Alright all you shred heads and Xterra racers. What are the best pedals and MTB shoes for mountain biking and/or xterras? Cross country riding will be the main type of riding I’m doing…THANKS!
I have owned a number of pair of Sidi shoes and found them to be very nice, I am currently using the specialized top end shoe with the Boa closure, I’m lukewarm on the Boa but overall the shoes are light and stuff and work nicely after 2 years. Shimano makes some nice shoes too.
I have used eggbeaters, shimano and time a lot over the years, far and away the time are my favorite because they last forever, feel solid under my feet and are easy to get in and out of. The eggbeaters are the easiest entry, but they are pretty poor quality and tend to break. Many people like the Shimanos.
but for day to day use and training rides, these goofy things are the shoes i reach for, they are a little flexy and have plain old laces, I love them http://www.rei.com/product/847126/pearl-izumi-x-alp-seek-v-bike-shoes-mens?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-8471260002&mr:trackingCode=8F99D253-3C67-E211-BA78-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=plaonline&mr:ad=53280763600&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=127499431720&msid=u9dvDYFK_dc|pcrid|53280763600|&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA
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As far as pedals go the Time Atac’s seem to be a big favorite among off road racers. I’ve been competing (CX and Gravel) on the Egg Beaters for 3 years now and had one fail during a big event. Never again will I run these. Being 125 miles into a 200 mile race only to have a pedal body separate from the spindle is not good. Nor is it something one carries a backup of.
for pedals I use crank brothers eggbeaters. as of right now I haven’t had any issues with them. and for shoes after a lot of deliberation and research I
purchased a pair of bontrager race lites and my feet have never been happier. this is my first pair of bontrager shoes but my friend uses the tri and road shoes from bontrager and has never complained about them either.
I can think of maybe 10 times in as many years when I have broken eggbeaters. The end caps get smashed off then the nut backs out, the outboard bushing disintegrates or the arms break off from hitting a rock. I greased them very frequently but often had one just locked up solid when I went out to ride. They are very easy to service and the newer ones replaced the bushing with a bearing, so they have gotten better. Peopl like them for cross because they clip in so easy with 4 sides
As far as pedals go the Time Atac’s seem to be a big favorite among off road racers.
Not a racer, but I have some old-school Time ATACs on my mountain and CX/gravel bikes that are still going strong after 10+ years, despite being ridden through some of PA’s finest rock gardens. They’ve also handled ridiculous amounts of mud/snow/ice without clogging.
This kind:
Shimano pedals and shoes, and you’re done. I ride XC61 shoes and some XTR pedals I got on Ebay. On my cross bike I have a set of QBP’s iSSi pedals, haven’t been really abused yet but they come in some bling colors.
Egg beaters and S-works shoes. I like the Candy pedals for 'cross. I’ve heard some say that the S-works shoes are too stiff. I’ve done some very long days and a couple of 6 hour races with no issues. But, my road shoes, and old Tri shoes, are S-works too. I really like them.
when I got my mountain bike a couple of years ago, I happened to have an extra pair of Shimano SPD pedals (and shoes) lying around that used to be on my road bike.
I’m pretty happy with them. They’re pretty easy to get in an out of and have held up nicely considering the abuse they take going over rocks. Uphill mounts take some practice, but that’s mostly about having good balance and one-leg pedaling skills. I’ll be using them in an Xterra tri this Sunday!
Shimano SPD is what I and all my riding buddies use. I have the Scott Team MTB shoes with the boa enclosure. Once I went boa on my road shoes I have never gone back to anything else. Very happy with it on the MTB shoes as well.
For you TIME lovers…how bout these?
http://www.bikeinn.com/bike/time-xc-8-carbon/674252/p?utm_source=google_products&utm_medium=merchant&id_producte=1077583&country=us&gclid=CjwKEAjwh6SsBRCYrKHF7J3NjicSJACUxAh7TBNtqpU1k_oNvklUOEk9iXIix-FbIOfsla98VNpIaxoCHTvw_wcB
Shimano pedals. Get a set of XT for under a hundred bucks and be done with it. Very much a put on and forget piece of gear.
Shoes are more personal, but skip the higher end carbon soled shoes. Get something with a somewhat flexy soul and tread. That way, you have the ability to walk without taking your life into your slippery stiff soled feet. I’ve had a pair of Pearl Izumi X Project for the last year and they’ve been great. There are now a lot of “trail” shoes that are similar. Shoe makers are finally coming to their senses.
Another vote for time atac pedals. For shoes I have been happy with both the sidis and giros that I have owned.
One word on shoe closures, the cuter and more techy the closure, the more likely they are to foul or break with real dirt riding.
Depends… 
Mud lower durability relative to shimano; Eggbeaters…
Mixed conditions high durability no specific ergo needs; Shimano XTR
Mixed condition lower durability (rel to shimano) ergo needs ie float; LOOK quartz
I have used eggbeaters for 10+ years and recently switched back to the latest gen XTR…
Mainly cos its not muddy where i am these days (Queensland) relative to before (UK)…
in every case suggest cracking them open and loading them with high quality bearing grease from new… then replace every 6 months… it takes 5 mins and delays bearing / axle replacement in shimano’s case almost indefinitely… in eggbeatres case from perhaps 2 years out to 4 … a million assumptions here re use and maintenance practices etc… but you get the idea…