The best mountain bike flat pedals ridden and tested

First rate flat pedals for getting a foot out and going flat out

Rachael Gurney

May 9 2019

Winter is a great time for using flat pedals, we've been brushing up on our essential mountain bike skills on them whilst the weather has been chilly and the mud sticky. In turn, this has led to some awesome testing conditions so we can bring you our 'best in test'. Here are a number of great options for your next flat pedal foray.

[Updated 11th April 2019]

As well as looking at these high scoring pedals we have also written a buyer's guide to mountain bike pedals so you can make sure you are getting the right ones for you. Read on for our top-rated pedals, just click on the picture of the pedal to go straight to the full review.

Shimano PD-M828 Saint flat pedals

Shimano's tough Saint flat pedals feature a broad platform that maximises ground clearance and also run on some smooth, serviceable and quality bearings that promise a long lifespan. If you switch to the longer pins from out of the box, then there's also plenty of grip, though they're expensive and rather heavy compared to rivals. Read the full review here.

HT PA03A pedals

HT's PA03A pedals might not have the snappiest of names, but when it comes to getting boatloads of grip from a durable and comfortable platform at a bargain price, it's a name worth remembering as they're the ones to beat. They are pretty cheap and fairly light too at 351g for the pair. That makes it eminently easy to overlook any small flaws and if you're into the whole colour matching thing, there's a huge palette of finishes to choose from. Read our full review here.

DMR Vault pedals

DMR's Vault flat pedal is hugely popular with both trail and gravity riders and with good reason. It's super grippy and offers masses of support from a tough and reasonably lightweight platform, though you do need to keep an eye on the pins getting loose as they can rattle out. At full retail, they're fairly pricey, but if you shop around they can be had for much less. Even at full whack they still make sense, with an all-around combination of grip, support and durability, putting the DMR Vaults up there with the best. They also come in a staggering array of colours, plus pro-rider special editions if you're into the whole matching vibe. Read the full review here.

Bontrager Line Pro pedals

Bontrager might be Trek's in-house component brand, but these Line Pro flat pedals stand on their own merit thanks to tough construction and plenty of tuneable grip. The Line Pros can suck up the punishment and offer plenty of traction. At 420g for the pair, they're moderately heavy for the money, but that's certainly offset by the fact they've lasted extremely well. Bontrager might not be the first brand you'd look to, but you'd definitely miss out if you ignore these. The only small issue is that if you want a set in this rather lovely orange, then sorry, the only colour currently available is black. Read the full review here.

Nukeproof Horizon Pro Sam Hill pedals

When you consider Nukeproof has World Champion downhiller, enduro racer and renowned flat pedal user Sam Hill on the payroll, it's little surprise the Horizon pedals work superbly. At 430g for a pair, they're not particularly light but they're pretty similar to other designs of a similar size and price, such the DMR Vault. The Nukeproof Horizon pedals are amongst the very best flat pedals we've tested and they're well worth investing in if your preferred riding style involves you getting your foot out while you're going flat out. Read the review here.

Specialized Boomslang Platform pedals

Not the cheapest or the lightest flat pedal, but the grip and durability on offer make the Specialized Boomslang's well worth the trade-off. At 439g a pair, they’re not the lightest pedal in the playground, but who cares when they’re this good. Strength and durability come at a price, £125 to be precise. But for that, you get a durable pedal with spare pins carried in the pedal itself too, they’re ‘weathering’ well too we are happy to say. Read the full review here.

OneUp Components Aluminium pedals

OneUp’s aluminium flat pedal offering delivers super sharp and grippy pins with variable heights for their location on the pedal and a super thin and large platform for maximum clearance and stability, making it a cool contender. It's not quite up there with some of the best in terms of grip and shape, but then its cheaper than some and despite the minor bearing roughness from the get-go, they’ve been hammered in the muck since with no further deterioration. The pins thread through from the opposite side too meaning they can still be removed and/or replaced when you’ve knackered the sharp end. All in all, a very good flat pedal with well thought out features and a reasonable price tag. Read the full review here.

Author block

Rachael is happiest on two wheels, she's been riding bikes for a good few years now after horses got too expensive! Partial to a race or two Rachael also likes getting out into the hills with a big bunch of mates. She's been writing - for publications such as Mountain Biking UK and Flow magazine - for as long as she's been riding and is equally happy getting stuck into a kit review as she is creating stories.