Platform Pedals

I am on my second set of Azonic 420 and love them. They are great bike bling. Pricepoint has a good price on them.

Sunline V-1s on my bikes. I've tried Wellgo MG-1 and CB 50/50 and like the Sunlines MUCH MUCH better, though when I had the Sunlines without 5.10s and on my hardtail, just wearing skate shoes, I didn't like them (nor any other platforms). My feet would just be jarred right off from all the bumps. The Sunlines have a nice balance of pyramid shapes combined with pins for the best grip on platforms I ever had and a wide stable platform. Their only downside is the weight, being over 500g/pr. The wide platform might be a downside too, if you ride narrow spaces between rocks at speed, as they can clip and throw you off balance (np if you have a strong core and balance--I just ride it through).

Five Ten shoes are virtually a must. You appreciate them when you try to climb up steep technical rock faces and get hung up or pedal strike and need to hop off. I would hesitate riding the same thing on clipless. I'm talking steep... so steep if you fell off, you'd be tumbling down until it got flat.

The combination of platforms and 5.10s is where it's at. It made me give up clipless, which I used to promote as well. I've no regrets. I tried clipless again and my ankles just couldn't handle being locked into place and bothered me for the first 15 minutes. Unlimited float and feet positions is a very nice feeling. I don't miss the pedaling efficiency and the 300g isn't a big deal. The only thing I really miss is the ability to lift the rear with a little more extra force--it really did feel like cheating and I haven't been able to skill up enough yet to do it spontaneously while riding, though in practice I do well. Relying on that can be disastrous though... a majority of times I accidentally unclipped and my foot flew, I ended up in a bad situation. Clipless is a double edged sword, it seems. I have them on my HT, but I'll only take my HT on smooth tame trails and XC courses and use my FS for everything else.

BTW, I like your taste in bikes. I was after the Rumblefish, but got a deal on an used Superfly 100 instead and basically have 2 sets of components for it. One for trail (includes an adj seatpost and heavier tires) and one for XC. I had a new set of Sunlines for sale, but I am considering putting them on my HT or replace the 50/50s on my AM bike.

The crown jewel -- a Straitline platform. This thing is HUGE. The peanut headed moron that sold 'em to me (never buy bike stuff from a woman) put the pins on for free 2 days ago. You can see that two have come out.


The beater that works and works well: Specialized Lo Pro Mag 2. I've dropped the chain tons of times and my leg has stayed on. No crotch boinks, yet, in 3 years. Feet stay planted.

Thanks for the responses!

Wow, there is a pedal to fit every price point and aesthetic. I do know I want to start off with platforms while I work on my riding skills. May look into clipless later on.
The pedals with more aggressive pins look like the way to go and the suggestion of shin pads makes sense to avoid getting ripped up.

The Five Ten shoes sound like a no brainer. I will be in Long Beach next week and see there is a Five Ten dealer near there. Will have to stop in and try some on.

Really do like a thinner profile and weight is not a big issue as I need to lose a few pounds anyway.
Did some more reading based on some suggestions and am narrowing down to ...

Point 1 Podium
Canfield Brothers Crampons
Blackspire sub4
Twenty6 Prerunners