8 Degree Pedal Review: The First Floating Flat Pedal
Flat pedals versus clipless pedals is a constant debate in the mountain biking community. Objectively, there are pros and cons to each, but most people inevitably side with what they prefer. An advantage that clipless pedals have always had over flats is the ability for the foot to float. This means that as you pedal, the foot and the heel can have natural side-to-side movement that allows the knee to stay better aligned throughout the pedal stroke.
With 8 Degree Pedal, the founder and inventor Ken Belknap refused to use clipless (as do many flat pedal riders), but struggled with knee pain due to what he refers to as a “stuck foot.” Unwilling to switch to a clipless system, he began inventing something new, and the 8 Degree Pedal was born. After a four-year creation process and five prototypes, the 8 Degree pedal is the first floating flat pedal.
Tech features:
The 8 Degree pedal is designed to allow your foot to float as it would on a clipless version versus being stuck in one position, as with a normal flat pedal. To achieve its +\- 4 degrees of rotation, there is a Teflon-coated spherical bearing and an Igus shaft bearing that connects to the pedal axle.
At the other end is a puck made from Delrin plastic that slides back and forth between two .01-inch stainless plates and lives inside the center of the pedal. This contact is unlubricated, and 8 Degree Pedal claims that over time, the puck will polish the plates and get smoother over time.
Two spring plungers on either side provide resistance to the rotation and cause the pedal to automatically center itself at 0 degrees. With each pedal, there are three different spring rates to choose from. The pedals ship with the blue medium-strength springs, but these can quickly be swapped out for more or less resistance.
Though many flat pedals are concave in shape, the 8 Degree pedal is flat in response to its design. For this reason, they have included both shorter and longer pins to offer you the ability to put longer pins on the outside of the pedal with shorter pins in the middle to create that same sensation of a concave pedal shape.
The 8 Degree pedal is available in two sizes: a large platform (108mm width x 111mm length) X8-2 and a smaller platform X8-3 (100mm width x 100mm length). There is a wide array of color options for both: red, black, blue, green, orange, purple, brown and silver.
Field test results:
Unsure of what to expect from the performance quality with the 8 Degree pedal, we were pleasantly surprised from the first ride forward. Coming from normal flat pedals, our test riders were anticipating an adjustment period to the float of the 8 Degree pedal; however, they noticed that the pedals felt natural within the first few minutes of using them.
Pivoting of the pedal is subtle with the stock medium-strength springs, but it’s definitely noticeable. Riders felt their heels moving rhythmically as they pedaled up the climbs. Some of our test riders often find themselves repositioning their feet throughout climbs, but with the 8 Degree pedal, they found themselves fidgeting much less. After multiple rides, we noticed the pivoting ability of the pedal get smoother, but not to the point of feeling flimsy.
Somewhere we didn’t expect the pedal to benefit our riding as much as it did was in the flatter corners. When rotating the hips and centering ourselves over the bike, the floating ability of the pedal allowed test riders to rotate more than their flexibility would normally permit with standard flat pedals. Grip was plentiful, even when considering the lack of any concave surface design.
Different-length pins do come with the pedals for those who would want to simulate a concave shape by putting longer pins on the front and rear of the pedal with shorter pins in the middle, but we kept all of the pins the same size because the grip was sufficient in most terrain. When the terrain was extra rough, we were able to feel that there was slightly less grip on the pedals than some of our favorite flat pedals, but no significant issues ever arose.
We were able to test both the larger X8-2 model and the smaller X8-3. Performance-wise, they both have the same grip and pivoting ability. With the smaller X8-3, test riders were less likely to strike rocks, which was to be expected, but there was a trade-off with quicker foot fatigue for our riders who prefer softer and more flexible shoes. Riders who wore stiffer-soled shoes didn’t notice much of a difference in fatigue and preferred the smaller option.
Both models have a larger Q-factor than other pedals that are similar in size, which didn’t bring any noticeable discomfort, but it does make the larger X8-2 much more susceptible to snagging on a rock. When faced with rock strikes, the pedals received some minor scratches but nothing more. Because of the internals necessary to make this pedal design work, they are heavier than most other flats on the market, but not so much that it negatively affects the ride.
HITS:
• Natural movement with the foot
• Aids hip rotation for flat corners
• Grippy in most terrain
MISSES:
• Large Q-factor makes striking rocks more likely
• Weight
STAR RATING: ★★★★
Weight: 534 grams (X8-3 pair), 553 grams (X8-2 pair)
Price: $245
Contact: 8degreepedal.com