Composite vs Alloy Pedals?

Composite vs Alloy Pedals: Which option should you pick for all your flat pedal adventures? 

So you’ve decided the clipped in life isn’t for you and you're more of a “flat pedals win medals” person. Before your nac-nac’ing your way down the trail and sipping post-ride IPA’s in the parking lot, you’ve got one more big decision to make. Are you going to mount up some colorful composite pedals, or go with a set of classy alloy flats? Both options are great for tearing it up on the trails, but what’s best for you comes down to riding and trail style, weight and budget. Lets see what pedals might be better for you.

Composite Pedals: The budget-friendly basher

If you’ve ever test ridden a bike from your local shop, the term “plastic pedals” probably conjures up terrible memories sliding around on a ridiculously cheap set of pedals; reflectors and all. Fortunately, a good set of composite pedals such as the Trail One Components Vortex Pedals have come a long way from their non-existent plastic pin counterparts. Modern composite pedals feature large platforms, removable (and replaceable!) metal pins, and generally a few color options to match your bike’s bling. 

One major advantage of composite pedals comes when you make that little mistake on the trail and catch that one annoying rock with your foot. Composite pedals will often slide off mid-trail obstacles much easier than their alloy counterparts. If you often find yourself catching pedals while out riding, these could be a great option for you. Composite pedals may not have the same long term durability as an alloy option, but composite will allow a certain amount of vibration dampening and forgiveness, a feeling some riders much prefer.

In terms of weight, composite pedals generally take the win here, clocking in consistently lighter than a similar alloy option. This can often be in contrast to the look of the pedal; composite pedals will often have a slightly bulkier or thicker body to meet strength requirements. Fortunately The Vortex Pedal still maintains all the strength but draws on a thinner, lighter design than many of the composite pedals on the market. 

Another main advantage to composite pedals comes down to budget. Composite pedals are a great way to save a few bucks on your new build without sacrificing performance. In the case of Trail One Component’s options, the Vortex comes in at nearly ⅓ the price of their alloy counterparts. If you're looking to keep those feet glued down without breaking the bank, composite pedals could be a great option for you! 

Alloy Pedals: The premium pick

If maximum durability and a premium look and feel is what you're searching for in your flat pedal, alloy might be the perfect choice for you. With their hardwearing bodies and shiny, polished finishes, it's no wonder that alloy pedals are the “pièce de résistance” to many blinged-out bike builds.

If you couldn’t already tell, one of the main advantages to an alloy pedal is the premium look and feel. The Sage Alloy Pedal from Trail One Components has a bling factor that takes your pedals from a small, insignificant part to a premium, check me out accessory. Raw CNC finishes, shiny anodized colors, and slim, sleek designs are key highlights of an alloy pedal. 

Generally, alloy pedals are built to a slightly more durable standard than their composite counterparts. This holds true not only for the body of the pedal, where the CNC construction carves out a perfectly strong platform from solid blocks of alloy, but also for the internals of the pedal. The Sage alloy pedal is built with two bearings inside, creating a smoother, harder wearing than composite options such as the Vortex which utilizes a single bearing and bushing. Yet with 1 free rebuilt kit per year for both the Sage and Vortex, your pedals can always be spinning good as new. 

Thanks to their durable construction, alloy pedals can draw slimmer silhouettes, bringing the bottom of your foot closer to the axle of the pedal, and the bottom of the pedal further away from rocks and trail hazards. This does bring up one downside to the alloy options. As mentioned previously, alloy pedals do tend to “grab” when the unfortunate pedal strike does occur, something that can not only slow you down, but also cause you to taste dirt! Due to the anodized finish only coloring the top layer, alloy pedals also tend to show scratches more visibly than their composite counterparts that are dyed all the way through. Two important things to think about if you catch your pedals on trail hazards often. 

Final Thoughts 

Deciding between composite or alloy pedals is a tricky decision; with the pedal being one of your three main contact points on the bike, getting it right is paramount. Fortunately, both the Sage and Vortex pedal from Trail One Components are great options for both camps, with strong, durable yet light and thin designs that still remain as grippy as possible. And with both including 1 free rebuilt kit per year for the life of the pedal, you know they’ll be spinning smooth year after year.  

Personally, I am a Sage pedal guy, choosing the alloy option for my flat pedal exploits. I prefer the rigid, solid feel of the aluminum pedal and really like the larger, concave surface area that allows my feet to sit “in” the pedal instead of on top. And the feeling of those bearings spinning gets me oh so stoked. That’s my opinion but what’s yours? Do you prefer composite or alloy pedals for your flat pedal adventures.