Table Of Contents
Crank Brothers Egg Beater 1 Mountain Bike Pedal Review: Best Clipless Mountain Bike Pedal Review
Best Lightweight Budget Cross Country Pedal
- Platform feel 30%
- Ease/feel of entry 50%
- Ease/feel of exit 90%
- Mud shedding ability 100%
- Weight 100%
Weight per Pair: 280g
Clean Type: Crank Brothers Brass
Use: XC
Price: $45-$59
What We Like: Unbeatable weight for budget XC pedals
What We Don’t: Difficult to clip into
The Crank Brothers Egg Beater 1 is the perfect pedal for budget-minded riders who love the light weight and mud shedding ability of the Crank Brothers Egg Beater 3, but would rather have a few extra grams and $40 still in their pocket. It is virtually the same pedal, but a bit heavier, and perhaps not quite as smooth. However, at only 290g, the Crank Brothers Eggbeater 1 is still lighter than the Shimano XTR M9100 and costs less than a third as much!
Compare to Similar Products
Crank Brothers Candy 7
- Platform feel 60%
- Ease/feel of entry 80%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 100%
- Weight 90%
Pros
Great performance for a reasonable price, excellent mud shedding, best weight to cost ratio available
Cons
Small platform compared to the similarly priced Crank Brothers Mallet E
Weight: 320g
Cleat Type: Crank Brothers Brass
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro XC
Shimano XT M8020
- Platform feel 70%
- Ease/feel of entry 80%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 70%
- Weight 80%
Pros
A high-end pedal for a mid-tier price
Cons
Significantly heavier than the Crank Brothers alternative
Weight: 404g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro XC
Crank Brothers Mallet E
- Platform feel 100%
- Ease/feel of entry 90%
- Ease/feel of exit 70%
- Mud shedding ability 80%
- Weight 70%
Pros
Lightweight for the size of the platform
Great pedaling platform
The most adjustable Crank Brothers pedal
Easy to clip into
Cons
Vague sense of clipping in and out
Heavier than Candy 7
Pins can make clipping out more difficult
Weight: 420g
Cleat Type: Crank Brothers Brass
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro, Downhill
Shimano Saint M820
- Platform feel 90%
- Ease/feel of entry 90%
- Ease/feel of exit 70%
- Mud shedding ability 60%
- Weight 30%
Pros
The most adjustable pedals that we reviewed
Great pedal platform
Satisfying SPD feel
Cons
Heaviest pedals in our review
Not the best for extremely muddy conditions
Weight: 545g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro, Downhill
Crank Brothers Candy 1
- Platform feel 60%
- Ease/feel of entry 80%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 100%
- Weight 90%
Pros
Extremely lightweight and well-rounded pedal for the price
Cons
Lack of traction pads found on higher end Candy pedals
Not the most solid platform
Weight: 294g
Cleat Type: Crank Brothers Brass
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro, XC
Shimano M530
- Platform feel 70%
- Ease/feel of entry 80%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 80%
- Weight 70%
Pros
Virtually the same pedaling and clipping experience offered by the much more expensive Shimano XTR M9120 and XT M8020 at an entry-level price
Cons
Heaviest mini platform pedal in review, painted cage is slippery when wet
Weight: 453g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro, XC
Crank Brothers Eggbeater 3
- Platform feel 30%
- Ease/feel of entry 50%
- Ease/feel of exit 90%
- Mud shedding ability 100%
- Weight 100%
Pros
A high-end pedal for a mid-tier price
Cons
Significantly heavier than the Crank Brothers alternative
Weight: 404g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro XC
Shimano XTR M9100
- Platform feel 50%
- Ease/feel of entry 60%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 90%
- Weight 90%
Pros
Lightest SPD pedal in test
Fairly large contact area for an SPD pedal
Cons
Pricey and heavy compared to Crank Brothers alternative
Weight: 310g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: XC
Crank Brothers Eggbeater 1
- Platform feel 30%
- Ease/feel of entry 50%
- Ease/feel of exit 90%
- Mud shedding ability 100%
- Weight 100%
Pros
Unbeatable weight for budget XC pedals
Cons
Difficult to clip into
Weight: 280g
Cleat Type: Crank Brothers Brass
Use: XC
Shimano M520
- Platform feel 50%
- Ease/feel of entry 60%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 90%
- Weight 70%
Pros
The same pedaling experience of the XTR M9120 for a third of the price
Cons
Heavier than the Egg Beater 1
Weight: 310g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: XC
Shimano XTR M9120
- Platform feel 70%
- Ease/feel of entry 80%
- Ease/feel of exit 80%
- Mud shedding ability 70%
- Weight 80%
Pros
All of the great features of the XT M8020 in a lighter package
Cons
Heavier than Crank Brothers alternative and not enough difference to justify the price increase over the Shimano XT M8020
Weight: 398g
Cleat Type: SPD Mountain
Use: All-Mountain, Enduro, XC
Platform
The pedaling platform of the Eggbeater 1 is identical to that of the Eggbeater 3, save for the fact that it uses a heavier stamped steel construction, rather than the stainless build of the Eggbeater 3. This drastically reduces the cost, while only adding about 10g to the weight of the pedals.
Ease of Entry
The Crank Brothers Egg Beater 1 offers true four-sided entry. However, you have to hit the clip perfectly, just like with the Egg Beater 3. Otherwise, the pedal can roll under foot. This can lead to your foot coming completely off of the pedal and hitting the ground.
Pedals with a minimal platform like the Shimano M530 or Crank Brothers Candy 1 solve this issue with the addition of a few grams, but in the same budget price range as the Eggbeater 1s.
Ease of Exit
As is the case with all cageless, clipless pedals, the lack of a cage makes clipping out a breeze.
The Crank Brothers Eggbeater 1 features the same, non-adjustable experience clipping in and out that can be found on pricier Crank Brothers pedals. The Eggbeater 1 also allows for an adjustable amount of float.
Mud Shedding Ability
The four-sided egg beater shaped clipping mechanism of Crank Brothers pedals is widely regarded as the best mud shedding clipless platform on the market. As with the more expensive Eggbeaters, the Eggbeater 1’s cageless nature makes them the best mud shedding clipless platform available.
The Bottom Line
If you are a cross country racer who loves lightweight gear and the Crank Brothers clipless platform, but who also likes to save money, then the Crank Brothers Eggbeater 1 pedals should provide an extremely attractive option
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