Best clipless pedals 2024 – the perfect pedalling platform for every type of riding

Shimano's PD-R7000 pedals, from its mid-level 105 groupset, hit the sweet spot between price and performance. What you get here is a large and stable pedal platform, a proven retention mechanism, well-sealed internals, and tons of durability, all for a decent amount of money.   

Shimano’s SPD-SL system is well-established, and this option, with a carbon-fibre reinforced resin pedal body, has been around for a few years now; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Weighing in at 265g, it’s not the lightest option out there, but it’s not heavy either. 

There’s a wide range of tension on offer, so you can choose whether to be securely attached to your bike or more loosely connected, and the pedals have a nice low profile, so you can lean over a long way when cornering – as long as your tyres (and nerves) can take it. Shimano says they can cope with a 31° lean, although we’re guessing you’ve never measured what’s reasonable.

Sealed axles and cartridge bearings make for long intervals between services. In use, these pedals are indistinguishable from next-level-up Ultegra pedals. It’s only really the slight weight penalty and the lower cost that sets the 105s apart.

The pedals come shipped with SM-SH-11 (yellow) cleats, which have 6° of float, but you can switch to blue, with 2° of float, or red, with no float at all, so all tastes – and knees – are catered for.

Although they’re more expensive than most, Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedals offer a really impressive level of adjustability, the stack height is low, and they don't weigh much at all.

Wahoo Speedplays are different from other systems in that most of the mechanics sit within the cleat rather than the pedal. This means the pedals are little more than notched discs. Setting up the cleats takes a little longer than normal but you’ll have things sorted in minutes.

One unusual feature is that you can adjust the float – the amount you can rotate your feet before unclipping – up to a whopping 15° with a hex key. If you ever suffer from knee issues, these could be the pedals for you.

In operation, these are similar to other pedals: you get the cleat in the right position and push down, and then rotate your heel to unclip. Some people find clipping in a little tricky to start with, but you’ll quickly get the hang of it. Once clipped in, everything feels perfectly secure.

One advantage over most road pedals is that the Zeros are double-sided, meaning they can’t be the wrong way up.

Time has recently revamped its pedals range into a simpler and sleeker line-up with a few technical updates, the XPro 10 remaining a central model.

Time's road pedals use its patented Iclic system which sits in an open position when there’s no cleat engaged. This makes clipping in effortless. There isn't such a firm ‘snap’ as you get when clipping into a Shimano pedal, for example, but it’s simple to find the right position without looking down.

The retention system uses a carbon blade rather than the steel spring you’ll find on most clipless pedals, and this has three tension settings. A fairing on the bottom of the pedal is designed to protect the carbon blade and, Time says, improve aerodynamics, although any watt savings are likely to be marginal.

The cleats have a standard three-bolt formation, and they’re not too awkward to walk in (for short distances) because the surface area is pretty large.

The XPro 10 uses a hollow stainless-steel axle and steel bearings, and the weight is low. The XPro 12 and Pro 12 SL are even lighter, but they’re also more expensive.

Time has now introduced three spindle lengths to the XPro range, allowing you to tweak the distance between your feet.

The X-Track Gravel Edition is Look’s entry-level off-road pedal, designed for cross-country riding, given a bronze paint job. It offers a wide platform and solid cleat retention, and the price is low too.

The X-Track is a good pedal, and totally suitable for a bit of adventure riding or cyclo-cross, and it even works well for road use too.

The main body is aluminium, paired with a chromoly spindle that spins on double sealed bearings. With a platform area of 350mm², there is plenty of material for you to push against to get the power down, and you get adjustable tensioning for the cleat mechanism, which can go from 6Nm up to 14Nm – a good range. It's all controlled by a small hex bolt that’s easy to tweak.

Cleats come as part of the package, as you'd expect, and the pedals are also compatible with Shimano SPD when it’s time for a change. The standard cleats give you 6° of float to take the strain off your knees.

Coming in at 392g (447g including cleats) per pair, these aren’t exactly light, but they’re solid and durable, and they won't break the bank.

The Look Keo Classic 3s are good mid-level pedals that offer a decent-sized platform, have an easy-to-use adjustable mechanism, and are well-made and robust.

A large contact area – 400mm2, if you’re interested – provides loads of stability while spreading the pressure as you pedal for increased comfort and less chance of hot spots.

The Kéo Classic 3 spindle is made up of an oversized steel axle with miniature ball bearings (12mm inside, 18mm outside) and a needle bearing cartridge that’s designed to improve wear resistance. After putting a lot of miles into these, we can say that durability is high.

A bolt at the rear of the pedal allows you to alter the tension between 8Nm and 12Nm, so you can decide how easy it is to release the cleat. Speaking of cleats, the ones that come with the pedals offer 4.5° of float, although you can buy 0° and 9° options aftermarket.

Engaging and disengaging from the pedals is simple and the mechanism has a sturdy hold and a reactive click to let you know you are clipped in properly.

All in all, these are reliable pedals that perform well. Solid!

The Bontrager Elite Road pedals are compatible with Look’s Keo clipless system and provide a simple interface and easy engagement that’ll appeal to many.

With a composite construction (not carbon, but a resin-type material), and an adjustable retention mechanism, the Elite Roads weigh a reasonable 252g on the road.cc Scales of Truth.

It’s easy to get used to clipping into these pedals thanks to a slightly larger overall body length and wider front lip to slot the toe end of the cleat into than you find with Look’s Keo 2 Max. This plays right to the feet of someone who struggles to engage clipless pedals (or a relative beginner), as they can afford to be a little less precise with their foot placement. Unclipping is as straightforward.

Overall, these are high-quality, perfectly capable pedals. If you're already a happy Look user, there isn’t really a compelling reason to switch, but if you're new to the clipless game and want easier engagement, these are well worth considering.