It’s no small challenge for a pedal designer to combine pin-based grip with the free rotation needed for cleats. But the consensus is that Crankbrothers pulls it off well. I’ve been riding the Mallet DH pedals for a couple years now. Before the Mallet E pedals were introduced, I rode the Mallet DH pedals on all of my bikes. Now that I have had the chance to ride these Mallet E pedals, I think they will be staying on my trail bike full time and don’t see why they wouldn’t make their way to the downhill bike as well. But once it works you’ll have a different level of control than you had before, and Crankbrothers does try to make it as easy as possible with a printable gauge to measure the recess in your shoe sole, and a variety of included spacers.

The footprint is notably smaller than the Mallet E, with the Mallet Trail measuring 78mm long x 75mm wide. It does feature the same 57mm spindle length however, which is 5mm wider than a Candy or Eggbeater pedal. This will turn off XC and gravel riders who prefer a narrower stance. Like a shrunken-down version of the Mallet E, the Mallet Trail gets a neatly machined 6061-T6 alloy body.

Float

You can also alter the float (natural foot rotation while you ride) and release angle (the point at which the shoe disengages) by swapping around the cleats. The default cleats give a 6 degree float and a 15 degree exit angle, but you can increase that to 20 degrees for more wiggle room by swapping the left cleat to the right shoe and vice versa. You can also buy cleats that give zero float and/or a narrower 10 degree release angle, though it feels less likely that trail and enduro riders would want either of those things. Verdict Remember, the dotted cleat allows for a 15-degree release your right foot, and a 20-degree release on the left. Weight Whatever style of mountain biking you prefer, we’ve tested the best mountain bike clipless pedals designed for both XC efficiency and wide-platform stability. Our list of recommended clipless pedals (or clip-in pedals, if you prefer) includes platform and non-platform options. Mud (aka ‘wet loam’) is an inevitability of UK mountain biking. For many clip-in pedals that test just peachy in lab conditions and on dusty trails though, mud can be kryptonite. When mud starts clinging to your pedals and lathering the underside of your shoes, it can jam up the clip mechanism, reducing your fancy pedals to a scarily unstable metal ornament. Some testers have pulled their hair out adjusting their cleat shims, pin height and pedal sleeves to work just right with their particular shoe, and there’s no doubt that if you’re coming from the ‘bolt and go’ world of xc clipless pedals, you’ll need to give setup more time than you’re used to.

Anyone who’s used a set of Crank Brothers clip-in pedals before will be familiar with the ergonomics of its distinctive Eggbeater mechanism. Entry is smooth and fluid, with the spring providing a linear rate that means very little force is required to engage your cleats.Increased float: 6° of side-to-side rotational play. The float of the pedal allows for the rider to shift positions on the bike, while keeping their feet clipped into the pedal. This allows for improved rider control and bike handling Double seal system combines a double lip internal seal and a new external seal to keep water and debris from entering the pedal Inner bearing: igus LL-glide bearing has been exclusively formulated for crankbrothers. It performs in even the most adverse conditions out on the trails The Crank Brothers Mallet Trail pedal takes the successful and well-proven recipe of the Mallet E and Mallet DH, and shrinks it down to an impressively svelte pedal that boasts a class-leading weight.