Guides
Pedal buying guide
Updated · Independent guide · 6 picks compared
Quick answer
Magnetic pedals hold your foot with a magnet in the pedal body that pulls on a steel plate bolted to a 2-bolt SPD-style shoe. There is no spring or binding to clip into: you step on and the magnet pulls the plate down, then twist or lift hard to get off. Magped is the brand with the widest current range. For trail riding, start with the Magped Enduro2 150N if you weigh up to about 80 kg, or the 200N version if you're heavier or ride rough terrain.
Independent & reader-supported. DrPedal doesn't sell anything. If you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. How we make money.
Chosen from current models on manufacturer specs, compatibility and design — not sponsored placements. Amazon buttons open a search for the exact model.
Best for: Trail and enduro riders up to about 80 kg
Magped's large trail platform, CNC-machined from one aluminium block, on a reinforced spindle. The SWITCH pins can be set at two lengths. Magped recommends the 150N magnet for riders up to 80 kg and lists the pair at 447 g without pins.
Best for: Riders over about 75 kg and rough, fast terrain
The same body and pins as the 150N version, with a stronger magnet that resists more pull-off force. Magped recommends it for riders over 75 kg and lists it at 477 g per pair without pins.
Best for: Commuting, e-bikes, touring and general trail riding
Magped's all-purpose pedal, sold with a 100N, 150N or 200N magnet and in five colours. It has an aluminium body, a steel axle and 6 replaceable pins per side, on a 104 x 92 mm platform.
Best for: XC, gravel and riders counting grams
Magped's lightweight model, with a magnesium body and a titanium spindle, offered with 150N or 200N magnets. Pick it for XC or gravel riding when the Enduro2 feels like more pedal than you need.
Best for: Gravel and mixed-surface riding
Magped's pedal for gravel bikes, listed in its gravel, XC and trail range. It is listed with a 200N magnet. Choose it if you want magnetic retention on a drop-bar bike while walking normally in 2-bolt shoes.
Best for: Bike park, enduro and downhill riders
Magped files the Gravity under its enduro and downhill pedals, alongside the Enduro2. Look at it if you ride lift-served or very rough terrain and want a gravity-focused platform. Check the current listing for magnet options.
Swipe sideways on mobile. "—" means not applicable or not confirmed by the manufacturer.
| Model | Magnet options | Body | Listed weight | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magped Enduro2 (150N) | 150N | CNC aluminium | 447 g/pair (no pins) | Trail, enduro | Check price |
| Magped Enduro2 (200N) | 200N | CNC aluminium | 477 g/pair (no pins) | Enduro, heavier riders | Check price |
| Magped Sport2 | 100N / 150N / 200N | Aluminium | 420–458 g/pair (by magnet) | All-round, commuting | Check price |
| Magped Ultra2 | 150N / 200N | Magnesium, titanium spindle | — | XC, gravel | Check price |
| Magped Gravel | 200N (listed) | — | — | Gravel | Check price |
| Magped Gravity | — | — | — | Enduro, downhill | Check price |
Magnetic pedals use a strong permanent magnet set into the middle of a platform pedal, plus a steel plate that bolts to your shoe where an SPD cleat would go. Put your foot down roughly in place and the magnet pulls the plate onto the pedal. To get off, twist your heel or lift your foot with more force than the magnet holds.
There is no spring, no jaw and no cleat engagement. The result sits between flat pedals and clipless pedals. Your foot stays located on the pedal over bumps and you can pull up a little, but you can also leave the pedal in any direction.
The magnet’s rating in newtons (N) is the pull-off force. 150N is roughly the force needed to lift a 15 kg weight, and 200N roughly a 20 kg weight. Magped notes that real-world hold also depends on magnet size, dirt, wear and the direction you pull. A straight vertical pull meets the full force, while a twisting or rolling exit takes less effort.
Pick the magnet strength first, then the pedal body for your riding.
Match the magnet to your body weight and how rough you ride. Magped’s published guidance:
| Model | 100N | 150N | 200N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enduro2 | Not offered | Riders up to 80 kg | Riders over 75 kg |
| Sport2 | Riders up to 65 kg | Riders 65–90 kg | Riders over 75 kg, or enduro use |
The ranges overlap on purpose. A lighter magnet is easier to leave in a panic. A heavier one stays put through rock gardens and over drops. If you’re new to any kind of retention, start one step lighter and move up if your feet bounce off.
You need a shoe with 2-bolt SPD-style cleat holes. The steel plate bolts on with 2 screws in the same slots as a Shimano SPD cleat.
Magped recommends flat-soled SPD shoes with a fine to medium tread. The plate has to sit close enough to the magnet to make contact, and very deep lugs can hold it away. Stiff, recessed-cleat mountain bike shoes are the usual choice. 3-bolt road shoes (Look Keo, Shimano SPD-SL) don’t accept the plate.
Choose a bigger platform with longer pins for trail riding, and a smaller, lighter body for gravel and XC.
The Enduro2’s SWITCH pins can be set at two lengths, so you can run them short for commuting or long for steep trails. The Sport2 has 6 replaceable pins per side. Pins matter because they hold your foot when the plate isn’t centered on the magnet. See pedal pins if you need spares or longer ones.
Magnetic pedals are heavier than most clipless pedals because the magnet adds mass. Magped lists the Enduro2 at 447 g (150N) and 477 g (200N) per pair without pins, and the Sport2 at 420 to 458 g depending on magnet. If grams matter, the Ultra2 uses a magnesium body and titanium spindle.
Magped pedals use the standard 9/16” x 20 TPI thread found on adult three-piece and e-bike cranks. The left pedal is reverse threaded; see which pedal is reverse threaded before you fit them.
Magnetic pedals make the most sense for riders who want more connection than flats but don’t want to be locked in.
Magnetic pedals don’t replace clipless pedals for everyone. Know the trade-offs before you buy.
If you want a positive lock with a platform for walking shoes, look at double-sided clipless pedals with a platform instead.
| Flat pedals | Magnetic pedals | Clipless pedals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoe | Any flat sole | 2-bolt SPD-style + steel plate | 2-bolt or 3-bolt + cleat |
| Retention | Grip and pins only | Magnet pull + pins | Mechanical lock |
| Release | Lift foot | Twist or pull hard, any direction | Twist heel out |
| Pull-up | None | Limited | Full |
| Learning curve | None | Short | Moderate |
For Magped’s full range and how the models differ, see our Magped brand page.
A permanent magnet in the pedal body attracts a steel plate bolted to the cleat holes of a 2-bolt SPD-style shoe. Nothing latches, so you release by twisting your heel or lifting the foot off with more force than the magnet holds.
Not better, different. Clipless pedals lock the cleat mechanically and won't let go until you twist out. Magnetic pedals hold less firmly but let go in any direction, which some riders find less intimidating.
A shoe with 2-bolt SPD-style cleat holes, so the steel plate can bolt on. Magped recommends flat-soled SPD shoes with a fine to medium tread. 3-bolt road shoes don't take the plate.
Go by body weight and terrain. For the Enduro2, Magped recommends 150N for riders up to 80 kg and 200N for riders over 75 kg. If you fall in the overlap, choose 200N for rough trails and 150N for easier release.
Yes, as a pinned flat pedal. Without a plate there is no magnetic hold, but the pins still grip a flat sole. That makes them useful on a bike that sees both cycling shoes and everyday shoes.
Magped points out that magnetic pedals have no firm mechanical connection like clipless pedals. Hold depends on magnet size, dirt, wear and the direction of force, so a big hit can pull your foot off. Treat them as better-than-flat retention, not a lock.
Yes, as long as the plate can reach the magnet. Mud between plate and magnet reduces the hold, and the magnet will collect ferrous grit. Wipe both after wet rides.