Rocking longer spindles, the Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS appeals to those who want more foot clearance and a better-supported stance over the bike. Owing to their large platforms, the soft clip-in with masses of float and easy engagement, I’ve struggled to ride with anything else, earning themselves a rightful spot as one of the best clipless MTB pedals. However, they’re not without fault.
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Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS pedals - Technical details
The LS version of the Mallet Enduro pedal does what it says on the tin. Rather than the 52mm Q-Factor of the regular Mallet E’s, the Mallet E LS provides the 57mm Q-Factor found on the brand’s downhill-focussed clipless pedal, the Mallet DH.
Aside from the spindles, the Mallet E LS is identical to the standard Mallet E, so it gets the Eggbeater four-sided, 300 series stainless steel mechanism that offers four opportunities for cleat engagement as it rotates. It also aids in mud clearance. Although there is no built-in method of adjusting the mechanism’s tension, release angle and ease of release can be configured using different cleats that can be bought aftermarket. Included are 15-degree and 20-degree standard release cleats that provide six degrees of float.
Boosting pedal adjustability are replaceable traction pads on either side of the mechanism. These reduce the space between the pedal and the shoe to reduce play and improve the interface between the two surfaces.
The 6061 aluminium pedal body is cut with a concave shape for a better foothold and there are also ribs to add a little more grip when unclipped. Furthering the cause of grip are six adjustable pins per side, and the leading edges of the pedal body are chamfered to help the pedal slide over trail obstacles. That platform rotates on a forged Chromoly steel spindle with an Enduro MAX cartridge bearing on the outer and an Igus LL-glide bearing inboard.
As for dimensions, a single pedal measures 94mm by 75mm and weighs 424g. They're fully rebuildable from bearings to the actual wings of the pedal body.
Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS pedals - Performance
I’ve had very mixed experiences with options such as the Mallet Trails but approached the Mallet Es with optimism. On paper, they’re what I look for in a pedal with their large platforms and I have fairly wide hips so I was hopeful that the longer spindles would work well for me.
At first, I had some difficulty clipping in mostly due to the length of the spindles and how I had my cleat setup. They’re longer and require a slightly different cleat position. There was some initial friction in the mechanism that required some force to rotate it into position before being able to clip in.
But after a couple of rides, the mechanism freed up and clipping in is much easier than it was before. With that, successful engagement with the pedal is soft and a little more subtle than with SPD-like mechanisms. It won’t be for everyone but I’m quite fond of the more seamless and smooth engagement the mechanism provides.
With almost all of the clipless pedals I’ve ridden, I set up my cleats very inboard of the shoe to widen my stance over the bike. However, the long spindles of these pedals do that automatically. With the pedals sitting at a wider Q-Factor, I’ve been able to place my cleats more centrally in the shoes and, because of that, my shoes are positioned centrally on the pedal. As a result, the Mallet Es provide loads of support thanks to this new placement and because of the larger platforms.
I love a clipless pedal with a platform. The Hope Union TC has been my go-to flat pedal since its release but, in comparison, the Mallet E is a super supportive pedal. It feels great under the foot and the size helps reduce torsional flex in the shoe’s sole. And while there’s float on offer, the resistance within that float can be tuned through the pin height, and the traction pads. I’ve been happy with the performance provided out of the box.
Even during instances where I've struggled to clip in, the pedal is large and supportive enough to remain stable and confident when not clipped in.
Durability has been good, too. Usually, I would be worried about cracking the stainless bars of the mechanism against rocks but these pedals have been through plenty, only showing a few battle scars. In terms of real longevity-based issues, I'm yet to run into any.
As much of a fan as I am of these pedals, there are a few negatives with the most minor being that the pins are only accessible from the top and via a small Allen key. If a pin were to shear off, it would take a bit of work to replace it. The second negative, which is more of a quality defect rather than a downside of the product, is that after the first couple of rides, I found the spindles to have bent slightly. It didn’t affect the ride, but after voicing my concern to Crankbrothers’ distributor, Extra, they were sent back and returned in under a week under warranty with fresh internals.
Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS pedals - Verdict
The main downside is the asking price – £180 is a pretty tall order for any pedal and, although there are some unique selling points within the Mallet E LS, there’s some real competition around.
Hope’s Union TC is worthy of consideration if you’re looking to save a bit of money in comparison. It uses an SPD-like mechanism and these pedals are built to the high quality expected of a Hope product. But, the platforms are smaller and not as supportive as the Mallet E. Of course, the lengthier spindles found on the Mallet E make for a big improvement.
However, there are pricier pedals on the market not as accomplished, such as Time’s Speciale 12s. These pedals I’ve enjoyed a lot over the past couple of years but the Eggbeater mechanism outshines Atac in both mud clearance and the feel of the float. On the other hand, Atac is much more adjustable in tension, and it can be tuned with different cleats. Time’s Speciale 12 pedals will set you back £260, so there’s a considerable saving to be had going with Crankbrothers.
DMR’s V-Twin pedals are priced at £140 and they use the SPD mechanism and coe with 81x97mm platforms, so they’re slightly larger than the Mallet E LS. However, their spindles aren’t as long.
If you’re one for long spindles, large platforms and plenty of float, the Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro LS pedals might be for you. Their mechanisms are uniquely soft in their engagement, so they won’t be for everyone but they’ve quickly become a favourite for the support and general comfort offered.