WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE CRANKBROTHERS STAMP EVO
While bikes, components and gear often comes in many different size options, pedals have typically been limited to a one-size approach, depending on what models and brands you choose to run. The new Crankbrothers Stamp EVO adds small and large size options, with optimized platforms to run with different shoe size ranges.
When you have both sizes of the new Crankbrothers Stamp EVO pedals side by side, you can clearly see and feel a massive difference. The size small pedal comes in at 102mm wide and 118mm long, while the large increases to 115mm wide and a whopping 135mm long. This small change on paper equates to a big difference out on the trail. The size small pedal is aimed at riders with a size US 5 – 10 shoe size, while the large pedal supports riders with a US 10 – 15 shoe.
The pedals come in either a Silver or Black color in both sizes, with the replaceable reinforced nylon composite bashguards available in Gray, Black, Purple, or Blue. This composite bashguard not only adds a pop of color to the pedal, but serves to help deflect rock strikes and hangups where the aluminium body could catch sharp edges. These replaceable bashguards can be purchased separately for $15.99. Each pedal includes an extra pair of these bashguards, as well as spare pins.
The pedal body is forged from 6061-T6 aluminium, while the spindle is made from SCM 435 Chromoly Steel. It is worth noting that neither pedal has a maximum rider weight capacity. The pedals are quite thin for the amount of foot space they provide, sitting at 11mm at the thinnest and 15.5mm at the thickest portion at the front and rear. That gives 2.25mm of concavity to help sink your foot into the pedal. 13 traction pins are fitted to each side to keep the rider’s foot locked in.
When it comes to the time to maintain the Stamp EVO pedals, there is a grease port screw to inject fresh grease and help to keep them running smooth. The pedals use IGUS internal bearings to help deliver the low profile with no axle bump, and there’s a V-Ring seal system to resist water and dirt ingress. The pedal can be easily broken down and serviced at home, with Crankbrothers selling all the replacement parts needed to breathe new life into them after a long season of abuse.
At $199 / £199, the Crankbrothers Stamp EVO pedals are a new premium flat pedal offering, weighing in at 418G for the “small” platform, and 463g for the large.
THE DIRT
Three people in our crew have been putting the Crankbrothers Stamp EVO pedals to the test before their launch. Each of our crew members is looking for something different when it comes to on-trail performance and feel, but all agreed that the size of the new Stamp EVO pedals comes with benefits and drawbacks.
Cole’s Take: I probably have the least amount of time on these, due to being a full-on Crankbrothers Mallet DH fan boy. I went back to my flat pedal roots, to see if the grass of the Stamp EVO pedals was greener. After the first few rides shaking off the cobwebs, I found the large platform to be super easy to find a comfortable foot placement on, and when things got rowdy, getting my foot positioned back on the pedal was much easier than I remember it being on smaller platforms in the past.
I did not find the pins to be super tacky on my shoes, which was both good and bad. The movement this allowed made adjusting foot position less of a battle than on sharper pins. However, it also meant that when things got rowdy, my foot placement could shift accidentally from time to time.
I did some back-to-back rides with the pedals I ran for years (Deity T-Mac’s), and indeed, the bigger platform was much easier to find my happy place on, but the outright grip was not quite on par.
Emma’s Take: As someone who can feel really picky over my flat pedal feel and the placement of my feet when riding, I felt right at home on the Crankbrothers Stamp EVO small pedals. Even with well worn flat shoes, I had the perfect amount of grip, while still being able to purposefully shift my feet when needed. I noticed more connection with my bike, which I attribute to the thinner platform compared to the Deity pedals I normally run. This translated to being able to pump and corner better. On climbs or in technical sections, these pedals have prevented contact with rocks that I typically scrape over, making climbing easier and giving me more confidence navigating in chunky terrain. Overall, I’m impressed with these pedals and will continue riding them.
Rob’s Take: I was very intrigued by the long platform of the Stamp EVO, having previously enjoyed the feeling of the Crankbrothers Stamp Large pedals. While my US11.5 / EU45 feet are well within the intended sizing for the Stamp EVO Large pedals, I was conflicted by whether the large size really benefitted me.
Without a doubt, the increased platform size delivered a more reassuring place to put my foot on following rowdy dabs. However, I found them to feel a little too large in some of the deeply rutted, tight and technical trails around me in the Tweed Valley, Scotland. When millimeters are all you have to play with, a 20+mm increase in pedal length can put the trailing edge into a vulnerable spot. Those bashguards have been called into action a few times as a result, and appear to be doing their job as intended. Otherwise, their thin profile has been much appreciated.
While the concavity helped to deliver a planted feel “in the pedal”, I found myself slightly off-center fore and aft from time to time, slightly changing my weight distribution on the bike. This would undoubtedly improve after a further adjustment period, but is certainly something to get used to. I believe the combination of the fairly wide pins and the larger spread of the pedals result in less force pushing through the pins, reducing the amount of grip generated as a result. You’ll want to increase the pin height for the most aggressive riding in muddy conditions to ensure you get enough grip on these pedals.
Overall though, I think Crankbrothers has done a stellar job in boosting the size of their Stamp pedals to cater to the modern era of flat pedal riders. And for those looking for a slightly more compact offering, the “small” size is still a reasonable platform.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Riders seeking a large platform pedal with a thin profile and some unique design features are likely to be very happy with the new Crankbrothers Stamp EVO pedals. Riders should be careful to select the size that’s going to suit their preferences best, as the large pedals do come with some drawbacks in certain situations, but it’s great for big-footed riders to have an option for a truly large platform. 
Price: $199.99
Website: Crankbrothers.com
SHARE THIS REVIEW
ABOUT THE WOLF
Cole’s den is in Spokane WA, where he relocated a few years back. Growing up in the lush, loamy playgrounds of the PNW, his soul is forever tied to steep, rooty descents and that unmistakable squish of perfect dirt. After 19 years of shredding, Cole’s been on every kind of rig out there. Once a die-hard fan of big travel bikes, he’s now on a quest for the mythical short-travel do-it-all machine. And yes, skids may be for kids, but this middle-aged manchild is here to prove they’re also for anyone who loves having a damn good time.
Rank: Professional Amateur
Size: 6’1” / 185cm | 170lbs / 77kg
Social: @adventuresbycole
SUPPORT AND JOIN THE LOAM WOLF PACK
Did you find this review helpful? Would you like the chance to review (and keep) products? Are you interested in saving big bucks by getting exclusive Members Only discounts from industry brands all while helping support a small, rider-owned media crew? We have big plans for our members beyond big discounts and product giveaways! To learn more and help support small, independent media, visit our Member’s Page.