The 7 Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals from All Price Ranges (2023)

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This selection includes the best mountain bike flat pedals from all price ranges – from cheap ones suitable for beginners through mid-range up to high-end pedals for the most demanding mountain bikers.

I talked with former racers and evaluated customer reviews to provide tips on platforms worth your money.

Below, you also learn how to choose MTB flat pedals, including the right platform size, pins, and much more.

This selection includes flat pedals only. Please refer to my other article dedicated to the best clipless MTB pedals if you are looking for clipless pedals with platforms.

What Are the Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals?

Best Budget

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Best Overall

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Best Adjustable

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If you don’t know what to look for when buying flat pedals, read the buyer’s guide first. You learn how to choose the right platform size and learn more about other platform pedals’ features.

Skip to the comparison table…

NOTE: All pedals in the selection below come with sealed bearings that improve their longevity.

MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals (Best Budget)

I start the roundup with MZYRH pedals. These are the most affordable pedals in this selection. If you are looking for pedals that will replace your stock pedals or have a limited budget, these are pedals to consider.

I recommend them for casual riders because they are not designed for rough and too technical terrain. Their durability is not as good as with the more expensive pedals.

They are suitable not only for mountain bikes, but you can use them on a hybrid, fat, or any other bike type.

MZYRH pedals provide sufficient foot support and grip so your feet won’t slip off the pedals, and you can control your bike more easily.

They are also easy to install thanks to the L and R signs so that you won’t mix them up. Pick the color you like (black, blue, yellow, red, purple, and many more), and feel free to upgrade your bike as it deserves.

To get more tips on affordable flat pedals ideal for hybrid and commuter bikes, check out this selection of the best pedals for hybrid bikes.

OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals (Best Overall)

OneUp Components Aluminum pedals are one of the thinnest pedals on the market. The leading edge measures 0.33in (8.3mm). They will provide you with enough clearance to avoid unintentional rock strikes. However, be aware of aggressive cornering because they are pretty wide.

Thanks to the large platform (larger than on Race Face Chester pedals), you get perfect foot support. Its profile is convex to maximize your grip and stability.

This brings one small downside (depending on what riding style you prefer). You have to lift your foot slightly to adjust its position when needed.

The 10 pins from both sides are not too sharp, so they won’t scratch your calves or shins as much as other pedals. They are replaceable, so if you damage them, don’t worry. Unfortunately, you can’t adjust them for less/more grip.

OneUp pedals are well-made and will last you for years. Grease them at least once a year, depending on how often you ride, to improve their longevity.

Choose from a large variety of colors to match them with your bike.

Also available at competitivecyclist.com, performancebike.com, and jensonusa.com

Crankbrothers Stamp 7 (Best Adjustable)

The Stamp collection of Crankbrothers pedals is perfect for most MTB riders who look for high-quality platforms for Enduro and other MTB categories (trail, all-mountain, etc.).

These platforms have a thin profile with enough clearance to avoid rock strikes. They have a slightly concave profile for extra feet’ stability.

You can choose from 2 sizes (small and large). The small are ideal for riders with a shoe size of US 5-10 (EU 37-43), and the large for US 10-15 (EU 43-49). I recommend getting the larger ones for better support and stability if you are between these two sizes.

With Stamp 7, you can adjust the pins to get the grip you need. You can also maintain them pretty easily. Make sure to grease them occasionally to ensure the best performance possible.

So where is the catch, you ask? The large size has a pretty large platform that may limit you if you like to corner aggressively, and they are not cheap.

On the other hand, Crankbrothers Stamp pedals are also available in other options (Stamp 1, 2, 3, and 11). I recommend avoiding Stamp 1, 2, and 3. They are made of less durable materials and are heavier.

The Stamp 11 are lightweight thanks to more premium materials (they come with a titanium spindle). But they are also pretty expensive.

Overall, Stamp 7 offer the best price-value ratio of all the versions of the Stamp family.

Also available at performancebike.com and wiggle.com

Race Face Chester

Are you looking for affordable and light flat pedals? The Race Face Chester may be the right one for you.

They are made of nylon to minimize weight. They are perfect for beginners and riders who don’t push their bikes to their limits.

Chester will give you a good grip so your feet won’t slip off. But I can’t forget to mention they have no pins along the axle. This means they are less grippy than OneUp Aluminum pedals, for example.

Their downside is that the pins are pretty long, so they will “eat” your soles and also pretty sharp, so you don’t want them to get in touch with your calves or shins.

Due to their concave shape, they may not be too comfortable for heavier riders who enjoy long rides because the pressure is distributed mainly at one point – on the spindle.

Feel free to choose from multiple colors to match them with your machine.

There are also copycat pedals for half the price of the original Race Face Chester.

Also available at competitivecyclist.com and wiggle.com

You might be interested in this selection of the best MTB flat shoes.

Race Face Atlas

If you are one of those demanding riders who need high-quality flat pedals that are light, have a large platform, and provide you with a good grip, Race Face Atlas should be worth your attention.

They are perfect for trail riding. Their thin profile prevents unintentional rock strikes, and your feet won’t slip off the pedals.

The grip of Race Face Atlas pedals is pretty good. Actually, so good that if you need to adjust your foot, you have to lift it.

Atlas’ main downsides are lateral play and price. The lateral play may develop over time, requiring tweaking and maintenance by you or a mechanic. At this price point, this is something I would rather not see.

But overall, Race Face Atlas will serve you well. They are available in multiple colors (red, orange, blue, green…), so you can easily match them with your bike.

Also available at performancebike.com and wiggle.com

Bontrager Line Elite

If you are looking for a replacement of cheap, stock pedals on your new bike and don’t need the latest and greatest, Bontrager Line Elite are a good choice.

They are pretty lightweight, so they won’t add unnecessary weight. Thanks to their very gentle concave shape, they improve your stability, so you will feel more confident.

Line Elite are suitable for beginners and people with a limited budget. I don’t recommend them for technical and demanding terrain with a high chance of encountering rocks. They may break easily due to the nylon construction and large cutouts.

Their biggest downside is that their bearings are non-replaceable, so you must buy new pedals if they break. However, they are still much better than the stock pedals that some bikes come with.

Also available at trekbikes.com

Nukeproof Horizon Pro (Best for Downhill)

As their name suggests, Nukeproof Horizon Pro are pedals for the most demanding mountain bikers. These pedals were designed with downhill in mind.

They are almost undestroyable. If you crash (I hope you won’t), they will handle it with ease. Thanks to their machine-alloy construction (that looks gorgeous, by the way), they are highly durable, so they will last you for years.

When you combine them with a pair of Five Ten Pro shoes, you will have an ultra combo that you can rely on in any terrain. The grip you get will be hard to match.

Of course, you can adjust their pins as you need. Their profile is completely flat to maximize the contact area with your shoes.

Probably their only downside is their weight which is much higher than the weight of other pedals like OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals, Crankbrothers Stamp 7, etc.

Feel free to choose from a large variety of colors and start pushing your MTB to its limits.

You might also be interested in this selection of the best mountain bike shoes for flat pedals.

My Verdict

Flat pedals are available in different shapes, with different features, and from various price ranges. I recommend reading the buyer’s guide section to determine how to choose them to fit your riding style.

MZYRH Mountain Bike Pedals are the best budget platform pedals. They are ideal as a replacement for cheap stock plastic pedals. Thanks to the large platform, they improve your grip and increase your foot support.

OneUp Components Aluminum Pedals are the best platform pedals overall. They provide the best price-value ratio. They are well-made, have replaceable grips, and are available in multiple colors.

Crankbrothers Stamp 7 (small) are the best adjustable platform pedals, thanks to the adjustable pins. You can set their height to increase or decrease their grip as you need. They have a thin profile, so you avoid unintentional rock strikes. Thanks to their convex profile, you also get a perfect grip and sufficient foot support.

How to Choose the Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals?

In the following part, I explain what features to consider when choosing MTB flat pedals. You learn specific tips that will help you decide what pedals are right for you.

Platform Size & Shape

Flat pedals come in different sizes and shapes. It may be overwhelming to choose the right ones… The question is, do you even have to think about their size and shape?

Well, yes, but you don’t have to worry whether you choose 5mm wider or narrower pedals. As my friend, six times Czech champion in BMX and passionate mountain biker, stated: “I never hit the ground with my pedals when cornering.”

Smaller platforms are generally more suitable for riders with smaller feet/shoes, while larger platforms are ideal for riders with large feet.

So what happens if you get larger platforms than you need? The only main downside is that you won’t get as much ground clearance when cornering. But if you don’t push your bike (and yourself) to its limits, you won’t even notice.

The platform shape (concavity) is more important. The concave platform pedals help to center the ball of your feet to provide you with better stability.

But if you are a rider who wants to enjoy more fun, you may prefer convex platforms because they allow you to adjust your feet more easily, which is beneficial for performing tricks and learning new skills.

If you starting out, go for flat pedals (they are neutral), and once you get more experienced, you can experiment with a concave or convex profile.

Pins

Pins and studs are a feature that is probably the most tricky when you can’t try the pedals in person. Their main purpose is to give you sufficient grip so your feet won’t slip off the pedals.

The first two categories won’t allow you to adjust the grip of the pedals. If you are an experienced rider, you probably appreciate platforms with adjustable pins. Thanks to them, you will be able to regulate the amount of grip you get.

On the other hand, some riders prefer pedals that are not too grippy to reposition their feet when needed. If you are a beginner, feel free to start with pedals with nonadjustable pins, and once you get more experience, start experimenting with pedals with adjustable pins.

The pin’s shape is also important. The narrower and longer they are, the more they will “eat” your soles. So make sure to use them with MTB shoes for platform pedals like Five Ten.

More pins ≠ Better grip

Bearings & Servicing

When buying MTB flat pedals, make sure you get pedals with sealed bearings. This feature increases longevity because it prevents water, dust, and other particles from entering the bearings that could cause issues like increasing friction.

The good news is that most quality flat pedals have sealed bearings, so you don’t have to worry about it too much. But don’t forget to grease them occasionally, e.g., once a year or when you start noticing that they don’t spin as easily as when they were new.

Another thing to consider when buying flat pedals is the possibility of replacing parts (pins, cages axle, etc.). This allows you to fix the pedals when some part breaks, so you effectively increase their lifespan.

Material and Weight

Flat pedals are usually made of plastic (like nylon) or metals (aluminum, steel, and titanium). The general rule of thumb is that plastic pedals are less durable than pedals made of metal.

Platform pedals’ weight is far less important than the weight of road bike pedals, for example. So don’t be afraid of buying heavier pedals that are more durable.

I don’t want to underestimate you, but you probably won’t notice if your new pedals are 30g lighter than your old ones. Therefore, I don’t recommend focusing on weight too much.

Focus more on the above features, which are more important and will influence your riding experience.

How Do the Flat Pedals Differ From Clipless Pedals?

Flat pedals don’t have a clipping mechanism, so you can’t use them with clipless bike shoes. They are only suitable for flat shoes.

You get better foot support even with soft shoes, and you can also take off your shoes when needed.

Due to the lack of the clipless mechanism, you don’t get the “being like one with your bike” feeling and won’t be able to pull during the upward pedal stroke as effectively as with clipless pedals. This study proved that stiff shoes combined with a clip-in mechanism increased average maximum sprint power by 16.6%.

Check the other advantages and disadvantages of different types of pedals in the table below, or learn more about other types of bike pedals.

Mountain Bike Flat Pedals FAQ

This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please, contact me.