Already a tri convert or thinking about foraying into clipped-in comfort? Either way, we've clipped on the cleats and tested 14 sets…
Clipless (or, more accurately, clip-in) pedals have greatly evolved since the days of toe clips and straps, and most triathletes will want to take advantage of the greater efficiency offered by clipless pedals.
The foot is securely fixed on the pedal, with various degrees of float (lateral movement) offered by all modern pedal systems to give you freedom to move if necessary, thus protecting the knees.
As the main interface between you and the bike, your pedals should be comfortable underfoot, reliable and easy to get in and out of.
As triathletes, these first two are extra important because you (hopefully) won’t have to unclip mid-race, though make sure you practise with them loads before race day!
The pairs on test here represent a wide range of price points and are all road pedals with cleats that sit proud of the sole.
This means walking in cycling shoes is trickier than with recessed commuter/ mountain bike-style shoes, but you get a larger pedalling platform, which is more efficient and comfortable for riding fast on the road.
Weight differences between pedals tend to be small and many manufacturers use a very similar mechanism on all their pedals, with the only change being the materials used.
That's with the exception of power meter pedals, which include power reading capabilities within the pedal itself.
Some of the pedals tested below have extra power-reading abilities and some don't, you'll see this reflected in a higher weight and heftier price-tag.
Best clipless pedals for triathletes
Time XPro 10 Pedals
- £150
Time’s XPro 10 pedals are the priciest on test, yet the most affordable in the XPro range.
For your money you get a carbon fairing on the back, but the axle and bearings are steel as opposed to titanium and ceramic on the higher-end versions.
You still get pedals that weigh just 114g each on our scales, and Time’s redesigned cleat that’s both hard-wearing and easy to set up.
It’s perhaps a less positive ‘snap’ than Shimano or Look Keo systems, but the pedals engage with a light click and for us are the easiest to get into.
There’s plenty of float without affecting the great power transfer at all, and there are three tension adjustment settings.
This reviewer has experienced some unwanted squeaking with Time’s XPro pedals; this doesn’t affect performance, however, and Time says some Teflon spray should solve it.
Verdict: Expensive, yet light and durable with lovely engagement and plenty of float.
Score: 85%
Shimano R550
- £69.99
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with cycling in your running shoes if you feel safer and more confident using flat pedals.
But if you want to clip in for the expected power transfer gains it brings – not to mention the enhanced post-swim drainage and ventilation that bike shoes offer – Shimano and Look will likely be your first pedal ports of call.
(From humbling experience, just remember to practise clipping out at speed on the turbo trainer or grass!) The single-sided R550 sit towards the bottom of Shimano’s exhaustive pedal range, but there’s a broader appeal here than just the wallet-friendly price.
Like the Look, initial se-up with the three-bolt cleat system is straightforward, with a clear guide showing how much release tension you’ve created.
Clipping in comes with an assured snap and instantly feels secure (but not excessively so – clipping out is easy), with the wide 70mm platform and stainless-steel body plate offering impressive foot-to-pedal transfer.
The composite body is heavier than carbon and less durable, and the 156g per pedal weight is unlikely to appeal to weight weenies, but these are reliable picks for a range of triathletes, beginners especially.
Verdict: A little weighty, but dependable and well priced pedals
Score: 87%
Look Keo Classic 3 Plus
- £59
Look was the first brand to create ‘clipless’ pedals back in the 1980s and they’re still, alongside Shimano, one of the major players in bike pedals (Speedplay, worn by Ali Brownlee, are another option).
The body of the Classic 3 is constructed using composite material, which again keeps the retail price down compared to Look’s top-end models.
The Plus here relates to small stainless-steel plates to aid durability, and you can also adjust the tension for an easier/harder release even if the tension guide isn’t as clear as the Shimano’s (clipping out is refreshingly swift).
The pedal body provides a wide 60mm surface area and weight is 140g per pedal, lighter than the wider Shimanos but the R550’s do have a cover over the pedal’s spring to prevent grit and water degrading it.
We felt the Keo just edged the R500 in hanging at the same angle on the crank and are a tenner cheaper, but both are hard to fault for clipless beginners.
Worth noting is that you get a supplied pair of cleats with both sets here (cleats can cost £20 so look after them!), but take your time setting them up with the pedals or use a bike fitter as poorly aligned cleats can lead to knee troubles.
Verdict: A recommended option for newcomers
Score: 85%
Shimano 105 SPD-SL Carbon
- £124.99
Shimano’s 105-level pedals have stayed the same despite the rest of its 105 groupset getting an overhaul in 2022.
It’s probably because there’s nothing to improve and we woudn’t upgrade from these, either. Weighing 129g per pedal, you get a very wide carbon composite body with replaceable steel inserts, a perfect platform for clipping into quickly and easily, and stamping out power.
The sealed cartridge bearings can deal with the worst weather conditions, and in our experience will still spin smoothly years later.
Shimano’s yellow three-bolt cleats with the highest float are included, but you can change to blue (medium) or red (no float) if preferred.
Shimano’s PDRS500 or PD-RS550 pedals are also good options and considerably cheaper, but neither have the composite body and the stack height increases.
Verdict: Superb wide-body pedals that will last you years; robust and high-performing.
Score: 92%
Look Keo 2 Max
- £80
The Keo 2 Max has been in Look’s pedal range for several years now, and for good reason: it’s a classic mid-level road pedal for any cyclist or triathlete who wants something affordable and easy to live with.
For £20 more you can upgrade to the carbon-bodied version, but for most of us the composite body with a 500mm² contact area and 130g weight on the Keo 2 Max will suffice.
The pedalling experience is smooth and comfortable, although we found the smaller pedal body and cleat marginally more difficult to find in stop/start situations like traffic lights compared to the wider Shimano and Time pedal systems.
While our testing concluded that there are other brands making Keo-compatible pedals that are just as good for less, you certainly won’t go wrong sticking with Look.
Verdict: The original and still one of the best road pedals on the market... and at a good price, too.
Score: 83%
Giant Road Elite
- £64.99
Giant’s extensive range of accessories and components include two pairs of Look Keo-compatible pedals, with the Road Elite being the higher-end offering.
The upgrade gets you a composite pedal body, bringing the weight down to 136g per pedal, and a chromoly spindle with adjustable release tension, which is accessible just under the cleat plate.
One reason this reviewer leans towards Shimano’s pedal system is the super-wide pedalling platform, which feels more efficient and easier to clip into for us, so we were particularly impressed with the nice wide pedal body on Giant’s offering.
It feels very comfortable underfoot, adding to the perception that you’re eking out as many watts as possible through the pedals. Included are a set of Keocompatible cleats.
Verdict: Super reliable, affordable and easy to use. Very good value considering the light weight.
Score: 90%
Van Rysel Road 520
- £29.99
Another pedal that’s compatible with Look’s Keo system, Decathlon’s Van Rysel brand offers unbeatable value for money on paper… but can the Road 520 offer similar performance to pricier rivals?
We found the answer was largely yes, with the engagement system, quality of the cleats, and feeling underfoot very similar to Giant and Look’s offerings.
The pedalling platform is smaller which could be marginally less efficient, but we didn’t notice out on the road. Costs have been cut with a polyamide pedal body and steel springs, but you can adjust the tension easily like on any other similar road pedal.
While we’d perhaps prefer the more robust spindle on Look’s Keo 2 Max and the larger platform on Giant’s Road Elite, of the three Keo-compatible pedals on test we can’t give our best buy to anyone but Van Rysel.
Verdict: Great performance with very slight compromises, but an absolute bargain for under £30.
Score: 86%
Wahoo Speedplay Comp
- £134.99
Speedplay pedals are quite marmite, with some cyclists finding them essential for the range of adjustability, double-sided entry and low stack height, especially crit racers.
For the rest of us, Speedplay advantages can seem slightly outweighed by extra set-up faff, expensive replacement parts, and the unusual engagement system that requires downward force as opposed to sliding the cleat in, which we find quite awkward.
Even so, we can’t fault the robust build and attention to detail, with a hard-wearing chromoly axle and cleat system that allows for float adjustment with a screwdriver.
Once clipped in, the ride experience is smooth and we felt very connected to the bike due to the low stack height. Clipping out’s again slightly tougher than Look or Shimano for us, even with the ‘easy tension’ cleats.
Verdict: Niche but great for those who need max adjustability. Just not our top choice for triathlon.
Score: 79%
Look Keo 2 Max Carbon
- £99.99
Look’s Keo 2 pedals have had a facelift. The steel faceplates on these carbon-bodied pedals have been stretched outwards and upwards, giving them their broad appearance.
The new shape is to provide a bigger platform to push against and results in a faceplate 60mm wide, an increase of about 3mm over the previous model.
Any difference it makes is imperceptible through your feet, however, and in a practical sense it’s intangible.
The new Keo 2 Max are a smart pair of pedals, nevertheless – they make an unmistakable snappy click upon entry, use steel springs for simple tension adjustment and weigh 253g.
The worst you can say about them is the carbon body only saves a few grams over the cheaper plastic-bodied pedals and the facelift has deprived them of their distinctive looks.
Verdict: Positive entry and exit but the new look offers little improvement
Score: 83%
Time XPro 12 Pedals
- £259.99
From French clipless pedal innovator Time, the Xpro 12s weigh just 94g per pedal thanks to their largely carbon-built body. Our feet felt comfy over long distances and we've seen no wear after some heavy use in testing.
Verdict: costly but easy engagement and a solid pedalling platform
Score: 87%
- How to pedal efficiently
- Is there a 'right' way for triathletes to pedal?
- A triathlete's guide to bike cadence
Best power meter pedals
Wahoo Speedplay Aero Pedals
- £239
Wahoo have teamed up with Speedplay to bring you these new aero pedals. Improvements over the previous model include triple-sealed bearings, a steel outer and adjustable float.
Set-up takes some work but once on, the ride experience is superb, with the low stack feeling natural and allowing great power transfer.
Though it takes a bit more effort to clip into the pedals compared to Look and Shimano, the rubber surface makes walking about in them less comical.
Verdict: Pricey, but worth it for those who value a more customised fit
Score: 79%
Garmin Rally RS200 Power Pedals
- £969.99
A step up from the Vector 3, in upgrades as well as price, the Rally has the capacity to be used for both road and MTB pedalling.
The Rallys feel solid underfoot and are comparable in weight to normal pedals, despite their power-measuring credentials.
Verdict: Prohibitively priced, but otherwise highly accurate and reliable.
Score: 90%
Garmin Vector 3 Power Pedals
- £789.99
Once they'd sorted some initial battery teething problems, Garmin's Vector 3's a solid option for fuss-free power pedals that look great. They also offer reliable data, with the numbers being within 5% of our other measurements.
Verdict: Fuss-free power pedals that look great and offer reliable data
Score: 90%
Powertap P2 Power Pedals
Arguably the first faff-free power pedals to launch back in 2015, the Powertap is now onto its second iteration and boasts watertight battery cover with up to 80hr battery life. To set-up, simply affix to your cranks, pair with the Powertap app to set up and then link to your GPS of choice.
Verdict: Still chunkier than the competition, but we can’t fault their accuracy
Score: 86%
