SPD and SPD SL

I use road pedals for long rides to avoid hot spots - larger surface area, same force but less pressure etc.

At the moment using spds mtb for everything: Road, CX and commuting.

Being lazy and having a favourite pair of shoes.

I can recommend the new Speedplay Zeros with the yellow plastic cleat covers. They are so much easier to walk in than the alloy plate version (even with Keep On Kovers). An added bonus is that they also come supplied with 'Cleat Buddies' that fill the cleat cavity for when it's a but grotty underfoot.

I'm a big fan of speedplay zeros, but the cleats are horrible to walk in. I had SLs for a while, years ago... Barely remember them. But compared to the riding buddies who've been using them when I'm on zeros, I'd say my duckwalk seems to have been the worst.

You can get cleat covers for walking in, though - supposed to be good.

If you like spds and want cool shoes then the logical choice is Speedplay, isn't it? They're double sided and easy to clip in and out of, and you can walk in them better than SPD-SLs.

I do use SPDs for touring, social rides like the Dunwich Dynamo with lots of milling about, and so on.

Prefer touring pedals with SPD.

The wider cage has contact with mtb shoes to share the force and reduce pressure compared to XC spd’s.

I also have double sided wide platform spds on my road bike. Easy to clip in and less pressure.

Will use some Look road pedals soon.

I've always stuck with SPDs based on LBS advice years ago.  I've got some Rapha CX shoes (i think just rebadged Giros) which are nice and stiff.  Lots of great looking SPD touring shoes these days. Can't be done with clip-clopping around in SLs; in terms of any performance gains I reckon there are other things that would make a bigger difference.

Terrible to say it but I nearly went to spd-sl because the choice of shoes were so cool. Then I came across these http://www.giro.com/eu_en/republic-reflective.html/
They work with 2-bolt and are stiff plus they look the bollox night or day

I opened a thread on the same topic a while back and there were loads of comments, but the consensus was that there is not that much difference.  If you need more stability and don't do any walking in the shoes go with the road version, else stick with the spds. 

I certainly wan't convinced that I was missing out and I don't have a funny walk. LOL

Im a convert to SPD-SL but mainly because of fashion  OK I was younger and fitter when I used SPD's and that might have rosied my picture of them but when I changed I can't recall any significant difference when I switched other than the SL's were less walkable.

I use both systems - SPD for everything except racing TTs (and that's only because I borrowed a mate's road shoes and pedals and he wanted to sell them).

Some people prefer SPD-SL / Look type pedals and cleats but it's really no more than a preference (which is fine). People can even ride perfectly well on flat pedals if they want to.

Here's my journey from road to mtb pedals...

I use Crank Brothers pedals on all of my bikes. I used to use Look road pedals and changed when I started doing a bit of Audaxing as the advice I got then (probably about 15 years ago) was "you'll spend as much time on your arse as you do on your feet if you wear road cleats on these rides, son" or "If you need to get off and walk youll struggle in them shoes lad".  It was true.

I haven't raced for many many years and the sort of riding I do does mean cafe stops/walks from bike sheds/time in shops so I gave spd pedals a go. I didn't notice any performance difference (at my pace) and I haven't landed on my arse in a cafe doorway since I switched.

I also don't have to replace cleats two or three times a year as I did with Looks and it's much easier to clip in and out, so those flapping-about-trying-to-get-the-left-cleat-to- re-engage-at-the-lights moments are now extremely rare.

I have carbon soled mtb shoes and find on the occasions where I've been in a paceline, I haven't had any issues doing my bit... Certainly not because my pedals were less efficient.

One thing as a possible tempering of my recommendation is that I now use slightly better cushioned orthotic insoles as I found the balls of my feet did sometimes got a bit sore on longer (+75 mile) rides. However, that was on at least one occasion due to running my tyres at too high a pressure.

Have run both but prefer SL now or just plain flats for short town journeys. I found the biggest difference was when I got some shoes with carbon soles, just felt better.

I prefer the SPDs - just for ease of use and being able to walk.

Cleats seem to wear a lot slower too so less time faffing. 

"A couple of people have mentioned that if I went with SPD SL and road shoes I would notice a massive difference"

Those people are talking nonsense. 

I use both systems, SPD on the winter and commuter bike and SPD SL on the summer bike. I do prefer SPD SL for the longer rides as I personally find the larger platform puts less stress on my leg muscles. The power gain is marginal and frankly it could be more a placebo effect than anything else! 

The main thing you want is a stiff sole and you say that your shoes already have that. I'd save your money and enjoy the easier clipping in!