Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro Pedals, unisex, Mallet Enduro

Product Information

The traction pad feature first seen on the Mallet E has also been carried over to the Mallet DH, which consists of a removable, rectangular piece of polyurethane that sits on each side of the clip-in mechanism. There are different pad heights available, allowing riders to customize their pedals to work perfectly with their shoe of choice. The upper is almost identical to that of the Mallet and comes with all the same features, but doesn’t get the extended ‘Race Zone’ cleat slots. While the outsole uses the same MC1 rubber, both the toe and heel treads are deeper for improved traction off the bike. The toe box has average, rather than high, levels of toe protection, contributing to a competitive 886g weight for the pair. While this may hold true for most clipless pedals, the Mallets need a little more tuning, otherwise they either refuse to work or, possibly worse, don’t work at their best with the rider unaware they aren’t getting the most from their expensive investment. The function is so dependent on the interface of shoe and pedal that you really need to carefully customise the setup with cleat shims and side platform bumpers to get it right.

There are three different models available, named after the pedals that best reflect their intentions: Mallet, Mallet E and the StampFinance is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Performance Cycling Limited FRN: 720557 trading as Tredz are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker not a lender – credit is subject to status and affordability and is provided by Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC. Terms & Conditions Apply. I also found that if you pull the lace tight, the top cross-over of laces can put more pressure on the top of your foot than others, though with a bit of pedalling, this tension equalises itself down the foot. There is no adjustable tension on the spring mechanism on any pedals by Crankbrothers. The only adjustable feature is the height of the traction pins, which can be dialed up taller for more grip or screwed in lower for less grip. This changes the feel of the pedal when clipping in and out. The DH has eight pins per side.

For example, Crankbrothers says, with confidence, that if you want to use its shoes with Shimano pedals, the cleat can be mounted directly to the shoes without a spacer. Fitting a Crankbrothers cleat requires a ‘Match Shim’ underneath to work as effectively as possible. Tried and tested While this may make the Mallets a little less efficient when pedalling, it’s nice to have the option and adjustment on offer, but it’s also a little puzzling as to why the brand thinks this isn’t required on the Mallet E shoe. We’d certainly like to see it on both clipless offerings.

Clipless MTB Pedals

As with most of the Crankbrothers pedals, entry is relatively straight forward; the pedal technically has a four-sided entry, but its cage makes it essentially a two-sided pedal. The traction pins, while helpful in many situations can hang up on some shoes, preventing smooth entry. This pedal's entry performance isn't affected by mud, sand, or debris, and can be relied upon when the trails (and your shoes) are in rough shape. Thanks to the offset and narrower upper of the Mallets, I still had more clearance from the shoe to the crank with the cleats in this position, meaning clipping out was never affected no matter the crank angle – a problem some shoes can suffer from when paired with Crankbrothers pedals.

Perforations and mesh panels on the upper are designed to keep your feet cool. Russell Burton / Our Media While I sometimes needed to manipulate the lace to either release or equalise tension down the foot when getting the shoes on and off, the laces pull through their guide loops easily. The pull-tab on the end of the lace gives a solid anchor from which to add tension.My size 42 test samples weighed 1,140g with cleats fitted. Crankbrothers Mallet BOA shoe performance The upper is constructed largely from a single piece of material, reducing potential areas of weakness at the seams. The toe box has a number of ventilation perforations, while there are closed-mesh panels on the inside and outside of the foot. The Crankbrothers Mallet are undoubtedly some of the most popular clipless pedals among mountain bikers, with countless downhill and enduro pros relying on the Californian brand. The Mallets also convinced the jury of our 2022 group test, outperforming the competition and coming out on top. Can they make it two in a row? Double seal system combines a double lip internal seal and a new external seal to keep water and debris from entering the pedal

However, the interaction between the Mallet Trail pedals and ‘proper’ XC shoes is a touch better, with an easier entry feel.The biggest problem with release from the Mallet 3 is the shoes you are likely to wear with these pedals, which can be so wide in the forefoot that they hit the crank arm at certain angles, preventing a full release. Once your cleats and the edges of the shoe break-in this will become less of a problem. Beware that with a new pair of Mallet 3s, new cleats, and a fresh pair of Five Ten Hellcats, you might find yourself falling over in front of your buddies. The cleat bed is well-shaped, though, with ramps for entry and exit, as well as markings to help get your cleat position consistent on both left and right feet. You can also adjust your release angle by the way you install the cleats on your shoes. If you put the cleat with the indented dot on your right shoe you will get a 15 degree release angle, whereas if the cleat with the dot goes on your left shoe providing a 20 degree release. Because of the problem of shoe/crank arm interference we mentioned above we recommend you go with 15 degrees if you are running these pedals with beefy shoes like Hellcats or Minnars. Weight