The Best $20 I Have Ever Spent on My Mountain Bike

With everything in the MTB world seemingly so expensive, I have been beyond blown away with how a recent $23 purchase has completely changed my riding experience: Cleats. I’m not just talking about any cleats; I'm talking about the new Shimano CL-MT001 Cleat—a backward-compatible, night-and-day improvement over the design they have used for the last 35 years!

Cleats are one of those components many mountain bikers rarely think about, yet they play a surprisingly massive role in your entire interaction with the bike. They can truly make or break your experience. Coming from a road and track racing background, I’m deeply familiar with the nuances of different cleats, release angles, and pedal tensions. But the mountain bike world often has a different "set it and forget it" approach, with many riders using the stock cleats that come with their pedals until they physically can't clip in anymore (or just opting for flats). Seriously, when was the last time you thought, “Maybe I need new cleats”?

This all started for me at the beginning of bike park season. I spent two full days chasing what felt like a slight play in the rear end of my bike. I checked everything—frame pivots, wheel bearings, crank preload, and even swapped out pedals—but nothing got rid of the annoying wiggle. Finally, digging through a spare parts box, I found a new set of standard cleats. I swapped them out, not thinking it would make a difference (I mean, they're made of steel, do they ever really wear out?).

YES. Yes, they do.

The new cleats immediately fixed the issue and made the whole bike feel more solid. Just two weeks later, Shimano announced their redesigned CL-MT001 cleat. I was skeptical. How much better could a new cleat design really be? But given my recent experience, I figured, why not try them?

There's no doubt that fresh cleats are a huge improvement over a worn-out pair, but I never imagined a new design could make such a difference. The CL-MT001 now features a shaved front that allows you to clip in from a multitude of directions, yet it still retains that signature, secure SPD feel once you're engaged. The improvement was immediate and profound. Sketchy drop-ins felt more comfortable, popping a foot off while jumping became possible without a second thought, and the entire rear end of my bike felt incredibly solid and responsive.

My friends know I'm candid about the products I ride and that I don't give credit where it isn't due. They thought I was joking when I spent an entire day at the bike park raving about how amazing these new cleats were. Convinced I had secretly become a paid Shimano rider, they didn't believe the hype. It wasn't until I demanded two of them swap out their old cleats for the new ones that they finally understood my flying review. The verdict was unanimous - the best $23 we’ve spent on mountain bikes.

Shimano officially describes the cleat like this:

“Designed for a wide range of riders including modern trail and enduro racers to everyday commuters to new riders learning to clip in and out, SHIMANO’s CL-MT001 cleats provide multi-directional entry for easier engagement. With their unique design, riders have three distinct clip-in options: traditional front first then rear, rear first then front, or simply stomp straight down. Now it’s easy to quickly get into your pedals no matter the situation.”

Here are the key features they highlight:

• Multiple Entry Options: Three clip-in options: traditional front-first, rear-first, or stomp straight down.

• Secure Engagement: Delivers four degrees of float, assuring just the right amount of movement while providing secure pedal engagement.

• Improved Walkability: A thinner, tapered cleat design makes it easier—and quieter—when walking around off the bike.

• Built to Last: Made from heat-treated forged steel that delivers durable, long-lasting performance.

• Complementary: Engineered to work seamlessly with any generation of SHIMANO SPD pedals for greater control and stability.

In a sport where upgrades can easily run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars, it’s rare to find something so affordable that offers such a tangible improvement to your ride. These cleats are, without a doubt, one of the best upgrades you can do for the money. If you're running SPD pedals, you owe it to yourself to give them a try.

Shop All Cleats Here

I'm running these cleats on Shimano GE900HS shoes which have been a massive improvement in comfort over the shoes that I was using before. They are stiff in the midsole but have a nice amount of flex in the toe for hike-a-bikes.