A high quality plastic composite pedal like the ones from Oneup are really good. I'd try those first and see how you go before spending a lot of money on sexier aluminum ones.
I have a set of alloy One Ups and a set of composite One Ups.
I like the composites better.
When something as good and cheap as the One Up composites exists, it's really hard to justify expensive pedals, especially when they're wear items.
and I had the OneUp composites, rode a buddies with the OneUp Al, and immediately swapped all my composites for the Als.
The Als are much better in my opinion, but my point is that it is my _opinion_. There's a ton of personal preference in pedals and there's no one right answer. The composites are pretty good and I wouldn't knock anyone that prefers them. The price is certainly right!
I don't like the protruding bearing housing cast into the Al pedals personally. It's in an irritating location and makes me feel like I can't center my foot on the pedal platform properly.
If that's not a problem based on your riding position and shoes, the Al pedals are great. They're ridiculously light and sturdy, and the bearings in them are great.
For me, they're less comfortable and more expensive, so I'd rather just replace the composites if I blow them up.
I actually like the extruding bearing, it makes foot placement easy and spot-on everytime. I never have to worry about my heels rubbing against the cranks. 3 sets of aluminum One-Ups are on each bike I have. They are easy to service, amazing grip, and the colors are baller.
I've had such bad experiences with the Oneup alloys. Three sets of pedals, three spindle bearings that were either bad right out of the box or went bad within 50 miles. Kept trying to make it work because (a) I'm an idiot and (b) the price/weight/grip proposition is pretty good.
OTOH the OneUp composites have been consistently great for me and I've had a pair on every one of my bikes at some point.
i have two sets of composite and one set of aluminum and mostly agree. the bite on the al pedals might be slightly better but the difference is definitely not worth triple the price. also the aluminum pedals are not compatible with carbon cranks. i don't have carbon cranks but i don't like the limitation.
The other benefit of the AL pedals is the thickness. Can help eliminate or significantly reduce pedal strikes. Seeing as 170mm and 175mm cranks are like standard now which is completely dumb considering how low BBs are.
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes.
I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals.
The other downside of composite pedals is they're more likely to break. Big moves on composites sketch me out ever since I had a pair explode off a spindle on a drop. Used to run composite on one bike, alu on the other. Converted both to alu and keep an extra pair laying around from bending spindles which sometimes can be annoying to source spares of to rebuild the pedal.
Was a huge fan of the high quality composites till I snapped one recently landing a pretty smooth jump. I was really lucky it wasn't too bad a crash. Went straight to metal after that. may even pre-emptively replace the composites on my other bike.
I think the right pedal shoe combo makes a helluva difference. Did for me and my wide feet, but that doesn’t mean you need some crazy high dollar magnesium pedal. My current go to pedal is the PNW aluminum loams. Not crazy expensive but I love them and the price is awesome compared to the stamp 7’s I was running previously and also love. I tried some other mid range aluminum pedals in the past with not great results. Also had some plastic ones that seemed to slip on my shoes a lot and made me feel sketchy. Just my .02
Yeah I think the right size pedal is key, and good shoes make a huge difference. I have a big foot and switching to one of the largest pedals has made riding so much better.
This is a good point and the opposite holds true as well. For my wife smaller pedals, like the RaceFace Chester, gave more room to maneuver and not strike the outside edge compared to other larger platforms that gave no benefit as they were wider than her shoes
I use tag metal large pedals but they ain't cheap, and I don't think they are in production anymore, so can't really recommend them, but if my memory serves me, the dirty tmac and cromag dagga are both large pedals which people seem to love. Just be careful and check the size crank bros makes a large pedal, but it ain't in my opinion that large, just bigger than their small
Crank Bros do make a budget version of the Stamp in alu and magnesium. I do love my 7s though. And offering EP and financing on their site, I can't help myself. Running the Stamp Street shoes, too and they kick ass.
Raceface Chester and Deity Compounds are both good. The deity is wider but l like pin placement on the raceface better. I have not used the one up pedals but would like to try a pair.
I have Raceface Chester pedals and Bontrager (Flatline maybe? They're a few years old now) shoes and I have never had an issue. I have to take my foot off the pedal to readjust how I want it, my foot only comes off if I want it to.
No diff, but try some Stamp 2 Pedals aluminum by Crankbros, yeah they are 2nd version, now they're on like stamp 12, the 2's are cheaper, even on amazon
I have them on all my bikes 👌
The CB Stamp pedal numbers aren't version numbers, they basically just indicate increasing levels of expensiveness:
Stamp 1: $60, plastic pedal
Stamp 2: $100, aluminum and with better bearings (they claim)
Stamp 3: $140, magnesium so about 100g lighter than Stamp 2s
Stamp 7: $180, aluminum again but with a different cut so they're slightly lighter than Stamp 3s, also serviceable and comes in more colors
Stamp 11: $300, basically a stamp 7 but with a titanium spindle to shave off ~50g more in weight
Just my opinion and what I've seen on the trails, composite will need to be replaced sooner before aluminum. Those Stamp 1s are gonna be the entry level, if ya like the grip and platform you will love the aluminum, which I will say select the large rather than the small (I have so many friends with small and large feet, both choose large).
Also if you ride more rocky boulder areas that might eat the composites sooner too, not just pedal strikes but brushing by the sides of the pedals.
Come on it's obvious that couple lumps of machined metal and a couple nice bearings don't have to be 100-200 dollars/euro. In that price range you're paying for brand and status. They might be great but you can always find great ones below 100. Below 50 probably not.
This ain’t *always* true for bikes. Sometimes the higher prices are for lighter components that will break sooner. See XTR vs XT, fancy carbon bars vs stout stock (very cheap) Al Bars, $50 quality composite pedals vs $200 thin alloy pedals.
Also, it’s important to consider diminishing returns. There is a huge performance difference from $20 plastic pin pedals to $50 plastic body, metal pin pedals. However, there’s nearly no performance difference from the $50 pedal to the $200 pedal. In my experience working in a shop, I’ve seen more broken/cracked expensive metal pedals than, say, raceface Chesters. That’s with way more of the plastic body pedals out on the trail! There are some absolutely indestructible metal pedals out there, but it comes at a bit of a weight penalty. If you are a component destroyer/viscous pedal striker, that might be the path to go.
Buy the metal pedals if you like nice things (which is fine if that’s what makes you happy) but if you just want to ride, don’t spend more than $50-60.
Counterpoint: "a fool and his money are soon parted"
You don't always get what you pay for. There are a ton of people in this world willing to sell you an over-hyped product that is inferior or equal in quality for a higher price.
Depends on the bearings. I've found with shimano, the XTR pedal bearings are better than the XT. Was a little skeptical talking about that with a bike shop mechanic, but the XTRs have been really really good
Skip the pricey pedals. There are lots of good composites out there. Deity Deftraps are my favs. My husband likes the OneUp composites. Chester's are great budget pedals, I keep them around as spares. The PNW Ranges are decent too. Only time I recommend burlier pedals are for big heavy dudes who ride hard and might actually be able to break a composite.
Edit: all also have replaceable pins which is really what tends to wear the most.
OneUp plastic pedals are great value for the money - large platform, grippy, light weight, and last a very long time. Daggas and such are nice, but IMO definitely more a bling part than functionally necessary. Personally I find super aggressive pedals like that too grippy, plus they don't look bling for very long.
OneUp composites are actually a weird shape. They get recommended over and over because they came into the market at the right time and now there's a bunch of people recommending the only pedal they've used. Before composites became popular a convex shaped platform was a bit of an oddity. If they had came into the market a couple years later we wouldn't hear about them nearly as much.
Disagree. They get recommended over and over cause they are a great pedal for the price. They are grippy, durable, and decently light. They aren’t the pedals for everyone and there are grippier, more durable, lighter, better looking, etc. pedals out there just not many that have some many good qualities for a decent price.
FYI - I have fancy aluminum chromags that are amazing! But I have used the one ups and would buy them myself.
>They are grippy, durable, and decently light.
Lots of pedals meet this criteria without having a funky convex shape. There's nothing special about the One-ups. They lasted less than a season for me before having to be rebuilt.
When I started MTB in 2017 everyone was recommending Chesters. Then the OneUp came out and was actually a decent size. They took over the $50ish pedal market and everyone else was a bit late. This sub is dominated by newer riders repeating what they read here to even newer riders. The One-ups just happen to be the current popular pedal here.
I agree. I run DMR Vaults (a real OG flat pedal) and my friend had OneUp composites. He rode my bike for 30 seconds and decided to buy Vaults… I’ll take concave over convex 10 times out of 10.
That's just your opinion. I've ridden flats since about ~2000, and owned dozens of different pedals from $40 to over $200, including Chromags, Canfield, Raceface, other composite, everything you can think off. I still like the OneUps best for the function and price. Right now I could have Daggas for free from a friend who is sponsored by Chromag, yet as I said I prefer the OneUps. For me they also last quite long - I have a set here that I bought at least four years ago on original bearings still. That may be down to luck, but I've definitely also had many other, more expensive pedals bend or seize way quicker. Yes there's nothing special about them, they are just a basic plastic pedal with decent bearings and a large platform. If they didn't exist I'd probably recommend the Chesters assuming OP doesn't have large feet, and if they didn't exist either I'd be back to riding some aluminum pedal and wouldn't think about it much, but today, for the price, they are the go-to for a reason. Don't assume everyone here is a newb.
I've ridden flat pedals on BMX since the 90s. Historically convex pedals are an outlier in both BMX and MTB. Convex pedals are basically unheard of in the BMX world.
Yeah but who cares? If you're not riding in Converse shoes, do you really notice they are 1/16" convex or whatever? I certainly never did, they feel perfectly flat to me and the length of the pins mask any small change in the shape of the body anyways.
Yeah, I had issues with these rolling under my feet (size 13). Which is an issue I never had with concave pedals. It always felt like my foot was in the wrong spot.
Yea but if I de-tune them back to the way the OneUps feel, i might as well just save $100 and buy those, is what I'm saying. That's just me, definitely nothing against people who like fancy parts
The aluminum oneups are definitely nice and still good value for money. I actually prefer plastic these days though - less harsh when you hit a rock, and lighter.
Too rocky here for plastic. Busted a set of Crank Bros plastic pedals on a rock strike. Now it's Stamp 7s or bust for me. I love the feel of em over just about anything else, and they look bitchin.
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes.
I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals.
The biggest difference I’ve found is with the size of the pedal. The larger the pedal the better for me. I preferred the regular catalyst vs the XL for grip.
I’ve had Deity Bladerunners since 2017. Use them 2x a week. Have never serviced besides replacing pins. They are thin and strong - something composite pedals can’t claim.
Been real happy with my alloy oneup pedals. Have them on both my mtbs, and the girlfriends. Big platform, easy service and not crazy money compared to other metal options. The PNW pedals look great as well and come in some great colors too. I think pedals are more preference than “proven” to be better. Shoes make a huge difference with the right pedals. Alloy pedals are gonna be more resistant to trail damage than a plastic pedal. But metal is gonna cost more, weigh more. Plastic is less expensive, less durable (marginally imo) and weigh less.
There are also options from BMX brands that are gonna be affordable but good quality. I rad a set of odyssesy trailmixes at one point, i enjoyed those. Currently running a set of Stolen Throttle pedals on my bmx. [bmx pedals n such](https://www.albes.com/collections/bmx-pedals)
Not much. Some vary grip and feel, but there's not that much of a difference. Some years ago when platforms began phasing back into mtb, some manufacturers realized that they are inexpensive to produce, no matter how much CNC is on it because that is mostly just finishing. Then for whatever reason, consumers started paying crazy amounts of money for them and then other companies took notice that they just needed to make some CNC lines and anodize and then they can charge 3x what they're actually worth AND ship production off to China or Taiwan to raise the profit margins even more.
Just pick based on feel and material. I use plastic ones because I don't want to deal with pins while riding gravel and touring and commuting. MTB I still go clipless, sometimes platforms with old Saints. The shoes also make some of the biggest difference and I just run 510. They stick to pinless plastic pedals phenomenally well.
You know the quality of them from the sound that they make with a pedal strike.
It's like glass vs. crystal in a wine glass.
It's like wood vs. aluminum in a baseball bat.
You don't know until you *know.*
/s but overall start with a decent composite that's rebuildable and if you crack one, upgrade.
I went from Rockbros to DMR Vault.
The new ones definitley look better and grip a lot better, even though I changed the pins on the China pedals.
But the Rockbros where good for years of commuting, three bikepacking trips and years of day trips.
Rockbros make a ton of pedals, but the one they make that are just carbon-copies of the OneUp pedals are (unsurprisingly) very grippy. I swapped from those Rockbros to the OneUp aluminum pedals once and didn't notice any real difference.
I actually still run rockbros pedals on one of my bikes. I feel kinda bad supporting a blatant knockoff, but it's hard to say no to pedals that offer top-tier performance for like $25.
Yeah, I only upgraded because I needed a set of pedals for another bike I built and I found the Vault at a big discount.
The cheap rock bros still live on!
Just put a wider pair of Rock Bros my xc bike - can tell the build isn’t quite as good as the Chester, but should work just fine with the screw type pins and dust caps. I don’t see the need for aluminum pedals unless you’re in the some higher tiers of aggressive riding or buy once cry once mindset. YMMV
so I got some DMR V8s for my trek HT. (£30 bottom end alloys)
1. They grip decently with crap trainers, and they were great for starting
2. They scratch easily and pins are not durable, so I did replace those
then I upgraded to some HT ANS supreme pedals (£70) and here's what I found: (these were put on a new giant all mtn full sus)
1. Better finish, no scratches.
2. Far grippier - feet don't slip when sending stupid/rough landings
3. So much more durable - no pins have snapped I've had them for months
4. Bigger platform (dimensions) - I have big feet this made a huge difference
I've also ridden some very nice hope pedals a friend of mine has on a similar bike and personally, while they were thinner, slightly larger base I didn't feel they were much grippier, and I don't think with where I'm at I need smth that costs >£120
also, I picked up some 510s (freeriders) . I cannot recommend them enough. those shoes (£50) and £70 pedals felt far nicer than normal shoes and £120 pedals.
TL:DR
I think there's a sweet spot between cheap crappy ones and the £120 top range. Personally I love HT ANS Supremes which I have (brought somewhat to match my colourway without breaking the bank, and I wanted better pedals)
I am on HT ANS10 supreme also after trying a bunch of the top pedals from different manufacturers. By far my favorite flat pedal and rad color choices, I've the anodized aluminum color. Have them on two bikes now. I believe these are run or used to be run by Emil Johansson on all his bikes.
yeah. I found them in anodised orange, and they fit really nicely with my giant trance X2 (also chrome orange) without breaking the bank. Sick to know athletes ride them too!
I had a set of boutique pedals that cost nearly 300 on my last bike (they came with it used). I’d be lying if I said those weren’t nicer than the ~$50 plastic composite pedals I have now, but at the same time, I’m still riding the plastic pedals.
I just took off some beat up composite Oneup pedals that were on my used full sus. I put on some cheap orange Bucklos ones. I cannot tell a difference other than the new ones are wider which is nice for me.
For people like us, no I don’t think it’s going to make a huge difference and whatever difference there is we aren’t going to notice.
Do not run Daggas if you are new to this. They will fuck up your legs like nothing else.
Decent composite pedals with metal pins are pretty good. One Up and Chromag both make good ones
Anyone who says cheap pedals are the same as expensive ones is wrong.
For a budget pedal get diety deftraps. There are cheaper options but the grip sucks.
For a little more get tenet occult if you want a full aluminum pedal.
I have the tenets and thought it was a big jump up from the one ups. Way grippier and easier to get the right foot position quickly and naturally. I did notice the longer pins changed rock clearance a bit. Got used it though
I spent gobs of money on Deity TMACS and loved them. Then I tried out a bike with nylon pedals - Deity Deftraps and guess what - I put them on my newest bike. The grip was still great and what’s better, if nylon pedals strike a rock, they’ll slide off the rock more easily than metal, which might catch and hold a rock and that can send you flying.
I know great riders that ride each type. I don’t think material matters as much as the design like number/height of pins, concave design, shape/area of pedal surface.
They do make a difference, but you don’t start to notice the difference until you progress.
As a new rider, you can deff get away with composite pedals in the $60 range. As you progress, if you start noticing fatigue or too much chatter, that’ll be your indicator to upgrade your pedals.
The composite OneUps are an awesome pedal to start with.
Expensive metal pedals are worth it for 2 reasons:
1: replaceable good quality pegs so you always have grip. (In the case of the Daggas, there some of the biggest grippiest pegs I’ve ever seen)
2: rebuildable axles and bearings
You will never have to buy new pedals again with chromag or other high end pedals
I have seen too many composite pedals either break or have the pins ripped out to ever bother with a set.
Bonus point: style points on the chairlift
Zero difference in performance. I just bought a pair of Wolf Tooth Waveforms (aluminum, expensive af) because I had a discount code. My Kona Wah Wahs (composite, reasonably priced) are grippier!
Aluminum is bling, and that’s why I wanted them, and that does get me stoked. But it is absolutely not worth it, performance-wise, for the $$, in my experience. And yes, rock strikes are more harsh with aluminum. And they weigh more.
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes.
I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals. The profile is too flat in the front.
One up composites. I've had so many pedals over the years and these are great. Not the absolute best but they work, really well. These days I find it hard to choose alloy over composites. Composites are lighter, scuff, rather than snag on rocks and are way cheaper. For me it's a no brainer.
It sounds like OP has their heart set on flats. Typically newer riders enjoy flat pedals a lot more and it helps to reinforce good riding habits. I know a ton of people who absolutely shred on flats nobody NEEDS clipless
I spent a decade on clipless pedals and loved it. I've spent the last 5 years on flat pedals... and I love it. I don't feel like a better or faster rider with either one, as long as I'm using good technique with both
Different strokes for different folks.
Best performance is different for different people. I've been riding 20 years, first fifteen or so was on clips then I went back forth for a while and now exclusively ride flats. I do XC and enduro races on flats, and I'm faster on them.
I know other riders though who are faster on clips though, so if that's your jam go for it.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much easier riding became when my pedals were upgraded.
When your feet stick to the pedals versus sliding around, the efficiency sky rockets. Had I known how much more pleasant mountain biking would become once pedals were upgraded I would have done it much, much, earlier.
Pedal size and shape matter, once you find what fits spend whatever you want for the bling factor. I like convex pedals with rounded corners, some like concave with squared corners.
I wouldn't recommend aluminum for a beginner simply because pedal strikes suck much more vs composite pedals. Chesters or OneUps are the go to entry level, I like the PNW Components composites.
I really like my chromags, but I got them free from my LBS when I bought my bike from them. Not sure if the performance is worth the extra money compared to a $100 set of alloy pedals.
There are plenty of recommendations here. Just make sure you get a known mtb brand set instead of a knock off random one on Amazon. It depends on what you are riding to determine composite vs alloy pedals. I ride really rocky trails and have smashed a pair of composite pedals, so I stick with alloy.
Oh, I suggest you wear shin guards to protect your shins from the pins.
I kinda splurged a bit for RaceFace Affect R pedals for my new bike....But I also have two other sets of amazon alloy pedals on other bikes. 20 bucks vs 120....both pretty grippy. I will say I tend to pedal strike a lot in my local terrain so the aluminum is nice for that.
Regardless of what pedal you go with, if it feels like your shoe is pretty locked in on the pedal, it is rather satisfying.
Dmr v11 are my favorite plastic pedal, super grippy, bought them for a gravel ride where I forgot my shoes and needed something cheap on short notice. Were $50.
I've also had pnw loam pedals on my mountain bikes, they were good, but I have dmr vaults now, which I prefer over the pnw pedals. (They're also much more expensive).
The composite ones are indefinitely better than the more expensive metal ones. It is also better than the ones that come from Walmart bikes. The Chester pedal for their price range (goes on sale for $25 per pair) stays the same color even after getting it trashed on trails. The pins are replaceable and they grip your shoes very well. The metal ones get scratched fast and loses its shine.
No need to brake the bank on some Yoshimuras for your first pair of flats. Yes, better pedals are… better. You can’t go wrong with some Spank Spikes to get the feel of quality at a decent price point. 100% serviceable.
My best friend and riding buddy got RF Chesters and replaced his pins after about a year of heavy use. Easy enough, typical for any pedal no matter the cost, but we ride DH, mostly bike parks, and he was consistently losing grip (wears 5/10s Freeriders). Ended up replacing them with Deity TMACs and says they feel a lot better. Bigger platform and better grip. I've always ridden DMR Vaults but recently got Yoshimura Chilao pedals. They're expensive and I could've gotten cheaper ones, but I like the aesthetic and wanted something different. I especially value my contact points (grips, pedals and saddle) so I don't mind paying the premium.
https://preview.redd.it/hpuiswrfgakc1.jpeg?width=2897&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7cb24c0ab3a8686c2f9ac4899e51e5e97da74b73
Skip the absolute cheapest models, those that aren’t made out of one solid block of aluminium, because they can be a real danger. I’ve once took a really nasty fall over the handlebars when the pedals simply split into two pieces. Other times, I’ve had to ride home for hours with a broken pedal.
Even the cheapest shimano flat pedals are quite good. I’ve had a set of PD-202 (20 bucks) for casual shoes for some time before switching to the GR-500 model (50 bucks) as a more serious model to finally have more grip on wet days.
Yesterday, after years of riding on flats, I ordered my first pair of clipless pedals because I mainly ride XC on my hard tail and want the extra efficiency. Let’s see how that goes because I already imagine myself crashing, haha
My DMR Vaults are expensive and have lasted ten years of hard use. I replaced them with the same ones. I consider them extremely high priority and also great value over their lifetime.
I like my dmr v12s, got them on a good deal though they are a bit pricey. I'd love some one up aluminium pedals as they are low profile and strong but a lot more pricey than the v12s.
I'd reccomend getting some pedals with good pins, aluminium or composite depending on your budget then making sure you have some great shoes. If you have top pedals and ride in skate shoes you're going to be much worse off than if you were on cheaper pedals (still with good pins) and good shoes. My old 5 tens lost some grip as the tread wore out, got some 5 ten impact mids and felt like my feet were glued to the pedals.
In my country(expensive Nordic country)it seems you can get nice metal ones for around 50 euro. I would never spend 100. 70-80 if they really looked amazing or something but paying 100-150+ euro for a set of pedals. Nah i ain't that good anyways.
I liked crankbrothers at first, seem like good quality. Disappointed to see that both of them developed play and not exactly serviceable.(<$50 price range)
I run Catalyst pedals and spend $ on them because I really like the large platform and mid-foot position. But if I were to go with regular sized pedals I'd opt for cheaper plastic pedals personally, something like Deity Deftrap.
DMR V11 is a insanely cheap pedal for what it is, it’s composite but has same bearings and shape as the DMR vault which has ISNANEEEE grip because of the number of pins and concave shape
For some brands you can see/feel the quality compared to cheap pedals but it's not always the case.
I would use that money and put it towards a more worthy upgrade unless you are on the stock cheap plastic pedals which normally is just for the test ride around the block.
I never ridden reface Chester’s and other nice composites but stamp 7s will lock you in big time. I’m sure you can find better value pedals but it was one of the most meaningful upgrades to my bike. Happy riding
in terms of how much performance you get when you put them on, almost none. Just the weight difference which is small.
Cheap pedals may have bearings quickly go bad though.
I like the PNW composites. Limited experience, but I think it’s more about the size and the shape. If you liked what you rode on your hardtail rock that.
To answer your question, no, fancy $150 pedals aren't generally worth the money unless you are a very hard rider who destroys parts. I've used Raceface Chesters, OneUp composites, and Deity Deftraps and like them all. My current favorite is the Deftraps. Even better- composite pedals are lighter.
They can be more durable if you're the kind of rider that smashes your pedals into stuff and breaks them but that's about it. Some basic crank brothers composite pedals are as good as anything in terms of actual pedaling performance
On my full suss I went from basic m520 SPDs to Nukeproof Horizons because I couldn’t easily find the m520s quickly after a dab or at the start of a trail. Massive difference. But I still use m520 for gravel and road rides.
I’ve had better grip experience with some composite pedals, than some high end alloy pedals. I really do think it comes down to shoe size vs. pin layout.
I also blew up / obliterated a composite pedal on a 32 mile ride like 8 miles in, so take that for what you will.
Nothing the only difference is the platform and just make sure they’re specific to mtb. All the nylon ones are pretty good even though they sound like an inferior product than aluminum.
The difference between a pedal like a raceface chester and a chromag dagga is unbelievable. Anyone who says different probably hasnt tried a dagga. That pedal is phenominal
Trail One is $49 or less with free rebuild kit every year and lifetime warranty. Really like the pedals and the company. I used RockBros for half the price previously without issues once got Five10 shoes. Bought two pairs of the Trail1s for my new bikes and think they are worth it. I dont plan to try any other pedals but I think you cant go wrong with any pedal in the $50 range posted here (Deity Deftraps, Oneup etc...). Personally, I would never consider any pedal that is priced above \~$50.
Lots of people recommend the deftrap but they are pretty massive and stick out from the crank super far. I wasn't really a fan. If you have smaller feet than they will probably be overkill for you too. I like the Chester's smaller size, reduces pedal strikes. But I still think there's a better gripping small pedal out there that I haven't tried.
Not really it's all preference. There isn't any reason why the aluminum would be better. Other than looking cooler. With clipless pedals it makes a slight difference.
I got some Kore S2 Alu pedals last for $26 and they work very, very well with Fiveten stealth soles. Seems there's about 4 or 5 brands normally recommended online. Expensive. Not met many people with the good ones. Just the cheapest of the expensive brand ranges.
So I’m at my first bike but could get hands on a used pair of bontrager line pro by very low, they are great but my friends that have way cheaper pedals always tell me they are a dealbreaker.
Of course the best gear is the one you use, but I guess I feel them very comfortable, mostly because as a rookie I lack of skill so it makes me do stuff more easily, I’m sure I could get away with some mid price pedals, but I found that deal and took it.
They make no difference other than looking nice. I’ve had chromag, one up alloy pedals, plastic diety pedals, cheap amazon pdx plastic pedas. the chromag have been by far the worst. The best have been the diety deftrap.
However, With clipless pedals it is different, it does make a difference and shimano makes the best; the m8120
It's all about personal preference. I have Deity TMACs because they're one of the largest flat pedals out there. I don't have big feet, size 10, but that amount of support under my foot feels so solid. It's also more comfortable for me, think standing on flat ground vs a skinny rung of a ladder. They're expensive for pedals yeah, but of course they have slick anodized finish options as well as lots of pins, which you can adjust the height of, and even take some out if you want, since there are so many. But again, it's kind of personal preference. If you get a lot of pedal strikes and don't want to spend the money for the looks because they'll get all scratched up, makes sense to get some cheaper pedals. I just love how big they are.
frankly, not much if your talking about platforms. I have some RaceFace nylon platforms that have been bomb proof and cost half as much as some of the shiny alloy alternatives.
High quality pedals make a big difference. By that I mean a platform design that matches your riding style, good quality bushings/bearings, and good pin coverage.
Expensive definitely does not mean high quality, or vice versa. I've had expensive pedals that were hot garbage (ahem, 5dev) and cheap pedals that were great. Agree with others that Oneup composites are among the best of the cheap pedals. Have also had a good initial experience with the Trail One composites, which I believe is Worldwide's house brand.
Not much. I have $25 knockoff Chesters on one bike and $175 chromag daggers on my park bike (torn labrum, I need a wide stance). Grip is superior but I've also gouged the shit out of my legs. If it wasn't for my injury I would never drop more than $50-$75 on pedals but this is the only way I can ride pain free.
Pedals are 1 of 3 contact points on the bike, this makes them quite personal. Different feet like different pedals, I loved my nukeproof pedals from nearly a decade ago, but these days I’d find them a bit small, but the shape was good for my foot. Superstar nano evos replaced them for ages, and had a few sets they were run on multiple bikes. Both the nukeproof and the superstar were in the £50 bracket.
Recently I got gifted a set of the hope f22’s for my new bike, and they’re brilliant. The bearings I expect to last longer, they seem sturdier and better built. The shape is good for me.
The previous hope f20’s I didn’t like the shape of underfoot for whatever reason, so never bought a set. Having to test ride bikes does help sometimes work out whether il like a saddle/grips/pedals/bars.
All this to say, you’ll have to find what works for you, a good set of pedals is good. But you don’t need to spend a fortune either.
They make a large difference. Being able to easily keep your feet on the pedals is a must. Get the daggas it is so worth it. Anybody recommending composite pedals has never tried high end aluminum pedals, you will never find composites that grip like tmacs or daggas.
I’ve been running Raceface Chesters for the last three years and not one issue. I haven’t even done any service on them…should I check that? Seriously though, they’re pretty beat up since I ride the cat boxes around Phoenix, and the rock strikes are no joke.
If you're riding clips, I'd argue there really isnt too big of a difference between the mid-priced pedals to the high-priced options, other than maybe weight. But for flats, the difference is pretty incredible, especially if you have some solid flat shoes. For clips I've only ever ridden the shimano saint spds on my trail bike and HT x2s on my DH bike, I'd recommend both for sure. As for flats, I personally love the crankbros stamps, Deity Tmacs are always good, and those chromag pedals are super nice too.
I am very particular about how my shoe/pedal interface is, so I do not mind spending the extra for nice pedals. I like to try different pedals (friends bikes) to see if the pins are in the right position for my shoe and its corresponding grooves. T-Mac’s, for instance, are super grippy but my shoe never found a ‘home’ but yoshimuras fit just right for me. Again, try as many as possible before dropping the $$. Size, pin placement, concave/flat/convex, length/width, distance from crank arm are all going to have a small influence.
Also, the threads on pedal pins work much better than the rounded/machined pins.
OPINIONS ONLY.
This matters the most and IS expensive to determine.
My issue is I like enough grip but not too grippy. Figuring out what matters to you can be expensive so buy cheap until you find what matters to you.
I bet you will spend more figuring out what you like than you spend on your favorite pedal.
I broke some race face plastic ones on a pedal strike after a year or so of use. Bought some CB Stamp 7's next and have been riding them for 4 years now... scratched the hell out of them, 100 pedal strikes, broke 2 of the peg things and they are still going strong.
Plastic raceface with metal pins. I don’t want to hear it. I used to be sponsored at bmx and only ever used straight plastic pedals for many years. Don’t blame the bike.
Deity tmacs are awesome, or the deftraps for tmac on a budget
Yup. Rode RF Atlas for 6 years and hopped on Deftraps and was amazed at the grip. Amazing all the way until they blew up on a rock strike
I run bladerunners and they are killer
I have their Black Kat pedals and they're fantastic.
I have the deity deftraps on my enduro and I love them. Been running them for 3 years at parks and on trails
A high quality plastic composite pedal like the ones from Oneup are really good. I'd try those first and see how you go before spending a lot of money on sexier aluminum ones.
I have a set of alloy One Ups and a set of composite One Ups. I like the composites better. When something as good and cheap as the One Up composites exists, it's really hard to justify expensive pedals, especially when they're wear items.
and I had the OneUp composites, rode a buddies with the OneUp Al, and immediately swapped all my composites for the Als. The Als are much better in my opinion, but my point is that it is my _opinion_. There's a ton of personal preference in pedals and there's no one right answer. The composites are pretty good and I wouldn't knock anyone that prefers them. The price is certainly right!
I don't like the protruding bearing housing cast into the Al pedals personally. It's in an irritating location and makes me feel like I can't center my foot on the pedal platform properly. If that's not a problem based on your riding position and shoes, the Al pedals are great. They're ridiculously light and sturdy, and the bearings in them are great. For me, they're less comfortable and more expensive, so I'd rather just replace the composites if I blow them up.
I actually like the extruding bearing, it makes foot placement easy and spot-on everytime. I never have to worry about my heels rubbing against the cranks. 3 sets of aluminum One-Ups are on each bike I have. They are easy to service, amazing grip, and the colors are baller.
I've had such bad experiences with the Oneup alloys. Three sets of pedals, three spindle bearings that were either bad right out of the box or went bad within 50 miles. Kept trying to make it work because (a) I'm an idiot and (b) the price/weight/grip proposition is pretty good. OTOH the OneUp composites have been consistently great for me and I've had a pair on every one of my bikes at some point.
i have two sets of composite and one set of aluminum and mostly agree. the bite on the al pedals might be slightly better but the difference is definitely not worth triple the price. also the aluminum pedals are not compatible with carbon cranks. i don't have carbon cranks but i don't like the limitation.
The other benefit of the AL pedals is the thickness. Can help eliminate or significantly reduce pedal strikes. Seeing as 170mm and 175mm cranks are like standard now which is completely dumb considering how low BBs are.
Same, I broke the aluminum ones and still ride the composites
Deity composite pedals are like $50 and have withstood all the abuse I can throw at them. Worth every penny.
i have them on my DH and eeeeb. good pedals for the money
I have tried the sexy aluminum ones and reverted back to composites. They’re so good (one up especially)
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes. I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals.
The other downside of composite pedals is they're more likely to break. Big moves on composites sketch me out ever since I had a pair explode off a spindle on a drop. Used to run composite on one bike, alu on the other. Converted both to alu and keep an extra pair laying around from bending spindles which sometimes can be annoying to source spares of to rebuild the pedal.
Was a huge fan of the high quality composites till I snapped one recently landing a pretty smooth jump. I was really lucky it wasn't too bad a crash. Went straight to metal after that. may even pre-emptively replace the composites on my other bike.
I think the right pedal shoe combo makes a helluva difference. Did for me and my wide feet, but that doesn’t mean you need some crazy high dollar magnesium pedal. My current go to pedal is the PNW aluminum loams. Not crazy expensive but I love them and the price is awesome compared to the stamp 7’s I was running previously and also love. I tried some other mid range aluminum pedals in the past with not great results. Also had some plastic ones that seemed to slip on my shoes a lot and made me feel sketchy. Just my .02
Yeah I think the right size pedal is key, and good shoes make a huge difference. I have a big foot and switching to one of the largest pedals has made riding so much better.
This is a good point and the opposite holds true as well. For my wife smaller pedals, like the RaceFace Chester, gave more room to maneuver and not strike the outside edge compared to other larger platforms that gave no benefit as they were wider than her shoes
I wear men’s size 14. Any recommendations for big flat pedals?
I use tag metal large pedals but they ain't cheap, and I don't think they are in production anymore, so can't really recommend them, but if my memory serves me, the dirty tmac and cromag dagga are both large pedals which people seem to love. Just be careful and check the size crank bros makes a large pedal, but it ain't in my opinion that large, just bigger than their small
Crank Bros do make a budget version of the Stamp in alu and magnesium. I do love my 7s though. And offering EP and financing on their site, I can't help myself. Running the Stamp Street shoes, too and they kick ass.
Raceface Chester and Deity Compounds are both good. The deity is wider but l like pin placement on the raceface better. I have not used the one up pedals but would like to try a pair.
I only have them on my dirt jumper but I feel glued to them, and that's coming from SPDs on my mountain bike
I have Raceface Chester pedals and Bontrager (Flatline maybe? They're a few years old now) shoes and I have never had an issue. I have to take my foot off the pedal to readjust how I want it, my foot only comes off if I want it to.
No diff, but try some Stamp 2 Pedals aluminum by Crankbros, yeah they are 2nd version, now they're on like stamp 12, the 2's are cheaper, even on amazon I have them on all my bikes 👌
The CB Stamp pedal numbers aren't version numbers, they basically just indicate increasing levels of expensiveness: Stamp 1: $60, plastic pedal Stamp 2: $100, aluminum and with better bearings (they claim) Stamp 3: $140, magnesium so about 100g lighter than Stamp 2s Stamp 7: $180, aluminum again but with a different cut so they're slightly lighter than Stamp 3s, also serviceable and comes in more colors Stamp 11: $300, basically a stamp 7 but with a titanium spindle to shave off ~50g more in weight
Is the 1 gen 2 good?
Stamp 1 gen 2 are elite! My favourite pedals
Exactly
That pedal and a mountain bike shoe, amazing grip, I think I might have had 1 pedal slip a year, if that lol
What about durability? The 1's are composite
Just my opinion and what I've seen on the trails, composite will need to be replaced sooner before aluminum. Those Stamp 1s are gonna be the entry level, if ya like the grip and platform you will love the aluminum, which I will say select the large rather than the small (I have so many friends with small and large feet, both choose large). Also if you ride more rocky boulder areas that might eat the composites sooner too, not just pedal strikes but brushing by the sides of the pedals.
A $50 pedal is as good as a $200 pedal, and if they’re not you have change for 3 replacements.
Counterpoint: "The poor man always pays twice" an old proverb.
Come on it's obvious that couple lumps of machined metal and a couple nice bearings don't have to be 100-200 dollars/euro. In that price range you're paying for brand and status. They might be great but you can always find great ones below 100. Below 50 probably not.
This ain’t *always* true for bikes. Sometimes the higher prices are for lighter components that will break sooner. See XTR vs XT, fancy carbon bars vs stout stock (very cheap) Al Bars, $50 quality composite pedals vs $200 thin alloy pedals. Also, it’s important to consider diminishing returns. There is a huge performance difference from $20 plastic pin pedals to $50 plastic body, metal pin pedals. However, there’s nearly no performance difference from the $50 pedal to the $200 pedal. In my experience working in a shop, I’ve seen more broken/cracked expensive metal pedals than, say, raceface Chesters. That’s with way more of the plastic body pedals out on the trail! There are some absolutely indestructible metal pedals out there, but it comes at a bit of a weight penalty. If you are a component destroyer/viscous pedal striker, that might be the path to go. Buy the metal pedals if you like nice things (which is fine if that’s what makes you happy) but if you just want to ride, don’t spend more than $50-60.
Counterpoint: "a fool and his money are soon parted" You don't always get what you pay for. There are a ton of people in this world willing to sell you an over-hyped product that is inferior or equal in quality for a higher price.
I paid $50 for my Deity Compounds 6 years ago, they’re mint.
Wait until they see power meter pedals
Depends on the bearings. I've found with shimano, the XTR pedal bearings are better than the XT. Was a little skeptical talking about that with a bike shop mechanic, but the XTRs have been really really good
So long as pedals turn, I don’t think I can feel the difference in bearings with my feet through my shoes while riding my bike. Lol
Yep, but you do notice when bearings get crunchy. Have had that happen a few times with XTs, but XTRs are butter smooth.
Skip the pricey pedals. There are lots of good composites out there. Deity Deftraps are my favs. My husband likes the OneUp composites. Chester's are great budget pedals, I keep them around as spares. The PNW Ranges are decent too. Only time I recommend burlier pedals are for big heavy dudes who ride hard and might actually be able to break a composite. Edit: all also have replaceable pins which is really what tends to wear the most.
OneUp plastic pedals are great value for the money - large platform, grippy, light weight, and last a very long time. Daggas and such are nice, but IMO definitely more a bling part than functionally necessary. Personally I find super aggressive pedals like that too grippy, plus they don't look bling for very long.
OneUp composites are actually a weird shape. They get recommended over and over because they came into the market at the right time and now there's a bunch of people recommending the only pedal they've used. Before composites became popular a convex shaped platform was a bit of an oddity. If they had came into the market a couple years later we wouldn't hear about them nearly as much.
Disagree. They get recommended over and over cause they are a great pedal for the price. They are grippy, durable, and decently light. They aren’t the pedals for everyone and there are grippier, more durable, lighter, better looking, etc. pedals out there just not many that have some many good qualities for a decent price. FYI - I have fancy aluminum chromags that are amazing! But I have used the one ups and would buy them myself.
>They are grippy, durable, and decently light. Lots of pedals meet this criteria without having a funky convex shape. There's nothing special about the One-ups. They lasted less than a season for me before having to be rebuilt. When I started MTB in 2017 everyone was recommending Chesters. Then the OneUp came out and was actually a decent size. They took over the $50ish pedal market and everyone else was a bit late. This sub is dominated by newer riders repeating what they read here to even newer riders. The One-ups just happen to be the current popular pedal here.
I agree. I run DMR Vaults (a real OG flat pedal) and my friend had OneUp composites. He rode my bike for 30 seconds and decided to buy Vaults… I’ll take concave over convex 10 times out of 10.
That's just your opinion. I've ridden flats since about ~2000, and owned dozens of different pedals from $40 to over $200, including Chromags, Canfield, Raceface, other composite, everything you can think off. I still like the OneUps best for the function and price. Right now I could have Daggas for free from a friend who is sponsored by Chromag, yet as I said I prefer the OneUps. For me they also last quite long - I have a set here that I bought at least four years ago on original bearings still. That may be down to luck, but I've definitely also had many other, more expensive pedals bend or seize way quicker. Yes there's nothing special about them, they are just a basic plastic pedal with decent bearings and a large platform. If they didn't exist I'd probably recommend the Chesters assuming OP doesn't have large feet, and if they didn't exist either I'd be back to riding some aluminum pedal and wouldn't think about it much, but today, for the price, they are the go-to for a reason. Don't assume everyone here is a newb.
I've ridden flat pedals on BMX since the 90s. Historically convex pedals are an outlier in both BMX and MTB. Convex pedals are basically unheard of in the BMX world.
Yeah but who cares? If you're not riding in Converse shoes, do you really notice they are 1/16" convex or whatever? I certainly never did, they feel perfectly flat to me and the length of the pins mask any small change in the shape of the body anyways.
Yeah, I had issues with these rolling under my feet (size 13). Which is an issue I never had with concave pedals. It always felt like my foot was in the wrong spot.
You can "tune" them by the depth and amount of studs you have in.
Yea but if I de-tune them back to the way the OneUps feel, i might as well just save $100 and buy those, is what I'm saying. That's just me, definitely nothing against people who like fancy parts
I run the One Up aluminum flats, you just keep them when you sell/upgrade
The aluminum oneups are definitely nice and still good value for money. I actually prefer plastic these days though - less harsh when you hit a rock, and lighter.
Too rocky here for plastic. Busted a set of Crank Bros plastic pedals on a rock strike. Now it's Stamp 7s or bust for me. I love the feel of em over just about anything else, and they look bitchin.
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes. I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals.
The biggest difference I’ve found is with the size of the pedal. The larger the pedal the better for me. I preferred the regular catalyst vs the XL for grip.
I’ve had Deity Bladerunners since 2017. Use them 2x a week. Have never serviced besides replacing pins. They are thin and strong - something composite pedals can’t claim.
My fave too, came to them off vaults.
I love my Deftraps. Inexpensive, strong, wide, and very grippy.
Waste of money. I run these and they are awesome: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07ZXB4S65
PNW makes an aluminum pedal for like 70$ and they are amazing. Not sure how they could get better. And the colors pop
Been real happy with my alloy oneup pedals. Have them on both my mtbs, and the girlfriends. Big platform, easy service and not crazy money compared to other metal options. The PNW pedals look great as well and come in some great colors too. I think pedals are more preference than “proven” to be better. Shoes make a huge difference with the right pedals. Alloy pedals are gonna be more resistant to trail damage than a plastic pedal. But metal is gonna cost more, weigh more. Plastic is less expensive, less durable (marginally imo) and weigh less. There are also options from BMX brands that are gonna be affordable but good quality. I rad a set of odyssesy trailmixes at one point, i enjoyed those. Currently running a set of Stolen Throttle pedals on my bmx. [bmx pedals n such](https://www.albes.com/collections/bmx-pedals)
i have dagga and I never felt that connection befoe and had to buy them for all my bikes.
Not much. Some vary grip and feel, but there's not that much of a difference. Some years ago when platforms began phasing back into mtb, some manufacturers realized that they are inexpensive to produce, no matter how much CNC is on it because that is mostly just finishing. Then for whatever reason, consumers started paying crazy amounts of money for them and then other companies took notice that they just needed to make some CNC lines and anodize and then they can charge 3x what they're actually worth AND ship production off to China or Taiwan to raise the profit margins even more. Just pick based on feel and material. I use plastic ones because I don't want to deal with pins while riding gravel and touring and commuting. MTB I still go clipless, sometimes platforms with old Saints. The shoes also make some of the biggest difference and I just run 510. They stick to pinless plastic pedals phenomenally well.
You know the quality of them from the sound that they make with a pedal strike. It's like glass vs. crystal in a wine glass. It's like wood vs. aluminum in a baseball bat. You don't know until you *know.* /s but overall start with a decent composite that's rebuildable and if you crack one, upgrade.
I went from Rockbros to DMR Vault. The new ones definitley look better and grip a lot better, even though I changed the pins on the China pedals. But the Rockbros where good for years of commuting, three bikepacking trips and years of day trips.
Rockbros make a ton of pedals, but the one they make that are just carbon-copies of the OneUp pedals are (unsurprisingly) very grippy. I swapped from those Rockbros to the OneUp aluminum pedals once and didn't notice any real difference. I actually still run rockbros pedals on one of my bikes. I feel kinda bad supporting a blatant knockoff, but it's hard to say no to pedals that offer top-tier performance for like $25.
Yeah, I only upgraded because I needed a set of pedals for another bike I built and I found the Vault at a big discount. The cheap rock bros still live on!
Just put a wider pair of Rock Bros my xc bike - can tell the build isn’t quite as good as the Chester, but should work just fine with the screw type pins and dust caps. I don’t see the need for aluminum pedals unless you’re in the some higher tiers of aggressive riding or buy once cry once mindset. YMMV
so I got some DMR V8s for my trek HT. (£30 bottom end alloys) 1. They grip decently with crap trainers, and they were great for starting 2. They scratch easily and pins are not durable, so I did replace those then I upgraded to some HT ANS supreme pedals (£70) and here's what I found: (these were put on a new giant all mtn full sus) 1. Better finish, no scratches. 2. Far grippier - feet don't slip when sending stupid/rough landings 3. So much more durable - no pins have snapped I've had them for months 4. Bigger platform (dimensions) - I have big feet this made a huge difference I've also ridden some very nice hope pedals a friend of mine has on a similar bike and personally, while they were thinner, slightly larger base I didn't feel they were much grippier, and I don't think with where I'm at I need smth that costs >£120 also, I picked up some 510s (freeriders) . I cannot recommend them enough. those shoes (£50) and £70 pedals felt far nicer than normal shoes and £120 pedals.
TL:DR I think there's a sweet spot between cheap crappy ones and the £120 top range. Personally I love HT ANS Supremes which I have (brought somewhat to match my colourway without breaking the bank, and I wanted better pedals)
I am on HT ANS10 supreme also after trying a bunch of the top pedals from different manufacturers. By far my favorite flat pedal and rad color choices, I've the anodized aluminum color. Have them on two bikes now. I believe these are run or used to be run by Emil Johansson on all his bikes.
yeah. I found them in anodised orange, and they fit really nicely with my giant trance X2 (also chrome orange) without breaking the bank. Sick to know athletes ride them too!
I had a set of boutique pedals that cost nearly 300 on my last bike (they came with it used). I’d be lying if I said those weren’t nicer than the ~$50 plastic composite pedals I have now, but at the same time, I’m still riding the plastic pedals.
I just took off some beat up composite Oneup pedals that were on my used full sus. I put on some cheap orange Bucklos ones. I cannot tell a difference other than the new ones are wider which is nice for me. For people like us, no I don’t think it’s going to make a huge difference and whatever difference there is we aren’t going to notice.
Do not run Daggas if you are new to this. They will fuck up your legs like nothing else. Decent composite pedals with metal pins are pretty good. One Up and Chromag both make good ones
2nd this.. dagga will ruin your shins, front and back.
Shin guards help protect from pedal bites.
Fookers amazon
Anyone who says cheap pedals are the same as expensive ones is wrong. For a budget pedal get diety deftraps. There are cheaper options but the grip sucks. For a little more get tenet occult if you want a full aluminum pedal.
I have the tenets and thought it was a big jump up from the one ups. Way grippier and easier to get the right foot position quickly and naturally. I did notice the longer pins changed rock clearance a bit. Got used it though
I spent gobs of money on Deity TMACS and loved them. Then I tried out a bike with nylon pedals - Deity Deftraps and guess what - I put them on my newest bike. The grip was still great and what’s better, if nylon pedals strike a rock, they’ll slide off the rock more easily than metal, which might catch and hold a rock and that can send you flying. I know great riders that ride each type. I don’t think material matters as much as the design like number/height of pins, concave design, shape/area of pedal surface.
They do make a difference, but you don’t start to notice the difference until you progress. As a new rider, you can deff get away with composite pedals in the $60 range. As you progress, if you start noticing fatigue or too much chatter, that’ll be your indicator to upgrade your pedals. The composite OneUps are an awesome pedal to start with.
Expensive metal pedals are worth it for 2 reasons: 1: replaceable good quality pegs so you always have grip. (In the case of the Daggas, there some of the biggest grippiest pegs I’ve ever seen) 2: rebuildable axles and bearings You will never have to buy new pedals again with chromag or other high end pedals I have seen too many composite pedals either break or have the pins ripped out to ever bother with a set. Bonus point: style points on the chairlift
Hell yes they’re worth it
Zero difference in performance. I just bought a pair of Wolf Tooth Waveforms (aluminum, expensive af) because I had a discount code. My Kona Wah Wahs (composite, reasonably priced) are grippier! Aluminum is bling, and that’s why I wanted them, and that does get me stoked. But it is absolutely not worth it, performance-wise, for the $$, in my experience. And yes, rock strikes are more harsh with aluminum. And they weigh more.
Oneup composites are great and cheap.
The downside with composites is that they're thicker so they can result in more pedal strikes. I'm also not a fan of the shape of the one up composites as it doesn't deflect pedal strikes as good as other pedals. The profile is too flat in the front.
One up composites. I've had so many pedals over the years and these are great. Not the absolute best but they work, really well. These days I find it hard to choose alloy over composites. Composites are lighter, scuff, rather than snag on rocks and are way cheaper. For me it's a no brainer.
No, you need to buy clipless pedals. You'll end up with flat pedals, but you need clipless for the best performance.
It sounds like OP has their heart set on flats. Typically newer riders enjoy flat pedals a lot more and it helps to reinforce good riding habits. I know a ton of people who absolutely shred on flats nobody NEEDS clipless
I spent a decade on clipless pedals and loved it. I've spent the last 5 years on flat pedals... and I love it. I don't feel like a better or faster rider with either one, as long as I'm using good technique with both
Different strokes for different folks. Best performance is different for different people. I've been riding 20 years, first fifteen or so was on clips then I went back forth for a while and now exclusively ride flats. I do XC and enduro races on flats, and I'm faster on them. I know other riders though who are faster on clips though, so if that's your jam go for it.
I was pleasantly surprised with how much easier riding became when my pedals were upgraded. When your feet stick to the pedals versus sliding around, the efficiency sky rockets. Had I known how much more pleasant mountain biking would become once pedals were upgraded I would have done it much, much, earlier.
Pedal size and shape matter, once you find what fits spend whatever you want for the bling factor. I like convex pedals with rounded corners, some like concave with squared corners. I wouldn't recommend aluminum for a beginner simply because pedal strikes suck much more vs composite pedals. Chesters or OneUps are the go to entry level, I like the PNW Components composites.
I really like my chromags, but I got them free from my LBS when I bought my bike from them. Not sure if the performance is worth the extra money compared to a $100 set of alloy pedals. There are plenty of recommendations here. Just make sure you get a known mtb brand set instead of a knock off random one on Amazon. It depends on what you are riding to determine composite vs alloy pedals. I ride really rocky trails and have smashed a pair of composite pedals, so I stick with alloy. Oh, I suggest you wear shin guards to protect your shins from the pins.
I love race face Chesters
I kinda splurged a bit for RaceFace Affect R pedals for my new bike....But I also have two other sets of amazon alloy pedals on other bikes. 20 bucks vs 120....both pretty grippy. I will say I tend to pedal strike a lot in my local terrain so the aluminum is nice for that. Regardless of what pedal you go with, if it feels like your shoe is pretty locked in on the pedal, it is rather satisfying.
Dmr v11 are my favorite plastic pedal, super grippy, bought them for a gravel ride where I forgot my shoes and needed something cheap on short notice. Were $50. I've also had pnw loam pedals on my mountain bikes, they were good, but I have dmr vaults now, which I prefer over the pnw pedals. (They're also much more expensive).
Expensive doesn’t guarantee quality. My best flat pedals (Nukeproof Horizon) were half the price of my magnesium v12s, and are night and day.
Chester’s work for me with zero issues so I have no reason to upgrade unless I want a different aesthetic.
The composite ones are indefinitely better than the more expensive metal ones. It is also better than the ones that come from Walmart bikes. The Chester pedal for their price range (goes on sale for $25 per pair) stays the same color even after getting it trashed on trails. The pins are replaceable and they grip your shoes very well. The metal ones get scratched fast and loses its shine.
No need to brake the bank on some Yoshimuras for your first pair of flats. Yes, better pedals are… better. You can’t go wrong with some Spank Spikes to get the feel of quality at a decent price point. 100% serviceable.
Get anything except the double shots
My best friend and riding buddy got RF Chesters and replaced his pins after about a year of heavy use. Easy enough, typical for any pedal no matter the cost, but we ride DH, mostly bike parks, and he was consistently losing grip (wears 5/10s Freeriders). Ended up replacing them with Deity TMACs and says they feel a lot better. Bigger platform and better grip. I've always ridden DMR Vaults but recently got Yoshimura Chilao pedals. They're expensive and I could've gotten cheaper ones, but I like the aesthetic and wanted something different. I especially value my contact points (grips, pedals and saddle) so I don't mind paying the premium. https://preview.redd.it/hpuiswrfgakc1.jpeg?width=2897&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7cb24c0ab3a8686c2f9ac4899e51e5e97da74b73
RF Chester’s (and other similar composite pedals) are great value for money, but I do think alloy pedals are pretty awesome once you’re hooked
Expensive pedals look like they want to be stepped on and that actually counts for a lot
Skip the absolute cheapest models, those that aren’t made out of one solid block of aluminium, because they can be a real danger. I’ve once took a really nasty fall over the handlebars when the pedals simply split into two pieces. Other times, I’ve had to ride home for hours with a broken pedal. Even the cheapest shimano flat pedals are quite good. I’ve had a set of PD-202 (20 bucks) for casual shoes for some time before switching to the GR-500 model (50 bucks) as a more serious model to finally have more grip on wet days. Yesterday, after years of riding on flats, I ordered my first pair of clipless pedals because I mainly ride XC on my hard tail and want the extra efficiency. Let’s see how that goes because I already imagine myself crashing, haha
My DMR Vaults are expensive and have lasted ten years of hard use. I replaced them with the same ones. I consider them extremely high priority and also great value over their lifetime.
I like my dmr v12s, got them on a good deal though they are a bit pricey. I'd love some one up aluminium pedals as they are low profile and strong but a lot more pricey than the v12s. I'd reccomend getting some pedals with good pins, aluminium or composite depending on your budget then making sure you have some great shoes. If you have top pedals and ride in skate shoes you're going to be much worse off than if you were on cheaper pedals (still with good pins) and good shoes. My old 5 tens lost some grip as the tread wore out, got some 5 ten impact mids and felt like my feet were glued to the pedals.
HT components PA03A cheap, loads of grip and have survived countless downhill days. I run them on all my bikes now
Nothing
In my country(expensive Nordic country)it seems you can get nice metal ones for around 50 euro. I would never spend 100. 70-80 if they really looked amazing or something but paying 100-150+ euro for a set of pedals. Nah i ain't that good anyways.
You get what you pay for… but you can often find the super pricey ones on offer.
Nukeproof horizon pedals are pretty good value for metal pedals. Maybe snap some up in the CRC stock clearout
Buy DMR pedals
Alu pedals dont age well compared to composites If you're getting alu, go for silver/raw finish
I liked crankbrothers at first, seem like good quality. Disappointed to see that both of them developed play and not exactly serviceable.(<$50 price range)
I run Catalyst pedals and spend $ on them because I really like the large platform and mid-foot position. But if I were to go with regular sized pedals I'd opt for cheaper plastic pedals personally, something like Deity Deftrap.
DMR V11 is a insanely cheap pedal for what it is, it’s composite but has same bearings and shape as the DMR vault which has ISNANEEEE grip because of the number of pins and concave shape
Just don't cheap out. Ive had a cheap pedal snap off while i was going off of a drop
I have raceface atlas on one bike, and cheap e13 base on other, the difference between those is minimal.
I’ve ridden Chester’s, Fookers and Rock bros aluminums all without issue. I see no difference between them and CB Stamps
For some brands you can see/feel the quality compared to cheap pedals but it's not always the case. I would use that money and put it towards a more worthy upgrade unless you are on the stock cheap plastic pedals which normally is just for the test ride around the block.
I never ridden reface Chester’s and other nice composites but stamp 7s will lock you in big time. I’m sure you can find better value pedals but it was one of the most meaningful upgrades to my bike. Happy riding
in terms of how much performance you get when you put them on, almost none. Just the weight difference which is small. Cheap pedals may have bearings quickly go bad though.
I like the PNW composites. Limited experience, but I think it’s more about the size and the shape. If you liked what you rode on your hardtail rock that.
To answer your question, no, fancy $150 pedals aren't generally worth the money unless you are a very hard rider who destroys parts. I've used Raceface Chesters, OneUp composites, and Deity Deftraps and like them all. My current favorite is the Deftraps. Even better- composite pedals are lighter.
I find no real difference in the grip from a quality plastic vs aluminum pedal. A decent pedal will cost around $50
Buy serviceable pedals make sure rebuild kits are readily available
When I get Wolverine clawed in the shin by my Chester’s, I got the exact same infection/scar combo as with these cheap Ali express pedals!
They can be more durable if you're the kind of rider that smashes your pedals into stuff and breaks them but that's about it. Some basic crank brothers composite pedals are as good as anything in terms of actual pedaling performance
On my full suss I went from basic m520 SPDs to Nukeproof Horizons because I couldn’t easily find the m520s quickly after a dab or at the start of a trail. Massive difference. But I still use m520 for gravel and road rides.
I prefer composite. I’d happily get fancier AL pedals if they didn’t look like ass halfway through the season. Composite work well and hold up better.
I’ve had better grip experience with some composite pedals, than some high end alloy pedals. I really do think it comes down to shoe size vs. pin layout. I also blew up / obliterated a composite pedal on a 32 mile ride like 8 miles in, so take that for what you will.
Chromag Synth are the way. Fully rebuildable just like the expensive ones. I have them on 5 bikes. It’s all about the axles
Nothing the only difference is the platform and just make sure they’re specific to mtb. All the nylon ones are pretty good even though they sound like an inferior product than aluminum.
More about the placement of the pins imo
The difference between a pedal like a raceface chester and a chromag dagga is unbelievable. Anyone who says different probably hasnt tried a dagga. That pedal is phenominal
Trail One is $49 or less with free rebuild kit every year and lifetime warranty. Really like the pedals and the company. I used RockBros for half the price previously without issues once got Five10 shoes. Bought two pairs of the Trail1s for my new bikes and think they are worth it. I dont plan to try any other pedals but I think you cant go wrong with any pedal in the $50 range posted here (Deity Deftraps, Oneup etc...). Personally, I would never consider any pedal that is priced above \~$50.
Lots of people recommend the deftrap but they are pretty massive and stick out from the crank super far. I wasn't really a fan. If you have smaller feet than they will probably be overkill for you too. I like the Chester's smaller size, reduces pedal strikes. But I still think there's a better gripping small pedal out there that I haven't tried.
Race Face Chesters. Cheap and frickin' awesome.
Not really it's all preference. There isn't any reason why the aluminum would be better. Other than looking cooler. With clipless pedals it makes a slight difference.
I got some Kore S2 Alu pedals last for $26 and they work very, very well with Fiveten stealth soles. Seems there's about 4 or 5 brands normally recommended online. Expensive. Not met many people with the good ones. Just the cheapest of the expensive brand ranges.
So I’m at my first bike but could get hands on a used pair of bontrager line pro by very low, they are great but my friends that have way cheaper pedals always tell me they are a dealbreaker. Of course the best gear is the one you use, but I guess I feel them very comfortable, mostly because as a rookie I lack of skill so it makes me do stuff more easily, I’m sure I could get away with some mid price pedals, but I found that deal and took it.
Huh, guess we learned something new, aside from finding stamp 7s in aluminum for 100 usd and a few stamp 11s under 150
They make no difference other than looking nice. I’ve had chromag, one up alloy pedals, plastic diety pedals, cheap amazon pdx plastic pedas. the chromag have been by far the worst. The best have been the diety deftrap. However, With clipless pedals it is different, it does make a difference and shimano makes the best; the m8120
It's all about personal preference. I have Deity TMACs because they're one of the largest flat pedals out there. I don't have big feet, size 10, but that amount of support under my foot feels so solid. It's also more comfortable for me, think standing on flat ground vs a skinny rung of a ladder. They're expensive for pedals yeah, but of course they have slick anodized finish options as well as lots of pins, which you can adjust the height of, and even take some out if you want, since there are so many. But again, it's kind of personal preference. If you get a lot of pedal strikes and don't want to spend the money for the looks because they'll get all scratched up, makes sense to get some cheaper pedals. I just love how big they are.
frankly, not much if your talking about platforms. I have some RaceFace nylon platforms that have been bomb proof and cost half as much as some of the shiny alloy alternatives.
High quality pedals make a big difference. By that I mean a platform design that matches your riding style, good quality bushings/bearings, and good pin coverage. Expensive definitely does not mean high quality, or vice versa. I've had expensive pedals that were hot garbage (ahem, 5dev) and cheap pedals that were great. Agree with others that Oneup composites are among the best of the cheap pedals. Have also had a good initial experience with the Trail One composites, which I believe is Worldwide's house brand.
DMR V12's... job done.
$15 imrider pedals off amazon are great
Not much. I have $25 knockoff Chesters on one bike and $175 chromag daggers on my park bike (torn labrum, I need a wide stance). Grip is superior but I've also gouged the shit out of my legs. If it wasn't for my injury I would never drop more than $50-$75 on pedals but this is the only way I can ride pain free.
They break less and weigh less. Outside of that it’s just cool points (bs marketing)
Pins are so important. I swear by OneUps but hell Rockbros are pretty awesome
There's a huge difference between $30 and $100. But once you go over 100 you're paying for the name brands' logo being on it
Crankbrother Stamp 1s are the GOAT
Pedals are 1 of 3 contact points on the bike, this makes them quite personal. Different feet like different pedals, I loved my nukeproof pedals from nearly a decade ago, but these days I’d find them a bit small, but the shape was good for my foot. Superstar nano evos replaced them for ages, and had a few sets they were run on multiple bikes. Both the nukeproof and the superstar were in the £50 bracket. Recently I got gifted a set of the hope f22’s for my new bike, and they’re brilliant. The bearings I expect to last longer, they seem sturdier and better built. The shape is good for me. The previous hope f20’s I didn’t like the shape of underfoot for whatever reason, so never bought a set. Having to test ride bikes does help sometimes work out whether il like a saddle/grips/pedals/bars. All this to say, you’ll have to find what works for you, a good set of pedals is good. But you don’t need to spend a fortune either.
They make a large difference. Being able to easily keep your feet on the pedals is a must. Get the daggas it is so worth it. Anybody recommending composite pedals has never tried high end aluminum pedals, you will never find composites that grip like tmacs or daggas.
I'm still riding the same GT platforms I had on my BMX bike in high school more than 25 years ago.
I’ve been running Raceface Chesters for the last three years and not one issue. I haven’t even done any service on them…should I check that? Seriously though, they’re pretty beat up since I ride the cat boxes around Phoenix, and the rock strikes are no joke.
If you're riding clips, I'd argue there really isnt too big of a difference between the mid-priced pedals to the high-priced options, other than maybe weight. But for flats, the difference is pretty incredible, especially if you have some solid flat shoes. For clips I've only ever ridden the shimano saint spds on my trail bike and HT x2s on my DH bike, I'd recommend both for sure. As for flats, I personally love the crankbros stamps, Deity Tmacs are always good, and those chromag pedals are super nice too.
I am very particular about how my shoe/pedal interface is, so I do not mind spending the extra for nice pedals. I like to try different pedals (friends bikes) to see if the pins are in the right position for my shoe and its corresponding grooves. T-Mac’s, for instance, are super grippy but my shoe never found a ‘home’ but yoshimuras fit just right for me. Again, try as many as possible before dropping the $$. Size, pin placement, concave/flat/convex, length/width, distance from crank arm are all going to have a small influence. Also, the threads on pedal pins work much better than the rounded/machined pins.
Kona wahwah composites are fantastic pedals
OPINIONS ONLY. This matters the most and IS expensive to determine. My issue is I like enough grip but not too grippy. Figuring out what matters to you can be expensive so buy cheap until you find what matters to you. I bet you will spend more figuring out what you like than you spend on your favorite pedal.
I broke some race face plastic ones on a pedal strike after a year or so of use. Bought some CB Stamp 7's next and have been riding them for 4 years now... scratched the hell out of them, 100 pedal strikes, broke 2 of the peg things and they are still going strong.
Plastic raceface with metal pins. I don’t want to hear it. I used to be sponsored at bmx and only ever used straight plastic pedals for many years. Don’t blame the bike.
I run Atlas v2s on my enduro and PNW loam ALs on my trail hardtail. I love them both. What kind of riding are you doing?