View Poll Results: Do you buy on-brand or off-brand cleats?
On-brand; I've had all 3 of my knees replaced because of cheap cleats
8
80.00%
Off-brand; with the money I've saved, I bought a gold-plated Colnago
2
20.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll
"Off-Brand" Cleats. Yay or Nay?
07-06-20, 06:01 PM
#1
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"Off-Brand" Cleats. Yay or Nay?
My current Look Keo grey cleats are due for replacement, but they can be a bit on the spendy side. I've always stayed on-brand when buying cleats, since my first pair of Look Arcs when I was 15, but in recent years I see more and more off-brand manufacturers (Wellgo, Exustar etc) offering them for about half the price. Am I being too cautious buying the brand cleats? It's just a piece of plastic with no moving parts, right? It can't possibly misalign so much that my leg will tear itself to pieces as I ride? The knock-off versions can't wear out any quicker than my regular Keos do already, right? And does this lesson apply across all brands of clipless pedals, be it 2, 3, or 4 bolt? Please do regale us with your tales of woe/joy regarding the wonderful world of mechanically clamping your feet to your machine.
Last edited by Leinster; 07-06-20 at 06:08 PM.
07-06-20, 06:11 PM
#2
Senior Member
For as little as the cleats cost why not simply buy the off-brand and find out how well they do? I do know the off-brand Delta cleats don't last as long as the Look branded Delta cleats, but the Look Delta brand cleats are no longer available so off-brand is all there is.
07-06-20, 06:13 PM
#3
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I've used both. Never gotten stuck and never blown out during a sprint.
On brand ones have more walkable surface, that's worth something.
On brand ones have more walkable surface, that's worth something.
07-06-20, 06:18 PM
#4
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Bought a set of knock off SPD SL's a few years ago. They sucked. Changed the after 1 ride. Shimano brand only.
07-06-20, 06:20 PM
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I'm pretty religious about putting my cleat covers on for cafe stops.
I don't want to be the guy who shreds my achilles because "everyone knows" the CrabonDuLuxe brand cleats have a rep for twisting your ankle when pedalling at 75rpm. If somebody else has found this out before me, I would like to know.
I don't want to be the guy who shreds my achilles because "everyone knows" the CrabonDuLuxe brand cleats have a rep for twisting your ankle when pedalling at 75rpm. If somebody else has found this out before me, I would like to know.
07-06-20, 07:07 PM
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I bought a discount set off eBay.
Advertised as "Cleats for Shimano SPD Pedals PD-M520 M540 M324 M545 M424 M647 M959". They came a little bit "small" (etc). Real one on right.
Advertised as "Cleats for Shimano SPD Pedals PD-M520 M540 M324 M545 M424 M647 M959". They came a little bit "small" (etc). Real one on right.
07-06-20, 07:11 PM
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For the small price difference, I'm not bothering with knockoff cleats.
07-07-20, 08:11 AM
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For me this is a safety issue. I'm ok shelling out the what? Extra $2 for on-brand cleats? Spread over the life of the cleat, I'm spending what? Less that 0.0000000004 for an on-brand cleat vs off-brand.
07-07-20, 08:18 AM
#11
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Is that savings in Canadian or US dollars? And is that per pedal?
07-07-20, 08:28 AM
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I bought 4 sets of knock-off SPD-SL cleats from Ali Express for about 12 bucks. I figured if they really sucked, I could toss them. Functionally, I see no difference between them and the genuine Shimanos but I would guess they last about half as long.
Don't think I'll buy them again as I did not care for the Ali Express experience.
Don't think I'll buy them again as I did not care for the Ali Express experience.
07-07-20, 09:20 AM
#13
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I'm seeing differences on eBay/Amazon more in the range of $15-20 ($30-35 for the branded Keo cleats vs anywhere from $10-20 for the generics). If it was $2, I wouldn't have started the thread.
07-07-20, 09:29 AM
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Changed my cleats once for a week in Mammoth Lakes to a Chinese cheap off brand. Tried to clip-in outside the hotel entrance and guess what? No Go! Luckily I brought spare shoes with worn SPD-SL Shimano cleats just in case. Learned my lesson.
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07-07-20, 10:00 AM
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Some places I'll happily save on no-name stuff - bar tape, saddle bags, lights, jerseys - but not where the consequences of catastrophic failure could be significant. Having a cleat fail at full bore is a potentially life-changing event - I'll pay the extra and get the real thing.
07-07-20, 10:33 AM
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I've used Wellgo DELTA cleats for years (as both Wellgo and Forte). I cannot tell the difference between those and the LOOKs once they are on my shoes. I haven't used any Exustar cleats except their slotted cleat for traditional pedals but those cleats are the best slotted cleats I've ever used or seen. I wouldn't worry for a second about knockoff cleats from either of those companies. I don't begrudge LOOK charging twice as much and it is noce they put touches in like making them a little less slippery to walk on and including wear indicators. But I use KoolKovers anyway and I have to actually look at my cleats? NOt a biggie.
I'll buy whichever is on the shelf. If they are side by side, I take the Wellgos. Riding? I don't even know unless I stop and look.
I'll buy whichever is on the shelf. If they are side by side, I take the Wellgos. Riding? I don't even know unless I stop and look.
