Preferred Clipless MTB/Gravel pedals/shoes?

[plugboots]

Smoke crack first, then post, right?

And after all, who doesn't like ebola and boys who don't change?

Ha. Talking into my phone and then editing sometimes doesn’t work

[Dee Hubbs]

I'm on Giro Terraduro and love them. But I just started using some Giro SLX road shoes. I love the SLX's fit, and light weight, and adjustability with laces. I'm thinking of buying the Giro VR90s to try a lace up MTB shoe, and drop a bit of weight off of my feet.
I have XTR 9020/9120 Trail pedals on all my MTB bikes.

FYI I have some high end road shoes for sale, I'll update my for sale post:
Giro SLX Road shoes in Black 45.0 (fit like an 11)
S-Works Road Shoes in Black 43.5 (fits like a 10)

[One (+) Sentence]

I use Giro Ventana shoes and XT M8000 pedals almost all the time.

I have Giro Chamber 2’s that I like a lot also and they share the same shank and last with the offset cleat track as the Ventana, but they are heavier and hotter.

Also have some XTR 9020 Trail pedals but I never use them because I don’t really think the “platform” does much at all except maybe increase my likelihood of a harsh pedal strike.

[gregL]

Sidi Dragon or Spider with Shimano XTR M9100 for gravel and commuter, Five Ten Maltese Falcon or Kestrel with Shimano XT M8100 for MTB (currently Five Ten Freerider with flats after ACL replacement, though).

[donutlynx]

XTR pedals - 9000 and 9100 series. Both work well, like a SPD should.

Shimano shoes - XC90, XC9, XC7. Use them for all mtb, cross, gravel bikes. The XC7's are probably my favorite for longer rides and any rides that involve HAB. Used to wear Sidi and Specialized. Shimano just fit my feet better.

[climberevan]

I'm also a Shimano pedal fan. Cheap ones and XT seem pretty similar to me. I agree that the platform ones are dumb since you can't ride them unclipped and it doesn't touch when you're in anyway. It just adds weight and pedal strikes.

After 20 years of Sidi Dominator wearing I was looking for something wider recently and took the plunge on the Lake MX238. The are ludicrously expensive, but I'm in love. The forefoot is a few mm wider, which makes my feet happy. The "wide" version must be huge. I sized down 1/2 Euro from Sidi and am glad I did.

I only have about 500 mi on them, but they seem durable so far. The dual BOA is excellent, and the sole is very stiff. The rubber is much more grippy than the plastic Sidi uses, and so far it looks new but time will tell. For over $300 I expect these to last quite a few years.

[XXX-er]

I'm also a Shimano pedal fan. Cheap ones and XT seem pretty similar to me. I agree that the platform ones are dumb since you can't ride them unclipped and it doesn't touch when you're in anyway. It just adds weight and pedal strikes..

I have 4 or 5 models of SPD from the last 20+ years and they all still work fine, IME the bearings on the more expensive shimano SPD's might spin a little easier than the cheapest but the clipping action and longevity are the same no matter which model

The platforms on one side are heavy but what they are good for is getting the newbie who is scared of clipless up to speed on SPD, I turn the retention down to 3 clicks for the newbie to make it super easy to get out, oddly i find the people who are in initially scared of clipless are not scared of more retentative toe clips which makes no sense to me

edit : once newbie is used to clipless they never use the platform side again

[Roxtar]

Another Shimano fan. Actually a new convert.
I've been on CBs since the orig eggbeaters. Yes, without a single problem. I'd always liked the nice platforms on the Mallets but sometimes had issues getting in quickly. Actually cost me a Dual Slalom race.
This year I drank the Big S coolaid and went with 9120 XTRs and the New ME7 shoes. They market them as "made for each other".
Amazing.
It really works. Getting in is automatic. They really do work incredible together. The shoes just automatically slide into place and snap in like no big thang.
Putting my wife into them asap.

[mfa81]

kestrel lace and mallet e and dh for a few seasons now, despite what a lot of people say about cb they have been good to me!

[roverdoc]

Ht-1s and specialized 2fo clips

[plugboots]

Yeah roxstar, I’m sure those 9120s are fine, but speedplay frogs slide and snap so much better than those. A lot of people don’t like the float of speedplays, but when it comes to getting in and out of them, nothing compares.

[klauss]

I'm thinking about throwing the clipless back on. Have a few sets of early to mid 2000s XTs and XTRs

And how has no one mentioned the best

[climberevan]

Haha! I just told my girlfriend about a spectacular turtle performance I had after a wheelie on the quad between dorms in my freshman year of college.

Onza FTW! The best 1994 had to offer.

[klauss]

The marketing team must have moved on to peloton, but a number of the kids at my high school that liked the bikes ended up with onza pedal after learning on SPDs. Still confused how onza did it. Having to untie the shoe to get off the pedal or the temp driven pre-releases weren't enough evidence to throw away after spending the coin

[El Chupacabra]

I have some Onza HO pedals, if anyone wants to trade me something more functional. Still have extra elastomers for them, and cleats.

[rideit]

That offer is borderline inhumane.

[El Chupacabra]

That offer is borderline inhumane.

So, what do you have to trade?

[rideit]

Hmm.
Let’s see.

Some quick releases without their end nuts and springs?
Seems fair.

[El Chupacabra]

Hmm.
Let’s see.

Some quick releases without their end nuts and springs?
Seems fair.

Sounds more functional. But where's the fun in that?

[rideit]

Now, if you could smoke out of either of these things, there would be a market for them.

[skaredshtles]

Now, if you could smoke out of either of these things, there would be a market for them.

Yes?

[Canada1]

One of my Kids wants to take his enduro bike from flats to cleats. He has mallets on his racing xc bike. Suggestions?

I told him I would prefer he stay with flats as he has gone almost a year without a hospital trip which for him is pretty unprecedented. Is anyone having luck with one of the larger platform cleated petals, or am I overthinking it because he's locked in?

[Roxtar]

I'm thinking about throwing the clipless back on. Have a few sets of early to mid 2000s XTs and XTRs

And how has no one mentioned the best

Ha! Those were my intro into clipless.

[rideit]

Ha! Those were my intro into clipless.

I am amazed you are still alive...

[Roxtar]

Ha! Those were my intro into clipless.

I am amazed you are still alive...

1st weekend on them and, like an idiot, I attend an MTB festival (remember them?). Slowly working my way through the crowd when everything got backed up and my trackstand failed.
I'm on the ground, unable to unclip, like a turtle on it's back. It took two people to help me get disengaged.