I have a few sets of the current Saint pedals which I love. They are however starting to piss me off as two sets have developed a stiff DS pedal which no amount of disassembling, re-greasing and re-adjusting seems to cure for long. For some reason the NDS is fine on all sets, go figure.
I’ve considered Nano-x’s, but they can have their own issues apparently, and I’ve had V12’s and prefer a larger platform. What reliable alternatives are there for about the same money as Saints?
If you want a big platform then Vaults come into their own. For me they weren’t especially good and I went back to my cheaper superstars which I prefer, but, I don’t have big feet so I wasn’t getting the benefit.
I’ve been using HT components nanos for ages- same as exotic, fatties flatties, nukeproof etc. They’re not the thinnest or the flashest but they’re good value and they’re reliable. Seems like there’s various new kids in town though.
Those Fatties Flatties are the exact same pedal Exotic sell for £33 btw. Oh and that’s the weight for the ti axle version they’ve quoted in the ad, but they seem to be selling the steel one. (also the same pedal as the Nukeproof Neutron, which you can also get for less)
christ that exotic website is awful. The fatty ones are alloy, not resin/plastic like some available in that shape. if they are alloy for £33 that’s a great price.
I recently got some Nano-Xs in one of the many Superstar sales. I’m impressed with them. I have a pair of the current Saints on another bike; the Nano-X are noticeably larger and on the downside I do find myself hitting them on things more often in narrow sections. I don’t have particularly large feet (size 43) and I think a slightly smaller pedal would be better for me. They seem well made, but I’ve not had them long.
I use FiveTen Freeriders and the grip is pretty damn fantastic, even though I’m only running the shorter pins. I feel a lot more stuck on than on the Saints, even having taken the spacer washers that are on the pins when they arrived (why??)
I went for Deity Decoy a couple of years ago, really like them and they’ve not broke. A bit cheaper than Vaults, more expensive than Wellgo or Superstar.
Vaults are fantastic under your feet. I’m a big fan. But I am falling out with them because of the internals though.
The seal on the crank arm side isn’t very good, so after a few wet ride some dirt inevitably gets in and then the bushing wears quickly. You can obviously preempt this by giving them a quick dismantle and re-grease after a wet ride, but you soon grow tired of that. Once the bushing wears, play develops, they rattle and they sound most unhappy when they’re spun. So I seem to end up popping a new bushing in (along with the rest of the internals which come in the pack) in every 4 months or so. But then if you get lazy (or try and reduce your annual expenditure on DMR Vault Service Kits) I’ve found the axles eventually wear so even with a new bushing there is play. So over the last I think maybe 4 years (I got these soon after they first came out) I’m just about to replace the axles for the third time. Moan Moan Moan! No complaints about the pedal body though.
I think myself and Andy4d are fellow members of the Moove pedal admirers club – awesome.Large platform,light and grippy.
After 2 years they start to “run-in”
I have Nukeproof Electrons on my hardtail which are decent,but not a patch on the Mooves.
Vaults are fantastic under your feet. I’m a big fan. But I am falling out with them because of the internals though.
The seal on the crank arm side isn’t very good, so after a few wet ride some dirt inevitably gets in and then the bushing wears quickly. You can obviously preempt this by giving them a quick dismantle and re-grease after a wet ride, but you soon grow tired of that. Once the bushing wears, play develops, they rattle and they sound most unhappy when they’re spun. So I seem to end up popping a new bushing in (along with the rest of the internals which come in the pack) in every 4 months or so. But then if you get lazy (or try and reduce your annual expenditure on DMR Vault Service Kits) I’ve found the axles eventually wear so even with a new bushing there is play. So over the last I think maybe 4 years (I got these soon after they first came out) I’m just about to replace the axles for the third time. Moan Moan Moan! No complaints about the pedal body though.
Conversely my older pair of Vaults are equally venerable (they were an emergency purchase in Sept 2011 after I mangled my V12s getting my threads mixed up the day before a race!) and I’ve finally bought a service kit for them. There’s quite a lot of play now but it doesn’t seem to affect their function, though I did destroy one of the original bearings last year, so that’s been replaced but the rest of the internals are original. I’ve regreased them a few times and always put really thick water resistant grease in there.
They’ve done about 4000 miles (but in pretty hideous conditions as they were on my only bike and then my winter bike) thoughI know smatkins’ have done a lot more mileage. Maybe my minimum washing approach to bike care does work? 😉
Something about the Vault shape just feels SO right to my feet. Really like the size, shape and pin arrangement.
Love the Vaults to ride but the sealing is poor in my experience too, I have the same issues, need frequent rebuilds with thick waterproof grease and eventually an axle. Not high mileage either and bike often dried with dehumidifier and then mud brushed off.
I’ve just bought another set though – Mg Vaults, 18 bikes have them at a good discount. Standard ones can be got for £68ish.
Nukeproof Horizons, I’ve got the Sam Hill metal ones and had no bother with seals or anything so far. Feel like my foot sits in the pedal better than Saints but hasn’t destroyed my shoes so far.
Horizon or Nano for me. The electrons I had were OK as well but I don’t think the pins felt as long and they were noticeably less grippy. All were miles better than the old school wellgo pedals I used to use.
I tried race face atlas this week and whilst they were fine I wouldn’t buy them over cheaper pedals. Maybe they come into their own in terms of longevity but they weren’t as grippy IMHO
I’ve just bought (2 months) a pair of Nukeproof Electon evos…..I’ve got SS and Vaults as well. I will be replacing all others with the Nukes. Super grippy,light,and £26.
I was a big fan of the original Nano’s and have had three pairs. The original black ones refused to die. One pair died when u ripped a few pins and threads out in a big crash. If wanting to stick to that kind of money, as mentioned I’d be looking at the others who use that platform (Moove, carbon cycles etc).
Recently switch to Vaults and think they feel great underfoot with really good grip.
Have had Race Face Aeffect which were small by modern standards but very, very grippy. Spank bearings and bushes are rubbish, my Spikes ended up in the bin as I got sick of repairing them.
I use the Exotic pedals in all my bikes, faultless and cheap. Recently bought their lightweight version it is superb and great shape. Yes the website is rubbish but you will get the pedals delivered quickly and you won’t be unhappy.
Just about to buy some more Vaults, best pedal I’ve ridden with so far, would like the Boomslangs but not at £110-£130 when you can pick up the Vaults at £69
I used to be a fan of the original SS Nano until I tried the Vault
Those Nukeproof Evo pedals previously mentioned look to be manufactured by HT components, you can buy them cheaper at SS as “El Plastique” with a couple less pins (25% off this month with code MADMAY25FB) which makes them £18.75
The exotic are the same as the previous SS Nano and the Kona Wah Wah and etc… all made by HT, just buy whichever is the cheapest if you like the smaller platform.
I’d also wager that the new Nano is a Uk machined platform on foriegn axles, sold as UK manufactured,, but the parts that bend or wear aren’t actually UK made, just UK assembled
deanfbm – Member
find vault bearings terrible, really terrible.
3 sets here, oldest is from when they first came out, never replaced anything in them, just occasional clean and regrease (twice on the oldest ones, once on the 3-year old ones, never on the other set)
hatter – Member
The Gamuts are 295 grams a pair so lighter than pretty much anything except magnesium body/titanium axle jobbies.
I had the original Point One pedals, the 3 tiny bearings at the end of the axle turned to dust after a few months. New ones have the same basic design, not sure I’d be splashing out. A mate has them, so watching his with interest. As far as grip/shape goes, they were excellent, really liked them.
lapdog – Member
The best flat pedals are Syntace Titan 9s. No compromise pedal that are very light, strong, durable and costly! I love mine.
Agreed 100%. They are fantastic.
Expensive but very robust, very very grippy, massive platform (available in 3 sizes), really thin and very easy to maintain. Got them on two bikes.
Vaults feel nearly as good whilst they’re still new but don’t last 5 minutes IME, pins ripped out in no time and bushing shot very quickly. Axle bent too but I can’t really complain too much about that as it caught a fairly immovable rock at some speed.
The original grubscrew pin Superstar/Exotic generic Nano have also been very durable. Best budget buy.