HT T1 Pedals - Review

Performance

The spring-loaded clip-in mechanism is HT's own design, with a wire bail at the front rather than the metal plate commonly seen with SPD-compatible designs. On that note, the T1's aren't SPD-compatible, which means you'll need to use HT's own cleats in order to properly clip in and out.

The supplied X1 cleats provide 4 degrees of float, and there's another cleat design available, the X1F, that allows for 8-degrees of float. Tension is adjusted via a 3mm hex bolt on each side, with possible settings ranging from 'snug' to 'my shoes are now permanently affixed to my bike.' Seriously—there's a ton of available spring tension, and the middle setting is close to what would be the max on a set of Shimano pedals.

On the trail, the T1's were easy to clip into, with a reassuring 'click' that makes it easy to know that you're securely attached. I already mentioned the large amount of available spring tension, but it's also worth noting that past a certain point the ease of entry began to decrease. In other words, if you crank the tension up all the way it's going to be harder to get in and out of the pedals.




If you've ever used a version of Shimano's clipless pedals then you're familiar with what 4-degrees of float usually feels like—there's almost no resistance up to a certain point, after which the cleat cleanly disengages and release the shoe from the pedal. HT's T1 pedal feel a little different. Even for those first 4-degrees there's still a little bit of resistance, and the release feels 'springier' than it does with Shimano's pedals—it's like the difference between opening the latch on a gate (Shimano) and lifting up the catch bar on a mouse trap (HT).

Now, riding with mouse traps attached to your feet may not sound that appealing, but I actually ended up preferring the HT's release feel over Shimano. It's a little less on/off, which means there's a greater range of foot motion for those moments when you need to almost—but not quite—unclip. Conversely, it does mean that you may end up attached to the bike for a millisecond longer when you'd rather not be—for that reason I'd say the T1's may not be the best option for newcomers to the clipless pedal world.

I didn't have any unexpected or inadvertent releases while using the T1's, and clipping in and out was trouble free in all but the muddiest of conditions. In deep mud, they can clog a little bit, but a few solid kicks were usually all it took to be able to get back in.




Issues / Durability

It's not necessarily an issue, but I did discover that the two pins on each side of the pedal are pretty much for show—because the clip-in mechanism doesn't rotate, unless you have super-soft shoes the sole isn't going to flex enough to contact them. I used Shimano's ME7 and Giro's Terraduro Mid during testing, and neither shoe came close to touching the pins.

After nearly a full year of regular use, a time that includes plenty of trips through deep mud puddles, the pedals are still spinning fairly smoothly, with only a slight bit of play. When I pulled them apart to check on the internals I did find that there was a section on both chromoly spindles that showed signs of corrosion. That's a sign that the pedals aren't as weatherproof as they could be (and also that pulling them apart and greasing them more frequently isn't a bad idea if you ride in wet conditions). Disassembly isn't too hard, but it does require a thin-walled 8mm socket, something not every home mechanic will have, at least not before spending some quality time with a bench grinder.


Compared to Shimano XT


All that being said, when it comes to durability and ease of release, Shimano comes out on top, able to withstand multiple seasons of use without losing any of their smoothness or developing play, and retaining a consistent feel with every clip in or out. There's also the price factor to consider - MSRP for the M8020 pedals is $120, versus the T1's $135 asking price.





Pinkbike's Take

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