$.02 it comes down to power output. If you aren’t putting out much hp it’s kind of academic. If you are then it enables you to do so efficiently. My hp output at 64 is close to what it was when I was 14 and I’m not touring so I don’t use them. Last tour was 8yrs ago and I did. Shimano type work fine, so do others. Just make sure you have them and your knees dialed in before charging off into the great beyond.