The best MTB flat pedals you can buy

Crankbrothers Stamp 7

The Crankbrothers Stamp 7 might well be the most standard pedal in our test. Its platform, weight and even the price-tag are bang on the middle in every respect. That’s why the Stamp 7 will always be a great option. Crankbrothers deliberately ditched the ball bearings and replaced them with shock-resistant, compact cast-iron plain bearings. To ensure maximum service life Crankbrothers made it easy to clean and service the bearings — the easiest system in our test in fact. You can either press grease through the pin grease port on the platform itself or remove the entire axle with the two Phillips screws and remove dirt and grease from the axle. Both procedures are quick and straightforward. If the axles or bearings wear out you can get a fairly-priced Crankbrothers repair kit.

On the trail, the Crankbrothers Stamp 7 aren’t bad — but not exceptional either. The grip is ok in most situations but could be a lot better especially when riding on rough, rocky and blocked-up terrain. As soon as the pedals touch the ground or hit a rock things get tricky. The pins of the Stamp 7 are exclusively grub screws and you’ll end up praying each time you bend or snap-off one of them. The box contains a total of 10 spare-pins for emergencies. Thanks to the open design of the platform the mud from the forest ground will have virtually no chance to clog up the pedal.

Conclusion

With the Stamp 7 Crankbrothers offers a solid pedal that doesn’t do anything wrong. Since the conservative pins aren’t drilling deep enough into the sole the Stamp 7 is an interesting option particularly for commuters who like to take a detour on trails from time to time. For € 109 you’ll get a very maintenance-friendly pedal with 5 years of manufacturer’s warranty.