The best commuter bike pedals can really make a difference to your ride to work. As a ‘touch point’, pedals are an important choice for any cyclist, but for the commuter, they need to deliver during the ride as well as being compatible with a wide variety of shoes, depending on your office or destination's dress code.
Navigating busy streets, office steps, or slippery hallways wearing the best cycling shoes with cleats can be a recipe for disaster, particularly when it's wet. The best commuter pedals combined with the best commuter cycling shoes could enable you to walk safely when you’re off the bike while adding weather resistance and pedalling efficiency.
Which of those you decide upon will largely come down to preference. Your choice is, therefore, likely to be between the best flat pedals that allow you to ride with trainers or smart shoes or the best gravel bike pedalsandthe best gravel shoes which use a recessed cleat.
However, there are a couple of points to consider. If your commute is over many miles, with long stretches of road outside of a city or town centre, then you might benefit from riding clipped-in. However, if your ride to work is shorter or requires some public transport, then flat pedals could be the way forward. It means you don’t need to wear cycling-specific shoes.
In this guide, we have included a mix of both the best flat pedals for commuting and the best clipless pedals for commuting, with top honours going to the Crankbrothers Stamp 3 pedals, which offer excellent durability as well as grip in any shoe and weather, all without breaking the bank.
The stock grub screws aren’t doubled-sided – if you mash one it’ll need drilling out
The Stamp 3 Small pedals blend build quality with style. There are cheaper flats of course - they retail at $139.99 / £139.99 - but if you’re after something a little more premium, but still without totally breaking the bank, these are a great option.
For commuters the smaller size, which measures 100x100mm, means it won't catch on stairs or other obstacles you’re likely to encounter on your way to the office. However, if you have larger feet, or want to use the pedals for off-road use as well you may want to opt for the larger size.
The rather elegant and slim pedal body - just 16mm in depth - also means that it won’t look out of place on one of the best commuter bikes, whether it’s a flat bar hybrid or a drop bar all-road machine.
As for the grip, there are 10 adjustable pins on each side that can be screwed in or out - for the daily commute we’d suggest winding them in a little. Your shoes and your shins will thank you!
The bearings are fully serviceable, with Crankbrothers providing a pedal refresh kit. Coupled with the magnesium alloy body this should mean that the Stamp 3s have a long shelf life and stand up well to the rigours of year-round commuting.
A regular commute can be hard on your bike and its various components. Some choose to combat this by buying expensive bits that are built to last or can be easily serviced. The other approach is to opt for cheaper parts, which are robust enough for the job, but aren't too nice to get dirty, and can then be replaced without breaking the bank.
Upgrade's Crosstown pedals fit into the latter category, thanks to their $21.34 / £20.00 price tag. But they deliver a level of performance that you might expect from a more expensive offering.
On review, we found them to be grippy with good foot retention, even when wearing traditional soled shoes in the wet. To help achieve this the pedals have a slight concave profile as well as a surface that looks like sandpaper. However, despite appearances, it stayed firmly glued to the plastic pedal body during review.
Other notable features include built-in reflectors - something of a must-have for flat commuter pedals - and bearings (or perhaps bushings) that ran smoothly for the length of the review period.
Designed for trail use, the Aeffect pedal also makes sense for commuters looking for a robust flat pedal that’ll work in all weathers.
Made from aluminium, with a serviceable steel axle, the smaller platform is well-suited to off-trail pursuits, hitting a sweet spot between support and size. However, for your ride to work you’ll probably want to wind the pins in somewhat to help save the soles of your shoes! Each pedal has 10 pins with an Allen socket on the reverse side. The hexagonal pins can also be removed using a small spanner. The axle is equally serviceable, and only requires an Allen key for its removal.
On test, we found them to be as robust as they look. There are other slimmer options out there, and depending on your bike, you might wish to match it with something a little less chunky than the Aeffect. However, if you’re looking for a pair of reasonably priced, serviceable flat pedals that can take the punishment of a year-round commute then these are worthy of consideration.
Using Shimano's original two bolt SPD system, the PD-M520s are designed as an affordable and durable off-road pedal. However, many of the attributes that make them so popular with gravel and MTB riders also apply to commuters. The double-sided entry, which is great for trails, gives you plenty of confidence clipping in and out in traffic, with the adjustable cleat tension allowing you to dial this action in to fit your needs.
Equally, the sealed bearings are a bonus if you commute regularly and ride in the wet. In general the overall durability make the pedals a good fit for commuting, where all moving parts can take a hammering.
While they may have ‘trail’ in their name, these flat pedals from Look are well-suited to the daily commute.
They feature Vibram Active Grip inserts - Vibram make footwear soles for outdoor pursuits - which use a vulcanized rubber with composite studs to deliver grip. During the review period, we can attest to this; we used the pedals in some horrible weather conditions and the Vibram Trail Grip pad provided a secure platform for urban riding at all times. We didn’t suffer a single slip while riding around in both trainers (sneakers) and hard soled boots, while the decent sized platform meant that we didn’t miss the pedal ever, either
The Vibram pads are replaceable and swapping them out was a cinch. The necessary T20 hex key and 8 spare screws are included. The replacement pads aren’t cheap but it does mean you can extend the life of the pedals rather than buy a new pair. The rest of the pedal isn’t serviceable however, with bushings used rather than bearings.
While the V6 is aimed at off-road riders looking for a budget pedal, it perhaps works better as a reliable commuter option.
Made from nylon it’s lightweight - about 320g for the pair - and won’t shred your shins if you have to stop abruptly in traffic or find yourself carrying your bike up and down stairs. On review we found that the 10 pins provided ample grip without being too harsh on the soles of our shoes. The V6s wide, concave shape also aided foot retention.
At this price point something has to give however, and in the case of the V6s it’s the use of non-serviceable bushings. It means they don’t spin as smoothly as pedals that use bearings. In fact, we’d go as far as to say they are stiff, with no let up over the test period. However, if you can live with this then they’re a solid option.
At Cycling Weekly, our dedicated team of testers reviews a wide variety of cycling products, providing objective feedback based on their daily usage in diverse conditions. With extensive experience, they are well-equipped to compare products, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and deliver an honest, impartial evaluation of their performance.
When it comes to testing the best commuter bike pedals, our team is looking for technical specifications alongside real-world and practical applications. With such a broad range of options to choose from, the rigours of commuting by bike are taken into consideration; it’s paramount that a pedal is seen to be durable, serviceable, and, if not affordable, regardless of the shoe you choose to ride in.
It's the real-world testing that is most important, though, with hours spent in and out of the office, meetings with brand and press agencies alongside personal errands to hone our selection. We are looking for pedals that can withstand various weather conditions, withstand constant knocks at bike racks and on public transportation, and offer good grip and ease of use during stop-start motions.
How to choose the best commuter bike pedals for you
While your choice of the best commuter pedals is a personal one, it could come down to several factors: confidence in your bike handling and negotiating traffic, your mix of on and off the bike and whether you plan to use public transport or maybe you are just already a cyclist, and it's what you have in the shed.
What is certain is that both flat pedals and clipless pedals have their pros and cons for commuting by bike.
Flat pedals
Pros
Can be used with just about any shoe
Allows for a mixed commute without needed to change shoes or skating around on your cleats
Generally affordable
large platforms make it easier to get away at traffic lights
Cons
Not all flat pedals are made equally and thus many don't offer the levels of grip you would expect
Unless used with a flat pedal shoe they can be a lot less efficient when compared to a clipless setup
Clipless pedals
Pros
Add with efficiency and help to transfer power to forward motion
A variety of weatherproof shoe options, whether winter boots or overshoes.
Can use pedals or shoes you might already own
Offer better fit and contact with your bike
Cons
Clipping in and out for stop-start riding can be frustrating
Clipless shoes aren't always the best for walking around on wet tiled floors of office receptions or train stations
They require you to have or purchase both shoes and pedals
Certainly costs more than most flat pedals
(Image credit: Future)
Frequently asked questions about commuter pedals
Is it ok to use flat pedals on a road bike?
Of course.
While aesthetically flat pedals might not quite look the part, there's no technical reason why you can't fit them to your road bike for commuting purposes. As long as the pedal thread, typically 9/16", matches the thread of the crank arm, you'll be ok.
From a practical standpoint, you may want to equip your road bike with flats for commuting, allowing you to ride in street shoes and avoid having to tackle stairs in cleats.
Flat pedals can also be a safer option for newer cyclists, especially when navigating busy city streets where you may find yourself having to put your foot down with regularity.
Read the buyer's guide that's at the bottom of our guide to the best flat pedals for cycling for more information on how to choose flat pedals.
Are clipless pedals suitable for commuting?
Clipless pedals are a great choice for some commuters.
If you typically ride clipless, on your road bike or gravel bike, then it makes sense to do so on your commute. You'll benefit from the same pedalling efficiency and stable platform you're used to, as well as not having to invest in any new gear.
However, if you ride road-style three-bolt clipless pedals, it may be worth considering a switch to SPD-style pedals and cleats. Designed for off-road use, they are generally more robust in their construction, as well as allowing you to walk safely when you arrive at your workplace.
Read the buyer's guides at the bottom of our guides to the best clipless pedals and best gravel bike pedals for more information on pedal systems and how to choose the best clipless commuter bike pedals.
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Luke Friend has worked as a writer, editor and copywriter for over twenty five years. Across books, magazines and websites, he's covered a broad range of topics for a range of clients including Major League Baseball, Golf Digest, the National Trust and the NHS. He has an MA in Professional Writing from Falmouth University and is a qualified bicycle mechanic. He has been a cycling enthusiast from an early age, partly due to watching the Tour de France on TV. He's a keen follower of bike racing to this day as well as a regular road and gravel rider.
