Crampon Pedals: Ultimate vs. Mountain
Our legendary Crampon flat pedals are extremely popular, but with two versions to choose from, we get a lot of questions about the differences between the Crampon Ultimate and the Crampon Mountain.
Both are packed with great features like our patented convex shape, ultra-thin 6-millimeter leading edges, dual-sided replaceable pins, durable chromoly axles and are available in a variety of anodized colors, but what are the differences?
Overall, platform size might be the most obvious difference, but there's more than meets the eye that sets these two apart. So, which flat pedal is right for you?
Platform Size & Profile
The Ultimate has a nice, square platform at 106x106 millimeters. The Mountain boasts a bit more real estate underfoot with a 106x112-millimeter wide platform, giving you some extra side-to-side width. That makes the larger Mountain a great option for riders with bigger feet or who are just looking for a larger contact patch. And on the other end of the spectrum, the Ultimate is likely a better fit for riders with smaller feet or who want to maximize side clearance for tight trails and terrain where squeezing through rocks and other obstacles is a priority.
Both taper down to ultra-thin impact edges at only 6 millimeters tall, which maximizes ground clearance. But those edges are also designed to slide off/over any accidental impacts rather than getting hung up like pedals with taller, more square edges, drastically improving your chances of staying on the bike should you have a high-speed pedal strike.
Both feature our patented (Patent #D615,003 S) convex shape which contours more naturally to the shape of your foot when compared to truly flat or concave pedals. This improves grip and control, and coupled with how thin Crampon pedals are, places your foot as close as possible to the spindle, which results in a more natural, efficient pedal stroke with fewer "dead spots" in the rotation. It also provides a more stable platform and reduces the chances of slipping/rolling a pedal compared to other flats where your foot is father from the spindle. How, you ask? Think of standing on the flat side of a 2x4 versus standing on a 4x4. Which would be more stable? Which would be more likely to roll over?
Due to what's happening inside the pedal body (we'll get to that later), the Mountain is marginally thicker over the spindle toward the edges of the pedal, but these raised areas provide additional tactile feel making foot placement even easier.
Weight
Let's face it, most flat-pedal riders aren't exactly weight weenies, and neither pedal is very portly, but there is a slight difference for those counting grams. The smaller Ultimate wins for weight, tipping the scales at an impressive 342 grams. With its larger platform and beefier internals (more on that in a bit, we promise), the Mountain is a respectable 398 grams.
Maintenance and Durability
Beneath the surface of each of the beautifully CNC machined, anodized aluminum pedal bodies lies another major difference between the Crampon Ultimate and Mountain (told you we'd get there!).
Both use an extremely strong chromoly spindle. But how each pedal's body rides on that spindle is a bit different. In order to be as thin and light as possible, the Ultimate pedal body rides exclusively on DU bushings, one inner and one outer. Often referred to as "dry bearings," DU bushings are self-lubricating and are much thinner than traditional ball bearings. In our Crampon pedals, they are constructed of durable oil impregnated brass with a a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) liner.
More commonly known by the brand name Teflon, PTFE is an ultra-low friction, self-lubricating carrier that allows the pedal to rotate freely on the spindle. Over time, this PTFE layer can wear down, so occasionally repacking the pedal body with a durable, water-proof grease will greatly extend the life of the bushings and make having to do a full rebuild a much less frequent chore. We recommend repacking the grease every few months depending on how often you ride and, of course, the conditions. Like any other part on your bike, wet, muddy conditions will lead to more frequent maintenance.
Lazy or just forgetful? If the PTFE wears down, you may develop some minor side-to-side play in the pedal body, but the brass is ultra durable so you won't risk failure or greater damage riding longer intervals between service. Ride on!
Shop Crampon Ultimate Service Parts
But if you prefer low maintenance and longer service intervals, the Mountain could be worth a look. That slightly larger pedal body features a hybrid bearing system comprised of a similar DU bushing on the inboard side, and a traditional sealed ball-bearing on the outboard side. The sealed bearing improves load tolerance and extends service life quite a bit compared to the Ultimate, but when it is time for a rebuild, the Mountain takes a little more work (but not much). And of course, ride frequency and conditions play a role in service intervals here as well.
Shop Crampon Mountain Service Parts
Last but not least, we've made replacing pedal pins as easy as possible. Both Crampon models feature dual-sided pins. That means if you do manage to break or mangle any pins and getting an allen in the top side is no longer an option, you can still access them from the opposite side of the pedal for easy replacement.
Conclusion
When choosing between the Crampon Mountain and Crampon Ultimate pedals, there's no wrong answer! Both feature our patented convex shape, legendary grip and will look good on any bike (especially with up to 16 colors to choose from). We typically recommend the Ultimate to riders with smaller feet or who want the thinnest profile and lightest weight possible. The Mountain is usually the pedal of choice for those who prefer a larger platform and minimal maintenance.
Still have questions? Hit us up!
SHOP CRAMPON PEDALS
