Seido Phaser flat pedal review
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German-born components manufacturer, Seido, offers a range of high-quality parts for modern cyclists, and with a name that means precision in Japanese, Seido does not cut corners when it comes to engineering. The brand's pedal collection is varied and the Phaser fills the gap for a mid-range grippy flat platform offering a large base for a flat-shoe fearless rider. Every detail has been considered and the grip provided is high. The price is good for such an impressive piece of engineering.
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Seido Phaser flat pedals - Technical details
Seido’s Phaser pedals are part of the brand’s off-road pedal range and they sit in the middle of the pack among the Slicer and the Flanger. They're designed for what's deemed rugged use and constructed with a 6061 alloy body paired with a sealed bearing system within a Cro-Mo Axle.
The pedals come with replacement pins in the box which is super handy for when the pins need a refresh, or should they break. The Phaser pedals are only available in black with silver pins, and the size is 113 x 105mm, so quite a large platform.
Seido states that they weigh 418g per pair and, when I weigh, they come out at 422g per pair, only slightly more than claimed.
Seido Phaser flat pedals - Performance
The platform on these Phaser pedals is a large one. I found while riding this was great for getting quick and easy traction when my feet would be on and off the pedals often. On the flip side, the large pedals would easily catch on to features along the trails more so than other smaller pedals I have used.
The pedals offer lots of grip thanks to the large pins placed throughout the pedals. My feet stayed in position while riding and traction was noticeable while climbing up hills and descending technical terrain. I felt like they gave my confidence a boost while riding at speed. Although grip is good, I had to be mindful of where my shoes were placed as I don't like any skewed foot positioning on the pedals.
The ten large pins on each side gave my foot a definite secure hold and, once my foot was planted where I wanted, this added more confidence to riding technical terrain. The pins are replaceable and super grippy. The longer length provides a balance of sticky-like traction but, at the same time, they can be lethal to the shins if I were to misplace my foot position. I tested these pedals while wearing Bontrager shoes, and the shoe tread pattern worked great with the placement of the pins. There was no need to reshuffle and no feeling of unstable interaction.
When my foot was planted fully on the pedals, the flat shape gave my shoes an ideal comfortable platform, offering direct contact on both my forefoot and midfoot. At the same time, the slight inward shaping offered some degree of flexibility for better control. Looking at the pedals, you would think they were very flat but that tiny dip in the middle makes the right amount of difference. The Phaser's large platform may have been too large for my feet at times and caused me to hit roots and stumps more often than expected but the larger platform gave my foot loads of room to place it back on the pedal quickly enough.
After using these regularly over a few months, there is still no sign of wear and tear. The sealed bearings felt smooth and they didn't stick or feel stiff at any point through testing. I kept on top of checking the pins after each ride and tightened some up.
Seido Phaser flat pedals - Verdict
In comparison, the DMR V12 Magnesium Flat Pedals are much smaller and lighter at just 350g. For £80, you get the same level of performance but with a smaller platform. The Seido platform is square, with no concave design or curves. This can be both positive and negative, with the reliability and consistency of the shape but also not very ergonomic concerning the riders and the terrain.
Looking at the Shimano GR500 Flat MTB Pedals Large, these are heavier at 535g due to the construction and the extra-large platform design and they also feature a concave shape for performance and efficiency. For £70, you also get height-adjustable pins.
Being on the large and chunky side, they won’t be the first choice for someone looking to keep their bike on the light and nimble side but they are ideal for a rider looking for a strong and durable pedal with a large grippy platform designed for the rigours of extreme mountain biking. I would use these pedals mainly for endurance racing or an uplift day at a bike park rather than a trail centre ride, mainly due to the bigger platform that makes them great for rough terrain. But when things got steep and techy, I found they were knocking and bashing too many features due to their large size. This aside, they are great flat, grippy, durable pedals that more than earn their spot among the best MTB flat pedals.