Would these Charge hybrid pedals be any good? (from Dick's sporting goods)
 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p...chrghybrdclmsc

I have a gift card to Dick's and am also in the market for new pedals. Would these be solid pedals or can I chalk these up as **** Dick's/Walmart/Target garbage?

Hard to say, but I wouldn’t risk it...

I just spent some time looking through their website, slim-pickings for bike stuff. However, they’ve got some decent lights (Blackburn, although it’s mostly their economy level products), and some pretty cool hydration packs, water bottles and cages (Camelbak, Topeak, and Blackburn, the latter even having a carbon cage).

I would say no, because it isn't clear who makes them, and because they really aren't all that much cheaper then the real thing, namely the Shimano PD M324. https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-PD-M324-Pedals

They look fine to me and even have sealed bearings. I'd not be afraid of getting them in the least. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

To be fair, "I have a (Dicks) gift card" IS quite a bit cheaper than buying "the real thing" somewhere else.

OP can always use the gift card to buy some Nike or Under Armor T shirts and underwear and not take a chance on some off brand pedals.

If you a bike that new sold for less than $650 like those from Dicks, those pedals will be just fine, get them and save some money.

Charge is also not an off brand, they are known more in the UK than in America, they started out making saddles, then bikes, and now pedals and are quite popular in the UK because that's where their headquarters is.

If it were my gift card, I probably try them out, assuming the hybrid you're putting them on isn't some expensive hybrid beast.

It's a 1990s trek 1420 road bike I actually purchased just yesterday (first bike in many years). As you can see it has clip ins which I planned on swapping for flats, but I thought maybe I should get hybrids in case I ever decide to get more serious with riding and buy the shoes.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2833c3e13.jpeg

How about just get the shoes and cleats now?

At $50 they are in the same price range as other “campus pedals” and probably aren’t total junk. They are likely Wellgo rebranded for Charge Bikes and are the same quality as you’d find with any other pedal that isn’t Shimano. You have the card and the need. If they are total junk, what have you lost?

It is the same $50 whether OP pays it out of pocket or uses the gift card. Because there is always something you can buy for $50 at a Sporting Goods store OP can use.

It would depend on the need. Personally, I wouldn't find much at Dick’s that would work for my own personal outdoor hobbies. Frankly, I don’t find much at REI for those adventures and REI has much better quality stuff than Dick’s does. If zachleft needs (or wants) the pedals, the money isn’t wasted.

Under Armor or Nike technical wear, trainers, sport sandals. T shirts. Plenty of stuff you can use if you have a gift card..

I'd gamble on the pedals before I bought Nike or Under Armour technical wear, or any of the other stuff you listed.

Different priorities for different people.

I agree. It depends on need.

Looks like they'll work fine on that. Lot's of people ride dual sided pedals until they decide what direction they want to go, or are more comfortable on the flats in congested situations and clip in when they want to.

The one thing I looked at was their compatibility with spd cleats, and it seems they are.

Btw, good luck with the new ride!

I find hybrid pedals to be handy and selected them for a touring bike in case I decided to ride in sandals occasionally instead of using shoes with cleats, and I use VP brand pedals (several sets on various bikes), what some folks would consider to be "no name." I'm betting yours will be fine.

try for both
 

If you are on good terms with your LBS ask them about NOS platform pedals. They usually have several pair laying around after being pulled or traded for better ones on new bikes and will sell them cheap. Then buy Dicks at least functional if not fashionable gear.
And yes, I have two pairs of dual-sided pedals (which work well) along with three pair of SPDs. But I still ride platforms most of the time.

Cheap pedals won't last as long and these look like someone slapped an SPD compatible piece on a cheap-o pedal. Might be functional for a time but I wouldn't spend my card on that. If someone who didn't know me gave me one, I will probably buy some cheap range ammo or ENO hammock stuff if I needed more.

If I want a good dual sided pedal it would be Shimano PD-EH500 or PD-T8000 and if I was desperate to save cash and was ok with that style of pedal: PD-M324. I might also consider the ISSI Flip III as it is triple bearing and comes in fun colors but more importantly it has adjustable/replaceable pins which hold your foot more securely.

There are only five contact points between you and your bike and pedals are two of them. My suggestion is to go with known quality. I have Shimano m424 pedals on three bikes and have never had a problem. They are $55.00 at REI and the same basic design, but appear to be much more robust. You don't want a pedal that fails in the middle of a ride (releases inconsistently...hard to release or releases too easily).
It's your choice. Choose wisely.

Have been using SPD clipless pedals since 1998 but only very recently got my first Shimano pedals (PD-M530). Have had generally good service with a variety of Performance-, Nashbar-, Wellgo-, and Victor/VP-branded SPD pedals. None of them have blown up mid-ride or failed prematurely. :) I'll report back if I find that the Shimano pedals turn out to be a significant improvement.

Isn’t Dick’s going out of business?

As of yet, no. They are furloughing employees but still offering curbside pickup. Source: https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/04/...000-employees/

I must have been thinking about Modell's.

It hasn’t happened often but I have had nonShimano pedals break. One broke at the spindle and I’ve had a few Bontrager branded pedals break the release mechanism. And I do find Shimano engages and releases more consistently. But, that said, I currently have several bikes with pedals that aren’t Shimano that work well. These pedals are likely to provide years of service without issue. Most pedals do.