Crankbrothers Mallet Enduro Pedals, unisex, Mallet Enduro

Product Information

These new shoes are named after some of Crankbrothers’ key pedal models and are designed to reflect the intentions of them perfectly. For those not completely au fait with its pedal range, the Mallet is designed for downhill riding and racing, the Mallet E is designed for trail riding and enduro racing, while the Stamp is Crank’s flat-pedal offering. The flat pedal Stamps use Crankbrothers’ MC2 rubber compound for the outsole, which is said to be high friction with a slow rebound, to better absorb pedal pins and dampen vibration through the feet. Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media Be prepared to put time in and, if you change your shoes, to do it all again. With a few of my shoes I had to wind the pins further into the pedal body too, to prevent a poor release because they were grabbing the outsole and preventing a clean twisting action.

Bike setup is subjective in general, but when we come to the setup and feel of our clipless pedals it feels like that subjectivity is turbocharged. Typically, I prefer the Crankbrothers system, and if I had to rely on systems with less float, as well as less platform and support while engaged in the mechanism, I wouldn't be riding clipless pedals at all. Remember, the dotted cleat allows for a 15-degree release your right foot, and a 20-degree release on the left. Weight First and foremost, you may be wondering, “do I need to have Crankbrothers pedals to use these shoes?” and the answer is no. The Mallet E shoes come pre-installed with Crankbrothers cleats, and though the Mallet E shoe/pedal combo is pretty baller, as the kids would say, any type of cleat can be installed by simply removing the shim. I tested the Mallet E shoes with both the Crankbrother cleats and SPD cleats/pedals and they work seamlessly with both.The problem with the 2 mm traction pad is that it lets the cleat preload the underside of the pedal mechanism too much. This seems to be the reason for the more vague sensation, especially when getting clipped in. It should be noted that this issue lessens as the cleats bed in, but if you want a distinctive in-and-out feeling then I don't believe the Mallet Trail will be able to offer that. This issue was also worse in some shoes than others, most notably the Northwaves. The easy-to-tighten speed lace closure system coupled with the narrow foot/toe box; heavy padding around the ankle, tongue, and heel; and velcro strap over top is the recipe for a snug fit. Crankbrothers doesn’t make women’s specific shoes, so I had to convert my size to men’s 7.5, which computes to the correct women’s size, and I am of the opinion they fit true to size. Style-wise, these remind me of simple skate shoe: well padded and comfortable immediately.

Double seal system combines a double lip internal seal and a new external seal to keep water and debris from entering the pedal I suffered a number of false starts when testing this pedal, under the illusion I could simply fit them, bolt the cleats on and ride off into the sunset with the instructions gaily fluttering to the ground in their wake. The Crank Brothers Mallet Trail is a brand new clip-in pedal that’s designed to suit a wide range of riding types. Featuring the iconic four-sided Eggbeater mechanism and a compact two-piece machined alloy body, the Mallet Trail straddles the gap between the Candy and Mallet E. According to Crank Brothers, this is now the most versatile pedal in its clip-in range. The Crank Brothers Mallet Trail is a brand new platform clip-in pedal that fills a gap in the current lineup. The Crank Brothers Mallet Trail pedals The toe box has average, rather than high, levels of toe protection, contributing to a competitive 886g weight for the pair. Concave pedal platform for secure foothold. Like it's DH equivalent you get that flat pedal feel whilst running cliplessThe biggest problem with release from the Mallet 3 is the shoes you are likely to wear with these pedals, which can be so wide in the forefoot that they hit the crank arm at certain angles, preventing a full release. Once your cleats and the edges of the shoe break-in this will become less of a problem. Beware that with a new pair of Mallet 3s, new cleats, and a fresh pair of Five Ten Hellcats, you might find yourself falling over in front of your buddies. The toe box is roomy enough to allow your toes to splay out comfortably, and I had no issues with the shoe pinching through the middle of my foot, thanks in part to the relatively neutral, quite flat insole which suits my feet well. You can also adjust your release angle by the way you install the cleats on your shoes. If you put the cleat with the indented dot on your right shoe you will get a 15 degree release angle, whereas if the cleat with the dot goes on your left shoe providing a 20 degree release. Because of the problem of shoe/crank arm interference we mentioned above we recommend you go with 15 degrees if you are running these pedals with beefy shoes like Hellcats or Minnars. Weight The front of the shoe is stiff, perhaps due to the “mid-friction rubber compound,” reinforced toe, and wide cleat box which is referred to as the Matchbox. The theory behind the matchbox is multi-faceted. One, it matches the Mallet E pedals specifically. Two, it makes clipping in and out easy breezy and provides notable lateral stability. Three, it allows a large range of fore and aft cleat adjustability.

Neat detailing on the Velcro strap (and net detailing throughout) help contribute to the high-quality finish of these shoes, but also the relatively high price. Andy Lloyd / Immediate MediaMy feet are pretty average-shaped and most size 46 shoes fit me just fine. I found the Mallets sizing a little on the generous side, especially in length. They cinch down nicely with the Boa dial and Vaelcro strap, but I had to do both up pretty tight to make my feet feel secure. Once I'd done that, there's no heel-lift when walking or pulling on the pedals. My size 42 test samples weighed 1,140g with cleats fitted. Crankbrothers Mallet BOA shoe performance There are three different models available, named after the pedals that best reflect their intentions: Mallet, Mallet E and the Stamp Inside, the heel area has plenty of soft yet supportive padding, and heel hold is boosted by silicon gripper dots. The arch support area is pretty flat. At the heart of the shoes’ design is the brand’s ‘MATCH system’, which Crankbrothers says: “considers the pedal and shoe as a unified system to provide optimal interface”.

The footprint is notably smaller than the Mallet E, with the Mallet Trail measuring 78mm long x 75mm wide. It does feature the same 57mm spindle length however, which is 5mm wider than a Candy or Eggbeater pedal. This will turn off XC and gravel riders who prefer a narrower stance. Like a shrunken-down version of the Mallet E, the Mallet Trail gets a neatly machined 6061-T6 alloy body. The upper is almost identical to that of the Mallet and comes with all the same features, but doesn’t get the extended ‘Race Zone’ cleat slots. While the outsole uses the same MC1 rubber, both the toe and heel treads are deeper for improved traction off the bike. Mountain bike shoes have a hard life. All your power is transferred through their soles, as well as an awful lot of bodily bike control. However, the interaction between the Mallet Trail pedals and ‘proper’ XC shoes is a touch better, with an easier entry feel. At 420 grams per pair, this model is lighter than most pedals offering a platform of this size along with traction pins. Unlike the mini platforms, the adjustable pins provide reassurance when unclipped. If you're vacillating between the Mallet E and Crankbrothers Candy 7, the extra 100 grams provides substantially more traction when unclipped.

Perforations and mesh panels on the upper are designed to keep your feet cool. Russell Burton / Our Media