Shimano’s SPD pedals need no introduction. They have been the face (foot?) of the category for decades, to the point that when new brands launch clip pedals, the first question on my lips is always “Do they work with Shimano cleats?”

But, this summer, along with cutting the cables on the XTR and XT drivetrains, Shimano also released an updated XTR Trail pedal and a new multi-entry cleat. Both offer subtle but noticeable performance differences over their predecessors that some riders might not notice, and others will really appreciate.

I fall into that later category, and this combo got me back onto Shimano pedals for the first time in years.

Shimano XTR Trail Pedal Details

• Thickness: Center 18.5mm / Edges 15mm
• Size: 58 mm x 72 mm
• Weight (one pedal with pins): 224 g
• Price: $260

Shimano Multi-Entry Cleat Details

• Backwards compatible with SPD pedals
• Allows straight-down, or heel-first clip-in.
• Price: $23

We’ll start with the pedal (PD-M9220 for the technically inclined) because it’s big and sexy and interesting. For the stat-obsessed, this new pedal gets a little thicker and a little square-er than the previous version. It also gets an updated seal design, and a slightly beefier rear clip mechanism. But what really matters is how that platform, and its optional pins interact with your shoe.

In the past, Shimano has offered trail pedals with something of a platform, but in my experience, you’ve got to really be flexing the shoe to interface with it, and when you’re not clipped in, you can’t really stick your foot to it and pretend it’s a flat pedal. This new platform however, comes with four optional pins on each side, and you definitely can use it for additional traction. It goes from being a somewhat decorative element to something that genuinely improved my ride experience.

Each pin comes with a washer, with the washer installed, you’ve got 1 millimeter of pin sticking out, without it you’ve got 2 millimeters. I experimented with a few different options, and ended up running the two rear-most pins on each pedal, with no washer. Because I run my cleats slammed back in my shoes (Specialized 2FO) the two forward-most pins fall into the cleat slot, and can’t engage with the shoe, so there’s no reason to run them.

I primarily ride flat pedals for two reasons: my terrible ankle mobility (which we’ll address in the next section) and my distaste for float. I hate that with most clipless pedals my feet feel less locked in than with grippy flats. It’s purely psychological, but apparently I have a weak mind.

But, with these new XTR Trail pedals, when I drop my heels and get in an aggressive riding position, the rear-most two pins actually engage with my shoes, and help control that float. It feels like a nice hybrid of riding flat pedals and SPDs, where there’s much less of a disconcerting metal on metal sensation under my feet.

And, if I accidentally unclip mid-line and need to ride with a foot on the pedals but not clipped in, these pins deliver much more traction than previous Shimano pedals. It’s still not ideal, but I can get away with it much more than with previous pedals.

When it comes time to unclip, the unweighted clipping motion that I always employ with clipless pedals still works just fine, the pins don’t bind up or hinder my exit from the pedals.

Beyond this upgrade, these perform like SPDs. They’re easy to adjust. The clip in and out feels smooth and reliable. They spin nicely, and when it comes time to service them, I can follow the tried-and-true Shimano method. They’re the standard for a reason after all.

All of that begs the question: If all I’ve needed to enjoy clipless pedals is a bit of a platform with some pins, why haven’t I been using one of the many brands who use an SPD-compatible mechanism with more of a platform? Welp, it all goes back to ankle mobility and cleat performance.

Multi-Entry Cleat Performance

On the surface these new cleats (CL-MT001 to be exact) have some very small updates to the classic SPD cleat profile. There’s a little more of a bevel on the leading and trailing edges, and that’s about it. They cost the same, they fit the same, they are totally backward compatible with old pedals.

But they do not ride the same. As I mentioned above, I have bad ankle mobility. Specifically, dropping my toes to do the basic Shimano clip-in motion that every other mountain biker ever can do in their sleep, is challenging for me. It’s not impossible, but I do have to be intentional, and it’s hard to bring that level of intentionality to the table every single time I need to get clipped in, fast, before the trail turns up the volume. While I’ve ridden clipless pedals on and off for years, I’ve given them up almost completely for the last five because of this issue.

These cleats and pedals showed up in the mail and I figured I’d give them a shot before I handed them off to somebody who can actually, you know, complete the most basic, important act necessary to ride clipless pedals. And to all those thousands of people, no, you probably won’t notice that much of a difference with these cleats, but I did.

Traditional Shimano cleats want you to drop your toe while pushing your foot down into the pedal. But with these cleats, you can just push your foot down into the pedal with whatever orientation you want, and they’ll almost always click in.

I’ve definitely clipped in heel-first a few times, as a bunch of barely-toe-first, but basically flat instances. Every time the mechanism has engaged smoothly and robustly. I cannot articulate how much of a night-and-day difference this has been from my experience with traditional Shimano cleats. Because of these cleats I can ride SPDs again.

Otherwise, they feel very familiar. They offer the same float and the same release experience as the old cleats. I’d venture a guess that if you are experienced with the normal cleats, you wouldn’t notice the new ones in a blind test, they perform so similarly.

But, if you, like me, have struggled with getting into Shimano cleats in the past, or, if you’re just looking to replace some worn-out cleats, these should be on the top of your list.

For Now

Sometimes the little things make the biggest differences. Shimano’s new XTR Trail pedals offer a much more secure platform, and the new multi-entry cleat is a game changer for folks who want to be able to get into their pedals easier.

Learn more: Shimano