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Cleat guide
Updated · Independent guide · 10 picks compared
Quick answer
Bicycle cleats are not universal: the cleat has to match your pedal system, not just your shoe. For SPD pedals, use Shimano SM-SH51 (single release) or SM-SH56 (multi-release) 2-bolt cleats. For road cycling cleats, match the pedal: Shimano SPD-SL (yellow SM-SH11 suits most riders), Look Keo Grip, or Wahoo Speedplay 4-hole cleats. Crankbrothers pedals only accept Crankbrothers cleats.
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Chosen from current models on manufacturer specs, compatibility and design — not sponsored placements. Amazon buttons open a search for the exact model.
Best for: Most riders on SPD pedals: mountain, gravel, commuting, touring
The black SM-SH51 is Shimano's standard 2-bolt SPD cleat. It releases with a sideways heel twist and is less likely to let go when you pull up hard, which is why it comes in the box with most Shimano SPD pedals.
Best for: New clipless riders, commuters and spin-class riders
The silver SM-SH56 fits the same pedals and shoes as the SM-SH51 but lets you unclip by twisting either way or by lifting and twisting the heel. That makes panic stops less dramatic, at the cost of the odd accidental release if you yank on the pedals.
Best for: Road riders on SPD-SL pedals who want some knee-friendly float
The yellow SM-SH11 gives 6° of float, about 3° each way, and is the cleat most Shimano road pedals ship with. It is the safe default unless a fitter tells you otherwise.
Best for: Road riders who want less wander than the yellow cleat
The blue SM-SH12 cuts float to 2° and pivots near the front of the cleat, so the foot stays more planted while the heel can still move a little. A common step for riders who find 6° vague.
Best for: Track and sprint-focused riders with a dialed bike fit
The red SM-SH10 has 0° float, so the cleat angle you set is the angle your foot is held at. Only use it if your cleat rotation is set precisely and your knees are happy without float.
Best for: Riders on Look Keo pedals, including the Keo Blade and Keo 2 Max
Look's current Keo cleat comes in black (0°), gray (4.5°) and red (9°) float, with rubber grip pads that make walking less slippery. Look refreshed the cleat for 2026 with a larger rear grip pad; both versions fit Keo pedals.
Best for: Mountain bikers on Eggbeater, Candy, Mallet or Double Shot pedals
The brass Standard cleat gives 6° of float and a 15° release angle, or 20° if you swap the left and right cleats. It is what comes with Crankbrothers clip-in pedals.
Best for: Riders who struggle to unclip from Crankbrothers pedals
Same 6° float as the Standard cleat but a 10° release angle, so you get out with less heel swing. Crankbrothers also offers it in a 0° float version.
Best for: Riders on Speedplay Zero, Aero, Nano or Powrlink Zero pedals
The black cleat holds the spring mechanism for Speedplay's double-sided lollipop pedals. Float is adjustable from 0° to 15° with two limit screws, and a 3-hole adapter lets it mount to normal road shoes.
Best for: Speedplay riders who want easier entry and exit
Same fit, float range and pedal compatibility as the black cleat but with a lighter spring, so it takes less effort to clip in and out. It is the cleat that comes with the Speedplay Comp.
Swipe sideways on mobile. "—" means not applicable or not confirmed by the manufacturer.
| Model | Cleat system | Bolt pattern | Float | Release | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano SM-SH51 SPD cleats | Shimano SPD | 2-bolt | 4° | Single release (heel twist) | SPD and SPD-compatible pedals | Check price |
| Shimano SM-SH56 SPD cleats | Shimano SPD | 2-bolt | 4° | Multi-release (twist or lift) | SPD and SPD-compatible pedals | Check price |
| Shimano SM-SH11 SPD-SL cleats (yellow) | Shimano SPD-SL | 3-bolt | 6° | Heel twist, tension set on pedal | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | Check price |
| Shimano SM-SH12 SPD-SL cleats (blue) | Shimano SPD-SL | 3-bolt | 2° | Heel twist, tension set on pedal | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | Check price |
| Shimano SM-SH10 SPD-SL cleats (red) | Shimano SPD-SL | 3-bolt | 0° (fixed) | Heel twist, tension set on pedal | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | Check price |
| Look Keo Grip cleats | Look Keo | 3-bolt | 0°, 4.5° or 9° | Heel twist, tension set on pedal | Look Keo pedals (not Delta) | Check price |
| Crankbrothers Standard Release cleats | Crankbrothers | 2-bolt | 6° | 15° or 20° (swap L/R) | Crankbrothers clip-in pedals only | Check price |
| Crankbrothers Easy Release cleats (6° float) | Crankbrothers | 2-bolt | 6° (0° version offered) | 10° | Crankbrothers clip-in pedals only | Check price |
| Wahoo Speedplay Standard Tension cleats (black) | Wahoo Speedplay | 4-hole (3-hole adapter) | 0–15° adjustable | At the float limit you set | Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano, Powrlink Zero, legacy Zero | Check price |
| Wahoo Speedplay Easy Tension cleats (gray) | Wahoo Speedplay | 4-hole (3-hole adapter) | 0–15° adjustable | At the float limit you set (lighter spring) | Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano, Powrlink Zero, legacy Zero | Check price |
A cleat only works in the pedal family it was made for. Match your pedal to the right bicycle cleats here, then check your shoe’s bolt pattern.
| Cleat | System and bolts | Float | Fits these pedals | Shoe sole needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimano SM-SH51 (black) | SPD, 2-bolt | 4° | Shimano SPD and SPD-compatible pedals | 2-bolt (MTB, gravel, touring, spin) |
| Shimano SM-SH56 (silver) | SPD, 2-bolt | 4° | Shimano SPD and SPD-compatible pedals | 2-bolt |
| Shimano SM-SH10 (red) | SPD-SL, 3-bolt | 0° | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | 3-bolt road |
| Shimano SM-SH12 (blue) | SPD-SL, 3-bolt | 2° | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | 3-bolt road |
| Shimano SM-SH11 (yellow) | SPD-SL, 3-bolt | 6° | Shimano SPD-SL road pedals | 3-bolt road |
| Look Keo Grip (black / gray / red) | Look Keo, 3-bolt | 0° / 4.5° / 9° | Look Keo pedals; not Look Delta | 3-bolt road |
| Crankbrothers Standard | Crankbrothers, 2-bolt | 6° | Eggbeater, Candy, Mallet, Double Shot | 2-bolt |
| Crankbrothers Easy Release | Crankbrothers, 2-bolt | 6° or 0° | All Crankbrothers clip-in pedals | 2-bolt |
| Crankbrothers Premium | Crankbrothers, 2-bolt | 6° or 0° | All Crankbrothers clip-in pedals | 2-bolt |
| Wahoo Speedplay Standard Tension (black) | Speedplay, 4-hole (3-hole adapter) | 0–15° adjustable | Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano, Powrlink Zero, legacy Zero | 4-hole Speedplay or 3-bolt road |
| Wahoo Speedplay Easy Tension (gray) | Speedplay, 4-hole (3-hole adapter) | 0–15° adjustable | Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano, Powrlink Zero, legacy Zero | 4-hole Speedplay or 3-bolt road |
| Time iClic | Time, 3-bolt | Varies by version | Time Xpro and Xpresso road pedals only | 3-bolt road |
| Time ATAC | Time, 2-bolt | Varies by version | Time ATAC pedals only | 2-bolt |
The combinations that catch people out:
Start from the pedal, then the shoe, then the float and release you want. No pedals yet? Our clipless pedals guide explains the systems first.
The pedal decides the cleat. Look at the pedal brand and model (it is usually printed on the body or the axle), then pick a cleat from the chart above. Most new pedals include a pair of cleats, so you often only need to buy cleats as replacements or to change float.
The shoe sole decides whether the cleat will physically mount.
Most mountain shoes are 2-bolt only and most road shoes 3-bolt only, so check the sole before you buy.
Float is how far your heel can swing before the cleat starts to release. More float suits knees that like to move; less feels more connected.
With no knee pain and no fitter’s advice, start in the middle: yellow SPD-SL, gray Keo, or mid-range Speedplay float.
Release is how you get out. SPD cleats come in single release (SM-SH51, twist only) or multi-release (SM-SH56, twist or lift). Road cleats release with a heel twist; on SPD-SL and Look Keo, release tension is set at the pedal, not the cleat. Crankbrothers pedals have no tension screw, so the cleat sets the release angle. Speedplay pedals have no tension screw either: spring force is set by choosing the Standard or Easy Tension cleat.
Choose by how much you walk. Commuters, tourers, gravel riders and indoor cyclists usually want 2-bolt SPD cleats in recessed shoes. Road riders who want the biggest platform use 3-bolt or Speedplay cleats and accept a waddle, or carry cleat covers.
Use the black SM-SH51 if you ride off-road or pull up hard on the pedals; use the silver SM-SH56 if you are new to clipless or stop a lot in traffic.
Both are Shimano 2-bolt cleats with 4° of float and fit every Shimano SPD pedal, from double-sided trail pedals to dual-sided platform pedals and single-sided hybrid pedals. The only difference is the release:
Both cleats are metal and are sold with or without the cleat nut that sits inside the shoe; if your shoe already has a nut plate, the version without it is fine. Pedals described as SPD-compatible take these cleats too.
Road cycling cleats are the larger 3-bolt or 4-hole cleats used with single-sided road pedals. Pick the one that matches your pedal; there is no cross-compatibility.
Shimano SPD-SL cleats fit every Shimano road pedal. Most Shimano road pedals come with the yellow 6° SM-SH11; the blue SM-SH12 (2°) and red SM-SH10 (0°) give a firmer hold.
Look Keo Grip cleats fit Look Keo pedals such as the Look Keo Blade. Look’s grip pads make them less slippery to walk on than a bare plastic cleat, and the 2026 version uses a larger rear pad. Choose black (0°), gray (4.5°) or red (9°). See Look Cycle for the pedal range.
Wahoo Speedplay is the odd one out: the pedal is a small double-sided lollipop, and the spring mechanism lives in the cleat. That is why the cleat is bigger than other road cleats, and why keeping it clean matters. The Standard Tension cleat is the default; the Easy Tension cleat uses a lighter spring. Both fit Speedplay Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano and Powrlink Zero pedals and legacy Zero pedals. More on the Wahoo Speedplay brand page.
Time iClic cleats fit Time’s Xpro and Xpresso road pedals only. If you ride Time, buy Time cleats.
Crankbrothers cleats are their own system: 2-bolt, but they only work in Crankbrothers pedals such as the Eggbeater 1, Candy 1, Mallet DH, Mallet E LS and the clip side of the Double Shot 2.
With no tension screw on Crankbrothers pedals, changing cleats is the only way to change the release. See the Crankbrothers brand page for the pedals.
Set fore-aft first, then rotation, then stance width, then tighten. A cleat-alignment tool from our cleat fitment guide makes this easier and lets you copy the setup to a second pair of shoes.
The usual starting point puts the ball of your foot (the bony bump behind the big toe) over the pedal spindle or slightly behind it.
Mountain bikers, long-distance riders and triathletes often go further back for stability and less calf load.
Sit on a high table and let your feet hang; most people’s toes point slightly in or out. Set the cleat so your foot points the same way on the pedal and let float handle the rest. If your heel presses against the float limit while pedaling, the rotation is wrong.
Moving the cleat towards the inside edge of the shoe moves your foot further out on the pedal, and the reverse narrows your stance. Aim for knees that track straight up and down over the feet. If you run out of cleat adjustment, longer pedal axles are the next step.
Wedges tilt the cleat to suit feet that roll in or out (see cleat fitment); shims lift a cleat for a leg-length difference or deep shoe treads (see cleat hardware). Both are worth doing with a bike fitter.
Finally, snug the bolts evenly, recheck alignment, tighten to the torque in your cleat or pedal instructions, and check them again after the first few rides.
Replacement hardware matters when bolts strip, corrode or end up too short after adding a shim.
When you add a shim or spacer, add its thickness to your bolt length. More on bolts, nut plates and shims in cleat hardware, and on the makers of shims and wedges on the BikeFit brand page.
There is no fixed lifespan: replace cleats when they start to behave differently. Plastic road cleats wear fastest because you walk on them; metal SPD cleats in recessed shoes last much longer.
Replace your cleats if you notice:
Replace both cleats together, and mark their position first so the new pair goes on in the same place.
Walking wears road cleats faster than riding. Look Keo Grip cleats have rubber pads, and Wahoo Speedplay cleats are lower and more walkable than old Speedplay cleats, but covers still help. Shimano SM-SH45 covers fit all SPD-SL cleats, Look sells Keo covers, and Wahoo sells covers for its Speedplay cleats. Speedplay riders should treat covers as essential, because grit in the cleat affects the spring that holds you in. See cleat covers. If you walk a lot, 2-bolt SPD cleats in a recessed shoe solve the problem at the source.
Shims are the other common add-on. Use them when deep shoe treads stop an SPD or Crankbrothers cleat from engaging cleanly, or when a fitter wants to correct a leg-length difference. Shimano sells SM-SH20 spacers for SPD-SL; Crankbrothers and BikeFit make 2-bolt shims. All of these are covered in cleat hardware.
If you are fitting new pedals at the same time, remember the left pedal is reverse threaded: see which pedal is reverse threaded.
No. Each pedal system has its own cleat: Shimano SPD, Shimano SPD-SL, Look Keo, Crankbrothers, Wahoo Speedplay and Time all use different shapes, even when the bolt pattern looks the same. Buy the cleat that matches your pedal, then check that your shoe has the right bolt pattern for it.
Shimano SM-SH51 (single release, black) or SM-SH56 (multi-release, silver). Both are 2-bolt cleats with 4° of float and need a shoe with a 2-bolt sole, usually a recessed mountain bike, gravel, touring or indoor-cycling shoe.
No. SPD cleats are small 2-bolt cleats for SPD pedals. SPD-SL and Look Keo are larger 3-bolt road cleats, and they are not interchangeable with each other either.
Color usually tells you the float. Shimano SPD-SL: red 0°, blue 2°, yellow 6°. Look Keo: black 0°, gray 4.5°, red 9°. Wahoo Speedplay uses color for spring tension instead: black is Standard Tension, gray is Easy Tension.
Replace them when they show wear, not on a fixed mileage. Signs include clipping out more easily (or unexpectedly), extra side-to-side play, worn-down tabs or grip pads, and creaking. Plastic road cleats wear faster if you walk on them a lot, which is what cleat covers are for.
No. Crankbrothers cleats only work in Crankbrothers pedals, and Shimano SPD cleats do not work in Crankbrothers pedals, even though both bolt to the same 2-bolt shoe pattern.
On SPD pedals, the multi-release SM-SH56 is the easiest to get out of. On road pedals, a cleat with some float (yellow SPD-SL or gray Look Keo) plus low spring tension helps; Speedplay riders can use the gray Easy Tension cleat.
Usually not. Road cleats need a 3-bolt sole (or a 4-hole Speedplay sole), and most mountain bike shoes only have the 2-bolt slot. Some shoes are drilled for both patterns; check the sole before you buy cleats.