Best gravel bike pedals 2024: clipless, flat and energy meter choices to maintain your toes locked in place

+ Lightweight
+ Reliable
– Cheaper variations are extra sturdy

For many people, Shimano’s SPD system is basically synonymous with “off-road clipless pedals”. The cream of the crop is the XTR pedal, from the Japanese big’s top-end MTB groupset. A set is not as gentle as a set of Eggbeaters, nevertheless it’s the lightest SPD system, with silky clean bearings and a Teflon coating for simpler clip-in/out. They are lighter than the extra fundamental M540 and M520 choices, but in addition much less sturdy. That being mentioned, they have been faultless in on a regular basis I’ve used them, with solely second-hand studies of them ever failing. 

+ Bombproof
+ Cheap
– Somewhat hefty
– Prone to squeaking

The M520 is essentially the most price range SPD pedal from Shimano, and for my cash, there’s little level choosing the dearer M540. I’ve had a set of those since I began racing cyclocross in 2016 and they’re nonetheless going robust regardless of by no means having a service. The bearings are servicable however from my expertise, and that of everybody I’ve ever met who makes use of these, you will not must. They are heavier although, and with out the Teflon coating of the XTR they’re extra susceptible to getting squeaky over time, nevertheless it’s nothing some wax or a sprig of GT85 will not repair. 

+ Lightweight
+ Four-way entry
+ Great mud clearance
– Bearing points

If you are racing cyclocross, otherwise you need to make your gravel bike as gentle as potential, then the Eggbeater from Crankbrothers is the pedal for you. It’s about as pared again as a pedal might be, eschewing any platform and easily choosing the cleat interface. I by no means actually discovered it to trigger any sizzling spots from elevated stress, nevertheless it actually feels rather less secure initially. The undeniable fact that mud cannot jam it up and you’ll clip in on 4 sides is an actual boon although when racing by way of the slop. Whichever tier you get simply keep on high of bearing providers although, as that is the one pedal I’ve had actual points with.

+ Different float cleats within the field
+ Beautiful machining
– Expensive
– Heavier than XTR

Hope is known for its machining, and the Union RC pedals do not disappoint on that entrance. Beautifully made, and anodised to pop way over every other clipless pedal they do resemble regular Shimano SPD choices however they do use a proprietary cleat. Two pairs of cleats come within the field providing completely different floats and launch angles, and adjusting the discharge pressure is simpler than every other pedal I’ve tried. The draw back is that they do come at a excessive value, particularly contemplating they’re heavier than the cheaper XTR possibility. 

+ Colourful
+ Good within the mud
– No spring adjustment

The Candy is roughly the identical measurement because the XTR or M520 choices above, however in order for you a bit extra color, or choose the texture of a Crankbrothers clip-in, then these are doubtless going to be your finest guess if you happen to discover the considered the Eggbeater a bit of too skeletal. There’s a bit of extra platform to assist the only real of your shoe, so decrease probability of any hotspots or stress, and numerous the identical resistance to clogging with mud. There are not any pins, not like the Mallet Trail, so favours the tougher soles of gravel footwear. 

+ Colourful
+ Good within the mud
– Pins might not play effectively with gravel footwear

The Mallet Trail is extraordinarily just like the Candy above however with a fair bigger platform. The pins on the entrance add grip, however they undoubtedly work higher with softer-soled mountain bike footwear, somewhat than road-inspired gravel footwear, so in case you are torn between these and the Candy then I’d counsel selecting your footwear first and letting that dictate issues. The pins on the entrance are infinitely adjustable by way of top, and detachable, although if you happen to’re taking them out chances are you’ll as effectively simply get the Candy.

+ Multi-purpose
+ Relatively cheap
– Weight penalty over full clipless choices

Many individuals buy a gravel bike as they’ll do multiple factor. On-road, off-road, and likewise commuting. If you employ your gravel bike round city, to go to the pub, the outlets, or the workplace it is a ache to have to hold regular footwear with you or use regular footwear on clipless pedals. The PD-EH500 from Shimano options one facet with an SPD clip and one facet with a flat platform. You lose the dual-sided entry, and the platform is not pretty much as good as any devoted flat pedal, however you do get the benefit of with the ability to put on no matter footwear are most handy. 

+ Multi-purpose
+ Colourful
– More costly than the Shimano possibility

All the identical positives and negatives of the Shimano PD-EH500 additionally ring true with the Crankbrothers Doubleshot. The factor about clip-in pedal methods is that they lock you right into a system, so if you happen to’re utilizing Candy, Mallet, or Eggbeater pedals in your different bikes then the Doubleshot ought to be your go-to reversible possibility; that is no unhealthy factor although. They’re dearer than the Shimano possibility however lighter too, and extra vibrant. 

+ Beautifully machined
+ Tuneable grip
– Pin set up is an actual ache

The F22 flat pedal from Hope is a classicly formed possibility however machined and anodised so effectively that it feels extra premium than a ‘regular’ pedal. They’re not so giant because the Stamp, and undoubtedly not as giant because the Catalyst, however in order for you an especially well-built, serviceable possibility then it is arduous to miss the F22. The pins are tunable with included washers so you can also make the grip roughly aggressive, however you do have to put in all of the pins your self initially which is a ache and can take you half an hour.

+ Cheap
+ Grippy
– Not so sturdy

Considering the worth, the HT PA03A pedals are arduous to miss if you happen to’re after a set of flat pedals. They will not be as bling as choices from the likes of Hope or Crank Brothers, however they’re extraordinarily grippy, are available in a variety of colors, and whereas the nylon physique picks up gouges extra readily than metallic choices they’ve been tremendous dependable in my expertise. Unlike some equally priced flat pedals the pins are replaceable too must you ever lose them, which I by no means have. The bearings on mine, too, have been faultless after a 12 months or so of use. 

+ Narrow profile
+ Large platform
– Pricey

The Stamp from Crankbrothers, like nearly all of its pedal choices, is available in numerous tiers, although the platform is identical throughout the board. It’s bigger than the Hope F22, giving a barely extra assured feeling, however the place it differs most is that the Stamp is a extra low-profile providing. Gravel bikes can have comparatively low backside bracket heights, so these could be a terrific possibility if yours does, or if you happen to’re utilizing lengthy crank arms because it’ll cut back the danger of pedal strike.

+ Mid-foot place can mimic cleat positions
+ Massive platform for grip
– Looks odd
– Hefty

The Catalyst from Pedaling Innovations mixes issues up within the flat pedal world by providing an extremely giant pedalling platform. Far bigger than anything on the market, with the goal of supplying you with a mid-foot place over the axle, somewhat than one the place the ball of the foot is transferring the facility. It takes a little bit of getting used to however affords a vastly secure, comfy platform. The solely actual draw back, moreover getting used to a brand new foot place, is the scale and consequently the burden: at 528g they don’t seem to be for the burden weenies!

+ SPD suitable
+ Swappable to street pedal our bodies
– Higher stack top than pedal-only choices
– Coin cell-powered

The Garmin Rally pedal system affords each Look and Shimano-compatible street pedal energy meters in addition to this dual-sided SPD energy meter, with each single and dual-sided meters. The excellent news is that you could swap codecs, though the our bodies are dear and it is a bit of time-consuming. Rally energy meters additionally run on coin cells somewhat than being rechargeable. We have a full evaluate of the Garmin Rally energy meter system if you wish to learn extra.

+ Same stack top as a normal pedal
+ Rechargeable battery
– Steel spindle provides weight

Look’s energy meter pedals embody the X-Track Power, an SPD-compatible possibility. Look sells single-sided and dual-measuring energy meters and the our bodies, as with Garmin, are swappable to Keo street platforms. The stack top is identical as the usual X-Track pedal and all of the electronics are enclosed within the chrome steel spindle. We’ve reviewed the Look Keo Power and an X-Track Power pedal evaluate is within the works. 

+ Lower priced than opponents
+ Single and dual-sided choices
+ Internal rechargeable battery
– Limited availability besides direct from Favero

The Assioma Pro MX encloses the electronics within the axle, somewhat than having an exterior pod as with the model’s street pedal energy meters. The stack top is low at 11.2mm, there are a slew of metrics and the interior battery has a 60-hour claimed runtime. This is one other pedal energy meter with a evaluate within the works, however you possibly can learn our launch story within the interim. Compared to the competitors, Favero’s SPD-compatible pedal is low priced too, so a rock strike is rather less painful.

+ Accurate
+ Low weight and stack
+ Zwift mode
– More costly than competitors

SRM was the unique energy meter model, collaborated with Look on energy pedals and has now gone it alone with the X-Power, which is accessible for street and off-road use. The X-Power is light-weight, rechargeable and, once more, out there in twin or single-sided variations. SRM is a decrease quantity model than its opponents and that is mirrored within the value. You can learn our early verdict on the SRM X-Power pedals for extra.