Pedals

MTB Pedal Buying Guide

Pedals are the contact point between your feet and the bike. The flat vs clipless debate is genuinely personal preference — both work at every level of riding, and plenty of World Cup DH racers run flats. What matters more is getting a quality pedal with a good platform and reliable bearings.

Flat Pedals

A good flat pedal has a wide, thin platform with aggressive pins that grip your shoe sole. The platform size matters — larger platforms (100mm+) spread the load and reduce foot fatigue. Pin height and sharpness determine grip. Nylon pedals (DMR V6, Crankbrothers Stamp 1) are cheap, light and replaceable. Alloy pedals (OneUp Composite, HT PA03A, Race Face Atlas) are thinner, stiffer and more durable but cost more and hurt more when they hit your shin. Concave platforms (where the centre is lower than the edges) cup the shoe and provide better feel.

Clipless Pedals

MTB clipless pedals use a two-bolt SPD-style cleat recessed into the shoe sole. Shimano SPD is the dominant standard — XT (M8100) and XTR (M9100) pedals are bombproof. Crankbrothers Eggbeater and Candy use a different cleat with four-sided entry and easier engagement when caked in mud. HT X2 pedals offer a larger platform around the clip mechanism for more support. Release tension is adjustable on all quality clipless pedals — set it low when you're starting out and tighten as confidence grows.

Bearings and Durability

Pedal bearings take a beating — constant rotation, water ingress, impact loads. Shimano uses a cartridge bearing plus bushing combination that's proven and serviceable. Crankbrothers' needle bearings are smooth but have a reputation for shorter service life in wet conditions. Most quality pedals are rebuildable — bearing and seal kits are available and extend the life of the pedal indefinitely. Budget pedals with sealed bearings that can't be serviced are effectively disposable once the bearings wear.

Weight vs Durability

Ultra-light pedals (sub-300g per pair) use titanium axles and magnesium bodies — they're fragile and expensive to replace. For trail and enduro riding, aim for 350–450g per pair. Anything lighter is an XC race part that won't survive rock strikes. DH pedals trend heavier (400–500g) with thicker platforms and replaceable traction pins.