The Look Trail ROC+ is the brand's flagship flat pedal designed to provide maximum traction in any condition. It's a classy-looking pedal that's very grippy indeed thanks to some seriously savage pins, although a more concave design would enhance things further. Build quality and bearing longevity are top notch making this one seriously durable pedal which goes some way in justifying the premium price tag. Unfortunately, the pedal axles are very short, which can cause crank and stay rub for big-footed riders or those with a heels-in riding stance.
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Look Trail ROC+ flat pedals - Technical details
French pedal guru Look is a big player in the road cycling world, with a rich heritage as purveyors of superb quality clipless pedal systems, with its pedals having graced many a Tour podium over the years. Despite offering an extensive range of MTB pedals including the excellent value and top-performing X-Track En-Rage clipless pedal, its pedals are still a rare sight on the trails compared to rivals Shimano and Crankbrothers. With design input from French freeride legend Thomas Genon, Look is now looking to break into the flat pedal sector with the recently released Trail ROC and Trail ROC+.
The Trail ROC + I'm testing here is the brand's top-tier flat pedal and is designed and manufactured in France in its very own workshops in Nevers.
The sturdy forged aluminium body is a good size at 107mm x 107mm, has a relatively slim profile at 16mm and features profiled corners to shave any unnecessary weight and to maximise ground clearance.
While Look claims the Trail ROC+ is a concave pedal, in reality, the pedal body itself is slightly convex since the central section sits a couple of millimetres taller than the outer cage. What concave shape there is, is more a result of the extended pin length and is pretty minimal.
Speaking of pins, the Trail ROC + features 10 extra long 6mm pins per side for maximum bite and security on the trails. The pins themselves are adjustable and easily removed from the reverse side using T10 torx should you damage any.
The chromoly axle spins on a combination of a needle bearing and two rows of regular bearings. Look pedals are famed for their bearings' quality and longevity, and these bad boys certainly spin silky smooth out of the box.
While we're on the subject of axles, the ones supplied with the Trail ROC+ are rather short, leaving the pedal body sitting very close to the crank arms. Supposedly, a low Q-factor provides a slightly more efficient pedal cadence, and this is perhaps something Look has carried over from its road racing heritage. However, I'm a little surprised in this instance as the ROC+ is primarily a gravity-focused pedal and longer axles would improve heel and ankle clearance, while the increased Q factor would allow a wider more DH-friendly stance for better stability in the turns.
Overall, the build quality and finish are top notch and it's a classy-looking set of pedals that share a very similar aesthetic to the well-respected Burgtec Penthouse Mk5. The Trail ROC + comes in a choice of three anodised colours, the stealthy black I'm testing here as well as a striking orange or classic silver.
At 410g a pair on my digital scales, the weight is reasonable for such a solidly put-together pedal, although considering the lofty asking price it would have been nice to have perhaps seen titanium axles to drop the weight further.
Look Trail ROC+ flat pedals - Performance
This is one seriously aggro-looking pedal, with some of the longest and scariest pins I've seen on a flat pedal. Yes, my shins were crying for their mummy but I was also excited to see just how tenacious they'd be on the trails. I had the Trail ROC + pedals fitted to my 160mm enduro sled for the duration of the test period, paired with both my preferred Fiveten Freeriders, as well as a pair of non-flat pedal-specific Sidi Dimaro Trail shoes I've also been testing.
The pedals were ridden on a host of terrain types – from long pedally days on the moors to flat-out, rough and rowdy DH tracks.
I've also been lucky enough to see a diverse range of conditions through the test period, ranging from baked dry, late summer dust bowls to the more UK typical wet and wintery slop fests and everything in between, so it's fair to say they've been thoroughly put through the wringer!
Once threaded into my cranks, I was a little concerned at how close the pedal body was to the arms, and as predicted the combination of my meaty size 11s and slightly heels-in stance meant I experienced a fair bit of heel rub on both cranks and chainstays which was a little disappointing from the get-go. This is a shame since the pedal platform itself is quite generously sized - in fact at 107mm x 107mm it's slightly larger than the classic DMR Vault - it's just those pesky stubby spindles that make it feel less spacious than it is.
Consequently, I found myself subconsciously shifting my feet outwards to benefit from the increased heel clearance and extra stability provided by the slightly wider stance. Unfortunately, this would mean that the outside edge of my foot would overhang the pedal body a little, leaving me feeling slightly less well-supported than I would have liked. For riders with daintier feet than mine, I should think this would be less of an issue but I can't help but think Look has missed a trick not speccing longer axles for a little extra clearance and added stability at speed.
One plus point worth mentioning about that narrower stance is that it does provide a little extra ground clearance which helps to reduce the amount of pedal strikes in the tight stuff especially when tackling deep rutted sections of trail.
Unsurprisingly from such a beastly-looking pedal, the mechanical grip is superb with pretty much every shoe I tried with them, with those fang-like pins biting hard in all conditions. I found the extra pin length came into its own in super mucky conditions where the additional traction boosted confidence.
Despite Look’s claim to the contrary, the Trail ROC+ lacks any genuine concave design in the pedal body and, consequently, they don't quite have that super stable 'in-the-pedal’ sensation you get with a deeper-dish flat pedal. Initially, I was concerned this slightly more perched feel would translate to less grip and more likelihood of slipping a pedal, however, I'm pleased to say this wasn't the case at all. Thanks to the slim 16mm pedal body and mega-aggressive pins, the Trail ROC+ are plenty grippy and secure just as long as you remember to drop your heels in the rough stuff. During my time with them I never slipped a pedal even on the lumpiest of tracks - although ironically I did manage to puncture my shin pushing my bike up my local loam line - be aware, those pins will bite into flesh given half a chance.
As a side note, I found removing the centre pin on each pedal provided some pseudo-concavity which allowed the pedal to cup my foot more effectively, enhancing stability with no perceptible loss of traction. This is a tuning tip I'd recommend doing right away as it really improves the feel of the pedal.
In terms of durability, Look pedals are known for their long-running smoothness and sure enough, the bearings on my test pedals are still as buttery smooth and silent as they were on day one with no hint of play despite being subjected to some proper winter filth and zero maintenance. Impressive stuff. The Trail ROC+ has proven to be highly durable across the board, with no damage other than a few small scuffs and a bent pin from getting a bit too up close and personal with the Dartmoor granite.
Look Trail ROC+ flat pedals - Verdict
After a good few months of putting the Look Trail ROC+ through their paces, I've come away pretty impressed. The build quality and craftsmanship are second to none and the grip (in wet or dry conditions) is excellent with pretty much any shoe I tried them with. These are fit-and-forget pedals that can take a beating. That extra pin length does make them a bit more prone to getting duffed up by the local geology but I've had no real issue myself bar the one bent one, and the pins are easily removable should the need arise to replace any.
Yes, I'd like it if the body had a bit more concave to it, as that's what I'm used to and I do think it adds a sense of security when hurtling into rock gardens at Mach 10 but the reality is, after a couple of rides, I realised these pedals were just as secure and weren't holding me back in any way.
My main gripe with them is plainly that I have big, wide size 11 feet and I found the short axles stifled freedom of movement on the pedals and led to an occasional ankle knock and some crank and seat stay scuffing. To be fair to Look, I've had the same issues with some other flat pedals in the past, most notably the visually similar Burgtec Penthouse. That, too, sits annoyingly close to the crank arms owing to a similarly stubby axle setup. I think this would be much less of a problem for riders with small to medium-sized feet, but for the Hobbits out there, better options are available.
Speaking of other options, there are plenty to choose from. Beginning with the aforementioned Burgtec Penthouse mk5, the latest iteration of a British-made classic. At £130, they are a premium priced pedal but build quality is top notch and they are still 30 quid cheaper than the Trail ROC+. Although visually the two are very similar, the Burgtecs are slightly smaller and the pins are shorter at a more standard 4.5mm. This does mean they are a good bit lighter than the Look pedal though at 379g.
Another worthy contender is the excellent DMR Vault Mag pedal at £120. The Vault has been a staple in the flat pedal sector for many years and is a regular sight on everything from trail to full-blown DH bikes, and for good reason. DMR has designed a classic with the Vault – great shape, insane grip, plenty of foot cradling concave shaping and they are easily home serviceable. This Magnesium version is also significantly lighter than its alloy stablemate and the Trail ROC+ at just 388g. The downside to this low weight is durability though – with softer magnesium bodies, I can't see the Vaults taking the hits as well as the bombproof French flats. Saying that, if durability is a concern and you don't mind a few extra grams, the standard alloy Vault is cheaper and tougher.
Finally, if you're after a more wallet-friendly option, for £100 the Nukeproof Horizon Pro Sam Hill Enduro is a fantastic flat pedal that has been optimised for trail and enduro use. Take the original Horizon DH pedal and refine the shape to optimise ground clearance and shave any unnecessary material without sacrificing grip levels or feel. With bags of grip and control and tough forged construction that can take the hits like a champ, there's no denying it's a solid performer at a great price.
To sum up, Look has done a great job with the Trail ROC + flat pedals. The super-durable forged construction and well-sealed and ultra-smooth running internals make for a dependable flat pedal that'll last the test of time. While ideally, the pedal body could do with being more concave and the narrow Q-factor may not suit those with larger feet, the grip on offer is very impressive, which makes the Trail ROC+ a great addition to the flat pedal game. Unfortunately, that Gallic build quality comes with a price tag to match and it's hard to overlook the cost with many equally impressive rivals coming in substantially cheaper. However, if you can afford them and have small to medium-sized feet to mitigate the stubby axles, the Trail ROC + is up there with some of the best flat pedals on the market and well worth your consideration.