TMB's Favorite Clipless Pedals: Our Top 3 Clipless Picks
Our staff, wrenches, and riders weigh in with their top three clipless picks.
Mountain bikers will likely forever debate the merits and pitfalls of flat pedals versus clipless. And though there’s no easy answer, the general consensus is that clips are for seasoned cyclists who have good riding basics and don’t mind the risks of being permanently connected to the bike.
“It’s not necessarily an either-or thing, but there are advantages to being intrinsically attached to your bike,” says Evan Puglia, past GM at Thunder Mountain Bikes and co-founder of Sedona Mountain Bike Academy (SMBA). “Clips improve efficiency, allow for upward pedal stroke, and can simplify racing and riding technical terrain.”
It might seem like all clipless designs are created equal, but differences can be both significant and nuanced.
The biggest consideration is ease of entry-exit, as well as the ability to tune that function to meet your riding style, whether that’s through tension adjustment or special cleats.
Other factors to consider include pedal weight (the cost goes up as the grams go down), mud-shedding (there’s nothing worse than getting locked out of your clips when conditions turn wet), and whether or not to get a platform (which can ease foot pain and help protect against rock strikes and damage).
To help you wade through the options, we asked our team for their favorite picks.
Best All-Around Clipless
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Shimano XT PD-M8120Tried and true, Shimano SPDs are the gold standard of clips. Cleat-to-pedal interface is clean and solid, durability is second-to-none with most pedals lasting years, the open design sheds mud admirably, and cleats are ubiquitous so you can always pick up spares no matter where you are in the world. Cleat tension is simple to adjust with the pair of 3mm allen bolts on the pedal face, and Shimano also offers a multi-release cleat for even easier entry and exit—perfect for learning. This pedal comes in a lighter weight, race version, the XT PD-M8100, but we favor this caged model, both for the added durability on impacts and the bigger platform for starts and stops where it’s tricky to get clipped in immediately. Shop Shimano XT PD-M8120 |
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Shimano XT PD-M8120Tried and true, Shimano SPDs are the gold standard of clips. Cleat-to-pedal interface is clean and solid, durability is second-to-none with most pedals lasting years, the open design sheds mud admirably, and cleats are ubiquitous so you can always pick up spares no matter where you are in the world. Cleat tension is simple to adjust with the pair of 3mm allen bolts on the pedal face, and Shimano also offers a multi-release cleat for even easier entry and exit—perfect for learning. This pedal comes in a lighterweight, race version, the XT PD-M8100, but we favor this caged model, both for the added durability on impacts and the bigger platform for starts and stops where it’s tricky to get clipped in immediately. |
Best Budget Clipless
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Shimano PD-M520It is impossible to find a better performing clipless pedal for less money than this one. The PD-M520 ticks all the boxes of Shimano’s higher-end models—smooth entry and exit, adjustable, multi-release cleat availability, high function in mud, and highly durable—and it’s extremely affordable to boot. While it’s not excessively light (374g compared to 342g on the XT PD-M8100), that’s a small weight penalty for a lot of cost savings. Though we prefer a caged clipless pedal in Sedona to help protect against rock strikes, these budget pedals hold up so well that we use them for our rental fleet. And at this price, you can afford to replace them and still come out ahead should anything go wrong. Shop Shimano PD-M520 |
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Shimano PD-M520It is impossible to find a better performing clipless pedal for less money than this one. The PD-M520 ticks all the boxes of Shimano’s higher-end models—smooth entry and exit, adjustable, multi-release cleat availability, high function in mud, and highly durable—and it’s extremely affordable to boot. While it’s not excessively light (374g compared to 342g on the XT PD-M8100), that’s a small weight penalty for a lot of cost savings. Though we prefer a caged clipless pedal in Sedona to help protect against rock strikes, these budget pedals hold up so well that we use them for our rental fleet. And at this price, you can afford to replace them and still come out ahead should anything go wrong. |
Best Hybrid Clipless
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Crank Brothers Mallet E LSA friend of the shop has been riding the same pair of original Mallets for nearly a decade—a testament to these pedals’ durability and longevity—and this newer model is even more refined and improved. The platform is tapered, chamfered, and slightly convex to fit better under the sole and avoid impacts, there’s six grippy and adjustable traction pins per side, and traction pads on either side of the clips make for improved shoe interface. Crank Brothers clips are some of the easiest entry and exit on the market, though engagement might feel a little vague if you’re not used to it. They also work hands-down the best of any clipless design in mud. The Mallet E LS are a super option for riders who want the tactile feel of a flat pedal but the security of clips. Shop Crank Brothers Mallet E LS |
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Crank Brothers Mallet E LSA friend of the shop has been riding the same pair of original Mallets for nearly a decade—a testament to these pedals’ durability and longevity—and this newer model is even more refined and improved. The platform is tapered, chamfered, and slightly convex to fit better under the sole and avoid impacts, there’s six grippy and adjustable traction pins per side, and traction pads on either side of the clips make for improved shoe interface. Crank Brothers clips are some of the easiest entry and exit on the market, though engagement might feel a little vague if you’re not used to it. They also work hands-down the best of any clipless design in mud. The Mallet E LS are a super option for riders who want the tactile feel of a flat pedal but the security of clips. |
