HT vs. Crankbrothers | Why I Switched to HT Pedals…

I got rid of my Crankbrothers Mallet E pedals and replaced them with HT T2 pedals! I've been riding Crankbros for a few years now and while they've done the job, there a few things that just started to drive me crazy and it even became dangerous too. Finding the right clipless pedal for your mtb is important!
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#mtb #mtblife #mtbpedals

[@blakeallen3982]

I love your product review type of videos, because your so honest and you buds don’t lie about anything on any of the products. 👍🏻

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Thanks! We always try to be as honest with you buds as possible!

[@flintscott5990]

I agree I did the same switch last year and I love the stiffness of the HT especially when your sprinting for the finish. And bro why don't yall have more subscribers yall put out some fire vids! keep it up boys!!

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Cool to hear that you had the same experience as me! One video at a time until we grow enough I guess💪

[@flintscott5990]

@@Blake_Cherubini yesir

[@JeremiahTrue]

Good review and information. I’m coming back to biking after a long break and looking for a replacement for my Speedplay Frogs. I never really liked the SPD system back in the day and I was drawn to this or CB pedals. You tipped me over the edge with these.

[@HobbyB19]

I recommend anytime using clipped pedals that you wear as tight as shirt as possible. I really think you could have worn a tighter shirt, thus restricting circulation to your feet, thus giving you a better pedal feel.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

I couldn’t find a tighter one😪 Don’t tell everyone all my secrets!!

[@outsidefootdab4878]

@@Blake_Cherubini need tigher pants... no knee flexion and extension are allowed here

[@tylerdurden4289]

Oh….. kaaayy….

[@paradox963]

I made the same move several years ago, the crank brothers both engagement and disengagement became very vague, where with the HT pedals there is a definitive click when you're in and a very defined point before release, I went with HT over Shimano for the tighter engagement and the fact they don't randomly fall apart like every pair of XTR's I've ever seen. As for float, you really don't want zero float, it's very hard on your knees as the motion of pedaling naturally imparts some movement in your foot.

[@joetief5891]

Nice review, as usual, Blake. I’ve been fortunate to have pretty good luck with my mallets, but will probably give these HTs a look when the CBs are toast.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Thanks!!

[@masonchandler6495]

I was thinking about trying clipless and wanted to know if I bought the crank brothers pedals could I use a HT or other cleat

[@JamesLG4]

I took a long hiatus from MTB, when I came back I used CB pedals also and it didn’t take long to go back to SPDs. My favorite combo is the CB shoes with the “DH zone” or Giro Chamber 2 shoes and Shimano Saint SPDs with pins removed. Cleat as far back on the shoe as it will go. I have those Shimano XT Trail pedals on my ebike but I would really like try these HTs on the ebike.

[@jymtb]

I’ve only ridden Time when clipped in. Huge fan of their pedals. Adjustable tension and fair amount of float. Been bombproof for me so far.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

I’ve never tried them but heard from multiple people that they aren’t very secure…

[@stewarthowe5378]

I switched to the HT X2 DH pedals after having my Crank Bros release at the worst possible moment, for no good reason, too many times. That kind of thrill I can do without. SPD's are great, but when not clipped in (after a dab, or on a sketchy tech section), it was like standing on steel lolly pops. Not good. The HTs have a VERY secure engagement and release feel, and when not clipped in, they have some of the support of pinned flat pedals. Perfect. I've had them for one season and love 'em. Thanks for the great video.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Totally agree with everything you mentioned 🙌 thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@mikeyp3694]

Great review and always up for experimenting. HTs sound interesting. As far as comments on Shimanos lack of durability....I think that is a tough point to make. Hundreds of blogs out there on Shimanos time tested bomb proofness. I have multiple pairs of Shimano pedals that I've done zero maintenance to and beat to crap and they work perfectly. Some are 15+ years old. I'm hopeful the HTs can live up to that resiliency bar.

[@gheatai]

At the end of the day it all goes down to rider preference. I’m on an spd and after hearing you say that tried spd and had a hard time looking to clip in after dabbing, I couldn’t agree more than. Thanks for the review. I’ll have a look at ht

[@Blake_Cherubini]

🙌❤️

[@andrewjohnson6408]

Any tips for making the transition to clipless? Been on flats since I started but everyone I know says that I need to get on the clipless train

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Crankbrothers makes an “easy release” cleat which is what we learned on. Highly recommend. For something like HT, loosen the tension all the way so you can get out as easy as possible. Ride trails you know and are comfortable with so you don’t have any unexpected things to unclog for right away.

[@marks4191]

@@Blake_Cherubini for beginners do you recommend ht or spd, crankbrothers seem like they would be sketchy because of the vagueness but all I’ve hear is from reviews

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

SPD Shimano with SH 56 Multi direction release cleat to start with low tension. Then you can go to SH 51 single direction traditional cleat provided with pedal and increase tension. I been riding SPD Shimano for 30 years on mountain and road bikes.

[@portermcmichael756]

I’ve had shimano, crank bros, and ht’s and the ht’ are definitely my fave. The minimal float means that despite the stronger retention they’re also quicker to get out of in a pinch. I’ve been knocked out of them when I’ve clipped pedals and such but definitely less frequent than with previous pedals. Big fan of them!

[@RonnRider]

“Hold on and let’er eat”…Lol! Nice vid dude!!😂😂

[@mrvwbug4423]

That is one thing I've noticed, less float = easier to unclip. I tried CBs last year and did not get along with them, the really wide (and got wider every ride because soft cleat) float angle made them hard to get out of. I recently started riding SPDs and find them MUCH easier to get in and out of than the CBs were.

[@teddysnaps4786]

I'm running into the same issue with my CB and looking for options. My question is, what does the platform feel like, do you feel like there is a pedal platform support like you do with CB?

[@Blake_Cherubini]

I don’t really use the platform on any. All I’m looking for is a pedal that holds my cleat tight with a shoe that’s stiff enough to not flex. So the shoe never makes contact with the platform unless I have to ride unclipped for a section

[@teddysnaps4786]

@@Blake_Cherubini well if I can find a pair I'll buy them. Cheers

[@huntrails7519]

How are the seals holding up? Can dirt penetrate? An HT X2 user had bad experience with seals. Is that an issue with the T2?

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Mine have been flawless

[@adamsampson750]

I’ve been on Mallets for 3 years and have had all the same complaints as you. Also seem to always deal with a creaking/clicking sound from the cleat and pedal wings when engaged. I usually rub dry lube on my cleat which helps for about 30 minutes. But super annoying. Anyyyway, went to the HT T1s and agree with you 100% BUT I prefer the more platform feel of the mallet pedal VS the T1s. It just seems to work really well with the mallet shoe. Solid shoe to pedal feel. The T1s seem to have less contact with the bottom of the sole. Do you experience this? I went back to CB but still stare at the T1s thinking to give them more time. :/

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Me personally, I don’t notice the platform really doing anything for me. As long as that cleat is tight, I’m all good

[@wills2864]

Are you still loving the hts? ime going to try clipless as getting blown off of flats in racing is abit of a pain.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Love them.

[@DrShredder]

Thanks for the info! What shoes do you wear with them, and do you recommend them?

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Crankbrothers Mallet DH. Been using them for the past couple years!

[@DrShredder]

@@Blake_Cherubini Thank you!

[@juslookinatyas]

What happened with the magnetic pedals you were trying? No good?

[@Blake_Cherubini]

That’s Chase that has those! He’s still running them!

[@juslookinatyas]

@@Blake_Cherubini oh shit, cool 👍🏼

[@anthonywalters7434]

I was considering going for HT’s but then I found a set of Mallet E’s for $80. They’re better than SPD’s so I’m happy.

[@l3y3ndz54]

Yeah, I agree with this video, I used the mallet Dh Ones and after 2 years of use they have burn out and I’ve also buyed all this like coves for the flow and they still feel very loose

[@crikmtb5338]

I run the DH X2’s and I can’t get enough of them

[@tbanderson]

I was on CB Candies for a long time and made the switch a couple months ago to the Time Speciale 8s. I absolutely love them. I have bad knees so having lots of float feels amazing and they’re adjustable. Best of both works between CB and Shimano in my opinion

[@mrvwbug4423]

I tried CBs last year and the float was actually a problem, as a pronator it was hard for me to swing my ankle out far enough to consistently unclip. Recently started using SPDs and they are MUCH easier to get in and out of, even with the pronation the 4 degrees of float is fine. My only complaint is I wish the SPDs had a little more resistance on the float, I may look at trying SPD style pedals from other brands with more of a platform on them

[@mrvwbug4423]

I tried learning clipless on CBs, basically discovered that if you pronate you can't ride clipless on MTB, period, you'll never be able to unclip quickly due to limited range of motion. Rode Mallet Es for about 6 weeks, and then went back to flats after crashing about every other ride due to not being able to get out.

[@gunterhackstock4480]

I think going with clipless depends on what kinf of MTB to ride. If it's XC only, then it would be OK while getting more power. But if you ride Enduro and upwards harder stuff, where you get into scenarios to get of the bike, then flats are all about. With kind of all things in live: It depends ;-)

[@marcopanigo3299]

What kind of shoes are you using with ht pedals? Great vid guys I was looking to buy them too

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Crankbrothers Mallet shoes are🤌

[@prothese9672]

I am riding Shimanos clipless pedals since I started mountainbiking and I really love them. So there never was a need to this day to try something else. I am ridng nearly every and I only have to change the cleats after about a year.

[@stevenmurphree]

I bought some ht m2s after sorting through the noise and seeing this review. After years on shimano I dont plan to go back.

[@Paulklampeeps]

Also the springs in the cb pedals digs into the bottom of the shoes. Especially if you didn't put the plastic spacers

[@mtbdirtbag3370]

HT pedals are better by far. Way lighter and more adjustability. Plus, they just look good. Had pretty much the same experience that you did. One thing to note about HT's is that the bearings are kinda crap. They seem to get creaky faster than other pedals (i.e. shimano).

[@Blake_Cherubini]

🙌

[@tobipaulus1]

What cleats are you running on these?

[@Blake_Cherubini]

X1

[@tobipaulus1]

@@Blake_Cherubini thanks

[@fieldlab4]

The cleats should be phosphor bronze, not brass, and if you think bronze isn't the best cleat material, just try steel and start having to worry about corrosion, lubrication and dirt. The issue, like many companies that ripped off the original Time atacs, is that they left the steel bars rough and uneven so they actually wear down the cleat. Even Time did it to their own design. They are designed in a way to create wear, so what would people expect?

[@fieldlab4]

If you think that steel cleats are going to remain quiet and smooth operating, I'd really like to hear your opinion in about a year 🤣. Are they stainless?

[@fieldlab4]

Unlike phosphor bronze, steel cleats will also wear the pedal as well as the cleat. Look for wear.

[@sterling256]

i thought you guys preferred the magnet pedals as it was close to best of both worlds

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Chase is the one that got those and he’s still using them!

[@sterling256]

@@Blake_Cherubini Gotcha, im definitely going to try the magnet pedals next

[@teqai]

Put HT T2s on my gravel bike, great pedals. A bit squeaky with my shoes though.

[@howejohn1]

Flats for trails then HT's at 50% tension on race day. I promise you won't blow out. HT pedals are the racers choice, it just sucks that they can be hard to find sometimes.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

🙌

[@mrvwbug4423]

Do any big names other than Aaron Gwin and Isabeau Cordurier run HTs? In the DH world it seems like wall to wall CBs and Saints

[@daedelus6602]

Look, Time and HT use the same SPD system. Because Shimano was like this is our patent and everyone is allowed to use it.

[@ameraldas3641]

I have run ht and shimano and prefer the feeling of HT pedals but the pedal bearings wear out far to fast for me to keep using them. I now just run shimano pedals.

[@gunterhackstock4480]

So probably better look at the ones from Hope because they use three instead of one bearing.

[@richo3376]

You're right when mentioning the brass cleats. I can't think of any possible benefit of using brass over other meals, besides they make more money off cleat sales.

[@mrvwbug4423]

The brass cleats don't wear down the little eggbeater clip mechanism like a steel cleat would. that eggbeater is nowhere near as robust as a Shimano SPD clip

[@gunterhackstock4480]

I also do think it's because the relatively weak brackets of the clip mechanism holding the cleats. Don't know why they couldn't construct it in a way and use a harder material to prevent they massive wear.

[@gucass]

10/10 review lol. I dont even ride clipped in! Flats 4 lyfe bro.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Have you ever tried riding clipped in??😏🧐

[@gucass]

@@Blake_Cherubini Yup rode clipped in when I raced. Wrecked in a rock garden and couldnt unclip. Ended up flailing through the rock garden with the bike still attached and tearing ligaments in my knee.... No more clips for me lol

[@lukefinfrock5401]

Flats are just more fun tbh

[@gunterhackstock4480]

@@gucassI think it depends. If you are sure to not get off the bike, clipped ones might be the better option due to more power. But if your terrain and riding styles (as yours) predicts getting off from the bike would be better, therfor flat pedals can save you much hassle and pain.

[@yentongs]

true story, my friend is new to clipless pedals choosing mallet e and he hates it , about to decide riding flat pedals again but i let him try my HT X3 pedals and he likes it sooo much by far :D the best clipless pedal in the world

[@mrvwbug4423]

I have a similar story that I mentioned above. Tried CB Mallet Es last year and due to pronation had a hell of a time getting in and out of them (their big float angle made it really hard for me to unclip), went back to flats for awhile and recently decided to try clipless again, this time with SPDs (was getting tired of shin gashes and replacing $150 shoes every 6 months), the SPDs are MUCH easier to get in and out of than the CBs were for me and I think they might work out this time. If someone has a demo set of HTs around I might give them a try once I get comfortable with the SPDs.

[@gunterhackstock4480]

@@mrvwbug4423I don't get it why some are smacking their shims or anyway get of their flat pedals while going hard down the hill. I use proper Sixpack Pedals and (more important) proper pins. In addition they are used with proper Five Ten's grippy soles. Hope that might help if you ever use flats. ;-)

[@SourPatchPuss]

Never used clipless pedals in my life but ai started to get curious a few weeks ago. Also Specialized had a really good sale on their 2FO DH clip shoes. So I bought those and after some research decided to buy the HT T1s. I setup one of my bikes and just rode around town to get used to it but still havent done any real trail riding. The main thing I noticed that I dont know if Ill like, is that my foot only feels supported in the middle where is clipped in. I was expecting it to feel just like a flat pedal but without the movement. Im sure Ill get used to it and maybe I should have bought a clipless pedal with more of a platform if thats the feel I was looking but we’ll have to see how it feels on the trails and on some jumps and drops.

[@Blake_Cherubini]

It’s definitely a smaller contact patch that may take some getting used to. You could get wider pedals with pins but that will ultimately make it harder to get in and out. I personally like zero pin contact and leave it up to the pedal tension to hold the cleat tightly

[@charliebrookes86]

I love my Nukeproof horizon clipless pedals

[@5amba]

dude… zero float also means instand release learned that the hard way on the fixie

[@mtbholden8819]

There's a small boy out there who doesn't have a shirt because of you.

[@Vanguard152]

HT = Best pedals so far.. Hope is also very good

[@9696scott]

SPD's since I was a kid. They hold up.

[@addtext]

My HTs broke way easier with a few rock smacks. Gone back to Mallets due to that

[@Fincher123]

Flats

[@raheemgahelable]

I can hear the flat pedal riders screaming in victory now! 🤣😂😂😂

[@Blake_Cherubini]

😂😂🙌

[@rmhfpv9225]

lol... "ohhh!"

[@oliverkonrad4445]

Zerroo

[@maxbuyck7218]

You’re gonna regret that in about a month…

[@Blake_Cherubini]

Why’s that?

[@tariqkamil7853]

Less than 2 mins about HT