SHIMANO SAINT SPD PEDALS?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Welcome back to Horns High Mountain Biking...
In this video I'm unboxing and testing out a brand new SPD pedal from Shimano. But this isn't just an SPD pedal, this is a SAINT SPD pedal! The Saint lineup is reserved for the absolute best of the best in durability, reliability and performance. So these pedals better be great, right?
So sit back, crack open a cold one and let's see if Shimano goes home a hero or a zero with their latest SPD offering.
I've been very happy with my Shimano XT Trail SPD pedals but they could use some additional support in the form of a bigger cage.
This will improve my riding in two ways:
1) I'll have a wider contact patch with the pedal, which will help distribute the forces from high speed corners and big landings across a larger portion of my feet.
2) That wider contact patch will also help me adjust/maintain my balance during low-speed, rocky, techy terrain when the going gets dicey.
However, I have a couple of concerns:
1) The Saints weigh about 168 grams MORE. And that's not just weight, that's rotational weight. And rotational weight is something I pay attention to on my bike. Will that weight be noticeable?
2) Will this larger cage/platform get in the way when I get hung up on the rocks and need to get a foot on the ground on the quick?
In the comments below, let's talk about your pedals. What do you currently use and why? What other pedals have you tried?
#shimano

[@RideWithGravity]

Let's talk about pedals! What pedals are you currently riding and are you thinking of trying something new?

[@Xelement360X]

Definitely see the new shoe 🤘🏽 dope review man!! Definitely going to get these pedals now. Thanks brotha

[@HallMarc_Trails]

Love those pedals, i use the shimano hybrids (one side flat), which are really cool but i think i prefer the look of those you have, great vid.

[@robertpaulsen5114]

Dude I Just ordered a set of these on July 4th. They will be my first step into the clipless world. Wish me luck. lol

[@ChemicalMathieu]

Nice channel, raw and honest review. Love it. I was hesitant to spend money on those pedals. Going to order now! I also just registered

[@Steedbandit]

I have been running the platform XT for enduro but these look like what I have been waiting for!!!! Thanks for the video

[@solgunson8867]

Love your videos man! Keep doing what you’re doing

[@m00nchildblues]

had mallet Es, 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 and entrance, 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.

[@JC-zf6sx]

dude! so stoked about this video! those pedals are exactly what i've been looking for. like you, i've ridden shimano XTRs but wanted more platform. I tried crank brothers mallet LS but found them horrible. the saint looks like it'd be a good fit (literally). thanks for the great review.

[@WattyLegend]

Love your smooth easy style of delivery! I've ridden SPD (xc no platform) for years Thousands of miles. Recently switched to Ht Ae03 flats, and it has upped my game big time! I love my flats but love the idea of a hybrid so I just tried a set of Crank bro's Mallets. They felt exactly like my SPD's I could not feel the cage at all and they were a little tight to get out of. I'm sure they will loosen up over time. Maybe i just need a softer pair of shoes, wearing Specialize's enduro shoe. Long story "Longer! I find no draw back in flats. They pedal as well as clip-less but more important than getting my foot out, I can get it back on the flat pedal much faster in tricky situation. I'm clip-less on moderate trail but flats on the crazy stuff.

[@gopro_vlogs]

I also got the shimano saint pedals and I really like them. I think they are really comfortable. they are my first pair of clipless pedals.

[@wroberts]

Great video and review! Keep it up Bro, Love the channel!

[@christranter8882]

Considering next pedal choice. Started on EggBeaters, went to SPD’s, was on flats but just brought a new bike so might try my old spd’s for a bit before committing one way or the other

[@saltlakesuperman]

I am new into riding after many years and never rode clipless before. My bike needs had me look at this as an option because sometimes I hop on for a short ride around the corner and I don't want to change shoes but I have the option to clip for more and I don't have to change the pedals out with my mind or need. It is all personal but I feel this is a great option to have both for a beginner in one shot to get used to riding again and to go clipless as well.

[@Brandon_Maxey]

Nice review! You should do more of these! If I were to start riding clipless again, these would be high on the list if not the top. I'm riding the Chesters now and seriously thinking about the OneUp flats for a bit wider platform.

[@ProMachineRider]

Would be interesting to see how these perform with different shoes with different levels of stiffness. I suspect the stiffer the shoe the less benefit from these hybrid pedals. If your shoe confirms a bit to the pedal then there’s a contact with the platform otherwise I suspect there isn’t. But then again you still have the platform to use if you can’t get clipped in. So maybe riders with stiffer enduro type shoes or Xc type shoes will just get more weight with no benefit. Not everyone likes the big five ten style of shoe.

[@OutdoorGold]

Those look SICK!!!

[@pnw_erik]

I started out on XTs and rode those for a long time. I've switched to XT Trails and have been really happy with them for a couple years now. I'm in the same boat here looking for more of a platform for the more aggressive, DH style of riding. I'm torn between these Saint pedals and the HT X2. I have become very familiar with the SPD cleat system over about 15 years of riding so I'm not sure if I want to switch it up.

[@toddeyster7557]

I am old enough that I started on rat-traps with clips and straps - the straps were always kept loose. I early adopted SPD with some Ritchey Logic pedals. My new bike has Issi Flash SPD pedals. I have thought about trying some hybrid ones as I think it might be good to be able to stay uncliped at times, like having to restart in a techie section.

[@zachlegg6687]

Hey man, great video. I also live and ride in Kansas City and am wondering what the name of the trail and where it is located that you road with all the jumps and berms. Thanks