2024's Best Dirt Jumper Pedals | Top 8 Picks for Ultimate Control

Our top choices

Our Choice

Deity T-Mac

Tyler McCaul and Deity designed a dirt jumping pedal with a large platform, 14 pins per side, and intricate 3D CNC machining for precision.

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Cheapest

Shadow Ravager Pedals

Shadow Conspiracy's Ravager pedals, designed for the BMX market, offer a budget-friendly option for dirt jumpers who prioritize affordability over durability. With a simple platform and plastic construction, these pedals are replaceable but wear down faster.

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Upgrade Pick

RaceFace Atlas

RaceFace's 2024 Atlas pedals are bigger, thinner, and feature improved bearings, with chamfered edges for strike prevention. Though slightly less grippy than DMR Vault pedals, they offer unique colors and an interesting structure design.

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In the thrilling world of dirt jumping, having the right gear is crucial for optimal performance and safety. One often-overlooked but essential component of any dirt jumper's arsenal is the pedals. While there may be a plethora of options on the market, not all of them are suitable for the rigorous demands of dirt jumping. That's why we've scoured the internet, engaged with passionate riders in forums and dirt jump trails, and conducted installation tests to bring you our top recommendations for the best dirt jumping pedals of 2024.

When it comes to dirt jumping, selecting the perfect set of pedals can significantly impact a rider's performance and overall experience. These pedals need to deliver a perfect balance of durability, grip, and stability, while remaining lightweight and comfortable for extended periods of use. With this in mind, we've evaluated numerous options to ensure our selections meet the requirements of the most discerning dirt jumpers.

In this comprehensive post, we will discuss various pedals that have earned the admiration of the dirt jumping community. We'll delve into the key features and benefits of each, as well as any potential drawbacks you should be aware of before making your decision. While we understand that every rider's preferences may vary, our aim is to provide you with a diverse selection of top-quality pedals to help you find the perfect match for your style and needs. Stay tuned for a thorough exploration of the best dirt jumping pedals of 2024.

Deity T-Macs Signature Pedals

OUR PICK

 Photo by timlikesbikes

What an interesting design Deity and Tyler McCaul have come up with for these pedals. The pedal is almost completely square with a notch taken out the top, awfully similar to the newest iPhone models.

McCaul is a long time professional freeride mountain bike rider from Santa Cruz. He was the first person to land a triple tailwhip and has ridden for many of the top MTB brands since then, Deity being one of those companies.

Tyler really has gone all out and designed a pedal specific to his exact needs. 110mm x 105mm is a massive platform and the difference between the edge and center is 2.5mm, showing an obvious concave when viewing the pedal from the size. These dimensions are perfect for dirt jumping.

14 pins on either side gives an unparalleled amount of traction, especially when you can quickly alter the length of each individual pin. The lack of chamferring will make pins more likely to break but the included replacement set of pins will last you a while.

My final point about these pedals is the impressive machining Deity have achieved with this product. Take a look at some up close images to see the intricate 3D CNC machining used to create a symmetrical, accurate design.

 Photo by jacksonlui

 Photo by samherd

The Atlas pedal from RaceFace is almost prohibitively expensive for a mountain bike pedal but I can't get over how attractive they are, especially when fitted to my dirt jump bike.

RaceFace have released these 2024 pedals as a new and improved version over the originals. The newer version is bigger, thinner and features an improved bearing assembly.

110mm x 108mm is the size of the Atlas pedal, making it about 10% larger than the original and very similar to the size of the DMR Vault pedals. My feet feel very supported when riding these pedals. The size is perfect for my feet.

RaceFace have also specially chamfered the corners and outer edge of the pedal to prevent rock and ground strikes when cornering hard, which is more important than you'd think.

I don't feel quite as much grip as the Vault pedals when I tested them side by side. I think this is due to how much curve the DMR pedals have. RaceFace has massive pins which firmly grab your shoes but this aspect is noticeable when testing both pedals.

My final point about this pedal is the unique colors and interesting structure design on each side. It's interesting how the design isn't unique on either side, improving grip but giving you a weird view of the other side of the pedal.

 Photo by samherd

Atlas Pedal Snapshot

 Photo by dmrbikes.com/

One of the most dedicated dirt jumping brands available, DMR have made so many great parts for DJ bikes that they feature on most of our dirt jumping posts.

DMR produces 7 different models of flat mountain biking pedals, the Vault is leader of this line. They have then released 8 different variations of the Vault DJ pedals, each with it's own design and specifications.

This pedal has a generic, high-quality mountain biking design with a fully rebuildable construction, including replaceable and adjustable pins positioned on top of a large concave base.

To comfortably support your feet, the concave design curves from 19mm at the edges to just 8mm at the center. On top of this, each edge has been chamfered to withstand the harder rock strikes or falls.

I love the design behind these pins. DMR places the longer 6mm pins on the outer edges and shorter, 4mm pins in the middle. The part I love is that each one of these pins can be flipped for the opposite length. A great way to fine tune your grip after testing.

When riding with these pedals I found that the concave platform, and adjustable pins forced the pressure of my foot towards the center of the pedal. When performing tricks where my feet have to cut loose I find that catching the Vault pedals my foot is nearly always in a great position to ride away. The design and large footprint are perfect for this.

 Photo by samherd

The V12 pedals are DMR's step below the Vault pedals. Similar pedals are the V11, V8 and V6 models that feature a similar design.

DMR first released the V12 design back in 1997. Now with over 25 years of experience, they have refined the construction and design to keep up with the competition on this list.

A surface area 10% larger than a regular design makes this pedal perfectly suited to dirt jumper bikes. Coupled with the 20% weight reduction since the previous design only increases my interest.

One of the few reasons I've placed the Vault pedal above the V12 is the foot placement. You have to be a little more accurate to get a comfortable feel when riding. The pins are easily adjustable and replaceable so fine tuning your setup may improve this.

I've found the paintwork isn't incredible on these pedals. Dirt jumping or slopestyle often results in rock strikes, heavy falls and other bumps. It's not the best discipline to keep your bike parts looking new. Having said that, DMR are offering a new limited edition version where they paint the pedals a unique space theme for every single order.

 Photo by samherd

V12 SE Galaxy

 Photo by theshadowconspiracy.com

These pedals are very different to those featured above. Shadow Conspiracy and the Ravager pedals are targeted much more towards the BMX market but I think they fill a very good area of the dirt jump market.

Anyone that wants a cheaper set of pedals from a reputable brand or anyone that really beats up their bike should look into these. The completely plastic base will dent and break faster than CroMo pedals but you can warrant replacing them much more often.

The platform has a very basic design. A very simple shape with 10 pins on either side. Being made from plastic they're going to wear down and break faster, which I don't love but at least you know what you're getting yourself into.

 Photo by nukeproof.com

These aren't my favorite pedals for dirt jumping but I've decided to include them due to their popularity online. Nukeproof has created a very robust pedal for a very reasonable price.

Sam Hill, a very successful downhill MTB rider, has been working with Nukeproof to create this product. Hill has won 5 world championships and 4 enduro world championships so I'm very confident he knows what he's looking for when testing a strong mountain bike pedal.

Horizon Pro pedals are technically an improvement upon the Horizon Sam Hill pedals. Sam has worked on both of these products and the design is effectively exactly the same.

Angled edges and adjustable pins are the main features of this DJ pedal. Angled edges have been incorporated into several products on this list. The idea is to give you a super large surface for your feet while preventing you from making rock and root strikes when cornering hard or pedaling through a corner.

I love the idea of adjustable pins. Manufacturers are using around 10 pins per side and they're normally pretty large; around 6 - 8mm. When riding a pedal like this you can feel the pins dig into your shoes well but it's obvious that some pins are being used far more than others.

Now, with the ability to adjust each pin to a specific length anywhere on the platform, I can dial in the pedal to evenly distribute the weight through my shoe.

Unlike BMX, dirt jumpers expect water and dirt to cover their bikes after every riding session. The lip seal located between the axle and pedal body has been developed and implemented by Nukeproof to deter any water or debris from ruining your DU bushings and dual sealed cartridge bearings.

I would buy these pedals if I needed a proven, strong pedal without the price tag of a fancy design. They're going to last you a long time and there's enough adjustments for them to be usable as you improve.

 Photo by burgtec.co.uk

I was really intrigued when I first came across the Burgtec Penthouse pedals. They're obviously a flat pedal built for dirt jumping or mountain biking but it's the design that I was impressed with. From a front view, the pedal looks like it was constructed from two platforms, welded together at a slight offset.

Penthouse pedals were first released in the early 2000's so Burgtec have had a long time to improve on this design. The MK5 is obviously their fifth release of the model and the most recent development cycle took over two years of development.

Burgtec engineers have obviously listened to their customers as the improvements are common requests from the DJ and MTB world. The platform is a larger 100mm, 102mm, which is just smaller than the Atlas and Vault pedals. Concave platforms with improved pins hug your feet like you're clipped in.

By investigating the best new manufacturing processes and materials Burgtec has managed to remove 65g since the last Penthouse, released in 2014. All this while increasing the pedal footprint by 7%!

 Photo by oneupcomponents.com

I love the look and feel of these pedals. The structure is thin and simple but strong, with one of the largest platforms on this list. 115mm x 105mm.

Uniquely, the structure of this pedal is machined from a single piece of aluminum rather than two layers like most products on this list. The axle and bearing bulge is noticeably taller than the rest of the pedal but that doesn't get in your way with your feet on the pedals.

OneUp has managed to reduce the height down to 8.3mm at its thinnest point. To fit better into the arch of your foot the pedal is then curved to 12mm. You might find it tricky to reposition your feet whilst riding but slipping is almost non-existent in any weather.

10 Hexagonal back screw pins are used on either side of the DJ pedal. They are 5mm long, making them one of the longest available. You can feel the pins grip into your shoes well when riding dirt jumps.

An extra thin body combined with a chamfered front edge reduces rock and root strikes drastically. You need to get lean significantly further into a turn whilst pedaling to even come close to connecting with the floor.

Plastic vs Metal Pedals for Dirt Jumping

Plastic and aluminum alloys are by far the most common materials for bike pedals. Aluminum Chromoly pedals are generally more popular for dirt jump bikes whereas BMX bikes normally use a form of plastic composite.

Dirt jump riders require more grip in a larger variety of conditions, meaning small plastic pins that wear down relatively quickly just don't cut it in most circumstances. On the other hand BMX riders normally only ride in good weather and are constantly adjusting, removing and banging their pedals, making cheaper and easily replaceable plastic products the favorite.

How to Install Pedals on a Dirt Jump Bike?

• Firstly find out which pedal belongs on which side of your bike, they usually have L and R printed on them.
• Next find a spanner that fits the axle of your pedals. The size is normally around 15mm.
• Start screwing the pedal's axle onto the crank arms. You should be able to get this started by hand.
• REMEMBER: Bike pedals have an opposite thread so you will tighten the axle by turning it left.
• Finish tightening the pedals with the spanner and you should be good to go.

How much Can I Expect to Pay for DJ Pedals?

The price usually depends on the quality and type of material that your pedals are made from. The cheapest plastic pedals can cost as little as $20.

Most dirt jumper pedals are made from high-quality chromoly so they generally cost anywhere from $70 up to around $200, with some models going as high as $300.

As with many industries, higher price doesn't always mean better quality.

How do you Maintain Dirt Jump Bike Pedals?

You should clean your whole bike after pretty much any dirt jumping session or mountain bike ride. It's likely you got mud all over your pedals so you should wash it off before the product begins to rust.

After a while you may also need to lubricate or replace your pedals' bearings. This is a tricky process so a lot of people ask their local bike shop for help.

How Heavy are Dirt Jumping Pedals?

Dirt jumping pedals usually weigh anywhere between 350g and 450g.

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