Head to Head - Trail Pedals: Shimano XT Trail vs Crank Bros Mallet E

When it comes to pedals, riders tend to find a brand a stick with it. We're no different, which is why it has been great to put a couple of the most popular trail pedals on the market head to head. We've been riding Shimano's XT Trail pedals, and the latest incarnation of the Mallet E LS from Crank Bros (LS for long spindle).
There are clear advantages to both these pedals. With such a different approach to the retention mechanism it's no surprise that they have a completely different ride feel too.
Have a watch and let us know what your thoughts are - which will suit your style?

[@mbuquoi4057]

Good video, but PLEASE pick a background song with no lyrics. It was frustrating having to drown it out.

[@tummydummy]

Or no song

[@scottlong2505]

Great review. Hard to concentrate over background music.

[@AlienSexGod]

stupid shit mindless techno crap too.... no soul.. Why?

[@zabfe1421]

I used the Shimano for almost 6 months and all I can say is that if you are an enduro rider you won't feel stability at all in wet conditions or really technical trails, they don't have platform is like having your foots on ice, whereas the Mallet E are incredible you can use them clipped or unclipped and they will perform amazingly either way

[@onlyonecannoli3952]

A wonderful example of informative equivocation.

[@howards5695]

Good gosh! That music overpowers the explanation!

[@salledebain]

I have both, the Shimano XT trail are very good quality but would sometimes clip out midair on jumps even with the spring tension set all the way. The Mallet E feel more secure but the bearings are already rough after a dozen ride, still II will keep using the Crankbros because I like to do sick jumps!

[@secretmeerkat]

its quite the opposite for me... I first had a pair of the mallet pedals but the bearings got rough so i purchased new ones from my bearing shop. The Mallet pedal spring wears loose over time and unclips when you pull up so I decided to purchase XT pedals and they're really good with no cons what so ever

[@m00nchildblues]

I just got my mallet E pedals for 85$ new!? Can't wait to try them out. having a hard time finding the optimal enduro shoe..

[@mirathelo]

wow that look blue & black is amazing =)

[@MRJUCY]

I was a Shimano guy for years but I had some XTR trails that I had replaced many times under warranty until I just gave up on them & went to eggbeaters which have been flawless & I can easily slide on a pair of pub pedals when I just want to cruise around in sneakers, thongs etc.

[@ericcartmansstrengthandpow5960]

You probably shouldn't publicly admit that you wear thongs, brah.

[@AlienSexGod]

"slide on a pair of pub pedals" wtf are those? and what are eggbeaters the crank broke wide mallet platform?

[@marvaus]

guys can you please compare the xt trails to nukeproof horizons cs

[@TinaPlayzAdoptMe]

My xt trail Shimano right pedal make some sounds. It really nerves me. Tried oil but still

[@elkat_bori_pr7791]

You should try Shimano Saint Pedals, they are amazin

[@teddygriffin9510]

@ Flow Mountain Bike, which one keeps the foot in on real bumpy fast rides?

[@astridaiko]

Used both over the years; Crank Bros hands down

[@peterpancho7915]

I just made the switch from the CB Mallet bros E to the Shimano XT spd and to me the spd shoe exit is like night and day. I too was having lots of exit problems w the Mallet E and it only would exit smooth when the crank is in only a certian position where my toe doesnt hit the crank, and sometimes its 50/50. But when I switched to XT spd today and tested for 30 min, the shoe exited 100% of the time at 100% at any crank position!!! Im sold on spd and it only took me 30 minutes. I think the exit is more important then the entrance. funny right shoe entrance i hear a loud click but left entrance is silence?

[@VolvoGuy97]

Peter Pancho probably could have solved that unclipping problem with the long spindle kit and checking to see what release angle you had your cleats set in - it’s adjustable 15 or 20 degrees

[@andrejsarkanovic4059]

Hey, does the platforme on shimano provide any stabile platform when you dony use spd shoes, for your regular walking shoes?

[@fabiojones4157]

No I rode them for a while and when wearing regular shoes it still rolls just not all the way like the xc version

[@daniely9310]

TIME pedals FTW!! Yeah I'm lost!

[@nickzarnetske9994]

Still rocking ATAC's myself, on two bikes, buddy has them on three bikes. I like to borrow his bikes so I'm not switching until he does! LOL

[@THOELL2737]

iron duke mine are from 2002 I believe been on 3 different bike's

[@bob8fred]

I tried using the crank bro's mallet E and found when I was unclipping my foot would often get stuck. as I twisted my toe would press against the crank arm at times and stop my foot from twisting. would that be fixed by a shim? I moved the cleat as far in as possible to allow more room and it made no difference. this was with both XC shoes and bigger trail shoes. exact shoes you showed in the video. specialized

[@geoffkoop]

Same problem here. I’m going to try Shimano

[@VolvoGuy97]

Crankbrothers makes a Long Spindle Kit, or just buy the Mallet E LS or Mallet DH that already come with the long spindle. It gives you more room to unclip and also gives a bit more aggressive stance.

[@nicoofner85]

Had that problem with crankbros as well. I think you have to turn your foot less to clip out with shimano

[@Martynz77]

Been using shimano clip pedals and the advantages is lightweight easy in and out when dry. But when it is wet it is totally useless. Crankbrothers mallet E is a very good pedals. Disadvantages is weight and clip out. But you can settle it with a mallet LS.

[@idontcaresapo8233]

That’s the same reason I’m using shimanos... to much work and set up for The cranky to work and the the price no way

[@skynet859]

I got so sick of my Shimano getting gunked up as soon as I step into any puddle, switched to Crankbrothers and didn't regret it. Shimanos work fine as long as you can keep them absolutely clean.

[@stefanestirider6903]

Shimano Xt Pd-8100 are the best xc pedals!

[@charleyweinhardt]

can the cranks go flat like a flat pedal for street shoes? whats tge best lightweight flat/clipless petal that is fully flat on one side?

[@jeremys8360]

Charley Weinhardt nashbar has one but I don’t have much experience with them as they’re my dad’s and I don’t ride his bike. The don’t have pins but they’re pretty grippy

[@charleyweinhardt]

+Jeremy Sharpe i got the double shot comin the surface is a good siz2 but in close to the pedal so I wont catch the ground turning, the ds3 stick out from the crank more, im doing 180's... i thought about going lighter but i just went through 2 pairs of pedals in the past 2 months. think im set.

[@liammcgough9969]

liked the video. Good info. The music in the background was distracting and was like trying to listen to two people at once. I would subtract the music in this situation.

[@bscjake]

Not sure how they can say they like the easy "set and forget it" of Shimano compared to Crank Brothers when Crank Bro's you do... nothing at all and never have to adjust anything. I use the same shoe/cleat on my CX and Mtn bikes and never think about it.

[@x7savagegaming925]

Do they have same attachments?

[@m00nchildblues]

i have the crank bros and installed and adjusted them accordingly to my preference but for some reason my left clip has a super hard time unclipping more than my right shoe? Any idea why? I looked at the shoe cleat and it matches exactly like the right clean,etc. Hmm

[@owenwalewander3427]

m00nchildblues on one of the cleats there is a little indented dot. This dot is the cleat that releases easier. This is most likely the reason why

[@m00nchildblues]

Owen Walewander how can I have them both release the same tension?

[@owenwalewander3427]

I don’t think there is. This is why I switched to shimano

[@MAGAIVER]

They are at the same tension you cannot change the tension on CB pedals, the dot is used to adjust the release angle, if you have the dot on one side you`ll get an earlier release and if you have the dot on the other side a later release, and the release will always be the same for both feet, Read the manual that came with your pedal for more details as I dont remember the exact details. As for yout problem if there isn`t anything physically preventing your shoe from releasing, you might be moving your feet in a weird way, I have a tendency to lift my heel on the right foot and that makes unclipping on the right side harder not matter what pedal.

[@madrx2]

Shimano !!!........For my riding conditions.

[@richcole3931]

Which are?

[@thegoodsamaritan4333]

sirs. are crankbrothers compatible to shimano shoes?

[@timmyboy525]

Sure can just change the cleats (little metal pad on the bottom of shoe) over to the ones that came with the mallets, its two hex bolts in the middle of the cleat.

[@thegoodsamaritan4333]

@@timmyboy525 thanks sir, i ordered the Crankbrothers Double Shot1 already.

[@idontcaresapo8233]

Shimano i had the crankbrotjers and there were super goo it not as good as shimanos I like the snappiness of shimanos and for thy reason I returned the crankbrothers back.

[@cosmicsheep5143]

is this for xc as well?

[@lukasbormann4830]

Nope crankbrothers egg beater for that

[@roostville3909]

Still waiting for Shimano to release clipless Saints

[@bzikofski]

Already released.

[@parvezwadia417]

Nice video but back ground music is too distracting 😅

[@RandomTheories]

520

[@jeremys8360]

MrDumbDrunk 520 vs 540

[@jamesambrocio]

Jeremy Sharpe there's really not much difference. Except the weight.

[@bzikofski]

Every comparison/review of clip-in platform pedals - including this video - which does not show how the shoe makes contact with the platform, is useless. You could have done it, instead of just talking into it. I know that there are different shoes with totally different soles, but.. nevertheless.

[@JogieGlenMait16]

shimano all the way...crank brothers need more experience

[@onlyonecannoli3952]

With a stupid comment like that, you better be on the payroll.

[@Scolecite]

The Shimano is SO MUCH MORE DURABLE.

[@leor769]

Please no more music in the back ground cant hear u

[@anymanusa]

Do you think what you're saying isn't important? What other reason is there to play music, much less lyrical rap music while you're talking?

[@bryand6094]

cut the background music...or make it much much softer...

[@fishplanes2244]

WHY are all of these pedal reviews completely useless they all end up ith " Its up to you to develop personal preference" do they think everyone has 500$ to drop to find the right pedal?

[@brandonnunez3644]

So many people complaining about the music. I heard every word he said yall are just bitching for no reason. Get your bearing checked.

[@MrChadLedford]

Wtf is up with the music??

[@honza3304]

The rap in the background is so annoying noise so I wasn't able to focus on the speech. Seems like waste of quite fine video.

[@danwebber9494]

Without watching the video, the Shimano pedal will last 20 years, the crank brothers 6 months.

[@Playwholeday]

Pls show any picture of 20 years old shimano) Ho does care about money and durability - if you pushing hard, doesnt matter how expensive It is, you better be clipped in after the drop and in the air, than wear the same shoes and pedals for 20 years... If you riding around your house with your children you can ride spd during 20... 100 years absolutely no problem) I rode all pedals on the market, they are all good, but if you are experienced rider u will never reccomended to anybody to make choice instead of person itself... So the video is super nice... The conclusion - you have your own brain and leg feelings so you should choose by yourself, not by other guy from comments...

[@AlexBaldini]

That music on background made me impossible to watch more than 1 minute of video, you talk very fast, and someone singing in the back turn this a messy.

[@adamlazear9127]

Turn the music off. Super annoying and difficult to concentrate on what your saying. You’re doing an information video here yet the music gets in way so much I didn’t want to finish it.

[@Der.Prinz.Eisenherz]

Horrible background music.

[@JC-zf6sx]

CB mallet els is nothing more than a colorful pedal with a cool-looking design. complete shit these things are.

[@Teamcrapsheep]

Shimano all the way, Crank Brothers should be banned from making products with moving parts.

[@jdssurf]

Team crap sheep lmao why what’s up

[@AlienSexGod]

Trust an Aussie for straight review! Bewdy m8! The music sucks though m8 lose it....