DEITY Compound Flat Pedal

The Deity Compound flat pedals were my first venture in composite pedals, and they exceeded my expectations. I thought that they’d be a cheap option and should last well given their simplicity. They filled those duties and always delivered grip, durability and reliability while still looking good.

Maintenance :

Firstly, they run on bushings (which are replaceable) and are well sealed so you don’t need to grease bearings and they seem to attract less dust and mud into them. I have hose-washed my bike plenty of times and they have never made a single creak, kept rolling smoothly and I never had to tighten the end caps. There isn't any play into the axle and they still spin smoothly so I didn't even bother opening them up to check for wear. They are also rebuildable with easily available parts from Deity so you can keep them rolling for quite a while.

Durability:

Since I have pretty low bottom bracket height, scraping rocks is more frequent than with an old-school high-BB bike. On the first rock encounters, I stopped to check for wear or pins disappearing, but I quickly learnt that I didn’t have to stop and check. The composite nature of the pedals makes them a bit more resilient than aluminium ones, and the pins have a bit of “give” compared to a metal body. I have never lost or tore a pin, and they have quite an impressive collection of scratches and gouges to show their 4 seasons of riding. 

Compared to

I recently swapped those out for One Up composite pedals since I am a composite-pedal fan forever now and I wanted to try something new after so many years. The One Ups are a bit more grippy with their added cut outs and pins. I quite liked the Deitys but I slightly prefer the OneUps. Since they are not much more expensive, I’d recommend those, but if you’re a Deity fan (like me!) and that’s all you have access to, I wouldn’t hesitate to get them.

I am definitely a clipless guy in general, but I can see the merits of riding flat pedals from time to time. I recently became an IMBA certified instructor, and one of the requirements for taking the course was that you ride with flat pedals. I figured I would only really use them for the course, so I bought a pair of these pedals on sale. I gotta say though these pedals have converted me to some degree. Now when I go to the dirt jumps, am practicing a new skill, and often when I am leading a group I will grab these pedals instead of my SPDs. They come in various cool colors, and unlike many plastic pedals they actually have a pretty low profile which is comparable to higher end pedals. Another key selling point for me was the replaceable metal pins. They provide pretty decent traction (much better than with plastic pins) especially with flat pedal five ten shoes. I do wish that they had some concavity, to lock me in a bit more (I have ridden Deity Tmacs and those are crazy grippy) but for what I use them for they work fine. No issues with durability yet, they have taken bit hits with nothing more than a scratch to show for it. Great budget flat pedal for those looking to save some coin, or those that want to dabble with flat pedals.

My HT AEO3's are on their way out but have longer pins. Switching from clipless to the HTs was never a very noticeable issue. These Deitys tend to let my feet wander much more. I will likely take them off the Trail bike and stick them back on the DJ like Intended originally.

So what started out being a purchase to cheaply outfit my hardtail with some decent pedals, has led me to really like these pedals more and more. Soon these were on my main bike. My concern after moving these over to the full suspension bike, which sees more trail abuse, was that they pedals might not hold up due to the composite material versus a metal pedal. I actually like the way these will just slide off obstacles like rocks, where a metal pedal has the tendency to grip it and catch you (think tight, rocky tech sections). I've had no issues with the inner workings or the replaceable pins.

Style and fit are personal choices but I like the way they look and feel.  I went for the purple to mix it up a bit but if I could have a do-over I'd go for black.  No big deal, next time I will.

Basically, I think these pedals are way under-rated for their weight, quality and price. You could spend four times as much and still buy a heavier pedal! The Deity compound pedal has been a winner for me. 

these pedals are an affordable, light, dialed addition to anyone's arsenal of parts on their bike, it will make a positive impact on any build.

I’ve always been somewhat skeptical of plastic pedals. As a BMX and hardtail rider they've always seemed sufficient, but do they provide enough grip for trail use? A few months ago I was introduced to the Deity Compound platforms, which have since dusted all of my notions that plastic pedals don’t belong on the trail. They have to be done right, of course...

Spec Highlights

• Nylon fiber composite body
• Heat treated Cr-Mo spindle
• DU bushing and double micro sealed bearing system
• Replaceable Cr-Mo pins
• Black, purple, green, and red color options
• Weight: 339 grams
• MSRP $48

Right out of the box, I was fascinated with the nylon fiber composite material, which felt both stiff and light. The pedal threads on through the crank with a 6mm Allen wrench, meaning one less tool to carry when traveling. The removable Cr-Mo pins appeared aggressive, but nothing that made me fear for the welfare of my shins. The vivid red color also really tied the whole bike together.

I wasn’t thrilled at the thought of swapping out my tried and true metal platforms in favor of a plastic option, but these have since proven to be unbeatable for street/park/dirt jumps. Even in my skate shoes, I always feel confident with my footing and the purchase on the Cr-Mo pins. What really surprised me, though, was the pedal’s performance on trail. I spend most of my time on dry, rocky, technical trails that try to grab your pedal every stroke. This has always been a struggle on my Specialized Enduro with its relatively low bottom bracket; every time my metal platforms touched rock I received an ugly jolt. I was blown away at the forgiving nature of the Compound’s material - whenever I caught a rock under the pedal it seemed to slip smoothly over the rough surface. During descents, the conservative pin placement allows for easy foot adjustment and a really intuitive feel.

Initially I was concerned with the absence of pins from the middle of the platform, but after running them I have come to enjoy the freedom to easily move my feet on and off the pedals. This is why we run platforms in the first place, and rarely do I find myself wanting more grip. Only in fast, loose, rocky sections do I occasionally find my feet getting bounced around.

One thing that seemed out of place were the two plastic pins on the crank side of the platform. It seems like there would be a way to offset these pins which would allow the use of removable Cr-Mo pins rather than plastic. However, the plastic pins haven’t worn down which suggests they don’t see much of my shoe or the ground.

I have been running the Deity Compound pedals on both my hardtail and trail bike for nearly six months now and they are one of the few things on either bike that still feels brand new without any maintenance. The sealed bearings never gave me any trouble, and even after a lot of hits the action is still smooth and predictable. The platforms themselves have taken a ton of hits, and although they are starting to look beat, they have not cracked or broken and are as stiff as they day I opened the box.

One neat feature is the option to rebuild them. Removable pins are a standard for anything with a higher price tag, but in an inexpensive package like this they're greatly appreciated. Also, suppose you manage to shatter the body or maybe you just aren't into that beat up look. With an extremely reliable, durable, and removable spindle, one has the option to get a replacement body for just $18.

With the support, durability, and smooth action, the Deity Compound pedals provide an intuitive feel on both hardtails and trail bikes. In my mind, this lightweight and inexpensive offering from Deity is the standard go-to pedal for anyone running platforms.