Tom reviews OneUp’s Clip Pedals

The OneUp Clip Pedal has been making waves as the Canadian brand’s first-ever entry into the category. Our curiosity was piqued when we got a sneak peek at a final prototype during a visit to OneUp’s facility last year. With promising tech specs and a well-thought-out design, we were eager to get these pedals onto the trails.

This review focuses on our hands on (maybe ‘feet on’ is more appropriate) experience with the pedals. For a deeper dive into the technical details and design features, check out our First Look article, where we break it all down.

If you’re after the key takeaways, here’s a quick rundown of the standout specs:

• Weight (pair): 412g, with four pins per side
• Thickness: 14.4mm (body), 26.8mm (binding) — the thinnest clip-in pedal on the market
• Size: 80mm x 90mm (W x L)
• Cleats: OneUp Cleats (Shimano SPD compatible, includes 1mm cleat spacers for shoe fit tuning)
• Colours: Black, Red, Green, Blue, Orange, Purple, Grey, Bronze

Ride Impressions

Let’s get straight into it—these are some of the most connected clip pedals I’ve ever ridden. The mechanism feels incredibly secure with virtually no play, and the pedal to shoe contact is immediately noticeable. It’s not just the pins and the binding system doing the work; you can actually feel solid contact with the pedal body on either side of the mechanism, providing excellent support under the middle of your foot. This makes for a ride experience that’s arguably as close to a flat pedal feel as you’ll get from a clip-in design.

That additional contact area beside the binding is something I’ve often found lacking in some other pedals where the clip sits too proud. With OneUp’s design, however, that extra support translates to a more planted and connected feel.

In fact, the connection was so secure that I ended up running the release tension slightly looser than I normally would. With other pedals, I often compensate for the lack of shoe to pedal/pin contact by cranking up the tension in the spring, but that simply wasn’t necessary here.

Beyond that, there’s almost no unwanted movement, except for the expected 5° of float with a 12° release angle. Thanks to the well-designed pins, I never encountered accidental unclipping during testing, even with the tension set looser than usual.

Setup and adjustability

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to how their pedals should feel, and it’s great to see that OneUp has incorporated some useful adjustability into the design. Starting with the cleats, OneUp uses a Shimano SPD-compatible system combined with its own binding mechanism. The pedals come with OneUp-branded cleats and a set of 1mm spacers, which proved useful. I ended up needing a spacer on my shoes after some trial and error.

For comparison, I’ve spent a lot of time riding the Hope Union TC pedals over the past year, and they share some similarities with OneUp’s design. Both are well made, but Hope has the edge when it comes to the setup process. The British outfit provides two cleat options with different float and release angles, along with both 0.5mm and 1mm spacers. The most useful addition, though, is a simple depth tool that slots into your shoe’s cleat box and tells you exactly how many spacers to use. This removes the guesswork and means you only have to fit your cleats once. If OneUp was to develop something similar to this, I believe it’d be a great addition.

Once your cleat spacing is dialled in, OneUp has made it refreshingly simple to adjust spring tension. The mechanism features clear markings on the body, making it easy to set and match tension across both pedals. With Shimano pedals, you typically have to count Allen key rotations and remember them—a small but annoying detail that OneUp has thankfully eliminated. And let’s be honest, we all have enough trivial things to remember without tracking half turns of a hex key!

OneUp clip pedal serviceability

OneUp takes pride in making its products easy to service, and these pedals stay true to that ethos. Designed with home mechanics in mind, it’s straightforward to maintain, and OneUp provides clear, detailed instructions in both written and video formats (check out the step by step servicing video for more). Even if you’re not particularly confident with wrenching on your own gear, this is one service job I’d recommend giving a go. I can confirm, it’s just as easy as the video makes it look, which isn’t always the case!

For a basic clean and re-grease, OneUp includes a bearing removal tool in the box. If you need to go further with a full rebuild, including replacing the bushings, bearings, and seals, you can pick up a rebuild kit for $20.99 USD (~$32 AUD). However, for that job, you’ll also need a bushing removal tool, which costs $11.99 USD (~$19 AUD). That said, in our experience, regular cleaning and re-greasing will often keep pedals running smoothly for years. But it’s reassuring to know that a full rebuild is both possible and relatively inexpensive should you ever need it.

Currently, rebuild kits are not available locally from MTB Direct, but they can be purchased directly from OneUp’s website, which offers shipping to Australia. However, since these pedals were only released a few months ago, a full rebuild shouldn’t be necessary at this point. If it were, it would likely fall under warranty. As the pedals age, we can expect rebuild kits to become available locally.

Product Update available for pedals purchased pre February 26th 2025

Personally, I haven’t experienced any issues despite logging many hours on these pedals. However, OneUp has received a handful of reports describing a specific scenario: when the cleat is rotated past its intended release point—approximately 30 degrees—while downward pressure is applied, it can become lodged beneath the rear binding mechanism. To disengage, the rider must apply a firm upward pull.

OneUp has released a statement explaining that the issue affecting some pedals appears to be caused by a fault in the rear binder plate. If you purchased pedals before the pause on sales was announced, OneUp is offering two options: they can send you replacement parts for a self-service swap, or you can return the pedals, and they will handle the replacement for you. Return shipping costs will be covered. OneUp estimates that the replacement parts will be available approximately 6–8 weeks from February 26th.

Flow’s verdict

There’s no doubt that the thin profile of these pedals is impressive—it’s one of the standout features and a key talking point. And rightfully so, as the slim design helps keep the weight down despite the relatively large platform. But for me, the real takeaway isn’t the weight or thickness, it’s the level of connectedness these pedals provide. The OneUp pedals deliver a super secure and locked-in feel, making them well suited for riders who prefer a tight and engaging interface. I can see these being particularly popular among enduro and DH racers. If you’re a fan of Shimano SPD pedals, you’ll likely appreciate these as well, as they offer a similar feel but with noticeably more shoe to pedal contact.

My final comment on the OneUp clip pedals is regarding the price of $289.95 AUD, positioning them at the higher end of the spectrum. These are more expensive than Shimano’s top-tier XTR pedals but more affordable than the Hope Union TC pedals mentioned earlier in the review. Based on my overall positive experience, the price may be justified for some—especially if you value a solid, well-connected feel in your pedal choices.