Let's be honest, there isn't a lot going on with flat pedals, there aren't lots of moving parts or a huge array of features. However, the difference between the best MTB flat pedals and the worst flat pedals for mountain bikes can change your performance significantly.
Bad flat pedals can really alter your performance - in the wrong way! That's why it's so important to do your research when it comes to flat pedals for mountain biking. For something that has so few parts, there's so much to consider!
What makes the best mountain bike flat pedals stand out?
If you need help on which flat pedals to buy, then keep on reading!
Flat Pedals or Clipless
Such a hotly debated topic. Different riders have different preferences as to which one is best and you no doubt will too.
What are Clipless Pedals?
For those new to the world of flat pedals vs clipless pedals, this could need an explanation.
A clipless pedal will, in effect, 'clip' you to your bike. To use clipless pedals you need special shoes, with an attachment known as a 'cleat'. The cleat slots into the clip on the pedal. The idea is that you are now able to push through the pedal stroke, all the way from the bottom to the top. It does make pedaling more efficient as the power delivery is more even.
You're also probably wondering why the pedals are called 'clipless' when in fact, you're clipped in. That's a fair question!
It dates back to when pedal cages with toe clips were commonly used on race bikes. What we know as clipless pedals, don't have a toe clip and are, therefore, 'clipless'.
I'm not going to lie, if you're getting used to clipless pedals, you will most likely fall over. It's a right of passage and there's no shame it in (at least that's what I told myself).
Pros of Clipless Pedals
1. Technique
As we've just discussed, clipless pedals do provide better power delivery - though this isn't as much as some may believe. Though if you are wanting your legs to work less and output more, clipless could be your best option.
2. Comfort and Power
Shoes designed to be used with clipless pedals are usually stiffer than non-clipless shoes, as this improves the transfer of power.
Stiffer shoes also mean that your foot won't flex as much. When it comes to sustaining pedaling, you will be able to go further and still be comfortable.
3. Firmly planted feet
Your feet aren't at risk of slipping off when they're clipped in, even if the most challenging of terrain.
4. Hops & Lifts
If you're a fan of doing hops and small jumps, clipless pedals can make your life a lot easier. The key thing to remember is not to rely on them heavily as your technique may suffer.
Cons of Clipless Pedals
By now clipless pedals are probably sounding quite appealing, right? There are a few cons that you should be aware of!
1. Falling
You're going to.
It might be at a red light, with lots of traffic around you. Or when you've finished your ride and are in a car park with plenty of people watching.
Wherever it is, it's going to happen and there will probably be witnesses.
2. Stopping & Starting
If you stop on a steep hill (remember, there's no shame in stopping on a climb to take photos!) then getting started with clipless pedals is much more difficult than with flat pedals.
3. Mud
A lot of clipless pedals have a mud-clearing mechanism built-in. However, there may be certain conditions when that isn't enough and you will find yourself having to frequently unclog.
Pros of Flat Pedals
1. Easy to bailout
Nobody wants to bail out, but we all have to sometimes. If it's getting too much for you, a flat pedal on your mountain bike makes it easy to put your foot down and that's reassuring.
Also, if you're a bit of a Sam Hill on the trails then putting your foot out on fast corners is much easier with flat pedals.
2. Technique
You're going to become a better mountain bike rider if you use flat pedals.
Flat mountain bike pedals teach you the correct techniques needed and stop you from developing bad habits. Habits that are easy to form when using clipless.
Some tricks are easier to learn when on flats as they give you the confidence, knowing you can always bail if you get into trouble!
3. Stopping & Starting
With clipless getting going again can be a bit of a mission on a steep hill. Flat pedals, much easier!
4. Walking
Walking in clipless can be undignified and not very comfortable. Flats can give you that grip and comfort you need when you're walking to get a coffee and a cake.
5. Confidence
Flat pedals give you more confidence when you're learning new things.
Knowing you can put your foot down straight away can be a huge confidence boost and we all want that sometimes, don't we?
Cons of Flat Pedals
1. Bounce-Off
Pins do offer a stable platform for your shoes but it doesn't always mean your feet won't bounce off them if you're faced with rough terrain.
2. Shins
If your feet do come off the pedals, they are probably going to spin round and make contact with your shins.
The pins can be quite painful and leave a pretty sizeable mark but many people are proud of these marks, badges of honor if you will. So maybe not such a con, after all!?
How to Choose the Right MTB Flat Pedals
The best mountain bike flat pedals are worlds apart from the worst ones. That doesn't mean you have to go out and spend a fortune but getting the right MTB flat pedals for yourself will help with your performance and confidence so it's worth spending a bit of time over.
1. Pins
I will start by saying don't go for the 'bear trap' style of pedals. The prongs are teeth shaped and they won't provide adequate grip. They're also uncomfortable when pedaling and your shins will not look good at all if they come into contact.
Right, now I've got that off my chest, we can look at what you should be considering!
The ideal flat pedal is slab-like and will have several pins on either side.
Thin pins will provide more grip but they are susceptible to damage more easily on rocks and roots.
Fat pins tend not to dig into soles enough and they round off more quickly.
Short pins won't give you a huge amount of grip. Riders who wear really grippy shoes do find them to be perfect so short pins could work out brilliantly for you.
Although, most riders find that longer pins provide that extra grip that people want.
You can mix things up a bit by using mountain biking pedals that run both short and long pins. This may require some fine-tuning but can prove to be the ideal set up.
One of the best features is replaceable pins. Pins get damaged it's just a fact of life. Being able to replace them means you don't have to replace the flat pedal so potential a money save!
Commonly a pin can be unscrewed from the top using an Allen key. Sometimes this can be a bit tricky if the pin is badly damaged but a bit of persistence and you'll be all good!
To avoid this you can pay a bit extra and get flat pedal pins that unscrew from the backside. These tend to be a bit pricey but can be worth the extra cost.
2. Material
The best and majority of flat pedals are made from metal. The type of metal will vary. Cheap to mid-range models tend to be made from steel. Mid to high-end pedals are usually aluminum.
Taking things up to the top of the range and you'll be looking at magnesium and titanium. These will be lighter, though expensive.
Plastic flat pedals can be purchased. Some are made entirely from plastic or other flat pedal models use part plastic in construction.
A plastic pedal can be the perfect way to get started with flat pedals. They're inexpensive and pretty lightweight. They won't last forever and the pins can't be changed but for a starter pedal? Superb choice!
3. Thickness & Shape
The MTB industry went through a phase of trying to make the thinnest pedals.
You could say it got a bit carried away but it has simmered down and was useful so all's well that ends well!
Having a thinner pedal does allow the rider greater bike control and get a better ride-feel, especially when compared to chunky pedals you see on older bikes.
What makes a thin platform so good?
A lot of riders feel like a thin pedal gives them a feeling of being 'in' the pedal, rather than sitting on top of it. This can be really comforting when you're hurtling down a mountain like Sam Hill!
Don't be tempted to go too thin. Just like everything in life, there is always a compromise to be struck. A platform that is too thin can lead to durability issues.
Moral of the story? Go thin. Not too thin.
The concavity of a flat pedal can change your performance and the overall feeling on the bike. To some extent, it comes down to what you like.
A concave shape will give you extra grip and your feet won't leave the pedal when things get rough. The downside to that is adjusting your feet on the move can be tricky.
A flatter shaped platform like OneUp components will give you that quick foot adjustment on the fly, and the traction pins will still keep you safe.
Some riders find that a flatter platform gives you more freedom. If more freedom is what you're keen on, try going for ones with a lower pin profile too.
4. Bearings and Axles
Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't important!
A large number of pedals will have a cromoly steel axle. The higher-end pedals often have titanium axles and you save some weight with these. Although, just because you start off with cromoly axles, doesn't mean you can't upgrade to titanium axles at a later date. This is possible with a lot of pedals!
Now onto bearings! They are usually in a cup-and-cone style. More expensive ones will have sealed cartridge bearings.
Thinner pedals won't be using bearings at all! They use bushings instead, these are at the end of the axle. Again, like many things pedal related, it's a juggling act between bearing durability and thinness of the pedal/platform.
Thinner Pedal = Shorter Bearing Lifespan
So while thinner pedals are great, just remember to factor in extra cost to replace the bearing more often!
5. Size
A pedal with a larger platform will give you more grip. However, a balance needs to struck as ground clearance can become an issue if the platform is too large.
Having grip is good so go big! You'll learn to predict the amount of ground clearance needed.
6. Stance
Finding the correct stance on the platform can increase your performance so it's worthing spending some time over.
Basically, the balls of your feet ought to sit just forward and to the inside of the center of the pedal.
At the top of each pedal stroke, your knees should line up above your feet.
7. Weight
Ideally you want the lightest pedals you can get. However, you need to balance this out with durability.
Unless you are looking at top of the range, going for a seriously light pedal can result in a less durable pedal, leading to it bending when it inevitably makes contact with rocks and roots.
The 5 Best Flat Pedals For Mountain Bike
1. Grippest Flat Pedal: DMR Vault
Riders who like a large platform need to look no further than the DMR Vault.
These pedals are one of the best flat pedals available. The DMR Vault platform is large and so are the pins. With 11 longer pins per side, your feet shouldn't bounce off.
One thing that really stands out about these pedals is the versatility. They are fantastic for downhill but thanks to the large platform, bigger jumps aren't a problem. In fact, due to the low-profile design, they relish anything you throw at them as they have a clearance to take it.
The connection between shoe and pedal is fantastic. The concave footbed comes in at 17mm so is nice and slim. This doesn't impact durability. After all, DMR is known for its pedal durability and the DMR Vault is not different!
If you're after that extra toughest from a flat pedal with outstanding grip, then this could be the perfect pedal for you.
Specifications:
- Pins per side: 11
- Weight: 430g
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
Cons
OneUp Composite is ideal for riders who don't often have their pedals make contact with rocks at speed.
OneUp components make these a lightweight option. Impressively lightweight at 355g. That's lighter than most mid-range aluminum pedals.
Not only that, you get a lot of pins per side, 10 in fact. These OneUp components pins are removable too, making this a fantastic purchase. You're able to swap them out when needed rather than changing the whole pedal.
Overall a really solid pedal with a large platform that will make for a stable and durable ride!
Specification:
- Pins per side: 10
- Weight: 335g
- Material: Composite
Pros
Cons
This pedal is the thinnest one from HT Components, it comes in at an impressively thin 11mm at its thickest point.
For some that may not seem huge but when you need as much clearance as possible, every millimeter matters.
The thin design of the pedal means that they have little concavity, which a lot of riders prefer.
As for the pins, they're nice and gripping, giving you the feeling that your feet are going nowhere. Perfect!
Specification:
- Pins per side: 10
- Weight: 352g
- Material: Aluminum
Pros
Cons
Crankbrothers are well known for their quality of pedals. The Stamp 7 lives up to that reputation.
Mud can get annoying, right? Crankbrothers know that and they've designed the Stamp to cope better with mud. The design is very open and this minimizing the mud build-up.
The profile of the pedals allows for lots of clearance at 13mm, so pretty thin! This profile also means that the pedal does have some degree of concaved shape.
Some riders like small pedals on their mountain bike, some like large. It doesn't matter which you prefer as Crankbrothers offer size options! It's a great option, giving plenty of riders access to these greats pedals.
Having the option of choosing the right pedal size really makes the Stamp a great option for so many riders out there. It quickly becomes one of the best mountain bike pedals out there - no matter your foot size!
Specifications
- Pins per side: 10
- Weight: 345g
- Material: Aluminum Alloy
Pros
Cons
The weight to durability on the Race Face Chester is difficult to beat, it makes for one of the best flat pedal options out there.
Race Face knows how to produce light weight durable pedals with a platform you're going to feel stuck to (in all the right ways!).
A composite pedal can usually shout about how lightweight it is but rarely can they shout about how durable they are - Race Face can!
Your most difficult decision won't be whether to buy these or not, it will be what color to choose as the color range is fantastic!
With 8 large removable pins, the grip will keep your feet firmly planted to the platform, even when on rough terrain.
Specification:
- Pins per side: 8
- Weight: 360g
- Material: Nylon Composite
Pros
Cons
Common Questions & Answers
1. What are the best mountain bike flat pedals?
Honestly, this can vary depending on the style of riding you like to do.
If you're looking for good all-rounders, you really couldn't go wrong with the Race Face Chester or our best mountain bike pedals, Crankbrothers Stamp 7.
2. Are plastic MTB pedals any good?
If you're just getting started with mountain bike flat pedals, plastic ones can be a fantastic place to start.
They aren't going to set you back very much and they're lightweight.
You will find that they grip just as well as metal pedals (for a while anyway).
The downside is that the pins can't be replaced as they are part of the flat pedal mold. The pins can also be a little fragile when it comes to rocks and roots.
Having said that, high-end pedals will use plastic to construct some of their pedals, usually the platform.
Why?
It saves weight (always a winner) and it can absorb pedal strikes better.
3. What are the best platform pedals?
Platform pedals will vary in size and the size of pins can also be a factor. Consider how important the grip is to you and work from there.
We have a great guide on what to look for when looking for the best mountain bike flat pedals. Have a browse!
However, if you're after something super grippy, save yourself some time and go for the DMR Vault pedal option. Your feet will be going nowhere with them!
4. Why are flat pedals better?
In short, they teach you how to become a better rider, technically.
Clipless pedals can have you slipping into bad habits and they can cover up poor form.
They can also give you the confidence to take on hills like Sam Hill and who doesn't want to do that?!
Final Verdict
All the pedals we looked at offer something different so it's a tough call. However, taking everything into account, the standout winner has to be, Crankbrothers Stamp 7.
The various platform and pedal sizes available ensures you get the perfect size for you, allowing you to focus on what's important - your ride!
Build quality is superb and the profile of each pedal comes in at an impressive 13mm at its thickest point.
That's why it comes out as our best MTB flat pedals!