The 7 Best Mountain Bike Flat Pedals of 2021

Many mountain bikers either switch immediately to a clipless pedal system, or just ride whatever pedals came with the bike until the break one. But, for the discerning flat pedal rider, having the right pedals makes all the difference. On the surface, it might seem like all flat pedals are about the same, there’s a platform, some pins, some bearings, and a spindle. But dig a little deeper and the differences become apparent. Small variations in size and pin depth and placement make a huge difference in how much traction and pedal delivers on the trail, separating the best flat mtb pedals from the rest.

With so many flat pedals available, options can become a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best mountain bike flat pedals we’ve found. We break down what makes each selection stand out, and what kind of riders it will work best for, as well as compiling essential stats about each pedal so that you can narrow down the field at a glance.

Deity Deftrap Pedals

It’s a trap! Inspired by their much-loved Tyler McCaul TMAC signature pedal, Deity’s new Deftrap is the perfect choice for riders who want a Rampage-strong platform at a fraction of the cost of alloy. These aren’t just any nylon composite pedals, though. Deity uses an injection molded nylon fiber composite body that’s 28% stronger against impacts than other nylon pedals. The Deftrap features a concave body profile with 10 pins per side, and they’re fully sealed, rebuildable, and they come in all the colors. What more could you ask for?

The Deity Deftrap was designed to withstand the abuse of the world’s gnarliest DJ, DH, and slopestyle riders. But we recommend them to anyone in the market for tough, reliable, sticky pedals for trail duty or all-around biking. With open channeling that allows for quick mud and snow shedding, these pedals are a great choice for folks who ride year-round. No matter what you ride, these are some of the best flat mountain bike pedals for the price - they get eh job done without breaking the bank.

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Crank Brothers Stamp 1

If you’re looking for composite pedals that can go toe-to-toe with the best alloy pedals on the market, look no further. The Stamp series from Crank Brothers, legendary for its quality, reliability, and serviceability, is available in a super-sturdy plastic version with a slightly concave body profile. With 9 screw-through nut style pins per side, they provide all the grip you’ll need for bike control. The Stamp 1 is their injection-molded nylon composite model which features the same high-quality Igus bushings and Enduro bearings and chromoly steel spindles seen in their metal pedals – not to mention a pricepoint that won’t hurt when you smash ‘em into rocks.

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Spank Oozy Trail Flat

Spank’s Oozy Trail Flat is their high-end option for trail and enduro flat pedal riders. They’ve gone to great lengths to design as much traction as possible into the pedal, with a slight concave shape and nine pins in each side. But they’ve also shaved weight where they can, they know that nobody wants boat anchor weight pedals.

The Oozy isn’t the thinnest pedal on this list, but Spank has chamfered the leading edges to help them skip over rocks if you do strike them, instead of hanging up and causing more damage. Thee Oozy also features a full complement of sealed bearings, with options for users to easily rebuild them at home.

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Race Face Chester Pedals

Race Face brought North Shore riding to the world of MTB, and their composite flat pedal named Chester brings performance to the people. These pedals are the Goldilocks of flat pedals. Not too big, not too small, not too tall, not too short – the Chester is one of the best mtb pedals around.

First off, Chester offers a surprising amount of grip, considering that there are only 8 pins per side. That’s due to the slightly concave profile of the platform. This means that they don’t hit the top of the grip scales, but not every rider needs that. The dimensions are relatively moderate when compared to some of the truly gargantuan flats available today, but bigger isn’t always better. Chester has a Chromoly steel axle with cartridge bearings and DU bushings, all of which make these pedals user-serviceable and completely rebuildable. These are reliable workhorse pedals that are equally capable of backcountry singletrack, big days at the bike park, or commuter duty. If you’re looking for lightweight (at only 358 g), nice-looking, bombproof pedals that won’t break the bank, it’s time to meet your new best friend Chester.

I got these Pedals to replace the stock ones that came on my [bike]. They offer SO much more grip. I had trouble keeping my feet planted on different types of terrain with the stock ones. These helped immensely. I really like how the studs are socket head screws and not just set screws so they'll be easier to change out once they wear down. I have no doubt these are going to last me a long time. Very sleek design and color is great. Would highly recommend these to anyone looking to upgrade their pedals!

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OneUp Components Aluminum

Hailing from Squamish, BC, OneUp is known for their no-nonsense, rider-first engineering as much as they’re known for their no-nonsense naming conventions. Case in point: instead of giving their pedals cute nicknames, they gave us the Composite Pedals and the Aluminum pedals. That means, “we’ll let the pedals speak for themselves.”

The OneUp Aluminum Pedals feature a large (115x105mm) platform with a slightly convex profile – this is worth noting, as most flat pedal profiles are slightly concave. A convex shape positions the pedal in the natural arch of your foot. With 10 rear-loading steel pins per side, that means that these pedals will stick like glue to any MTB shoe soles that have a nice soft rubber compound. The Aluminum pedals have a Chromoly steel axle with four cartridge bearings, so service is a breeze. These pedals also feature a thin leading edge chamfered design that means fewer pedal strikes while you’re ratcheting over log rolls or spinning to win.

When they first debuted a few years ago, the OneUp Aluminum pedals earned their spot as one of the best mountain bike flat pedals due to their excellent design, super low weight (365 g), bombproof durability, user serviceability, and svelte good looks. As far as we’re concerned, they’re still the kings and queens of the mountain.

These pedals are so sick. Couple these pedals with some five ten shoes and you'll feel like you're clipped in but still able to bail. With the big platforms and some good riding shoes you won't be thinking about slipping a pedal.

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OneUp Components Composite

OneUp is known for their no-nonsense, rider-first engineering as much as they’re known for their no-nonsense naming conventions. Case in point: instead of giving their pedals cute nicknames, they gave us the Composite Pedals and the Aluminum pedals. That means, “we’ll let the pedals speak for themselves.”

The OneUp Composite Pedals feature a large (115x105mm) platform with a slightly convex profile – this is worth noting, as most flat pedal profiles are slightly concave. A convex shape positions the pedal in the natural arch of your foot. With 10 rear-loading steel pins per side, that means that these pedals will stick like glue to any MTB shoe soles that have a nice soft rubber compound. The Composite pedals have a Chromoly steel axle with cartridge bearings and DU bushings, so service is a breeze. These pedals also feature a thin leading edge chamfered design that means fewer pedal strikes while you’re executing tricky technical climbs or going full-blast through a field of baby heads. The total package combines excellent design, super low weight (355 g), bombproof durability, user serviceability, svelte good looks, and affordable pricing.

Love them so much I use them on both of my bikes. They are sturdy and grip extremely well while being less chunky looking than other composite options. Probably some of the best composite pedals around.

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Spank Spoon DC

Alloy pedals at the price of composite pedals, in an array of colors that will bring the bling to your next build? Can you have your cake and eat it too? You can if you’re eating with a Spoon DC! Spank Industries found the sweet spot between performance and value with the Spoon DC, making them one of the best bike pedals for your next build. We love this great-looking flat pedal, with its 100x105mm platform with a concave profile to provide reliable grip. 12 steel & 8 alloy pins per pedal give a level of grip that’s out of this world. With cold-forged chromoly steel axles and die-cast alloy platforms that are shot-peened to increase fatigue life, these are pedals made to last a lifetime of hard-charging use and abuse for riders of all stripes, but they also have a unique matte/mottled finish that really stands out on a custom build. Dig in with the Spoon.

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Learn More With Our Other Bike Guides:

• Mountain Bikes - How to Choose
• Mountain Bikes - Size and Fit Guide
• Mountain Bikes - How to Get Started Mountain Biking
• Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Wheel Size
• Mountain Bikes - Suspension Basics
• Mountain Bikes - How to Choose a Mountian Bike Dropper Post
• Mountain Bikes - How to Choose MTB Pedals
• Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed SRAM Brakes
• Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed Shimano Brakes
• Mountain Bikes - How to Convert to Tubeless Tires
• Mountain Bikes - How to Replace Internal Cable Housing
• Mountain Bikes - How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur
• Mountain Bikes - How to Bleed a RockShox Reverb Seatpost
• Mountain Bikes - How to Service Fox and RockShox Fork Lowers
• Mountain Biking - What to Bring Mountain Biking
• Mountain Biking - What to Wear Mountain Biking
• Mountain Biking - How to Choose Knee Pads
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• eBikes - Where to Ride eBikes
• Bike Accessories - Helmet Size & Fit Guide
• Bike Accessories - How to Choose Bike Shoes
• Bikes - How to Choose Bike Tires
• Bikes - How to Repair & Replace a Bike Chain
• Bikes - How to Choose Accessories
• Bikes - Urban Riding Tips
• Travel & Destination Guides - Where to Mountain Bike

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