The best clipless MTB pedals you can buy

Shimano XT PD-M8020

SPD is short for Shimano Pedalling Dynamics and is by far the most popular clipless system in the world. The XT trail pedal in its current basic form was originally launched in 2011, the latest version of the pedal is called the PD-M8020 and has a larger contact area than the original. The XT trail pedal is one of the most popular models on the market, and today the PD-M8020 is regarded as the benchmark for the entire segment. If you’re looking for a minimalist and light SPD pedal, it’s hard to ignore the XT PD-M8020.

The XT trail pedal is the epitome of reliability, the cleats last forever and are available worldwide. The clip tension is easy to adjust, allowing you to fine tune the pedal connection to preference. For beginners, Shimano offers special cleats, the SM-SH56, which not only release when turning your foot but also when pulling up – not suitable for aggressive riders. We prefer a relatively high clip tension with these pedals, as the foothold is relatively small, making you a little wobbly on the pedals. Also, the shoes should have a stiff sole, as they only support themselves on the small surface around the cleat.

Clicking in is intuitive from behind and above and the mechanism always gives feedback with a defined click. The SPD system hardly offers any float, so if you like to turn your feet in corners, you might unintentionally unclip. On the other hand, it is effortless to get out of the pedal in tricky situations. Our tip for smart spenders: The Shimano PD-M530 is a much more affordable pedal with a similar design that has never disappointed us in the past.

Conclusion

The Shimano XT PD-M8020 scored lots of points for its reliability and the defined clip feeling, and it’s still the benchmark for touring riders. If you’re using modern trail shoes and are very aggressive in your riding style, however, you’ll be better off with the new Saint PD-M820.