Often times gravel bikes don’t come with pedals and generally this is the first item you will be looking to buy for your gravel bike. If they do they are generally flat pedals, but are they better than clipless?
Pedals are a very important piece of gear to really consider. Before jumping straight in and buying the first pair you see. You should consider the type of riding you plan to do most, and do you prefer clip-in style pedals or flats?
Before you get started, discover the ultimate comfort and performance with these gravel bike shoes!
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Okay, so what are the best gravel bike pedals on the market?
*If you want to buy any gravel bike pedals, after reading this article. Doing it via the affiliate links give Cycle Travel Overload a small commission which goes into creating more great resources for the bike travel community.
If you are looking for the best gravel bike pedals? Below are the best pedals you can get for gravel grinding. We went as far to purchase most of them and give them each a test to see which is the best!
| Name | Price | Pedal Type | Weight |
| Time Atac XC 8 | $119.95 | Clipless | 143 g |
| Shimano PD-M520 | $44.99 | Clipless | 380 g |
| Race Face Chester | $49.95 | Flat | 340 g |
| Funn Python Flat Pedal | $94.67 | Flat | 375 g |
| Crankbros Eggbeater 3 | $99.99 | Clipless | 280 g |
| Crankbros 5050’s | $53.99 | Flat | 480 g |
| Pedaling Innovations Catalyst Pedals | $99 | Flat | 505g |
| Shimano PD-GR500 | $59.98 | Flat | 533 g |
| Spank Spike Flat | $117.69 | Flat | 420g |
| 45NRTH Helva Platform | $165.00 | Flat | 308 g |
| HT PA03A Composite Pedal | $55.00 | Flat | 345 g |
| Shimano Deore XT M8020 SPD | $119.00 | Both | 408 g |
| Crankbros Doubleshot Hybrid | $59.90 | Both | 395g |
Our Top 3 Pedals
To save you reading the rest of the article. We have made a short list of the top three pedals we have tested and highly recommend the most.
1. Time Atac XC 8
The Time Atac XC 8 pedals are by far my personal favourite. Yes they are one of the most expensive, but super lightweight and perform flawlessly. Technically MTB pedals but they still allow you to crush gravel. Read my review here.
These Time pedals feature a hollow CrMo axle, super light carbon body, 3 position spring tension adjustment. With Auto Tension Adjustment Concept for easy engagement and dependable release. With a self-cleaning double sided step in with wide entry area. Including ATAC cleats offer 6mm lateral float, 13 or 17 degree release angle.
These pedals are solid and perform very well. They have been developing these style of pedals for over 20+ years and it seems as though they just keep refining and improving them.
They are light, strong and stiff. If you are buying Time branded pedals for the first time. It’s important to note that when you first get them and spin them, there will be a little resistance. This is good, as it means the seals are in place and working. You will not notice this resistance when ridden.
Related Post : Ultimate List Of Best Gravel Bikes Under $1000
These carbon pedals just keep on going, with no problems. They have been tested while being hit hard on a rock, while riding technical stuff and they continue to shine. There is a XC 12 option available but the XC 8 have better reviews and are much more bang for the buck at more then 50% cheaper, at $119.95 and can be purchased here.
2. Race Face Chester
If flat pedals are more your style and you want that perfect balance between price and performance, these Race Face Chesters have you covered. Read my review here.
The Chester pedal is made from nylon composite body with 8 hex traction pins. That provide the same superior grip you’d find on alloy pedals. The cro-mo axle is fully sealed and a 100% serviceable bearing and bushing system.
This pedal offers great performance for a wide range of riders, especially those looking to adventure the gravel. While not being expensive, they are a value for money option at $49.95. They have got 290 reviews, with a 4.8 out of 5 star rating. That is saying something!
Here are some of the benefits to these flat gravel pedals.
- Nylon composite body keeps the overall weight low
- Replaceable steel pins (8 per side) offer the same superior grip as alloy pedals
- Fully sealed keeps trail grim out of the moving parts
- Easily serviceable
- Smooth and durable sealed bearing and bushing system
- Cro-mo axle is tough as nails
- Thin and lightweight concave platform offers a more natural footing
- Large platform with same grip as traditional alloy pedals
Some owners of this pedals have mentioned that the “grip is phenomenal! Once your foot is on it’s not moving. Highly, highly recommended!” It seems they are that grippy that sometimes you can have trouble just adjusting your foots placing. If you are after a affordable and strong pedal then look no further.
3. Shimano PD-M520
If you are after a budget clipless pedal option, and alternative to the Time Atac pedals, these are a good option. Yes they are heavier and not as light. They still make a good pedal for that beginner gravel grinder.
These are one of the best value for money clipless gravel pedals on the market. The PD-M520 features adjustable in/out release tension and includes a set of SH51 SPD cleats with 4 degrees of float. While they only weigh slightly more than the higher-end XT and XTR pedals from Shimano, they boast all of the same features and the same high-grade performance at a fraction of the price.
- Keep you locked in
- Cheap price compared to other options
- Shed mud easily
- Durable
- Adjustable
- Dual Sided Entry
- Increases Pedalling Efficiency
- Reliable Entry/Exit
- Good Platform
- A little on the heavy side
Related Post : Gravel Bike For Touring – 6 Best Gravel Bikes For Touring!
These pedals will serve you well and wont break the bank. Dual sided mechanism lets you easily clip in with a simple step, without looking down at your shoes. Making these a great entry level gravel pedal. If you are looking for something cheap to get you into a clipless setup for shredding the singletracks, these are your go to pedals at only $44.99, you can shop for them here.
What to look for when selecting gravel pedals?
First we need to quickly cover the selection process when looking for the best gravel bike pedals.
Okay so you have discovered that you love shredding the gravel on your bike adventures more so then just traditional touring on busy roads with traffic. You are searching for those quiet wilderness environments to explore.
When looking for pedals that are preferred for this style of exploration you will need to look for pedals that are suited best to MTB shoes. With such off-road bike adventures you are going to be walking around. And you need shoes that are both comfortable on bike and off. Making them best for hike a bike sections.
There are three kinds of pedals options that are best for gravel bikes. Flat pedals, clipless MTB pedals and double sided clipless and flat pedals. So why no road clipless pedals you ask? Well maybe you didn’t! But anyway, it is recommended not to use them as they are suited for road shoes. Which are very uncomfortable when walking around on rough surfaces, not providing any grip and are not good options for using a multiple purpose shoes, for at camp, etc.
If you prefer flat pedals like me, then there is one major factor for the best flat pedals for gravel biking. That being that they should have large pins around the pedals, helping your shoes grip to the pedal. Also when riding up steep hills this will help produce better efficiency and stop your feet from slipping.
Related Post : Ultimate List Of The Fastest Gravel Bikes & Gravel Race Bikes
When looking at pedal another component to consider is the build quality, this is often harder to know for sure, without spending many hours testing the durability.
So when looking at pedals you want to have in mind. Can I use bikepacking shoes or MTB shoes with them? Well there is no need to look any further.
Here is a list of some more flat and clipless gravel pedals for your next gravel bike adventures.
Best Gravel Bike Clipless Pedals
Crankbros Eggbeater 3
These pedals are great, they include a special bundle offer. Of a pair of premium cleats and shoe shields with the pedals. The system protects your shoes and lets you lock them into the pedals for unparalleled traction. They cost $99.99 on Amazon. If you want a cheaper option, the Eggbeater 1 is a great option at only $39.90.
They offer a four sided entry, making them great at shedding mud with customisable float and release angle that allow bikers to ride anywhere and any time.
Featuring igus inboard bearing, Enduro outboard bearing, and double lip seal for unparalleled quality and durability. They are made from a rugged cast stainless steel and the pedals weigh only 280 grams per pair.
Installing Crankbrothers pedals is a simple job. The crankbrothers’ spd system is great. Very smooth catch and release, thinner cleats that don’t scratch the rocks before shoes.
Best Flat Pedals For Gravel Bike
Funn Python Flat Pedal
Funn is a rather good cycle travel brand. I just purchased there G-Wide handlebars and have been loving their quality and design. Their Python flat pedal is a great gravel pedal options. Made from a CNC’d 6061 aerospace grade alloy, they have 12 chunky pins on each side, meaning your feet will grip to the pedal well.
Made with a ultra thin and wide platform at W101mm x L101mm x H11mm, weighing in at 375 grams per pedal. They are designed to last for a long time with the ability to replace parts as they wear down. The Python service kit can be purchased on Amazon. Even with replaceable pins.
Funn describe these pedals to be “designed for aggressive riders who likes it un-clipped, Python pedals are super low profile, light weight and super burly, even for the roughest downhill racing.”
They are so worth the price, as they look great on bike and have a huge surface area with tons of grip. They feel kind of thin, but they are very stiff. But again they provide a heap of grip which is ideal for gravel riding conditions.
They are available in 6 different colors, costing $94.67 here on Amazon.
Crankbros 5050’s Platform Pedals
These are a heavier and bigger pedal option then most. They are a good pedal option for all types of riding, if you are planning a bike tour. But also are wanting to do some gravel exploring and tackle gnarly off-road section these are the all rounder pedals you might want to look more into.
They have never let down, they are wide and comfy and have great grip rain or shine. The spindle is made from a scm 435 chromoly steel along with a f6061-t6 aluminum/composite body. With a Igus LL-Glide inner bearing and a Enduro Cartridge outer bearing.
10 adjustable pins per side for grip on those tough gravel sections. They are a larger sized pedal stamped for recommended shoe sizes of 10-15 (US)//43-49 (EU). With a 102mm x 96mm platform footprint. They weigh 480 grams per pair with a 5 year warranty.
These pedal are a very comfortable wide pedal. Even if you don’t have wide feet, the extra room on the pedal make it a very nice ride. Your feet stick to them really well. They are also a bit thinner then normal pedals but they are built very sturdy, solid and smooth. You can pick them up for $53.99 on Amazon here.
Pedaling Innovations Catalyst Pedals
Pedaling innovations claim that these pedals will instantly improve your power, stability and comfort. And they are even backed with a 30 day money-back guarantee. You can get free shipping and if you don’t like them you can send them back!
These pedals are 128 mm long by 95 mm wide and 16 mm thick. The width of these pedals are fairly standard with flat pedals. But the difference in these pedals is that 128 mm in length it is massive. They are heavier at 505g but that weight, is only as important as the efficiency it helps you gain (or lose). In this case, the increased power and improved comport outweigh the small weight savings you would obtain by using a smaller pedal.
Rather then placing the pedal on the ball of your foot, the Catalyst, massive platform allows you to have your foot in a more mid foot position. This allows for a more forceful downward motion, creating more power than a standard flat pedal. If you want to read more about these pedals and you are interested in buying them, they cost $99 USD, you can read more here. Some extra information and features are listed below.
- Extruded and Machined using our exclusive mold using 6061 Aluminum with T6 Heat Treatment
- Manufactured by VP Components using parts and materials with a proven track record for durability and quality
- Designed to connect the front and back ends of arch of the foot, it is the longest platform for your foot on the market
- Dual sealed bearings and DU Bushing internals
- Heat treated Cr-Mo Spindle that is compatible with a standard 15mm wrench or 6mm allen
- 18 pins per side strategically placed to maximize the new, optimized foot position possible with this design
- Shipped with longer (8mm) replacement grub screws to swap out for extra traction
- Available in 4 anodized colors: Black, Blue, Red and Grey
Shimano PD-GR500
These pedals are a unique shape with concave platform for better control and efficiency. Extra-wide and especially low profile. With 3 different pin height settings to match different styles of riding. The pins are Replaceable and are screwed in from the back for easy maintenance.
For the money at $59.98 the quality of build is quite nice, however they are also heavy feeling at 533 grams each. But this is not that noticeable when riding. The pedals offer tremendous amount of grip, yet I can get off of them quickly when necessary.
There is some confidence knowing that these are heavier pedals and they will bring strength and less likely to break. You can shop here if you are interested.
Spank Spike Flat
These pedals offer a nice large platform and the pins offer a lot of grip. The bearing/bushings have a long self life, they are easy to service and great for bigger feet. Some customers have said that they have had their first pair for 4 years with our bearing or bushing issues.
A bit more expensive, for $117.69 that gives you a wide platform and no slipping feet. If you want to read more you can shop here for them on Amazon. Some more features are mentioned below.
- 12mm Thin – Massive Platform
- 420g per pair (with full pin compliment)
- Cold Forged Alloy Pedal Body
- Hollow Taper Scandium Enriched Steel Axle
- Chamfered Leading Edges for Improved Clearance and Reduced Impact Forces
- Chamfered Side Edges for Improved Cornering Clearance
- Oversized Sealed Full Compliment Inboard Industrial Bearing
- Sealed Outboard IGUS Bushing
- 20 Adjustable Pins per Pedal
- Full Sized Hex Head Pins Improve Durability and Maintenance
- Inboard Friction Seal Prevents Contamination and Reduces Unwanted Pedal Spin
Somethings to consider about these pedals is that they don’t come with the studs installed when you purchase them. They should either come with the studs pre-installed or the pedals should come with thread locker. As some customers have reported that the pins have fallen out without using a thread locker such as Blue Loc-Tite. Also the pedals come with washers. But they only fit on your bike with the washers. And will not fit without them, so it is another thing to try and not loose.
45NRTH Helva Platform Pedals
The 45NRTH Helva pedals are a perfect, stable, wide platform pedal that is thin, light and cool looking. These pedal are actually “Low-Profile Snow-Shedding Pedals” making them perfect for that winter bikepacking adventure in Iceland! That is why they made it into this list of the best gravel bike pedals.
“Riding in deep, sticky snow gets a whole lot easier with the CNC-forged 45NRTH Helva platform pedals. A thin-profile design sheds snow and maximizes clearance when you’re cornering and riding in ruts.”
They are one of the more expensive options in the list at $165.00 here are some more features. If you are interested you can shop for them here at REI.
- Wide-open pedal bodies measure 110 x 101 x 9mm
- 12 replaceable, non-aggressive aluminum pins work well with soft rubber compound shoe soles
- 9/16 chromoly spindles; sealed bearings
- Pair with the 45NRTH Wolvhammer cycling boots (sold separately)
HT PA03A Composite Pedal
Composite pedals are great. Lighter than metal pedals, cheaper than medals pedals, and the replaceable metals pins mean they are just as grippy as metal pedals.
The pedals offer a nice platform measuring 107mm x 105mm. Featuring a dual sealed bearings and DU bushings that spin around a CNC machined chromoly spindle.
They cost $55.00 from Jenson USA, here are some features for you.
- Pedal Weight (pair) – 345 g
- Size – 107 X 105 X 18 mm
- Body Material – Nylon reinforced composite
- Spindle – CNC machined Crmo
- Pedal Bearings – Dual sealed bearing + one DU bushing
- Pins – Replaceable grip pins
Best Of Both Worlds
These two last gravel pedal options are both clipless and flats. Offer the best of both worlds for your bikepacking adventures.
Shimano Deore XT M8020 SPD
These pedals are highly recommended from adventure cyclists a like! They have a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on Amazon. Shimano mentioned that “The new xt components set a whole new standard for mtb excellence powerful: efficient power transfer and highly responsive braking dynamic: rider-tuned 11-speed gear combinations for superior performance resolute: toughness and reliability on the hardest trails”
Made from a strong and durable chrome-moly spindle with 8mm hex wrench mount. Allowing for you to customize the entry and release tension settings. The lower platform height allows for greater stability when pedaling. Robust retention claws provide smooth engagement and release, allowing you to clip in and out easier then ever. The open binding design allows mud and debris to be flushed out when the rider steps in.
These pedals are $119.00 on Amazon. It is recommended to additionally purchase the multi angle Shimano release cleats. These pedals do come with the Shimano fixed angle release cleat. If you plan on installing the pedal yourself you will need an 8mm hex wrench and some bike lube. The wrench is used on the inside of the Crank Arm. Again the cleat release tension can be fine tuned. Please keep in mind that this pedal was tested with the addition of the multi angle release cleats.
Crankbros Doubleshot Hybrid
These pedals are last on our list but not last in terms of the best gravel pedals. There are a cheaper multi purpose pedal option. The Double Shot gives you the best of both worlds allowing you to chose how to ride. Long days in the saddle? Clip in and maximize your efficiency! Headed down the street from camp? Keep those flip flops on and ride the flat side.
They are made from premium parts. Exclusive Igus LL-Glide Bearings, Enduro Cartridge Bearings, and Double Seals deliver industry leading quality and reliability. Made of a Aluminum and Stainless construction, diamond plate pads for traction, and superior mud shedding. Weighs just 395g which is comparable with the popular Shimano A530.
It is comforting to know that these pedals come backed by an industry leading 5 year Warranty, Crankbrothers has you covered!
If you are interested in these pedals, they cost $59.90 on Amazon. But before you do, it is worth mentioning that these pedals do have a “break-in” period for the spring tension and ability to clip in and out. Out of the box they are very stiff, to the point of not being able to clip in, and once in, not being able to get out. It is recommended to ride around a familiar location while repeatedly clipping in and out to smooth out the spring action. After a few weeks they are easy to get into and are becoming easier to get out of as well.
Best Bikepacking and Gravel Bike Shoes!
Hopefully this article has helped you to decide what type of gravel pedals are best for you. If you are looking for some bikepacking shoes for your gravel pedals. I have written a complete list of 19 bikepacking shoes that should be handy!
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