Bikepacking is an amazing way to adventure. You can travel big distances, you can go on all different types of terrain, and what bike you choose to ride and the kit you take is entirely up to you and your needs, but what are the best bikepacking pedals?

As a bikepacking expert and someone who has taken many trips over the past decade, I get asked a lot of great questions from the readers and subscribers. I was recently asked, “What are the best pedals for bikepacking?”

As someone who has used most types of pedals for bikepacking, I couldn’t wait to tell you my thoughts and help point you in the right direction of the right pedals for you, depending on the adventure.

In this article, I’m going to be telling you everything you need to know by discussing the different types of pedal and :

• Different Pedal Types
• Which Pedals Should I Be Using For Bikepacking?
• It’s All In The Shoes

Different Pedal Types

You have a few to choose from when it comes to finding the right bikepacking pedals. The main three types of pedals you will see people use are SPD-SL, SPD, and flat pedals. Which is going to be best for bikepacking? Here’s a little about each:

SPD-SL

SPD-SL stands for Shimano Pedaling Dynamics Super Light. These are most commonly seen in road cycling and come equipped with a three-bolt plastic cleat in the shape of a triangle. These are classed as road bike pedals. You get many different float options, and cleats are cheap to replace. 

They are single-sided clipless pedals, made to offer a wide platform, and very aerodynamic. The shoes that fit SPD-SL pedals are generally very light but can’t be walked in. I have been bikepacking with SPD-SL multiple times, and they have been alright. 

They are awful if you plan to be off the bike a lot and don’t have spare shoes, but what they lack in functionality, they make up for in performance, and the shoes are light and have a solid base. 

They are terrible for off-road riding and easily fill up with mud. If walked in a lot, the cleats wear down very quickly, which can lead to a poor experience clipping in and out. 

 They are perfect for road ultra cycling races, but they are not an ideal solution for adventure travel and bikepacking holidays where you plan to relax, go sightseeing or go trail riding. 

SPD-SL Pros 

• Lots of cleat options
• Lightweight shoe options
• Solid base for performance 
• Reduced float is excellent for climbing 

SPD-SL Cons

• Terrible for walking in
• Cleats wear out quickly
• Single sided
• Racing shoes are not always comfortable 

SPD-SL pedals are ideal if you plan on going into bikepacking races. They offer the performance you might need, and shoe options can save weight. If you plan on being off the bike a lot, they are not going to be ideal as they are terrible to walk in and can be slippy. We highly recommend Shimano pedals over other brands. 

SPD

Next, we have SPD, which stands for Shimano Pedaling Dynamics (Not Super Light). They’re also known as mountain bike pedals or indoor cycling pedals. They come with a small metal cleat, and they use a two-bolt system to grip the shoe. Like the SPD-SL they are a clipless pedal (Clip in compatible).

You get two different types of cleats with these pedals, normal and pull release. They offer a wide float of 7 degrees or more and are used for lots of different riding but are mainly focused on off-road and touring. Another great feature of the SPD pedal is that it is double-sided for easy clipping in. 

The beauty of SPD pedals is that they work with a wide variety of functional shoes. When we say functional, we are speaking about shoes that can not only clip into pedals but also can be walked in as the cleat is recessed. 

Although up to now, they tick all the boxes, they’re are some drawbacks. Firstly, they are generally quite heavy compared to SPD-SL shoes, and secondly, although you can walk in SPD shoes, they are not ideal for long city walks as the sole is too solid. SPD for many people who enjoy bike touring are the bike touring pedals of choice. Double sided SPD pedals or combo pedals are the choice of many great bikepackers.

SPD Pros 

• Double sided bicycle pedals
• Incredibly durable
• Work with shoes you can clip in and walk in
• Wide float for comfort
• Work great off-road walking and riding

SPD Cons

• Shoes are fairly heavy
• Shoes are not ideal for long walking

SPD pedals are an ideal solution for bikepacking and often come on a touring bike as standard. They offer you the ability to clip in and also walk with a wide range of different shoes. They are even double-sided pedals, making for easy clipping in. The only thing that lets them down is they are heavy and the shoes to suit are not for long walks.

Flat Pedals

Finally, we have the flat pedal often known as platform pedals. You get these on normal bikes, which generally come as standard when buying from a shop. These are used in bikepacking more than you might think, especially when it comes to off-road riding and very long tours. 

The advantage of flat pedals is that you can use any shoes with them. Many riders I know use them for bikepacking because they like having normal shoes to walk in when they reach their destinations. 

They are very convenient and very cheap to buy. If using these, we highly recommend riding with shoes with a thick base, such as a running trainer, and go for a metal pedal body, as plastic thinner pedals tend to break easily and are not very grippy. 

Flat Pros 

• Double sided bicycle pedals
• You can use any shoes
• Cheap to buy
• Great for touring cyclists

Flat Cons

• Cannot clip in 
• Generally heavier compared to clip-in pedals
• Less performance

Flat pedals are an ideal way to go if you are planning on going away for a while and plan to have one pair of shoes. They may not offer the pedaling efficiency of a clip-in shoe, but they make up for it in convenience. You can buy some pedals with toe clips if you want me support. 

Which Pedals Should I Be Using For Bikepacking?

When it comes to choosing the pedals for your backpacking trip, you really have to think smart. You need to consider the trip you’re going on and the experience you want. For this reason, I will use different pedals depending on the trip I’m on, for example:

Bikepacking Pedals Road

If I were going bikepacking on roads, I would use SPD-SL pedals for racing and SPD or Flat pedals if it was a casual tour. Being in a race, I plan to spend as little time off the bike as possible, and the lighter shoes and extra performance could be the difference between a few places at the finish line. For casual riding, I would like the ability to walk and but still clip in with SPD.

Bikepacking Pedals Mixed Terrain

If I were going bikepacking on mixed terrain, then I would use SPD pedals. I like to be able to clip in as it helps improve my riding experience, and I also like the fact I can walk in the shoes. I would also consider flat shoes if it was a very casual adventure.

Bikepacking Pedals Off-Road

For me personally, there are only two options here, SPD and Flat. The SPD pedals would be used in a racing situation or on light technical terrain. For bikepacking off-road they are one of the best clipless pedals The flats would be used on technical terrain or long tours, which were just casual adventures. 

It’s All In The Shoes

When it comes to finding the right bikepacking pedal for your adventure, it is important to think about the experience you want regarding shoes. This generally will govern the pedals you use.

I think more about the shoes I want to wear over the pedals I want to use. When I know the shoes, then I match the pedals up to suit. Thanks for taking the time to enjoy our article!

If you enjoyed this article, you might like The Ultimate Guide To Bikepacking Bags, Do I Need A Bike Fit For Bikepacking?, and Dealing With Dogs While Bikepacking.