The best clipless MTB pedals you can buy

Best in Test: Crankbrothers Mallet E

If you look around the pits of a DH or enduro race, you will see Crankbrothers pedals at every turn. Their popularity is mainly due to the unique click mechanism, offering good self-cleaning and a lot of freedom of movement. The standard cleats have 6° float and a release angle of 15° or 20°, depending on which side they are mounted on, making it easy to turn your foot in when actively guiding the bike in corners. Climbing, the high degree of float eases stress on your knees, as you don’t always pedal at the same angle.

If up to now you’ve only been familiar with other systems, converting to the Crankbrothers mechanism takes some getting used to. Although it is easy to click in from behind or above, the feedback is less defined than with the SPD system. The height of the contact area can be adjusted to the shoe and personal preference via exchangeable plastic plates, so-called traction pads, and spacers under the cleats. Crankbrothers has recently started offering a template to help. To further influence grip and mobility, each side comes with six adjustable pins. It can take a while to find the right combination of all the elements, but once you’re there the Crankbrothers Mallet E LS offers unique handling characteristics. Correctly adjusted, your feet stand firmly on the pedal cage, but can still be turned in easily without clipping out. Many of our testers preferred to screw in the pins completely for unrestricted pedal float.

LS stands for Long Spindle, and as most customers do, we prefer the 57 mm wide Q-factor of the long axle compared to the 52 mm of the original Mallet E. If you want an even larger platform, take a look at the Mallet DH based on the same technology. In the past, Crankbrothers pedals were considered extremely prone to wear and tear, but since the American brand revised the inner workings of all their pedals in 2016, they have become a lot more reliable. However, if in need of a service at any time, the Mallet E can easily be maintained at home with the appropriate service kit. The only drawback is the fast wear of the cleats, but given the superior performance, it’s something we can live with.

Conclusion

The Crankbrothers Mallet E LS isn’t only a favourite among professionals; it clearly stood out above the rest in our test field. The clip mechanism offers the best mix of float and grip, and the pedals can be adjusted extensively. Also, the Mallet E LS convinced us with excellent self-cleaning and good durability – best in test!