Pedals with connections from Trail: Which model offers full control?
Maximum safety for having fun on a mountain bike
Control is everything, both in life and on the trail. It's no surprise that despite some of the benefits of flat pedals, most riders favor a firm connection with their favorite: the clipping pedal. Most of them use lightweight models and for the cross-country and segments toureng. However, if you are looking for even more secure support and greater protection for the snap mechanism, we advise you to read carefully this guide to be able to choose the most id pedal to your needs and pockets. All the pedals in the test promise connectedness ideal for the shoe, therefore the best transmission of power and yet an easy exit in difficult situations. Spoiler: all pedals in the test met expectations.
In general, all candidates have a cage around the clicking mechanism. With some pedals (HT, Shimano, Time) this is "just" pure self-protection to protect the mechanism from excessive shocks - the dimensi it does not increase. At Crankbrothers, DMR, Funn, Magped, Tatze and Xpedo, on the other hand, the test shoes were sometimes more, sometimes less on the docking cage. It also depends on the shoe or sole. There can be large differences depending on their shape, thickness and, above all, hardness. If possible, you should therefore check primto buy if the shoe and pedal fit perfectly. As a rule, it is not advisable to wear shoes with a poorly shock-absorbing bottom, because they could cause discomfort to the sole of the foot due to vibrations and stress. Additionally, due to their stiff sole, XC shoes are generally too stiff to benefit from the cages' increased contact surface area.
When it comes to bindings, DMR, Funn, Tatze, Shimano and Xpedo rely on the "SPD" standard invented by Shimano, tried and tested for decades and adjustable in hardness. Crankbrothers, H.T., Time and Magped rely on independently developed in-house designs, with the HT system very similar to Shimano's. Crankbrothers e Time they use a bracket structure. With the Atac 8 we will have to push closer to trigger the cage. With the noble Mallet from Crankbrothers, entry is easier, but exit is a little less simple. But these are not huge differences. Magped, on the other hand, has a completely different approach, it relies on a magnetand in the pedal that can be adjusted in two strengths instead of a mechanical linkage. Instead of a cleat, elongated metal plates are screwed under the shoe. It seems unusual - and that's how it goes for iprimthe meters. The wide, tall and, in comparison, very heavy pedal is more reminiscent of a flat pedal with a position Assessment grazie to 14 pins per side - but with a certain "click".
Crankbrothers Mallet AND LS
crankbrothers
Crankbrothers Mallet AND LS
Work high quality and beautiful to look at: the Mallet E is a delight. The input feels a little "smooth" compared to Shimano & Co. e grazie to the bracket the attachment is precise and resistant to dirt. Rather large freedom of movement, but the pedal almost feels "slow". The stability (6 pins per side) is excellent, the weight is also excellent. Test winner!
The technical data of the Mallet E LS:
- Weight: 433 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 77 x 95 x 18 mm
- Axle Length: 108,3mm
- Price: € 170
- Test result: very good (MOUNTAINBIKE pedal test winner)
DMR V-Twin
DMR V-Twin
The large, heavy DMR cuts a "snappy figure": the optional pins literally allow the shoe to stick to the pedal. The movable mechanism is slightly inclined upwards, thus making entry easier. Overall, the attachment works well, but not quite at Shimano level. The configuration It's quite complicated, the adjustment of the attack is difficult to set.
The technical data of the V-Twin:
- Weight: 558 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 81 x 107 x 23 mm
- Axle Length: 107mm
- Price: € 180
- Test result: good
Funn Ripper MTB
With an SPD compatible swing mechanism, the Funn is no different from the DMR. With a slightly wider base, it's slightly better at shoe support, but doesn't have as good a grip (beveled pins). Entry and exit are at a good to very good level. But: here too the configuration it's quite laborious. Comparatively inexpensive.
The technical data of the Ripper MTB:
- Weight: 554 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 93 x 101 x 23 mm
- Axle Length: 117mm
- Price: € 139
- Test result: good
HT T1
The HT mechanism is similar to the standard SPD, but works at a very good level only with the supplied cleats: They offer 4° or 8° of buoyancy. As with the XTR pedal, the cage is more of a protector than a support surface; the short pins on the test shoes did not contact the sole. Elaborate chic, light. Almost "very good", more for food lovers trail.
The technical data of the T1:
- Weight: 368 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 68 x 92 x 32 mm
- Axle Length: 102mm
- Price: € 149
- Test result: very good
Magped Enduro
Magped Enduro
Compared to other Magped Enuduro pedals, it is a very large and heavy pedal with a system magnetunique ico. The configuration relatively complex with 14 pins and two strengths magnetici. Once adjusted, the pedal offers a great grip and, depending on the plate used, it works it is not dissimilar to the click mechanism. It also works well as a pure flat pedal.
The technical data of the Magped Enduro:
- Weight: 556 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 96 x 110 x 17 mm
- Axle Length: 111mm
- Price: from 149 euro
- Test result: very good
Shimano XTR PD-M9120
Shimano XTR PD-M9120
With the XTR pedal, Shimano has a very light and perfectly functional model in its range. Clicking in and out is quick and easy. Shimano also offers cleats with different trigger directions. The adaptability is excellent. No pins: the cage "only" protects the binding and did not touch any of the knobby shoes. Like the HT, it's more of a trail what an enduro pedal.
The technical data of the XTR PD-M9120:
- Weight: 394 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 72 x 106 x 30 mm
- Axle Length: 104mm
- Price: € 170
- Test result: very good
Paw mc fly
The lightest pedal on test, exquisitely crafted. The mount is perfectly adjustable and SPD compatible, works very well and is on par with the original. The pins generate a lot of grip, but they are not compatible with all shoe soles, so it is difficult to get in and out of the binding. Excellent mix of quality and "practicality"!
The technical data of the Mc Fly:
- Weight: 358 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 68 x 69 x 30 mm
- Axle Length: 101mm
- Price: € 149
- Test result: very good (recommended to buy)
Time Attack Specialand 8
Time Attack Specialand 8
Very well processed pedal, massive, but still light. Like Crankbrothers, Time It relies on a cage that feels ultra-solid on entry and exit, but depending on how dirty the trail was in the test, it didn't always take hold immediately. Good to very good stability, 4 pins can be screwed into each side. The adjustment screw for the attack it is tiny.
Atac's technical data Specialand 8:
- Weight: 397 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 73 x 99 x 37 mm
- Axle Length: 98mm
- Price: € 150
- Test result: good
Xpedo GFX Neo
Xpedo GFX Neo
The Xpedo is the only pedal in the test made with a nylon body with a built-in SPD-compatible mount, which pushes the weight a bit. The small plastic pins encased in the body of the pedal are only slightly sharp, but grazie at the large surface you have a position very good. Getting in and out works great. Relatively inexpensive.
The technical data of the GFX Neo:
- Weight: 446 g
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 91 x 99 x 26 mm
- Axle Length: 114mm
- Price: € 130
Conclusion of the test
Regardless of which pedal you choose: the pedals in the test are all excellent pedals. Test winners Crankbrothers, DMR, Funn and Xpedo with their large, "clicky" cages offer a lot of control and grip. If you are "just" looking for a little more contact area and protection, you can choose the lighter models from HT, Shimano or Time. The pedal combines the excellent compromise of both worlds, while the unusual Magped is recommended for previous "click-grouches".
The pedals only show their characteristics on the trail, which is why we gave maximum weight in the evaluation to the practical part.
Primof all, all pedals were weighed in pairs, the weight including the included pins with 15 percent contributes to the evaluation overall. We used the flat pedal test weights in the 10/20 issue as a benchmark. We then adjusted the pedals to fit both the shoe and the rider; this configuration (usually only asked once) has a fairly low share of the final score at 10%. Much more important is the coupling and releasing. We then rated each of the three criteria with 25%. To do this, each pedal had to tackle a test route of around eight kilometers which consisted of equal parts technical uphill and downhill sections.
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