What Do Riders Think? Ten Flat Pedals Reviewed by Vital MTB Members

There's power in numbers, and collectively Vital MTB readers put in more trail miles and try out more products than our team of professional reviewers ever could. With over 3,000 reviews and 18,000 products in the Vital MTB Product Guide, it's a great place to find real-world opinions and compare product specs. Here are ten highly-rated flat pedals and product impressions from riders just like you:

Chromag Contact Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Great grip Medium sized body Customizable pin height/location Durable design Pin sheer point for rock strikes Fantastic durability	Could be a larger platform, but strikes a good balance Pins are not the sharpest, wear smooth when worn from use Anodizing wears

Key Impressions

"The grip is excellent and these pedals are capable of more than just DJ use. I’ve experimented with pin height and have really enjoyed raising the pins around the front and back to further emphasize the concave shape. The pins are tall enough to feel like they’re glued to your feet, but I don’t feel like I have to do a micro-sit or un-weight too much in order to re-position my foot when things get rough, or my feet come off on purpose during a euro or table. The platform isn’t the largest, but my size 10 feet and impact shoes fit them well. After a year and a half on my DH bike the pedals show some serious signs of abuse. The anodizing is worn, and the edges scarred from rocks. However I haven’t rebuilt them once. In fact, I haven’t even had to re-grease or adjust them." - devin-m

Shop the Chromag Contact Pedals at Jenson USA, now $109.99

DEITY Bladerunner Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Good on weight Thinness Platform size Loads of grip Pair these up with some Five Tens and these are sticky as hell	Haven't found any yet, possibly price

Key Impressions

"These pedals are my current go to pedal. Loads of grip on a good size platform, thin where it counts, and I've yet to break anything even with smashing them into rocks. Have them on both the DH bike and trail bike and are super sticky with 5.10s. Price I guess is the only thing I could fault, but well worth the price." - danielhfranks

"I tried to run TMACs, but they put my feet to sleep. The Bladerunners feel just as sticky but without the discomfort. Plus they're a little cheaper." - Ollie Mule

Shop the DEITY Bladerunner Pedals at Jenson USA, now $142.99

DEITY Compound Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Durable Lightweight Inexpensive Highly serviceable/rebuildable Metal pins Color choices Composite (great for dirt jumper/skate park) Fairly thin They will take a beating and come back begging for more	Can be narrow if you have wide feet Not concave Could use a few more pins for grip in rugged terrain

Key Impressions

"At only $48 for a pair, they weigh in at svelte 339 grams which is within 10 grams of other platform pedals that cost at minimum $200, and the pedal body is as thin or thinner as their expensive competitors. They’re made of nylon fiber, so they will not bend like traditional metal platforms and will not explode like typical plastic platforms when coming into contact with the first hard surface you smash them on. Finally, they have replaceable pins and nuts that you can get at any hardware store, again, not typical of your plastic pedal." - JoeBernard88

"They come in various cool colors, and unlike many plastic pedals they actually have a pretty low profile which is comparable to higher end pedals. Another key selling point for me was the replaceable metal pins. They provide pretty decent traction (much better than with plastic pins) especially with flat pedal Five Ten shoes. I do wish that they had some concavity to lock me in a bit more (I have ridden Deity Tmacs and those are crazy grippy), but for what I use them for they work fine." - lagocza

"Great budget pedal, but a budget pedal nonetheless. These Deity pedals tend to let my feet wander much more." - rewob

"I actually like the way these will just slide off obstacles like rocks, where a metal pedal has the tendency to grip it and catch you (think tight, rocky tech sections)." - SaddleRags

"Initially I was concerned with the absence of pins from the middle of the platform, but after running them I have come to enjoy the freedom to easily move my feet on and off the pedals. Only in fast, loose, rocky sections do I occasionally find my feet getting bounced around. The sealed bearings never gave me any trouble, and even after a lot of hits the action is still smooth and predictable. With an extremely reliable, durable, and removable spindle, one has the option to get a replacement body for just $18." - chuck.finlay

Shop the DEITY Compound Pedals at Jenson USA, now $48.99

DMR Vault Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Concave shape Large platform Colors Lightweight Grippy as hell Tough Flat Thin (but not the thinnest out there) Spin quite well Awesome looks (Batman would say: ka-BLING!) Tunable pins	Inner bushing develops a small amount of play quite quickly Needs servicing and lubricating more regularly than others, otherwise they become noisy Had troubles with pins bending and not shearing Reliability Colored pins don't stay colored for very long May be a bit pricey for some budgets

Key Impressions

"The grip and support offered by this pedal is incredible. The large platform size, concave shape and thin profile inspire confidence and the pins offer good grip with most flat-pedal specific shoes. These pedals have survived weekly abuse for two years and still have plenty of life left in them, despite some minor niggles with the bearing system I would not hesitate to recommend them and they remain my default pedal for most riding." - Finkill

"The Vaults are great pedals and provide tons of grip. Not the thinnest of pedals, but rarely noticed that. Love the different color ways and tunable pins was a nice touch. Rebuild kits were easy to install when needed." - danielhfranks

"They have taken a serious beating in the time I have used them and have some nice shiny chunks taken out of the sides to show for it. And even though they looked pretty used, I haven't lost a pin or damaged a bearing yet. They are still spinning smoothly and grippy as hell to climb with." - astrizzle

"Great pedals, the grip can't be rivaled and the wide platform is very comfortable. For the first few months of riding they are perfect, but they do develop a few issues later in their life. The nylon bushing on the inside become very worn but switching it with a stainless steel one has removed all play and should last a lot longer." - dimethylarginine

Shop the DMR Vault Pedals at Jenson USA, now $124.99

Race Face Chester Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Lightweight Great grip Color choices Sealed and serviceable bearing/bushing Strong Large platform	Very flat!

Key Impressions

"With the Chester you can forget about spending $100+ for a light weight, serviceable, large platform pedal. The Chester is an amazing pedal that uses a nylon composite body in place of aluminum or magnesium, something that the BMX world has been using for years and with great success. The only real concerns with the Chester pedal is the lack of any profile, they are FLAT, and eight pins per side compared to many pedals having 10+ per side. Personally for me I have found the Chesters to still provide a great amount of grip and good feel under foot. The pedals are strong, there is no flex in them and I have bounced them off logs and rocks with no damage, not even much of a scratch." - awol12

Shop the Race Face Chester Pedals at Jenson USA, now $46.99

Shimano Saint MX80 Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Price is great Performance is as expected from a flat pedal with pins and bearings Good size Strong enough Grip	Weight Thickness

Key Impressions

"The MX80 are the old trusty pedals that always deliver, with no flashiness or bling. Sure they aren't the thinnest, lightest, or best looking option, but time and time again I find myself happy when they meet a pair of 5.10s or even Vans. If you are on a budget for pedals and can't or don't want to to spend three times more these are a great option." - danielhfranks

Shop the Shimano Saint MX80 Pedals at Jenson USA, now $59.99

Spank Spike Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Huge platform, but close to the cranks so they don't stick out too far Comfortable Grip is amazing! Low profile Shape of the edges and the platform deflect hits on rocks and roots Large platform Colors Strong as hell Looks absolutely wicked Excellent customer service	Weight (a little on the heavier side for an all-mountain/trail pedal) Hard to take them apart

Key Impressions

"Well worth the money! I ride only on flats and my feet have never been so happy. The grip is amazing, and the size and low profile make mashing on the pedals standing, or grinding in the saddle way safer feeling since they don't flip. I should also mention that I weigh in at 220 lbs and tend to destroy pedals. These have held up so well during many rock impacts where I was sure I would have bent the axle or at the very least killed some pins, but aside from some deep gouges in the chamfered edges they are no worse for wear." - denver d

"Loads of grip and big platform. They aren't the lightest pedal out there if you are looking to save weight. The colors look great too. Would recommend for any enduro or DH build, survived a summer season of thrashing on my DH bike." - danielhfranks

"I found these pedals to be absolutely brilliant, more than worth the money I paid. The amount of grip is perfect, not so much that it's too hard to move your foot when you get your footing wrong, but more than enough to keep your foot in place if you get me. Sooo good when matched up with 5.10's. Not only do they look amazing, but they're also bombproof. I've smashed mine into a fair amount of rocks and just the ground in general and only lost 2 pins. The only possible niggle with them is that they don't spin freely." - henry.hodgkins

Shop the Spank Spike Pedals at Jenson USA, now $119.99

Spank Oozy Trail Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Amazing grip for the size Looks Design Durability (never have bent or replaced a pin after multiple hard strikes) Weight Large platform Slim profile	The $129 price tag Platform may be too large Lacks some shape

Key Impressions

"These pedals have performed really well for me. After switching to the Oozys, pedal strikes have become greatly reduced. The pedal has a large surface area that has done a great job at keeping my feet on. The two middle pins are enough for me, but I have heard some people complain about that. They have kept their grip over a long period in multiple climates and conditions. The durability has impressed me. The pins have held up to a lot of abuse. None of mine have bent, even with the hard hits. The color has also stayed looking really good over the past two seasons." - dbodoggle

"My favorite thing about these pedals is how large the platform is while also maintaining such a slim profile. I rarely have pedal strikes with these pedals and when they do happen the shape of the pedal allows them to deflect the blow nicely. These pedals have a good amount of grip, are tough, have a large platform, a slim profile, and a decent weight. What more could you ask for?" - Bbachmei

"Right out the box, you can see and feel the quality in these pedals. For those with big feet, these pedals would be a great fit. For me, I'm on the other end of the spectrum. After a couple of dozen rides, I still find myself banging into things from time to time. These pedals can take some abuse! The thin profile also helps you clear obstacles especially on today's trail bike geometry. The only thing I don't like about these pedals is the flat shape. I prefer some curve for extra grip. Even with Five Ten rubber shoes, these pedals lack that locked in feeling for me." - Wonny

Shop the Spank Oozy Trail Pedals at Jenson USA, now $129.99

VP Components Vice Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Cheap Solid construction Durable bearings Thin Lots of pins	Pins wear quickly Small for big footed people Not the grippiest pedal out there No concavity

Key Impressions

"VP makes tons of pedals. TONS. They have the manufacturing background and capabilities to make a solid platform pedal, while reducing costs. I put these through the rough stuff, especially the washboard and chatter sections, places where flats tend to get me off the pedals. The grip through it was pretty good, but I did feel a little bit of lift. At the end of the season, only a tiny amount of slop was noticed. If the profile was a bit more modern, and the surface a little more grippy, then it would be a killer contender." - Joelicious16

"Have ridden these pedals for two seasons on all-mountain trails with no issues. I have replaced a few pins due to mild wear and some rock strikes, but no structural issues. They have a pretty good sized footprint for myself (size 10.5 US shoe), and the only thing I wish it had was a little bit of concavity to it. If it did I'm sure it would be bulletproof in all conditions." - rsjodin44

Shop the VP Components Vice Pedals at Jenson USA, now $94.99

Wellgo MG-1 Pedals

The Good	The Bad
Lightweight High quality bearings Decent grip Size of platform Awesome bang for your buck Good quality seals Grippy Good pins Pins are screwed in from top, not through the body	Magnesium gets damaged easily End caps are fragile Painted finish is easily chipped A little thick

Key Impressions

"Measuring in at 96mm x 93mm, I felt like my size US 12 shoe didn't have any attachment issues while even on the roughest of terrain. The first thing I noticed when getting my hands on these pedals was how solid and smooth the bearings were. If you are looking for a pedal that you'll pretty much never need to service, this is an awesome option. Because the platform of these pedals is made out of magnesium, they are more apt to dent, bend or break than the average pedal. If you are extremely hard on your stuff, these pedals might not be the best choice." - dirtworks911

"I was immediately impressed with the featherweight and the overall manufacturing quality feels very good. That Mg body means they weigh 374 grams (actual weight) which is only slightly more than a pair of high quality clipless pedals by comparison. I like the size of the platform and pin placement offers plenty of grip. The painted magnesium surface is very fragile and the finish chips like candy coating. I am glad that I chose the gray color instead of black. No doubt they will look more like raw, mottled magnesium after the first rock strikes." - thinkbike

"The MG1's survived 70 days of indoor MTB park riding this winter doing the jump lines all day with a 200-pound rider." - stevehailer

"Although not as thin as some pedals, still one of the best deals. I love the pins. When they get damaged you can still unscrew them without damaging the body threads." - djjazzy

Shop the Wellgo MG-1 Pedals at Jenson USA, now $39.99

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