bar tape would be a good option.

The only other suggestion is what we swapped using the heat shrink at work to self amalgamating tape, (rubberised tape) which sticks to itself, just wrap it with a slight overlap. If you stretch it slightly it reduces thickness and gives a nicer finish, but might not be a neat as the handle bar tape.

Screwfix and Toolstation both sell it.

If it were me I'd probably use hurling tape that we put on wooden hurls for grip.

Plasti dip? It's a paintable rubbery plastic.

I use the grey pipe lagging, as you have already suggested.
QUick to fit, grips very well and provide protect for both the bar and load. You can even leave it fitted if you want, but I remove when not in use.

How do you attach it, zip ties or just it's own recognizance?