The best clipless pedals will increase your pedalling efficiency, power transfer and comfort. Typically, road cyclists use clipless pedals while commuters tend to prefer flat pedals to be able to put a foot down more easily. Clipless pedals are also popular with gravel riders, while mountain bikers are more evenly split between clipless and flat pedals.
So should you choose two-bolt or three-bolt cleats? The best road bike pedals use three-bolt cleats that are larger, protruding below the shoe’s sole, and use single-sided pedals designed for maximum power transfer on the road. Meanwhile, the best gravel bike pedals use a smaller two-bolt cleat that's recessed into the shoe’s sole and is usually paired with double-sided pedals. The pedal choice will also dictate whether you choose the best road cycling shoes or gravel bike shoes to pair them with.
Ultimately, the best clipless pedals are the ones that align with your riding style, cleat compatibility and whether you prioritise power transfer or walkability. To simplify things, this guide is split into two sections: the best clipless pedals for road bikes and the best clipless pedals for gravel bikes.
We have tested a total of 17 clipless pedals from eight different manufacturers in both on-road and off-road conditions. If you're still unsure of what's the best clipless pedal for you after reading, feel free to check out our How To Choose and FAQ sections at the end of the guide.
So without further ado, here are our picks for the best clipless pedals in 2025...
Best clipless pedals for road bikes
➕ Solid and stable pedalling platform
➕ Easy tension adjustment
➖ Cleat adjustment can be fiddly
➖ Lighter alternatives are available
The Shimano 105 pedal offers a carbon body at a very affordable price and includes much of the tech of the top-spec Dura-Ace pedal.
It has a similar adjustable retainer spring and a wide platform for foot stability. Its bearings are easy to service and the steel plates in the top of the body ensure longevity. The only real advantage Dura-Ace and Ultegra have over the 105 is their lighter weight.
Read more in our Shimano 105 pedal review.
➕ Perfect balance means they're easy to clip in
➕ Worldwide availability of spares
➖ High price (although regularly discounted)
If you want Shimano's top pedal tech, the Dura-Ace pedals include features not found in the 105 or Ultegra. The outboard main bearing lowers the stack height and increases the bearing separation for a more even load distribution.
Unlike the 105, Dura-Ace offers a 4mm longer spindle version for greater stance width (also available in Ultegra). Plus, at 238g for the pair, they are 22g lighter than 105 too.
Read more in our Shimano Dura-Ace pedal review.
➕ Lightweight carbon design
➕ Competitively priced
➖ Cleats wore faster than rivals
➖ Bearing play
The Keo 2 Max Carbon is top of Look's spring-tensioned pedal range, featuring a 250g a set weight that matches Shimano Ultegra. It has a full carbon body and a large engagement surface thanks to the wide steel plate mid-pedal. Even some of the pros can be seen using this pedal and its durability and serviceability are on par with Shimano.
Read more in our Look Keo 2 Max Carbon pedal review.
➕ Lightweight
➕ Wide availability of replacement cleats
➖ Cleats can make noise
➖ Adjusting tension can be fiddly
The Keo Blade pedals received an update this year. The carbon leaf spring helps to lower weight to 232g a set. This Ceramic version has a chromo spindle, but you can upgrade to titanium to drop even more weight. As its name suggests, the bearings are ceramic, although there is also a steel bearing option.
We've not yet reviewed the newest version of the Keo Blade.
➕ Low stack height
➕ Range of adjustment
➖ Requires maintenance to reduce wear
The Zero is one up from the entry-level Speedplay Comp pedals but adds a stainless steel axle and full cleat covers, as well as higher release tension. It's also the only Speedplay pedal offered with multiple spindle lengths. As with all Speedplay pedals, there's extensive adjustability—making the Zero a great choice if you need to fine-tune your stance and leg alignment.
Read more in our Wahoo Speedplay Zero pedal review.
➕ Low stack height
➕ Near infinite float adjustment
➖ Requires maintenance to reduce wear
➖ Minimal performance gains for extra cost
The Speedplay Aero pedals differ from the Zero in offering a one-sided aero-profiled pedal body. This results in single-sided only entry, but other features of the Zero, including low stack height and wide adjustability are retained. The Speedplay cleat is more awkward to set up and make position adjustments to than other systems though.
Read more in our Wahoo Speedplay Aero pedal review.
➕ Very lightweight
➕ Fixed cleat option available
➖ Finish feels slightly basic compared to competitors
➖ Sharp edges
The Xpresso 7 is top of Time's lower priced range but still boasts a carbon body with wide-bearing separation and a wide platform with low stack height, as well as a low 196g a pair weight. The streamlined pedal body offers plenty of support when pedalling, although it has sharp edges to the front and rear retainers.
➕ One of the lightest pedal systems
➕ Fixed or floating cleat options
➖ 90kg max rider weight limit
➖ Three tension settings
The mid-range Time Xpro 12 weighs just 183g a pair, making it one of the lightest pedals available. Its narrow, enclosed body should slightly lower your wind profile too. Despite this, the pedal platform spreads out to give good foot support, while the rear retainer has a smooth edge, unlike the Xpresso 7. It uses the same iClic retainer as the Xpresso for easy engagement.
Best clipless pedals for gravel bikes
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➕ Extremely robust
➕ Excellent value
➖ Heavy
➖ Can be prone to squeaking
The Shimano M520 may be Shimano's entry-level SPD pedal, but it boasts a robust build that should carry you many off-road miles. The skeletal body sheds mud and debris well, there's plenty of adjustability, it's weatherproof and the M520 can be serviced easily. It's a cheap pedal option that will serve for commuting too.
➕ Very durable
➕ Adjustable tension
➖ Low stack height
➖ Not the cheapest option
At the other end of Shimano's SPD pedal range, the top-spec XTR, as with Dura-Ace on the road, offers premium bearings and a lower weight of 310g than Shimano's lower-priced pedals, as well as two-axle length options. The XTR pedal's 15.1mm stack height is lower than the M520, but it retains the same open design for excellent mud shedding.
➕ Extra float
➕ Supportive pedal platforms
➖ Need a specific Look tool to service
Look's midrange pedal is positioned to compete directly with Shimano's XT pedal. The X-Track has a wider platform than Shimano's pedals, although the pedal body also has marginally more stack than the equivalent XT pedal. Looks pedals are compatible with Shimano cleats but when used with Look's own cleats they increase float to 6 degrees, up from Shimano's standard 4 degrees.
➕ Easy to clip into
➕ Reliable mechanism
➖ Weighty
The X-Track En-Rage pedal offers the same SPD-compatible engagement mechanism, but a larger pedal body and the En-rage Plus adds front pins to that to further improve foot retention. Although geared towards Enduro MTB use, the En-Rage is a good option if your gravel riding is on the more extreme end and you regularly tackle tricky terrain.
➕ Fantastic mud-shedding
➕ Easy clipping
➖ Lack of platform won't suit everyone
➖ No tension release
Eggbeaters are the minimalist solution for gravel riding. The lack of a platform makes for excellent mud shedding, although it can affect foot stability. The design also gives you four points of engagement rather than two, making quick clipping in that much easier. The four-model range is priced from $60 to $500.
Read more in our guide to the best gravel bike pedals.
➕ Good for mud
➕ Added platform support
➖ No tension adjustment
If you like the Crankbrothers system but prefer more foot support, the Candy is one of several Crankbrothers designs that add a platform to the retainer. It has the same easy engagement with four points of access and is available in an array of colour options. There's the same wide price range over its four models as with the Eggbeater pedals.
➕ Different float cleats in the box
➕ Beautiful machining
➖ Expensive
➖ Heavier than XTR
Hope is best known for its quality CNC-machined hubs and brakes and the Union RC pedals are no different., beautifully made and anodised in a range of bright colours. The cleat dual sprung jaw mechanism is similar to Crankbrothers and uses a proprietary cleat. Two sets of cleats come in the box offering different floats and release angles, and adjusting the release tension is very easy. The downside is the high price, especially considering they are heavier than the cheaper XTR option.
➕ Affordable power meter
➕ Internal rechargeable battery
➖ Engagement isn't as secure as Shimano
Favero Assioma Pro MX is a great entry point to riding with power on your gravel bike. Available in either single-sided or dual-sided options, Favero seals all the electronics neatly inside the axle but still achieves a low stack height of 11.2mm. Data accuracy has been impressive during testing and the pedals can measure additional pedaling dynamic analysis too. The rechargeable battery means you don't need to mess around with batteries and has around 60 hours of battery life.
Recent updates
Last updated on 5th March 2025
The guide was updated ensuring that all the clipless road and off-road pedals are current and available. Buy if/Don't buy if" sections were added to highlight the pros and cons of each clipless pedal. The guide has been restructured into two main sections on "the best clipless pedals for road" and "the best clipless pedals for off-road" so readers can easily find what they're looking for. A "How to choose" section was also added to provide readers with more insights and information to help them purchase the right pedals. In addition, a "How we test section" was also added.
