Crank brothers Mallets vs New Shimano Saint spd pedals, which is better?

Just my 2 cents on both of these pedals, excuse the filthy hands I'd just taken the mallets apart.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

We are blessed with so many KZbin genius's who don't need to test or use a product before giving full expert review and opinion. Blessed I say.

[@liamreilly5780]

@6:53 "get rid of this fuckin bushing in the back here... seal it properly" I hope crank brothers are listening and take that on board. Heard from a few riders about this common fault with the Mallets. Shame about the identity crisis with the shimano. Glad I came across this vid. I am in the market for first set of clipins, more research needed.

[@andrelloyd4010]

Excellent review and comparison - Thanks for the wisdom & best wishes 🙏

[@paulandrews7573]

Thanks for the honest review. That lack of platform contact is a deal breaker. I think I'll stick with my vintage DX PD-M646 pedals, they have great platform contact. ~20 years old, still going strong. Pick up a used pair if you can. When I finally have to replace them I'll probably get the DMRV-Twin, unless I can't stomach the price, then I'll have to live with the plastic cages on the PD-M647 (which actually slides over rocks better).

[@ericcollins910]

Very helpful - thanks mate

[@JeffWagen]

Nice video, how do you think this will handle a stiffer sole xc shoe? Here in Brazil especially where I ride in some forest areas is pretty wet and flat soles really don't help pushing the bike in some places when needed.

[@jimbodini100]

Great review , where was the video shoot ? Looks like some fun trails .

[@riemer87]

Thank you, very good video!

[@hjalteholdgaard3814]

@theoracle you should really try the newer version of the mallets, totally relieable.

[@MattKayhoe]

Very, very helpful.

[@m00nchildblues]

had mallet 3s, have xt spd, going saint platform for more shoe supper on enduros. mallets have a sweet spot on release and DOES NOT dis engage in any agle but have best platform feel, xt have best dis engagement in ANY angle but engagement is sketchy with min support. Im thinking the saint platform spd will be the best of both worlds.looking foward to it.

[@sixoh_diesel5662]

Hey got an update on this comment?

[@the_baker7606]

Tbh idk how you went through 3 pairs of cleats cos I’ve run mallet Es for 3 years and only got new cleats 3 months ago. They still clipped in and out the same.

[@JC-zf6sx]

I bought the CB mallet e 2 years ago and had problems disengaging. The shoes I wore at the time were 5 10 kestrel lace. I since have switched to 5 10 Maltese falcon, yet still have the same problem. Clipping in is no problem but I never feel completely at ease when unclipping. Did you have to make any modifications to the hellcats or add the spacers? Or were you simply able to attach the cleats and start riding? Thanks!

[@leogonzales5616]

i had the same issue and just required using one shim between the cleat and shoe, problem solved. i also only use the front pins on the pedal and almost completely lower the rears.

[@nicorawmtb]

Thank's for the good review! You say the Shimano offers no support when unclipped but when you are clipped : does the Saint gave the same support as the Mallet? Or the feeling it's the same as the Xt trail like "sliding" on ice?

[@MrSmoothasf]

Unclipped with a soft shoe, you get grip, I wouldn't call it confidence enspiring though. The Mallet feels like a good flat pedal when unclipped. However this pedal is still running with no services. I would have spend the value of the pedal in bearing kits by now with the Crank brothers

[@nicorawmtb]

@@MrSmoothasf thanks for you reply ! When you are clip in the the saint and the mallet feel the same? This is the same support?

[@MrSmoothasf]

@@nicorawmtb there is no support clipped in as the only contact is between the shoe and the spd interface. Just like the trail spd

[@nicorawmtb]

@@MrSmoothasf perfect thank you! that’s I wanted to know!

[@Sheppy99]

Feels like the Time pedals might be the middle ground offering similar clip in and clip out to crankbros but better reliability.

[@MrEtienne6657]

I was a big fan of clipless pedals, I even bought the Shimano Saint SPD pedals to replace my Xpedo GFX... But I also wanted to test flats, so I also ordered a pair of flat pedals Pedaling Innovations Catalyst. To summarize the situation in a few words, the Saint pedals will never be mounted on my bike. More precisely, no pedal other than the Catalysts from Pedaling Innovations will ever be mounted on my bike! For sale: New and unused Shimano Saint SPD pedals.

[@MrSmoothasf]

I'd love to ride flats but I hate having my foot in a different position everytime it's on the pedal. The clipless pedals give me a consistent foot position. I've had these pedals a while now, they are very reliable like all shimano pedals but they just have to go I'm not a fan

[@usmc1127]

Are they still available? How much?

[@emil7385]

Thanks

[@cedricmathieucm]

thanks for this vidéo ;)

[@flyingtiger4991]

Compaired to the xt/xtr trail pedal , the Saint is a massive improvement in those moments when you are off the spd , the saint has a lot more real estate to work with , and the pins do work when you've just hucked it down some steep stairs and or something , and haven't clipped in , you can splay out and lean on 'em , where as the smaller xt/xtr you just slip and skate off the little pedal ... The saint is basically a big ass xtr looking thing ... i love 'em ... The feeling of getting a lot more consistent pedaling power over rougher terrain even if your not plugged in ... If they're anything like my other shimano pedals they should last an eternity ... the shimano me7 shoe works extremely well with the saint pedal ... ... ... that's all i got in my review

[@MrSmoothasf]

I agree there's a lot more real estate but I disagree about the pins, they don't even touch your shoe so you get no benefit from them, have you tried a crank brother mallet pedal? It's considerably better when you come unclipped. Crank brothers pedals with Shimano clipping consistency and reliability would be the perfect pedal.

[@flyingtiger4991]

@@MrSmoothasf... nah i haven't tried the mallet on my own bike ... i'm sure they're good and a lot use 'em ... but when you ride as much as i do reliability becomes an actual thing , peddles are something i just expect to work day in and day out and just be forgettable ... i have always used saint flats and xt/xtr trail , and they have all been BEYOND reliable ... and when you've spent decades on xtr trail peddles , the saint spd is a game changer , and the pins and platform do work when things get sketchy ... as far as feel , the peddle is halfway between a saint flat and an xtr trail ... which is not a bad thing

[@MrSmoothasf]

@@flyingtiger4991 here's my take on the perfect pedal. Crank brothers mallet pedal cage, mud clearance, Shimano spd engagement and reliability. I'm still using the Shimano pedal at the moment, its winter its cold and you know they will last, come summer crank brothers will simply have to go on as they perform better but they are like the Alfa Romeo of pedals, you know from day one they just won't last. The part I'm showing in the video that's broke actually isn't a busting its a bearing and that's all that was left of it!

[@graysonadams2485]

Have you seen the dmr v-twin pedal? It's the best of both worlds: there are shims on the outer cage that you adjust to contact your feet no matter the shoe, and the mechanism is spd. You see, a normal spd system cannot be surrounded by a flat pedal like the crankbrothers, it has to be convex otherwise you won't be able to clip in. The dmr v twin solves this with a rotating spd mechanism that stays at an angle until you clip in. Shimano actually makes a pedal like this too without the adjustable shims, it's the m647 and m424.

[@MrSmoothasf]

They need to install the mechanism so it floats

[@graysonadams2485]

@@MrSmoothasf are you sure? I'm looking at pictures and in all of them the pedal is firmly contacting the shoe everywhere. That's what the shims are for, and the mechanism is there because you need to enter at a slight angle to clip in to spds. Here's a pic: www.dmrbikes.com/imagecache/eaaaa30e-c0b7-4918-90e2-aa390113ef74_714x998.jpg

[@MrSmoothasf]

@@graysonadams2485 no your right I'm saying that's how they Should do it

[@mikaa1202]

I just build a spacer for the shimano saint to have the feeling of a flat pedal it is just awesome feels like a CB and has the good things from Shimano

[@MrSmoothasf]

Please explain I'm very interested, they are reliable as hell but I hate them 😂

[@mikaa1202]

@@MrSmoothasf i replaced the screws with much longer ones sobthat they touch the shoe and I built a spacer that I screwed onto the 2 Screws and I screwed 2 Pins through the adapter so I now have instead of 4 bolts per side 8 and you can ride a whole dh track without beeung clipped in and I have more grip than on CB

[@mikaa1202]

@@MrSmoothasf one of my friends drilled holes trough the pedal for more pins and it just worked fine too

[@MrSupermugen]

@@MrSmoothasf we have a spacer

[@MrSmoothasf]

@@MrSupermugen mad isn't it, we all know what the design flaw is but has to be overcome with these hacks. Such a good pedal for reliability but the design is flawed

[@prboystx]

My only question is what shoes are you wearing with the shimano pedals.

[@MrSmoothasf]

I have used 2fos, shimano me7 and five ten hell cats

[@goatseye7136]

@@MrSmoothasf hows the shoe contact with the saint and me7

[@MrSmoothasf]

@@goatseye7136 there is none or very little between the pins and the sole. The pedal is recessed away. There's a surprising amount of grip but not from the pins.

[@m00nchildblues]

Update on saint spd raceday: performed flawless and did exactly what i expected. Highlights were feel support and engagement/dis engagement motions were perfect.

[@MrSmoothasf]

Engagement is always flawless on all of Shimanos pedals. My issue with them is that the platform has no contact with the sole of your shoe so totally misses the point of having it there in the first place. The inner egg beater piece of the mallet also rotates freely so even if your shoe is tiger it can be pressed down into the pins when needed. I'm still running these..... for now.

[@samuellambert8919]

i wanna use the Mallets on my road bike. U think they'll need less servicing as there's not as much dirt involved? hard to find some of these in black, are the mallet E also like flat pedals like u describe?

[@MrSmoothasf]

I've got eggbeaters on a road bike (same clip interface) and they never see a wet day yet still rusted. They lasted 2 years though but those 2 years had less than 20 rides. Buy them. If your doing 90% dry rides they won't be too much bother

[@samuellambert8919]

@@MrSmoothasf I ride 99% dry rides . Ride the mtb in dirty winter conditions with flat pedals. I would like clip in pedals that feel like flat when clipped in. Hard to find! not the saints so Mallet E? mallet 2/3? the local shops only know of eggbeaters ty, kind regards

[@MrSmoothasf]

The mallet e all day just be prepared for servicing them twice a year

[@samuellambert8919]

@@MrSmoothasf okay. appreciate it TheOracle. Like this type of reviews. Honest and funny crude. Joking with yourself yet touching on the details.

[@nandamandir7880]

Conclusion is if you are going shimano go with pedal that doesn't have platform as it serves no purpose

[@elkat_bori_pr7791]

The problem I got with CB is that you can't adjust the spring. And even using the pink cleat it feels the same. But thanks I have decided then not to buy the Saint model

[@downundermtb4744]

Bugger think I will hold of on the mallets and saints stick with me cheap shit until something else is available.TY.I ride in Spd with helcats looking for an Enduro pedal not today from your vid 👍

[@luftatmer]

Hi Oracle! I've heard that the Saint clipless pedals are working nicely with Shimano AM shoes. Maybe thats the problem? Which shoes are you using?

[@MrSmoothasf]

Hell cats

[@MrSmoothasf]

My friend has the Shimano shoes, they still don't touch the pins

[@luftatmer]

@@MrSmoothasf what an upset to hear that 😐 i had the hope to solve your problem 😔

[@wwindsunrain]

Thanks for the video... That autofocus thing though, pretty annoying. If that camera lets you adjust aperture that might help.

[@MrSmoothasf]

It was new at the time and I didn't know how to use it, I do now thanks

[@eldorestu6437]

So, which one is better??

[@MrSmoothasf]

Function mallets, reliability shimano.

[@stephencutajar2548]

A solution is to swap the screws with longer ones. I would also cut and glue a rubber spacer (or better still held by nuts which are screwed on to the longer screws), so as to not have the screws protruding too much in case they hit your shin.

[@MrSmoothasf]

Your right there's always a bodge but products made right don't need them. At least they last forever.

[@stephencutajar2548]

@@MrSmoothasf Yes I totally agree, but I think that Shimano engineers design some things for a reason, most probably being that certain shoes do require that amount of gap to allow you to tip your foot forward to clip in.

[@ChristianMartin2000]

Shimano❌ Crankbrothers✔️

[@jaworq]

so both pedals sux xD