Deity TMAC Pedals - Review

Oct 3, 2016 at 9:26
by Olly Forster  
Deity Components TMAC pedal review


According to a recent poll conducted right here on Pinkbike, the vast majority of you are still rocking the tried and trusted combo of 'flat' pedals and sticky soled shoes. And, while the flat-pedal shoe market is overwhelmingly dominated by one brand, the flat pedal market is saturated with every bike and component brand under the sun, each offering a multitude of options, with many bearing an uncanny and disappointing resemblance to one another.

Has this copy-cat catalog culture had a detrimental effect on innovation? Perhaps, but it didn't stop one brand from breaking the mold. Deity's premium TMAC pedals were designed and developed from the ground up with the help of one of the sport's most well-rounded athletes, Tyler McCaul. With Tyler on board, the mission statement was simple but not without its challenges. To get some insight into their development, we pinned down the man whose name is all over these pedals - just as he was leaving for Utah and the 2016 Red Bull Rampage:


bigquotesWhen Eric (Davies) and I started designing this pedal a few years ago, I only had a few key requests and they were all things I was pretty adamant about. I wanted a large platform and I wanted it to be concave. The MTB industry went through a long phase of trying to get pedals as thin as possible, and I never saw any benefit to that. Companies were actually making pedals convex in an attempt to make them as thin as possible, but when your foot folds over a pedal rather than sitting into it, your feet are just gonna slide around and it's gonna feel like you're on ice skates. It's also not as supportive, and you're more likely to injure your feet in the event of a hard landing. I tend to land flat sometimes, so I need all the support I can get!

We tried a couple different shapes in the early stages of designing. The first extrusion was made specifically for the first prototype - an extrusion that ended up evolving into the current Bladerunner pedal, but since it was so thin, we weren't able to increase how concave we wanted it, especially within the platform itself.

Deity Components TMAC pedal review


Deity TMAC Details:

• Extruded & Machined 6061 T6 aluminum
• 110mm x 105mm footprint
• Super concave 2.5mm deep pedal profile
• 14mm thin at the center
• Symmetrical pedal profile
• Includes extra set of back up pins
• Sealed bearings and DU Bushing internals
• Heat treated Cr-Mo Spindle
• Available in 7 colors
• Weight: 409 grams
• MSRP: $169 USD
deitycomponents.com

At first, we tried to accomplish a concave platform by using longer pins on the edges and shorter pins toward the center of the pedal. To get a concave feel that way, though, the pins had to be so long that they were puncturing into the bottoms of my shoes. and it felt like I was clipped in and couldn't adjust my feet without having to lift up and move them. What I wanted was the 'clipped in' feeling, like my feet were locked into the pedal, but I wanted to be able to adjust them if I needed.

We tried everything we could using an existing mold so that Eric wouldn't have to open a whole new one, but we realized a concave platform with short pins would be the only way. That way, the platform itself cupped your foot and the pins were there for added traction, but you could still shimmy your foot around if you didn't get it on the pedal right. Eric opened up a new mold just for this pedal, spent some serious time redesigning it, and he hit the nail right on the head with the new shape. The final product is what you see now. A strong, light, big, concave pedal, and I couldn't be any happier with the way they feel under my feet.
- Tyler McCaul.


Deity Components TMAC pedal review
A massive platform, a 2.5mm concave design and 28, perfectly allocated 14mm pins, add up to one hell of a pedal. To maximize the dimensions of the platform, rounded edges replace the traditional angled entry facets on the fore and aft faces of the pedal.

Deity Components TMAC pedal review
Diety assures that the TMAC will stand the test of time with three sealed ball bearings and a load carrying DU bushing (bottom-center) inside each pedal and when the time comes, this rebuild kit (sold separately), will get everything ship shape again.


On the trail

Dwarfing many of the existing noteworthy offerings by a good few millimeters in every direction, I was keen to see how the extra meat and unique shape of the TMACs would translate on the trail. It came as no surprise that they dished out a substantial level of grip and support and not just on the kind of terrain where you'd expect such an aggressive pedal to excel. From reacting to challenging conditions and off-camber trails littered with roots that required a quick dab of the foot, to applying the power on long technical climbs, where pedal placement and cadence control are key, the TMACs consistently impressed.

Deity Components TMAC pedal review


Hammering rough trails, I was greeted with as much grip as I could handle, while encouraging a more rearward foot position to what I'm used to. But it's not just the amount of grip and support on offer - it's the ability to control it and do so with minimal effort that makes the TMACs so special. Throughout testing, I used three kinds of Five Ten shoes including regular Impacts, Impact VXis and Freerider Contacts, alongside Giro's Vibram-equipped Jackets. While the difference between these shoes is considerable, especially between the 'stickier' Five Ten offerings and the marginally harder compound soles found on the Giro Jackets, they all benefited from the TMAC's size, shape, and unique design.

Lacking the traditional offset design we all know so well - where the front and rear of the pedal platform is ramped to help your feet find their way back to the pedal - did lead to an initial concern. Out on the trail, my concern was quickly dashed, thanks to the TMAC's hugely supportive and hard to miss, 105mm by 110mm symmetrical platform. That, combined with a rounded profile at either end, with a depth of 19mm, proved to be a rather awesome solution and a refreshing take on a prerequisite for a good flat pedal design. Readjusting my foot position back to the sweet spot, especially while hurtling down a trail (something I'm sure most of us can attest to struggling with after taking a foot off) was similarly easy, requiring minimal movement and effort, which I really liked. My foot still felt glued to the pedals, of course, how could it not, with all those pins, but even using Five Ten's Impact VXi shoes (with their super sticky MI6 rubber), getting my foot to where I wanted it and on the fly, was noticeably easier than most of the pedals I've always considered as being a benchmark in feel and performance.

This heightened level of control only increased throughout the test period to the extent where I found the way I approached many of the tight and technical trails I regularly frequent, change. Evolving from a more cautionary approach, especially in the wet, to not giving a damn and dropping a foot at the first chance, and letting the old girl slide with the knowledge that finding my footing again is so easy. I'm convinced that the larger platform and the intelligent design that Deity and T-Mac took years to perfect has well and truly paid off.


Pinkbike's Take
bigquotesAfter three months of abuse, which ranged from weekly trail rides to two weeks of daily abuse on some of Europe's finest and roughest DH trails, the TMACs are still spinning like new. Granted, there are some tasty gauges in the body and a few pins have lost a few precious millimeters here and there thanks to interactions with rocks - which is an issue when you're running large pedals - nothing has bent, buckled or become loose and after some of the cases I've had recently, that says a lot. The reliability and durability of the design, which relies upon a single DU bushing and three micro cartridge bearings, coupled with its functionality on the trail amount to one of the best pedals I've had the pleasure of using. Given that such attributes come at a premium, the TMACs are far from the cheapest or indeed the lightest pedals out there, not that they're really that heavy at 409 grams. It also goes without saying that your pedals are one of the most important parts of your bike, and if you're a die hard flat pedal rider who wants the best, look no further. - Olly Forster



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MENTIONS: @deityusa



Author Info:
ollyforster avatar

Member since Jun 8, 2005
78 articles

94 Comments
  • 90 28
 I just bought one the same colour in your review. I am dissapointed becouse I had aan easy and short ride today and one pedal faild. The axle is moving in an out of the platform. No drops no jumps only easy descent and tour. I will send for warranty and will buy dmr vault. I am using dmr v12 over a year without a problem.
  • 442 8
 Thanks for the post and support! This definitely sounds odd. We would love to get you taken care of and go through your pedals. Please contact us via our site at www.deitycomponents.com and we will get them running asap!
  • 129 10
 Don't downvote this. Peeps need to know Deity stands behind their products.
  • 20 48
flag kwapik (Oct 11, 2016 at 22:29) (Below Threshold)
 @deityusa: This is off subject - but are you ever going to release the Fox/Deity blacklabel bars?
  • 18 17
 post some pictures of your " same colour " pedals(as u spell it)on your profile, lets see what you are talking about?

cause im thinking of buying a set of the deity's

thanks in advancetup
  • 9 3
 Best flat I've owned. Traded them between my trail and downhill bike and no problems. Gotta thank Griz for turning me on to these shin destroyers
  • 5 3
 @deityusa: I've been after a set of these since the first images were released, where from though? live in the UK and don't want to have to import them really..
  • 2 1
 @Thustlewhumber: One of my friends has been through more Streetsweeper frames than I can count. I think he's on his 6th or 7th now. Every time, Deity warranties it with no problems.
  • 6 5
 @deityusa: way to be.


Honestly this reads like a bogus post... or buyers remorse. I've never heard of that happening to one of your pedals and I'm sure had the OP just contact you guys or the shop they bought them from it would have been immediately taken care of.

Curious what happens with this particular case. Will not surprise me to find out that this set never shows up for warranty repair.
  • 2 2
 @Thustlewhumber: but can't assemble a pedal properly. They're obviously not the only people who struggle to control their manufacturing processes in the bike industry to be fair to them.
  • 1 1
 @jaysimp93: i have a set of used one in either red or white i can sell you. the white is in perfect condition and only used 3 times. the red has a little bit of scratches on the outside of the pedal but over all in very good condition. i live in USA and will sell them for $70.00
  • 2 9
flag gonecoastal (Oct 12, 2016 at 16:45) (Below Threshold)
 ???? @ another flat pedal review. These are about as helpful as bike show flat pedal reviews.
  • 3 0
 @gonecoastal: Wuh?

For one... it's heavily concaved... for two... it's not different than any other review... on anything...

Would you prefer more ads?
  • 4 3
 @onemanarmy: Liking the concave an du bushing but $169 hahaha nice one ,, maybe next time.
  • 8 1
 @fecalmaster: Ain't cheap that's for sure. But consider this...

Crank Brothers similar pedal is $150 and this one is nicer in my opinion... but Iike concave.
Azonic Worldforce goes for about $100 but these are much nincer.
DMR Vaults are about $125. Good pedal.
Giant Pinner is like $115 and the TMAC is way better.
Spank Oozy is $130.
Chromag Scarab is $150 and they're taller and not as wide or concave.
Twenty6 Predator is $270
Burgtec is over $100.

Long story short you're talking $125-175 being relatively normal for quality flat pedals. Most to none of which are as large foot size wise or as thin... profile wise... as the diety.

So really... you're talking about $25-50 difference between most of these pedals. In the grand scheme it's not much... and I'm a cheap bastard.
  • 2 1
 @tacomunger: she spells it the way the rest of Canada does.
  • 2 3
 We all know the prices, Xpedo going fit $70 and weigh half plus half the thickness. I beat the dog shit out if them for 2 years and minimal signs of wear. I'll buy 2 pairs of Xpedo's and be set for next 5-6 year for same price. In other words stick these pedals in your ehhhhhhhy I walking here!
  • 2 1
 @tacomunger: Hi I sent an email from deity and they turn back very fast and they really stands behind their products, I was happy to this and see that I am not wrong for buy it Smile . I nearly solve the problem. Only I need a pedal socket. I forced and push the bolt with a 6mm socket wrench (which is holding the axle; you can see it at the rebuilt kit picture, right side of the pedal socket.) and tightinig, now and its not plays now. it seems good but I will buy a socket wrench for perfect solition. I highly recommended the pedal for platform shape. Pedalling is very easy and flowy, I am spinning faster ever before with standing position. I have a teva links and Fiveten freerider both shoes is good on the pedal very locked feel.
  • 1 1
 @barbaricht: Sweet offer but I'd be after raw or greyish silver Frown how are they to ride with anyway?
  • 1 0
 @jaysimp93: I'm in the UK too, and in the same position, cannot find these anywhere outside of the states!
  • 1 0
 @Kingwell: Yeah annoying as fook, I don't understand it because I've had the Deity DH saddle from CRC, so it's not like theyre avoiding the UK, wonder why they wont send T Mac's over?!
  • 2 0
 @jaysimp93 @Kingwell - they're in talks with a few UK distributors so watch this space, but in the meantime you can order direct from the US, it might just sting on shipping and import duty.
  • 2 0
 @ollyforster: Yeah, the pedals are expensive enough without added extras, I think I'll just go with something else
  • 1 1
 @fecalmaster: But they say pedo on them...
  • 2 1
 Since I ride in only Speedos this a good fit for me!!!
  • 64 7
 If deity puts there name on it, I trust it. Everytime I upgrade a part on my bike I look at deity to see if they make it. Quality is top notch, keep it up guys!
  • 9 7
 shit i hit the wrong button. ment to up vote that.
  • 13 4
 @GreatBritton: there you go, up voted it for ya
  • 5 3
 @GreatBritton: me too so the end result is the same.
  • 4 3
 Not me. Bent a spindle on one their pedals. Never again deity.
  • 47 22
 will these assist me in defeating trump
  • 52 4
 Yes they will help u pedal to the voting booth
  • 10 4
 Trump will assist you in beating himself too!
  • 5 2
 No, they will Make America Pedal Again.
  • 2 0
 Yes, they will. And don't think for one minute he's letting crusty bike hippies through that wall!
  • 1 4
 They might help you grab your own genitals and not some elses for once.
  • 14 1
 I've had tmacs on my DJ since they came out and recently put them on my trail bike as well. Not a single issue, plenty of abuse, and they're bling as f***. Haven't tried every flat pedal, but never tried one better then these. Pricey but Deity has such attention to detail I've never felt let down by any of their parts, and they're tough.
  • 10 1
 Likewise. Been running them since they were released. At 6'2 240 lbs I'm a morbidly obese troll and they spin like new. By far the best pedals I've owned, and maybe hard to believe, but worth the money. A+ product.
  • 2 0
 @myfriendgoose: Thanks for the beefcake review. I have been bending shimano axles too often and i'm looking for big guy tested gear.
  • 9 1
 Been running these all season on my DH and there awesome, best grip of any flat I've tried, hard to move your feet even if you are trying to! Big platform for us with size 12/13, look killer, work awesome, top product!
  • 5 1
 These look like great pedals. But the reviewer is either delusional or dishonest in saying that these are more unique than everything else out there. Nearly every company has the same story, which is fine because there are tons of great pedals on the market. Not hating on deity here, my cryptkeeper is decked out with deity components and they're all great. Just wanted the author to know that we appreciate level-headed reviews.
  • 5 2
 Here's what I want: a pedal with exactly these specs that costs $50. I don't care what it weighs at all. Make it out of lead if you want. I just don't want to pay $170 for a consumable piece of kit that's going to be systematically destroyed over a season of riding.
  • 8 0
 So you can buy 4 sets while the Diety's are still going strong and end up paying more for a crappier pedal in the long run?

Fact is... it costs money to produce. So to hit $50 you wouldn't have removable pins... so they break or wear and they're gone for good. The internals would be downgraded and not rebuildable. So they fail the pedals are junk. The material would be crappier so slam a rock and they fail and they're garbage.

Industry wide parts are overpriced in my opinion... but you gotta pay to play. That's why I'm on an old ass bike. I can't afford to pay right now. LOL!
  • 5 0
 If you only want to spend $50 the best pedal I have found is the Deity Compound. I have them on my AM rig that I take to the bike park and shuttling and the pedals have been awesome. I have had major rock strikes with no damage done to the pedal. Best bang for you buck in my opinion.
  • 1 0
 @bikerider0985: Those things scare me. But I also weigh about 240 pounds. LOL!!!!
  • 1 0
 Last year near Chrismasts Art's Cyclery had a 20% discount on all their sh*t. The Chromag Scarabs and T-Macs were both $100 with that discount. So stop being a baby, instead be a little smart and if you want something like this pedals but can't convince yourself to pay that much, then just look around and wait.
Sounds like a lot of money for pedals, but they very well made and like somebody already that costs money to produce.
  • 2 0
 @passwordpinkbike: Especially when you're putting them on a $5-10k bike. It's like people that buy Ducati's and then buy discount leathers and cheap ass lids. It's like... dude...
  • 3 0
 I wonder if Tmac has ridden the Canfield Crampons? I went from a range of different concave pedals to the convex Crampons and felt none of the issues he mentions. I find them super grippy, as did a pinkbike review a few years ago. Plus, they just slide off rocks like no other. That being said, I'm not hucking off 40 foot cliffs; just riding trails with lots of clearance issues. Also, I would hardly call these pedals unique, whereas, the Canfields mos def are... and they're cheaper... and lighter...
  • 4 0
 Always the struggle of chromag or deity. pretty much make all equivalent products. both make quality stuff, support athletes, and put out sweet edits for free on a pretty regular basis.
  • 3 1
 I've had these pedals on my DH bike all season and they kick ass! The grip and feel is out of this world. They take everything I can throw at them- racing, freeride, local trails, whistler trips, and local bike park laps! Best flat pedal I have ever ridden! Hands down.
  • 7 3
 im still suspicious of grub screw pins. Thought most manufacturers left them in 2010 due to all the ruined screw threads. That said, these sound pretty good.
  • 2 0
 Have ridden these and Bladerunners. They're both amazing. The biggest difference is that the TMACs are huge, and if pedal strikes are an issue because of BB height, and terrain then the Bladerunners are little easier to work with. Not sure how to describe the difference but in my experience BRs on 170s were noticeably easier to avoid rocks and pedal compared to TMACs on 175s. If pedal strikes aren't an issue go with the TMACs.
  • 1 0
 Interesting, how is the grip compared to the TMAC? The reviews I read seemed to indicate grip was more of an issue with the BRs.

I love my TMACs, but I pedal strike frequently and would love a lower profile, both in width and thickness, but not at the sacrifice of grip.
  • 1 0
 @Adodero: my Blade Runners don't have quite the same grip. TMACs are the best feeling pedal I've ever ridden. But after a few rides I forgot about it. That's mostly because the shorter cranks and slimmer pedals mean fewer pedal strikes which means I'm happier, but that came at the sacrifice of how grippy the pedals are.
  • 5 3
 I have the Deity Bladerunner pedals & while not the T-Macs, they are simply the nicest pedals I've ever spent time on.
I had a hard time since I wanted to support the LBS & w/ WA sales tax it was dang near $200, but that saying about paying once for quality is true. Better pedals than I am a rider, for sure!
  • 2 0
 I've been running these since they were announced almost a year ago. I had tried a handful of other flat pedals but not stuck on anything that I really liked.

These are awesome. The grip is amazing, better than any flat pedal I've used, and they really engage with your foot. They are super durable, I've bashed them on rocks more times than I can count and I've not lost a single pin. They spin smooth, look awesome, and feel great. I can't recommend them enough. Yes, they are expensive, but they are also one of your main contact points on the bike, making it worth the $$. I've used a number of other flat pedals, all of which were awesome in some way, but none that compare to the grip these provide.

That said, I have one gripe: they are really wide. For some riding types/areas, that may be a benefit, but trying to navigate a tight rock garden with these pedals and you are eventually going to snag the sides. I've had a few close calls going on steep, narrow descents where the pedal clipped the outside of a rut and swung the bike around, or snagged a rock. Sometimes you can plan a line accordingly, but others, you just get stuck. The width is really nice when it comes to getting your foot into a natural position, but it can get a bit tight with how wide they are on some trails.
  • 2 0
 I've had my TMacs for a good 5 months now, and they are by far the best pedal I've ever set foot on. My local trails are very rocky and my Stumpy has a low BB height. That said, I've smashed the shit out of these pedals more than I'm willing to admit. Sure, most of the pins are mangled, but the pedal, axle, and bearings still feel like new. I wouldn't hesitate buying another pair. All my buddies that set foot on them are amazed by the size, concave, and grip. So comfy Smile
  • 2 1
 handled a set of these myself in the flesh last friday, very nice. stoked that deity have just hooked up with a distributor here might just tempt me away from my spank kit... have ordered a set of purple Tmac's for wifeys trail bike
  • 1 0
 ended up going w/Chromag contact in my last build 2years ago.
designd by Semenuk, concave platform, 13mm at center,
a bit lighter than the Deity and less expensive by a good amount.
these pedals have kiss some big rocks and have no play whatsoever.
  • 3 2
 This review talks about concave as if it only exists in the fore/aft plane. There is also outboard/inboard concave. Some pedals have both, referred to as dual concave. Personally this is important, as I feel I'm constantly fighting a feeling of sliding off of pedals that are not dual concave. I can tell this pedal has no outboard/inboard concave by one of the photos, but writing about concave without specifying the types just displays a lack of knowledge in the product category.
  • 1 1
 I run Deity components on my big bike, and have zero complaints, but these pedals won't be one of them. pedals that use allen key pins, no matter how pretty they are, are dead to me. if you want my money, build a clone of my HT AE03s with more durable bearings/bushings. fine pins are the only way to go.
  • 2 2
 here is the real story behind the testing of these pedals. I have three sets of these pedals, so i have spent a lot of time testing TMAC pedals. no good for trail riding with half trails being uphill because of constant pedal strikes. But good for downhill. Good pedal but i felt it was wrong design on out edge that lead to many pedal strikes and the concave feeling doesn't exactly give you that superior grip. they don't use longer pins on the outside because deity said it causes the pin treads to strip when there is a pedal strike. the pedal is strong and i have never had a problem with axle and axle spin remains the same over much use. overall, one of the better flat pedals out there. but price too high.
  • 4 2
 ive had a set on my dh bike for 6 months and there easily the best pedals ive ever used 10/10
  • 1 0
 One disadvantage as i found in these pedals is the fact that the pins are grub and not through, which make them harder to drive out if they bent.
  • 2 0
 My first thought- the pin locations are not staggered side-to-side, so it can't be unthreaded from the back side without taking the opposite one out. And there isn't enough room between the platforms to feed a long-enough regular allen bolt in from underneath. That sounds like a tiny gripe, but with an aluminum pedal, digging out one of those screws the hard way can damage the threads, and helicoiling every tapped hole sucks.

I will keep my TwentySix Predators (also $170, by the way) and keep bashing the hell out of them and replacing busted pins (regular old stainless allen setscrews, $3 for a box of 50). They spin like new after many years of abuse, and grip my feet like a vice.
  • 7 4
 Confirmed; we know what all the dumb-ass polls are for now...
  • 8 4
 Oh, and I think you mean 'gouges', not 'gauges'... You guys need a copy editor?
  • 4 1
 And somehow they're still not available in UK!!
  • 7 2
 By the time Brexit is done, you wont want them, they will be about £200!
  • 2 1
 @Racer951: I'm happy with my Burgtec Penthouse anyway Wink
  • 3 4
 Love the look of this pedal - Please bring them to the UK - Are Deity not with Hotlines any more?

My only single reservation is the 3 small bearings - They are the same internals as some of the Superstar / HT Components and they can be a bit fragile if you hit the pedal in a certain way - aside from that they dont seem to wear out quickly in 'normal' use and you can replace them if you bust them.

I have to be the bearer of bad news though on the 'breaking the mold' with the zero offset pedal - HT did this some time ago with the KA01 (Kevin Aiello signature model) - www.thepathbikeshop.com/new-arrivals/components/571-kevin-aiello-signature-ht-ka01-pedals and more recently with the AE06 which is even more similar in design - www.mountainbikesdirect.com.au/ht-ae06-flat-pedal

Obviously there are small differences with a concave profile but essentially everything has been done before, it just depends on who shouts loudest about it that appears to have done it first.
  • 2 0
 A comparison to DMR Vaults and Chromag Scarabs (both of which are larger I believe) please!
  • 2 0
 I would LOVE a pair but not for 2 bills. How come this stuff makes surgical equipment seem cheap?
  • 3 1
 yo @deityusa, where can i grab these in the uk?
  • 1 0
 I recently purchased these and I'm very impressed. Very stable and grip for days.
  • 2 1
 Those look really good. There's always a better way to do something, that's for sure.
  • 2 0
 Those pedals look rad. I may get me a pair of em
  • 1 3
 These look like they should hold up through about 3 rock strikes before being mangled.....They'll probably lose pins just as fast as the other diety pedals we own.....diety has some great colors, some great machining, good stems and collars and bars, and some cool looking stuff, unfortunately their pedals just don't hold up.
  • 2 0
 I need me a set Cool
  • 7 7
 After using HT and Spank pedals I could never go back to 14mm thick pedals. Thin for the win!
  • 3 0
 I agree especially on trail. I find that with thin pedals, since your foot is closer to the axle, they tend to flip less often for me.
  • 7 6
 Sticking with my Kona Wah Wah pedals... great price, great pedal.
  • 3 0
 Trying to decide myself between the Wah Wahs or Tmacs.
  • 2 0
 pedal looks very good
  • 6 8
 $169 MSRP in the US typically means around an extra 20% mark up elsewhere, which brings it pretty close to the price of used hardtail frames in my country. :-(
  • 1 0
 Gouges, not "gauges"
  • 5 8
 169$ for 409Gr, ok thanks anyway
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