“The hybrid pedal that actually delivers on its dual-purpose promise”
8.2
Inside Scoop Score
Buy · 8.2 / 10
THE VERDICT
The Shimano PD-EH500 is a dual-sided SPD/flat pedal that lets you ride clipped in or in regular shoes without any compromise — and unlike most hybrids, it doesn't feel like a half-measure on either side. Owners consistently praise the bearing smoothness, solid build quality, and the freedom it gives a bike that would otherwise be locked into clip-in-only use. At around $75-84, it sits at a price point that reflects genuine Shimano quality rather than budget-tier hedging.
Anchored by Mark's reviews and tutorials's review
Multiple owners and reviewers single out the rotation smoothness as a standout quality, with one owner switching specifically from a competitor because of how noticeably better the Shimano spins.
The dual-sided design means one bike can serve commuting in regular shoes and performance riding in cleats without swapping pedals, which is the core value proposition and it actually works.
Compared to Crank Brothers equivalents, the reduced surface area means less chance of sticks, grass, and mud jamming the pedal mechanism on gravel and trail riding.
We analyzed the expert reviews and owner discussions to surface the surprises buyers only learn after.
The traction pins for the flat side come loose in a plastic bag and must be screwed in by the owner before first ride — something the packaging does not make obvious, and easy to overlook or lose.
— from top reviewer (Mark's Reviews & Tutorials)
lightbulb Install all pins before your first ride and keep the hex key handy; the pins can be adjusted for height too, which is actually a useful feature once you know it exists.
Riders coming from platform pedals or older SPD systems often find the clip-in and release action noticeably easier than anticipated, which can initially feel insecure until they trust the mechanism.
— from top reviewer (Mark's Reviews & Tutorials)
lightbulb Give yourself a few rides to build confidence — the lighter release is intentional and reduces knee strain on longer rides.
The flat side platform, while functional, is narrower than a dedicated flat pedal, meaning riders who primarily ride unclipped may find foot placement less forgiving than expected for technical terrain.
— from The MAMIL editorial review
lightbulb If you ride 80 percent or more unclipped, consider a dedicated flat pedal instead; this hybrid shines for riders who split time between both modes.
Commuters, recreational riders, and gravel cyclists who want one bike to handle both casual rides in sneakers and clipped-in performance riding without swapping pedals.
Dedicated road racers chasing every gram, or aggressive mountain bikers who need a large-platform flat pedal for technical descents.
Mark's reviews and tutorials • 98037
"SHIMANO SPD Pedals - Review Why I chose these Hybrid Cleat clipless pedals Gravel Mountain Bike. SHIMANO PD-EH500 ..."
Jenson USA • 67929
"Kevin shows off Shimano's line up of flat pedals. Check Out The GR500 Here: ..."
Chris Worfolk • 252882
"The Shimano PD-EH500 is a combination bike pedal that comes with SPD cleats on one side and flats on the other. It's similar to ..."
Beyond the Bike Roads • 30249
"Welcome back, cycling enthusiasts! Today, we're taking an in-depth look at the Shimano PD-EH500 pedals that I've been using ..."
Jezza Bikes • 59860
"Hey guys, after quite some time I managed to make the long-awaited update of my Shimano pd-eh 500 pedals which I have now ..."
SoCal Joe • 35855
"Here I go over and my experience with Shimano SPD pedals for Road, gravel, bikepacking & touring. Bikepacking.com review of ..."
Worldwide Cyclery • 451634
"Just like all things in the MTB world, there are a ton of choices when it comes to clipless pedals. And while Crank Brothers and ..."
Antlerdreamer • 186
"The PD-M520 is a great choice if you're looking for a classic SPD pedal with a well tested and trustworthy design. The PD-M520 ..."
@stella.mariss34
The Shimano PD-EH500 Explorer is a hybrid, dual-sided pedal designed for versatility in commuting, touring, and recreational riding. It features a flat platform on one side and a clipless SPD mechanism on the other, allowing you to ride with either everyday shoes or cycling-specific shoes.#shimano #pedal #bikeparts #fyp
favorite 9
@shoplinhbike
Thay pedal can MTB Shimano PD-EH500 #linhbike #shimano
favorite 146
@bikersmyanmar4
#bikersmyanmars #shimano #2wayPedals🚴🚴🚴 #fyppppppppppppppppp
favorite 111
@rutgerhyche
Shimano rod review watch before buying#shimano @basscatboatsofficial @MillerTech Lithium @【シマノ】 SHIMANO FISHING公式
favorite 50
@emmabike.cali
Versatilidad y rendimiento para tus rodadas. Los pedales Shimano EH-500 están diseñados con plataforma de chocle que brinda excelente tracción y control, ideales tanto para MTB como para ruta. Su construcción resistente y superficie antideslizante te ofrecen mayor estabilidad y comodidad en cada pedaleada, ya sea en entrenamiento o salida casual. 📍 Calle 16 #48-35, Cali 📞 3008674371 #emmabike #shimano #pedales #mtb #ruta #accesoriosciclismo #bikelife #ciclistascolombia #rendimiento SobreRuedas
favorite 230
@bikebros.bo
Porque eres un ciclista versátil te presentamos un pedal versátil. Pídelos al 7.5.6.4.1.6.9.9. #bolivia🇧🇴 #BikeBros #ciclismodemontaña #ciclismo #ciclismoruta #shimano
favorite 127
@ashletbikeshop
ORIGINAL SHIMANO SPD Pedal PD-EH500 Single Sided Flat Multi Purpose w/ Cleats
favorite 102
@vitorebatista
Review do meu novo pedal da #Shimano PD-EH500 #bike
favorite 44
The Shimano PD-EH500 is a combination bike pedal that comes with SPD cleats. This suits most cranksets better. The flats side provide a fair ...
These are tremendous pedals. High quality, high performance, dual platform pedals. Love these pedals. The best on the market for the price.
I would say that this EH500 is a worthy replacement, being at least equal in quality to the outgoing A530 pedals. One minor gripe is the ...
Excellent for multi-use bike. In these are excellent pedals. They are well designed and very well made. The bearings are smooth as butter. The spikes on the ...
Starting with the non-SPD side, the platform is really nice and wide giving a really secure and true base to plant you foot. ... As a nice ...
"Your bike doesn't become a clip-in situation only — it's hybrid, so it goes both ways, in any type of shoe or clipped in."
Mark's Reviews and Tutorials (top reviewer)
"Excellent pedals, well designed and very well made. The bearings are smooth as butter."
REI customer review
"These are tremendous pedals. High quality, high performance, dual platform. The best on the market for the price."
Ride Shimano editorial
If you want one pedal that genuinely does two jobs without embarrassing itself at either, the EH500 is the rare hybrid that earns the buy.
Buy on Amazon open_in_newScoped 6 days ago across 34 sources on 5 platforms.