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The 10 Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals of 2023

By: Colin Edwards: Bike Buyer | June 9, 2023

 

Many mountain bikers either switch immediately to a clipless pedal system or just ride whatever pedals came with the bike until the break one. But, for the discerning flat pedal rider, having the right pedals makes all the difference. On the surface, it might seem like all flat pedals are about the same, there’s a platform, some pins, some bearings, and a spindle. But dig a little deeper while choosing mountain bike pedals and the differences become apparent. Small variations in size and pin depth and placement make a huge difference in how much traction and pedal delivers on the trail, separating the best flat mtb pedals from the rest.

New This Year:

With so many flat pedals available, options can become a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best mountain bike flat pedals we’ve found. We break down what makes each selection stand out, and what kind of riders it will work best for, as well as compile essential stats about each pedal so that you can narrow down the field at a glance.

Tenet x evo FPT

Tenet x evo FPT Pedals

We're stoked to have our crown jewel emblazoned on these Tenet x evo FPT Pedals. Tenet riders know how well these grip, whether deep in the wet moss of the Northwest woods or rambling through an east coast rock garden. And, thanks to their adjustable pins and perfect concavity, it's just as easy to casually take a foot off while boosting a big hip, if you're so inclined. Rock solid, simple, and easy to service, these pedals are as close to ideal as we've seen.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
408 g Aluminum$99.99

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OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals

OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals

Stable, grippy, and thin: OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals offer the full package, no matter what style of riding you do. These are beefy enough for DJ and DH use, but stealthy and light enough for all-day pedaling duty. Easy to maintain, they're also fully serviceable.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
365 g Aluminum, Cr-Mo$144.50-$174.50

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PNW Components Loam Alloy Pedals

PNW Components Loam Alloy Pedals

Got grip? You do now. With 22 replaceable pins per pedal, the PNW Components Loam Alloy Pedals provide a sturdy platform for trail shenanigans of any flavor.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
445 g Aluminum$99.00

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OneUp Components Composite Pedals

OneUp Components Composite Pedals

With their subtle convexity, thin edge, and wide platform, the OneUp Components Composite Pedals bring the grip. They're light on your wallet, too, so you can hold on to more of your paycheck.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
355 g Composite$39.50

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Race Face Ride Pedals

Race Face Ride Pedals

Save your shins with the Race Face Ride Pedals. Their nylon design not only grips well, but there's a good chance there's a color to match your grips. These have enough traction to keep you in control, but allow for repositioning as you ride.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
320 g Cr-Mo, Nylon$39.99

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Deity Deftrap Pedals

Deity Deftrap Pedals

Deity Deftrap Pedals are plastic versions of the perfect TMACs, bringing everyone's favorite flat pedal to those of us who prefer composite to metal. They're symmetrical, thin, and have just the right amount of concavity for gravity (and XC, and trail, and DJ).

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
391 g Nylon$54.99

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Crank Brothers Stamp 7 Pedals

Crank Brothers Stamp 7 Pedals

Pedals -- perhaps the most frequently overlooked 'send' inhibitor. You need a set of platforms that grab your feet and keep them there. The Crank Brothers Stamp Pedals do just that, and with a massive surface area your feet will have plenty of support. Ten adjustable pins let you fine tune your grip from 'loose' to 'laced,' and a thin profile keeps the weight down and the grip surface clean for pro level performance in a slick package. Don't wait, save your shins from pedal-strike and equip your rig with the Crank Brothers Stamp Pedals.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
375 g Cr-Mo, Aluminum$179.99

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Chromag Synth Pedals

Chromag Synth Pedals

Plastic pedals you can service yourself: the Chromag Synth Pedals up the game for composite platforms with fully replaceable parts kits. They share the same bearing assembly as Chromag's metal offerings, have nearly the same contours as their Contact (the Brandon Semenuk pro model), and did we mention they're fully rebuildable? Composite pedals are light, durable, and don't hang up on rocks the same way as metal pedals. Try the Synth and harness the power of plastics!

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
380 g Composite$66.00

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Spank Spoon DC Pedals

Spank Spoon DC Pedals

Attention all ladles, ice cream scoops, and slotted pasta drainer jobbies: the Spank Spoon DC Pedals are the new kings of the silverware drawer. These have the same internals as Spank's famous OOZY pedals, but in a fully dialed alloy platform that doesn't cost three digits. In a rainbow of colors to match your grips, stem, or mood, the Spoon DC Pedals are serving it up proper.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
395 g Aluminum$64.99

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Race Face Chester Pedals

Race Face Chester Pedals

Spice up your rig with the Race Face Chester Pedals. With a concave body, replacement pins, and a Chromoly Steel axle, you'll be ripping up the trail in no time.

WeightMaterialOriginal Price
360 g Cr-Mo, Nylon$59.99

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The Selection Process:

Our bike buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things bike stemming from years of experience in the bike industry in tandem with their countless hours out on the dirt, gravel, and tarmac. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.

Colin Edwards

Meet Colin Edwards, evo's in-house Bike Buyer and mountain biking aficionado. With 15+ years of e-commerce buying experience under his belt, Colin is the go-to guy for all things related to "Riding Dirt." He's worked across various categories, including bike, snowboard, travel, climbing, and surfing, giving him the know-how to recognize and select top-notch mountain biking products for evo's customers.

Colin's been shredding trails since he was a kid, starting on his trusty hardtail Trek 800 Sport. Born and raised in Utah, he recently made the move to Bellingham, WA with his partner, Kenz. Colin's real-world biking experience, combined with his background in product trends, relationship building, and sales analysis, makes him an invaluable asset to the evo team.

When he's not busy handpicking the raddest gear, you'll find Colin ripping through PNW trails or hunting for the world's best dirt. And when the snow falls, he's all about snowboarding. Colin also loves trail running and exploring the PNW's stunning landscape with his two dogs and Kenz.

With Colin's expertise and passion fueling evo's mountain biking selection, you can trust that his recommendations are spot-on and tailored to the evo community's adventurous spirit.