In this article I’m going to cover a list of the lightest clipless mountain bike pedals you can find.
To keep things simple, there are roughly 3 categories of mountain bike pedals: XC, trail / enduro, and downhill pedals. The difference between these categories is that the more control you want, the bigger the pedal platform. And as the platform increases, so does the weight.
It means the lightest clipless mountain bike pedals are generally designated for cross country riding. Pedal manufacturers also sometimes include gravel, and trail riding in this category.
When looking at a pedal and where a gain in a lower weight is to be had, there isn’t all that much you can work with. It’s the reason why the lightest pedals feature titanium axles instead of chromoly ones. It also means that it’s really hard to drastically lower the weight.
And just as the jump from a composite saddle to a full carbon is a very expensive one, the jump from a standard aluminum pedal with a chromoly axle to a titanium one is also extremely expensive. And where a carbon shell for a saddle actually changes its nature (it adds more flex and comfort), the same cannot really be said for swapping a chromoly axle for a titanium one.
I’ve looked at over 200 high-end pedals across all cycling disciplines to get to a benchmark weight to compare against. The average weight of a pedal sits around 365 grams, so it’s reasonable to deem a pedal below 300 grams “lightweight”. It’s because it constitutes a weight at least 20 percent lower than average.
With that in mind I came up with the following overview of the lightest clipless mountain bike pedals. Enjoy.
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11
Among each product category there are always a number of items that jump out, and the Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11 is definitely one of those products.
Before I say anything else about this pedal, let me state that it’s one of the best clipless mountain bike pedals on the market for sure. It’s absolutely stunning, the lightest one by a huge margin, and exquisitely crafted.
And we can talk all day long about the ease-of-use of this pedal versus your standard SPD one, float, release tension, what have you, but the fact is they are too expensive when compared to other titanium offerings.
What sets these Eggbeaters apart from the rest of its namesakes is that everything is made from titanium, meaning the spindle, wings, and body. It ensures it’s the only mountain bike pedal below 200 grams (claimed 179 grams).
They’ve long since taken care of bearing issues, which means the single needle bearing and cartridge bearing still perform smoothly after prolonged use. If I would create the ultimate XC racer, this pedal would probably be on that bike.
That being said, if money is even somewhat of a concern, you’re better off buying the Eggbeater 3, which is a third of its price.
82 | MBA Action – 43255
The minimalist approach of the Eggbeater 11 lends itself to a stiff-soled shoe. We would recommend sticking with a shoe that has a carbon fiber (or carbon fiber reinforced) sole.?Could the Eggbeater 11 be used for trail riding? We abused our pedals for months and they suffered little more than a few scratches. If you come in below the pedals’ weight limit and don’t mind riding in stiff, carbon-sole shoes, we don’t see any reason why a trail rider should not consider this pedal. For racers, it is an easier decision. Reducing every ounce, regardless of cost, is the mantra, and the Eggbeaters indeed turn up the volume to 11.
- Leaves the competition in the dust from a weight perspective
- Too expensive
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 3
The Crankbrothers Eggbeater 3 is one of the lightest mountain bike pedals on the market at a claimed weight of 280 grams.
The minimalistic design of these clipless mountain bike pedals is known for its mud-shedding ability, because there’s hardly anything to cling to, and the single glide bearing and cartridge bearing ensures smooth action, with the proper care. Its body and wing are both made from stainless steel, with a chromoly axle.
It’s recommended to use Crankbrothers cleats, which are a tad bit more expensive than the standard Shimano ones.
They offer an industry standard float of 6°, and a release between 15° or 20°. The 4-point engage system, versus the traditional 2 takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, getting in or out of the pedals will feel natural and easy.
The pedal doesn’t have any platform at all, so it’s recommended you use them with carbon shoes.
98 | Joshua Hutchens – 42909
The Eggbeater is bare minimum underfoot and delightfully simple. That same lack of complication results in a less than user-friendly pedal, it requires precise aim when engaging and there’s not much to adjust. Once accustomed to the size, clipping in becomes second nature and won’t likely make you regret buying these. Very stiff cross country shoes will help compensate for their size.
- Lightweight XC or gravel pedals
- Minimal design requires carbon shoes
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2
The Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2 is almost similar to the Eggbeater 3, with the same axle, and body. Except the wings are made from stamped steel instead of stainless. And it offers a standard enduro bearing instead of the MAX version of both the 3 and 11.
Naturally pedal manufacturers try to differentiate products in their lineup, and with the Eggbeater 2 they’ve done so in such a way that I would favor the more expensive 3 or cheaper 1 over this pedal. That’s because I deem the better Enduro Max bearing of the 3 worth paying the price for it. Yet opting for the fully stamped steel body of the 1 and just having a stamped steel body instead of a stainless steel one doesn’t really make much difference at all
99 | McKenzie Long – 42223
This stylish pedal will be most attractive to those trying to keep their bikes as light as possible, and we give it our Top Pick Award for weight savings. The Eggbeater allows a rider to clip in and go without any extra bulk or weight whatsoever. The downside to this is that it requires precise aim when clipping in, but this is a technique that can easily be learned.
- Lightweight XC or gravel pedals
- Minimal design requires carbon shoes. Not distinctive enough compared to the Eggbeater 3 or 1
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 1
The Crankbrothers Eggbeater 1 lowers the cost even more by replacing the stainless steel body with a stamped steel version. They are the entry level version of these types of pedals.
Considering the fact that the ride quality is very similar to each other pedal in the Eggbeater lineup, they offer the best value-for-money by far, for a pedal still below 300 grams (at 290).
100 | Alan Muldoon – 42206
As with the Crank Brothers Candy, by the end of the test, the bearings had begun to show a tiny amount of play in our sample pedal. It hasn’t got any worse, but it set off alarm bells as some of the Eggbeaters I’ve tested in the past also had issues with the bearings.
It could be the inherently light design and the fact that the lightweight axle flexes more, which puts more stress on the bearings. The stamped steel body was also showing signs of rust too — another indication that the Crank Brothers Eggbeater isn’t too happy in my damp climate.
- Best value-for-money Eggbeater pedals
- Minimal design requires carbon shoes
Crankbrothers Candy 11
The Crankbrothers Candy 11 is similar in almost all aspects to the Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11. It means that the same pros and cons apply to this pedal.
Obviously the platform of this pedal differs, because this pedal actually has one, where the Eggbeaters are meant to be ridden with carbon shoes. I would argue the size of the platform, which is very minimal, still places this pedal into the XC category compared to other pedals with bigger platforms and pins. But these pedals perform just as adequate for trail riding.
There’s no tension adjustment, but instead float and release is configured using different cleats. Another thing you will need to take into consideration is that you have to ensure the wings actually support your shoe instead of floating above them. So you’ll need to adjust the position of the cleat in relation to the pedal accordingly. This is nothing new with respect to clipped pedals, but it can impact your pedal experience negatively if not properly set up.
The pedal features a titanium axle with needle bearings and Enduro Max cartridge bearing in an aluminum housing with titanium platform. All nicely decked in black and gold and weighing a claimed 249 grams.
They are as gorgeous as they are expensive and just as with the Eggbeater 11, the weight gain hardly justifies its exorbitant price in comparison to the Candy 7. The Candy 7 has stainless steel wings and a chromoly axle, which adds 70 grams to the overall weight and more than cuts the price in half.
- Gorgeous and extremely lightweight XC, gravel, and trail clipless pedals.
- Finicky to set up. Far too expensive.
Time XC 12
To create a weight of just 248 grams the Time XC 12 uses both a carbon body and titanium axle, which is a unique combination for a pedal.
Where the Eggbeater pedals don’t have any body for debris to cling to, all of the Time mountain bike pedals use their ATAC system. This unique system sheds debris out the front when engaged, which makes this pedal a go-to option for cyclocross or bad weather aficionados.
The carbon body is obviously more prone to wear than an aluminum or steel one, and with a large stack height of 19 mm the chance of a pedal strike is larger. By comparison the Shimano XTR PD-M9100 has a very low stack height of 15.1 mm.
The most important design feature of these XC pedals is the amount of float you have, which sits at the extreme end of the curve (a lot). Besides your standard 5 degrees angular float you also have 6 degrees of lateral float, unique amongst MTB pedals. This is excellent if you often have to deal with knee pain, because the pedal enables you to achieve your natural riding position more naturally. But the feel of movement can be disconcerting to those not used to it, and pedal disengagement is more inconsistent, than with pedals with a more fixed cleat position.
113 | Iain Murray – 43178
There is an element to the ATAC pedal that is unique and logical. While most pedals receive the cleat via the back, the Time pedal hinges at the front of the cleat. This means that the motion of clipping-in works in harmony with the foot driving the bike forward through the power phase of the pedal circle. The suggestion here is greater efficiency, especially in situations like repeated flying mounts in a cyclocross race.
- Fantastic mud-shedding abilities and extremely lightweight. Large amount of float enables natural riding position more easily.
- Very expensive when compared to the XC 8. Largest stack height of all clipless MTB pedals. Large amount of float feels disconcerting and might produce inconsistent pedal disengagement.
Time XC 8
The Time XC 8 is the more budget-friendly version of the titanium XC 12, offering the same carbon body, but with a hollow chromoly axle instead.
With a price less than half that of the XC 12, it’s hard to not opt for these pedals, considering the fact the chromoly axle only adds 40 grams to the overall weight of 286 grams.
It offers exactly the same pedal characteristics and is still a very lightweight pedal for XC, gravel, and trail riding, with its floaty feel, and excellent mud-shedding ability.
112 | Simon Kohler – 44852
TIME rely on a specially developed clipless mechanism, which is constructed almost like an inverted SPD system. As such, the rear end of the mechanism is rigid, and the front bit is spring-loaded. This makes clicking in easier, as you can push your feet down or forwards to do so. Using their own system gives them more freedom in developing their own solution, but it makes the procurement of spare parts more difficult. The spring preload tension is adjustable, but you only get three clicks of adjustment, which make little difference in practice. The pedals provide a lot of freedom of movement with 5° of float and they feel similar to the Hope pedals. However, the feeling of clicking in is a little less defined with the TIME models, and, as just mentioned, it’s hardly adjustable.
- Fantastic mud-shedding abilities and extremely lightweight. Large amount of float enables natural riding position more easily.
- Largest stack height of all clipless MTB pedals. Large amount of float feels disconcerting and might produce inconsistent pedal disengagement.
Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti
The Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti excel at the weight level and are great-looking pedals that offer standard SPD cleat engagement.
The combination of a carbon body and titanium spindle means the pedals only weigh 290 grams. Of all the pedals offering titanium axles, these ones feel like the price hike is the most reasonable for those who’re serious about shedding as much weight as possible. They are still very expensive but not two or three times as much as its non-titanium counterparts.
There’s no denying that since its inception the SPD system has been known for its ease-of-use and these pedals excel in that department. Engagement is so quick that before you know it you’re good to go.
And although the Time XC pedals might be known as best-in-class with respect to mud-shedding, these pedals perform admirably in that department as well. 2 sealed cartridge bearings are used across the entire X-track lineup.
Although it uses a standard SPD interface, it does not use a standard dust seal, for which you’ll need a special tool to remove.
Another difference between these pedals and Shimano ones is that they offer a bit more float, 6 degrees versus Shimano’s 4.
- Standard SPD interface, with a bit more float versus Shimano pedals. This lightweight titanium version is pricey but reasonable for weight weenies.
- None
Specifications lightest clipless mountain bike pedals
Name | Price | Weight | Length | Width | Height | Body | Spindle | Bearings and bushings | Pins | float | release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 11 | 499.99 USD | 179 | 32 mm | 75 mm | 15.2 mm | titanium | titanium | Enduro sealed needle bearing Enduro MAX cartridge bearing | none | 0°or 6° | 10° / 15° / 20° |
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 3 | 149.99 USD | 280 | 32 mm | 75 mm | 15.2 mm | stainless steel | Cr-Mo | Igus LL-glide bearing Enduro MAX cartridge bearing | none | 0°or 6° | 10° / 15° / 20° |
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 2 | 99.99 USD | 285 | 32 mm | 75 mm | 15.2 mm | stainless steel / stamped steel | Cr-Mo | Igus LL-glide bearing Enduro cartridge bearing | none | 0°or 6° | 10° / 15° / 20° |
Crankbrothers Eggbeater 1 | 59.99 USD | 290 | 32 mm | 75 mm | 15.2 mm | stamped steel | Cr-Mo | Igus LL-glide bearing Enduro cartridge bearing | none | 0°or 6° | 10° / 15° / 20° |
Crankbrothers Candy 11 | 499.99 USD | 249 | 67 mm | 74 mm | 13.5 mm | titanium / aluminium | titanium | Enduro sealed needle bearing Enduro MAX cartridge bearing | none | 0°or 6° | 10° / 15° / 20° |
Time XC 12 | 317 USD | 248 | 19 mm | carbon | titanium | 2 cartridge bearings, 1 bushing | none | 5° | 10° / 13° / 17° | ||
Time XC 8 | 137 USD | 286 | 19 mm | carbon | Cr-Mo | 2 cartridge bearings, 1 bushing | none | 5° | 10° / 13° / 17° | ||
Look X-Track Race Carbon Ti | 220 USD | 290 | 60 mm | 16.8 mm | carbon | titanium | 2 sealed cartridge bearings | none | 6° | 13° |
Sources
Founder Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His cycling career has seen him at the starting line of classics such as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege. Realizing his racing capacity would fall short of what was needed he obtained a MS from the University of Amsterdam in engineering. His love for cycling changed into riding in an amateur capacity with his local cycling club TFC Weesp as a roadie and supporting MTB Noordwest as a mountain biker. He repairs, restores, and builds bicycles and shares his knowledge on YouTube, Facebook and this website.
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