Look Keo Blade pedals

Look pedals are about as French as it gets: sleek, stylish and bristling with pro-level credentials. And since their debut in 2011, the Look Keo Blade Pedals have been a fixture in the professional peloton, favoured by – among others – Contador, Sagan and Pogačar. The concept has always been the same: replacing the clipless pedal’s traditional steel retention spring with a carbon leaf spring – the ‘blade’. The result is a lighter, sleeker and supposedly more aero pedal, which is now in its third major update.

Fit, tension and clipping in

The pedals come with the 8Nm carbon blade, one of four available options, though you’ll have to pay extra if you want to swap to a 12, 16 or 20Nm blade. In practice, I found the 8Nm release tension to be firm enough for security, but still easy to disengage when needed.

Compared to my usual Favero Assioma pedals, I’d put it at about a third of their maximum spring tension – perfectly fine for everyday riding, though personally I think I’d have preferred the 12Nm option for a little extra security in sprints and hard efforts.

The key difference between the carbon blade and a steel spring is the release profile: Look claims the blade holds your foot more firmly through the initial twisting motion, then snaps free at a higher, less linear tension threshold. Whether that’s perceptible depends on how much you notice such things – but I never once had an unintentional clip-out. And that’s with the 8Nm pedals.

Clipping in is straightforward. The rear-weighted design means the pedals hang nose-up, ready for you to slot your cleat in without fumbling. Using the supplied grey cleats with 3° of float, I found engagement quick and positive. On the road, the large 705mm² contact patch distributed pressure well, avoiding hotspots even on long forays into the Welsh hills.

On-road performance

When you’re riding, the Keo Blade pedals feel exactly like what they are: light, stiff and race-ready. At 220g per pair, they’re lighter than Shimano’s Ultegra R8000 pedals (248g), Time’s XPro 10s (226g) and even Wahoo’s Speedplay Comp (232g). Sprinting for a town sign or stamping on the pedals to close a gap, there was no sense of flex or vagueness – just a crisp, immediate power transfer.

The aero carbon blade and updated pedal nose design are supposed to offer a 2% aerodynamic gain compared to the previous generation. I can’t say I noticed any measurable watt savings, but they certainly look fast. And let’s be honest: sometimes looking aero is half the battle.

On longer rides, comfort was excellent. The wide cleat platform makes a difference compared to older, narrower designs, and I finished multi-hour rides without any foot fatigue or pressure points.

Durability and maintenance

Look stresses that ‘every detail matters’, and it shows in the way the Keo Blades are built. They combine performance, comfort and durability thanks to some smart refinements: a water-resistant grease and an improved multiple-seal system that protects the internals from grit and moisture. Together, these promise optimal performance and extended longevity, even in wet and grimy British conditions.

In my testing, the pedals spun smoothly and remained creak-free – a common complaint from earlier Blade generations that appears to have been addressed. The only minor issue is that the aero cavity formed by the carbon blade can trap dirt, so if your cleats get muddy (say, after a mid-ride hedge stop), it can take a little more effort to clean them out. Still, with proper care, these feel like a set of pedals that will go the distance.

Value

At £139.99, the Look Keo Blades sit squarely in the middle of the performance pedal market and compare favourably with their main rivals.

Shimano’s Ultegra R8000 SPD-SL pedals cost slightly more at £160, and while they are heavier at 248g, they do offer adjustable tension and the benefit of Shimano’s globally available cleats.

Time’s XPro 10 pedals, meanwhile, come in at £151 and offer a slightly larger surface area (725mm² vs Look’s 705mm²) and adjustable release tension, but they’re marginally heavier and bulkier in profile.

Wahoo’s Speedplay Comp pedals undercut both Shimano and Time at £134.99 and weigh a similar 232g, with the added benefit of a much lower stack height – great for bike-fit precision – but Wahoo’s cleat system is more involved to set up and requires careful adjustment.

Check out our best clipless pedals buyer’s guide for more options.

Conclusion

The Look Keo Blade pedals are an outstanding option if you want race-level performance without paying a pro-level price. They’re light, stiff and secure, with a large 705mm² contact area that makes long rides comfortable and sprint efforts explosive.

Yes, you’ll need to choose your blade tension carefully, and yes, Shimano and Wahoo offer more adjustability, but the Look Keo Blades more than make up for it with their weight advantage, refined sealing and bearing system, sleek design and their pro-peloton pedigree.

For £139.99, they’re a compelling upgrade over entry-level pedals and a match for anything in their class. Pro-inspired, featherweight, and confidence-inspiring – these pedals deliver on Look’s promise of blending style, speed, and substance.

Verdict

Light, stiff, and aero – these deliver pro-level performance, low weight, long-term durability and at a reasonable price

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