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Flat pedals are common. You probably used them on your first bike. This type of pedals provides a stable, wider surface for pedaling and can be used with any type of shoes. Also called platform pedals, these bike pedals are ideal for bikers who need to quickly take their feet off the bike or are looking for the comfort of walking in clipless shoes.
There are hundreds of flat bike pedals in the market. We’ve rounded up the best options for you. So, read on.
10 Best Flat Bike Pedals 2021
Shimano XT PD-M8040 Flat Pedals
The Shimano XT PD-M8040 Flat Pedals is a quality product from one of the best makers of biking gears and accessories in the world. Optimized for riding trails, the Shimano XT PD-M8040 Flat Pedals use a concave design with ten pins on each side to provide maximum grip on your bike shoes.
Made from high-quality aluminum, these bike pedals feature a large platform with superior feel and control — making it a favorite among mountain, trail, endure, and aggressive bikers. The Shimano XT PD-M8040 Flat Pedals also boast sealed cartridge axle bearings spinning smoothly around a durable Chromoly spindle. These bike pedals come with a 2-year warranty from its manufacturers.
The Shimano XT PD-M8040 Flat Pedals are light and durable. They come in three sizing options:
| Size | Dimensions | Weight |
| S/M | 10.0 x 10.5 cm | 469 g |
| M/L | 11.0 x 11.5 cm | 514 g |
Rockbros MTB Flat Pedals
The Rockbros MTB Flat Pedals are sturdy and durable. The platform is made from high-quality nylon fiber while the spindle is crafted from strong Chromoly alloy. These bike pedals are designed to resist corrosion, shock, and abrasions.
On each side of the Rockbros MTB Flat Pedals are anti-skid nails that will hold your shoes in place while riding. They’re designed to keep your feet from slipping even if your shoes are covered with mud from a very challenging ride.
For improved pedaling efficiency, the Rockbros MTB Flat Pedals sport a wide platform at 4.1 inches. Their ergonomic and lightweight design ensures that you will have a long comfortable ride throughout the day. The bearings and spindle of these bike pedals are sealed to protect it from dust and water.
The Rockbros MTB Flat Pedals come in standard size and can fit most BMX, mountain bike, hybrid bike, cruiser, track bike, and urban bike.
RaceFace Chester Flat Pedals
The all-new Chester Flat Pedals from RaceFace embrace the standard large platform and 8 hex pin design of most flat bike pedals in the market. They offer awesome grip and traction, making then perfect for mountain biking. Lightweight and durable, the Chester Flat Pedals are made from nylon composite to keep the weight low.
The RaceFace Chester Flat Pedals come with fully serviceable bearing systems with their Chromoly spindle fully sealed to protect it from dust, grime, and water damage. These bike pedals only weigh 340 g and are available in black, blue, green, red, yellow, turquoise, and purple.
Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Bike Pedals
The Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Bike Pedals sport a minimal, lightweight design. They are only 13mm thin and feature 9 hex pins on each side. Made from premium Igus and Enduro bearing systems, you can ride with confidence that the Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Bike Pedals will perform beyond your expectations.
The spindle is made from forged 435 Chromoly steel. The Crankbrothers Stamp Flat Bike Pedals are perfect for mountain bikers. There are two sizes to choose from (small and large). These flat bike pedals come in several colors: black, blue, citron, orange, purple, red, turquoise, black and gold, and green.
Fooker Flat Bike Pedals
The Fooker Flat Bike Pedals sport a large platform made from rugged nylon fiber that’s resistant to corrosion, shock, and abrasions. The spindle, on the other hand, is crafted from durably Chromoly alloy.
Very easy to install, the Fooker Flat Bike Pedals come with bearings, fully sealed to protect it against dust, grime, and water damage. You can ride assured that these bike pedals will not make any noise and problems when cycling in the rain or climbing technical trails.
On each side of the Fooker Flat Bike Pedals are anti-skid nails, designed to prevent your bike shoes from slipping even if they are covered with a thick layer of mud. These bike pedals are perfect for mountain bikes, urban bikes, track bikes, cruisers, cyclocross bikes, and road bikes. And there are several colors to choose from (red, blue, yellow, and green).
PDX D10 Flat Bike Pedals
The PDX D10 Flat Bike Pedals offer a large surface area for better traction, grip, safety, and power. Designed to be your partner on navigating these challenging terrains, these bike pedals come with 20 steel pins on each pedal to prevent your shoes from slipping. The pins are removable for easy replacement or servicing. And for your peace of mind, the manufacturers even include extra pins and nuts just in case you lose some.
These bike pedals come with a Chromoly alloy spindle. Their sealed needle and ball bearings are very efficient and require no further lubrication or maintenance. The PDX D10 Flat Bike Pedals are lightweight cycling pedals made from rugged nylon composite that’s durable and wear-resistant. Both pedals weigh 412 g.
The PDX D10 Flat Bike Pedals fit most trail, fixed gear, mountain, dual-suspension, and road bikes. It comes in purple, blue turquoise, and bronze brown.
Puroma Mountain Bike Flat Pedals
Specially designed for mountain bikes and road bikes, the Puroma Mountain Bike Flat Pedals feature a concave platform designed to offer an optimal surface area for long and challenging rides. The platform is made from lightweight nylon composite which can withstand corrosion, abrasion, and shock.
Built to last, the Puroma Mountain Bike Flat Pedals come with fully sealed bearings to prevent the elements (dust, grime, water, etc.) from damaging the spindles and ensure durability and performance. These bike pedals come with 12 replaceable hex pins per side to give you more control and grip while riding.
The Puroma Mountain Bike Flat Pedals’ standard Chromoly axle fits most BMX, mountain, and road bikes. They come in red and black. These bike pedals are very easy to install — just look for the “L” and “R” markings on the axle!
GPMTER Flat Bike Pedal
The GPMTER Flat Bike Pedals feature a ball bearings system designed to optimize your pedal strokes. Made from aluminum, these bike pedals are built to last. They also come with aluminum nails to prevent your shoes from slipping even if it’s covered by a thick layer of mud.
These bike pedals’ spindle is completely sealed to prevent dust and water from damaging its components. The GPMTER Flat Bike Pedals’ versatile design can fit most bikes with 9/16 inches pedal threads. They’re ideal for track bikes, urban bikes, fixed gear bikes, mountain bikes, and road bikes.
The GPMTER Flat Bike Pedals come with a lifetime warranty for your peace of mind. You can only get these in black.
Azzel Flat Bike Pedals
Azzel Flat Bike Pedals are made from tough, high-quality nylon composite that’s more durable and lightweight than regular bike pedals. Sporting a wide platform (4.3 inches), these bike pedals weigh only 178g a piece — making them ideal for bikers who prefer to ride light and fast
The Azzel Flat Bike Pedals come with 16 anti-skid nails on both sides plus an additional 8 nails per side. These will give you superior traction and control and will prevent your shoes from slipping even if it’s covered with mud. The box also comes with 20 spare pins just in case.
These bike pedals sport completely sealed bearings to protect the spindle from dust and water damage. The Azzel Flat Bike Pedals are suitable for most bikes with 9/16 inches spindle. They’re perfect for mountain bikes, road bikes, and BMX.
Very easy to install. Just for the “L” and “R” marking on the axle!
SGODDE Flat Bike Pedals
SGODDE Flat Bike Pedals boast an ultralight ergonomic design that makes then perfect for mountain biking and road cycling. Machined cut from high-strength aluminum, these bike pedals feature an anodized, scratch-resistant surface. Light and compact, these bike pedals only weigh 200g per piece.
These bike pedals come with 14 traction pins for each side that offer plenty of stability and grip when riding. Even if your feet are covered with mud, don’t worry. These pins will keep your feet in place as you ride.
Very easy to install. Just look for the appropriate markings on the axle before installing it! SGODDE Flat Bike Pedals come with a standard 9/16 inches spindle which fits most mountain bike, BMX, road bikes, urban bikes, and cruisers. Its Chromoly spindle is completely sealed to protect it from dust and water damage.
You can get the SGODDE Flat Bike Pedals in black.
Frequently Asked Questions about Flat Bike Pedals
Can I use flat bike pedals with clipless shoes?
No. Clipless shoes have cleats and are designed to be used on clipless pedals. Using clipless shoes on a platform pedal will hurt your comfort and performance.
Do I need to wear specialized shoes for flat pedals?
No. Unlike clipless pedals, any type of shoe will work well with flat bike pedals. If you are looking for the best cycling shoes in the market, click here.
What are the benefits of using flat bike pedals?
Below are some of the benefits you can get when riding platform bike pedals:
- More confidence and less fear — because you can easily take your feet off the pedal, riding on flat bike pedals will give you more confidence as you brave the downtown traffic or navigate technical terrains.
- More feedback — flat pedals give you more feedback when riding. You can use this to check your riding style and technique. For example, if you feel that your feet are bouncing all over the place, your body is stiff. Try to relax a little and correct your posture.
- Save yourself on crashes — crashes on flat pedals are less severe than the ones involving clipless pedals. Why? Because you can easily get off your bike in the event of an impending crash!
- Show off your skill — if you love doing bunny hops or dirt jumps, I have some bad news for you. Flat pedals will not allow you to cheat. So, get cranking and learn how to do these tricks using the right moves and posture. And then show off your skill to your friends.
What’s the perfect shape for flat pedals?
According to experts, the concave and large platform designs are the most ideal shapes for flat bike pedals. Flat pedals with thinner profiles are also less likely to come in contact with rocks, twigs, and other trail debris.
What is the Q-factor?
The Q factor measures the distance between the center of one pedal to the center of the other pedal. Flat bike pedals with wide Q-factor are perfect for cornering. It also keeps your foot from hitting the crankarm. On the downside, bike pedals with wide Q-factor are less efficient and are more likely to hit rocks and debris along the road.
There you have it! We hope this buying guide helped you pick the right flat bike pedal for you.
Happy biking!
