Best MTB Flat Pedals: Top Picks for Every Budget
Looking for the best MTB flat pedals? Here are the top picks at every price point plus what to actually look for before you buy.
GEAR
4/18/20263 min read
Best MTB Flat Pedals: What to Look For and Top Picks at Every Budget
If you're not sure whether flat pedals are right for you, check out this post on flat pedals vs clipless first. But if you've already decided you want flats, or you're just starting out and want to keep things simple, this is the post for you.
Why I Ride Flats
I used to ride clipless for years. These days I'm almost exclusively on flats and honestly I don't see that changing anytime soon.
The freedom to move your feet around on the pedal, reposition mid-trail, or pull a foot off when you need to is something you don't realize you're missing until you have it back. For jumping and j-hops especially, flats actually teach you better technique because you can't cheat the movement by pulling up with your foot clipped in. You have to do it right.
Bailing is also just easier. The fear of going over the bars while clipped in is real. I cracked or bruised a couple ribs back in the day going off a big drop in the wind while on clipless. That's a hard lesson. On flats you can get your feet down or bail when you need to without fighting your pedals.
And honestly, the clicking and clacking of clipless shoes when you're walking around the trailhead or parking lot got old. Flat pedal shoes just feel and walk like normal shoes.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use or would buy myself.
What to Look for in a Flat Pedal
Platform size — bigger platform gives you more surface area for your foot which means more stability and grip. Most MTB flat pedals are a good size but cheap smaller platforms can feel sketchy.
Pins — the metal pins that grip your shoe. More pins and sharper pins equal more grip. Some pedals let you replace or adjust them which is a nice feature.
Material — nylon composite pedals are lighter, cheaper, and actually plenty durable for most riders. Aluminum pedals are stiffer and more durable long term but cost more. For most people starting out nylon is fine.
Bearings — sealed bearings last longer and hold up better in wet and muddy conditions. Worth looking for even on budget pedals.
Axle size — most MTB cranks use a 9/16" axle which is standard. Just double check before ordering.
Shoe pairing matters too. A grippy flat pedal specific shoe makes a huge difference compared to a regular sneaker. The rubber compound on flat pedal shoes is designed to lock into the pins. It's one of those things where the right shoe makes the pedal feel completely different. Check out my post on best flat pedal MTB shoes
Top Picks
Budget: ROCKBROS MTB Flat Pedals — around $25 [affiliate link] Aluminum body, sealed bearings, good size platform. Bestseller for a reason. Great starting point if you want a solid pedal without spending much.
Budget: FOOKER MTB Pedals — around $20 [affiliate link] Nylon composite, lightweight, 9 pins per side. Good value option if you want to spend even less. Very popular with a lot of reviews to back it up.
Mid Range: OneUp Components Composite Pedals — around $40 [affiliate link] This is where things start to get really good. OneUp makes quality stuff, the composite platform is large and grippy, and these are a step up in feel from the budget options without getting into premium pricing.
Premium: Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Pedals — around $57 [affiliate link] One of the most popular flat pedals on the market for good reason. Large concave platform, replaceable pins, available in two sizes so you can match it to your foot size. If you want to buy once and not think about pedals again for a long time these are worth the investment.
The Short Version
You don't need to spend a lot to get a good flat pedal. The ROCKBROS or FOOKER options are solid entry points. If you want to step up a little the OneUp Composite is a great mid range choice. And if you want the best bang for your buck in a quality pedal the Crankbrothers Stamp is hard to beat.
Pair them with a proper flat pedal shoe and you'll wonder why you ever messed with clipless.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I actually use or would buy myself.
