I have those on my shopping bike and they are fine for what they are but for a bikepacking bike I would go either SPDs or flat pedals as it can be a pain when you get the wrong side of pedal and have to flip.

When touring I used SPDs and if I needed to do a short trip in ordinary shoes I would just use the SPDs with normal shoes and put up with them feeling strange for short distances.

Not exactly, but I've got the Saint ones with an SPD centre bit both sides and a decent cage around then. I mostly ride clipped in but if it's properly sketchy or my cleats are solid with mud/ice they work really well as flats, would recommend those

I’ve got half and half’s on the commuter though I rarely use the non-clip side and it was mainly a means of getting pedal reflectors.

Think Look have just launched a trail half and half that looks good?

I use Shimano PD-EH500, smallish flat side, but okay for my bike.

In my experience things like this are usually the worst of both worlds rather than the best of. Outside of a commuting / town bike they will always be a negative compromise 

I stuck some CrankBrother Double Shots onto my ebike - all my other bikes are running some sort of CrankBrother pedals - Mallets, Egg-beaters etc - so the cleats work with my existing shoes. 

To date, i've mostly used the non-cleat side with a pair of 5-10s - the one time I used the cleats/shoes with a boa I ended up on the deck when they didn't release as easily as I had envisioned..will need another practice.

Shoes and decent pins are winning just now.

I said this on the last pedal thread - it takes less than 5 minutes to swap a pair of pedals. I can't imagine having pedals that were such a compromise when it's so easy to fit the right pedals for the job

I like the DMR Versa's for this application, most of the time I use them with SPD shoes but if I pootle to the pub from the campsite in the evening etc. the size of the platform is nice just for cruising around in regular shoes/flip-flops etc especially if my riding shoes have got a soaking during the day.

Quite surprised to see no one has mentioned something like this yet

https://amzn.eu/d/06Q7Swmb

for clarity, I’ve never used anything like this but feels like a good idea, small enough to keep in your pocket / bike mounted bag, best of both worlds for less than a coffee shop lunch

@donslow Someone is selling a version of those advertised heavily on FB at the moment, think they’re more aimed at occasional/town use than anything rowdier?

Which would make them ideal for the op for “popping to town” I’d have thought, 

Had considered them in the past for the very same reason(s), I’m just too lazy to do anything more  🤣 

I actually dont hate this solution @donslow. Saves messing about with wearing out crank arm threads and getting grease everywhere, and looks like it would be a good pedal, once you had gotten the correct side.

I actually resurected this to ask, if anyone can comment whether its worth considering a wider trail pedal. Are these noticebly better with flat shoes, than a non caged SPD, to an extent that its a functional option for popping to town/shops/work

PD-M8220

Posted by: Olly

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Are these noticebly better with flat shoes, than a non caged SPD, to an extent that its a functional option for popping to town/shops/work

I find anything with a raised SPD mechanisim in the middle is going to cause a problem - or just not be comfortable - when trying to ride it in regular flat shoes 

https://www.bikeparts.co.uk/products/shimano-pedals-pd-eh500-spd-pedals?variant=31333031182432&country=GB&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17176658334&gbraid=0AAAAAC6PGhyZSPBTibnIAKQxXhNTNdAoZ&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjb3SBhDgARIsAMKiWzgdyQsBAGeeByl1TQtZ4p3YfWYobAJd3fSnBdV8zVNAK6qFU397N9MaAmm5EALw_wcB

I use these (or a very similar model) currently on the gravel bike but they might get transfered to the XC bike at some point. 

they will always hang at 90 degrees to the riding position, and the SPD will always be at the rear. so to clip in you kick forwards. if you want to use the flat side, drag your foot back. 

I'm far from a clipped in expert - tech riding I'm definitely a flats for life rider - but I find this actually easier to use than a regular SPD that could be at any angle and is harder to find the mechanisim with your cleat. (Caveat to this, I've never tried the 4 way crank bros system, which may be easier.)

The problem with those is that the spd mech is quite proud of the cage, so depending on footwear it could dig quite uncomfortably into the ball of your foot. Might be ok for a pootle to the pub/shop if it's flat so you don't have to put too much pressure into the pedal!

I use the XT trekking ones a lot for touring, the flat side in sandals on easy stuff and MTB SPDs when pulling into the Mistral for instance. The way they hang means you soon learn to scoop back for the flat side and kick forward for the SPD side. The grip and shape on the flat side is very good.

Posted by: Olly

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I actually dont hate this solution @donslow. Saves messing about with wearing out crank arm threads and getting grease everywhere, and looks like it would be a good pedal, once you had gotten the correct side.

 its a functional option for popping to town/shops/work

I have a set of those adaptor plate things for my Brompton as it lives with SPD pedals on, handy to have if you need to run to the shops quickly and don’t want the faff of digging out your bike shoes

I’ve not used them on any of the other bikes but never really needed to though

my Brompton is my tear around town / to the shops / commuter bike 

Those plates fit into a pocket or frame / saddle bag so pretty much always to hand if needed

they work well for me at least but obviously ymmv

Pedals with a cleat cage without cleated shoes is a bad idea on so many levels

ask my 20 year old too-skint-to-buy-biking-shoes self how he knows….

I just ride the uncaged spd pedals in flats if its just skooting somewhere. 

Half and half MTB pedals, the worst of both worlds.

I think DMR might make some. 

Shame they don't seem to make them any more, but I have got Shimano PD-M424 pedals on my Inbred. 
They are SPD on both sides with a plastic platform and the pedal is relatively thick so only a small bit of the clip part sticks out. When you stand on it in normal shoes it gets pushed out of the way and you can't really feel it.

I just had a look and all of the combined Shimano pedals now seem to have thinner platforms with more bulk in the middle where the SPD sits.