Who it's for
Good fit
- Riders new to Speedplay or to clipless road pedals
- Riders with knee, hip or ankle issues who want a gentler twist to unclip
- Older riders and anyone with less ankle strength
- Commuters and group riders who clip in and out a lot at junctions
Look elsewhere if
- Sprinters and racers who want the most positive, locked-in hold
- Older Speedplay Light Action or X-Series pedals
- Riders with 2-bolt mountain bike shoes only
Compatibility
- Pedals
- Wahoo Speedplay Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano and Powrlink Zero; legacy Speedplay Zero
- Not compatible
- Speedplay Light Action, X-Series and other older non-Zero Speedplay pedals
- Shoes
- 4-hole Speedplay soles, or standard 3-bolt road soles with the 3-hole adapter
- Covers
- Wahoo Speedplay Cleat Cover kit
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lighter spring makes clipping in and out take less effort
- Same 0–15° adjustable float as the black cleat
- Fits every Wahoo pedal, including Powrlink Zero power pedals
- Swaps straight in for the black cleat in the same position
Cons
- Less positive hold than the Standard Tension cleat for hard efforts
- Spring sits in the cleat, so grit and walking wear still affect engagement
- Needs covers for walking, like any Speedplay cleat
What makes the Easy Tension cleat different
The Easy Tension cleat is a Speedplay cleat with a lighter spring. On Speedplay pedals the spring lives in the cleat, not the pedal, so there is no tension screw to turn down. Changing cleats is the only way to make Speedplay pedals easier to use.
Everything else matches the black Standard Tension cleat: the same body, the same 4-hole screw pattern with a 3-hole adapter for normal road shoes, and the same 0–15° adjustable float. Wahoo fits the gray cleat to the Speedplay Comp as standard, which tells you who it is aimed at: riders who value easy entry and exit over the firmest possible hold.
Who should use the easier Speedplay cleat
Choose the gray cleat if getting in or out of your pedals takes noticeable effort. Typical cases:
- New riders. Clipping in on a double-sided Speedplay pedal is easy, but a lighter spring makes the first few hundred stops less stressful.
- Knee, hip or ankle issues. Unclipping means twisting the heel against the spring. A lighter spring reduces the force through a sore joint, and Speedplay’s adjustable float lets you keep plenty of free movement before release.
- Older riders. Less ankle strength or mobility makes a hard release harder to do quickly.
- Stop-start riding. Commutes and group rides with lots of junctions mean dozens of unclips per ride.
Stay with the black cleat if you sprint hard, ride rough roads at speed, or have ever pulled a foot out under load. Easier entry and exit is the trade-off for a slightly less locked-in feel.
Wahoo cleats: one cleat family for every Wahoo pedal
If you are searching for “Wahoo cleats”, these are them. Wahoo bought Speedplay in 2019 and relaunched the range in 2021, and every pedal Wahoo sells uses Speedplay cleats:
- Speedplay Zero, Aero and Nano ship with the black Standard Tension cleat.
- Speedplay Comp ships with this gray Easy Tension cleat.
- Powrlink Zero power-meter pedals use the same cleats, so your power pedals and training-bike pedals can share shoes.
The new cleats also work on legacy Speedplay Zero pedals, but not on older Light Action or X-Series pedals. The Wahoo Speedplay brand page covers the pedals, and our cleat compatibility chart covers every other system.
Switching from black to gray
Swapping is a like-for-like job:
- Mark the old cleat’s outline on the sole or adapter, or photograph it.
- Note how far each float-limit screw is turned in.
- Remove the four M4 screws, fit the gray cleat in the same spot and copy the float settings.
- Tighten evenly, then check entry and release on both sides before riding.
If the old screws are chewed or seized, fit new ones; BikeFit 13mm Speedplay cleat screws match the M4 x 0.7 thread.
Care and wear
A lighter spring is no excuse to skip cleat care. Grit packed into the cleat makes entry gritty and can make release less predictable, which defeats the point of an easy cleat.
- Fit the Wahoo Speedplay Cleat Cover before walking; options are in cleat covers.
- Rinse out grit with water and let the cleat dry.
- Replace the cleats if release starts to feel inconsistent or the body is cracked.
For alignment tools and wedges, see cleat fitment.
Alternatives to consider
Wahoo Speedplay Standard Tension cleats (black)
Same fit with the firmer standard spring for a more locked-in feel
Wahoo Speedplay Cleat Cover
Keeps grit out of the spring and protects the cleat when you walk
Shimano SM-SH56 SPD cleats
If you want the easiest release of all and can switch to SPD pedals and 2-bolt shoes
Crankbrothers Easy Release cleats
The equivalent easy-exit cleat if you ride Crankbrothers off-road pedals
Wahoo Speedplay Easy Tension Cleats: FAQ
What is the difference between Speedplay Easy Tension and Standard Tension cleats?
Only the spring. The gray Easy Tension cleat uses a lighter spring, so it is easier to clip in and out of; the black Standard Tension cleat holds more firmly. Pedal compatibility, shoe mounting and the 0–15° float range are the same.
Are Wahoo cleats the same as Speedplay cleats?
Yes. Wahoo owns Speedplay, and the only cleats Wahoo makes are Speedplay cleats. The same black and gray cleats fit the Speedplay Zero, Comp, Aero, Nano and the Powrlink Zero power-meter pedals.
Do Easy Tension cleats work with Powrlink Zero pedals?
Yes. Powrlink Zero pedals are built on the Speedplay Zero and use the same cleats as every other current Wahoo Speedplay pedal.
Can I swap from black to gray cleats without refitting?
Yes. The two cleats share the same body and mounting, so you can fit the gray cleat in the marked position of your old one and copy the float-limit settings.