Review: Giant's Pinner Pro Flat Pedals Are Grippy & Reliable

Feb 10, 2022
by Henry Quinney  
photo

Giant are a huge company. Not only do they make bikes for some brands you’ve doubtless heard of, as well as ones you haven’t, they are also busy increasing their product range. In fact, in recent years, we’ve seen a huge push in this regard. This is maybe slightly more noticeable on the road cycling side of our sport, where just as recently as a few years ago things like Giant's own brand helmets and shoes began to be featured with their World Tour team.

But make no mistake, Giant is moving this way in mountain biking, too. Tools, helmets and shoes are now not only part of the range, but seem to be part of a deliberate and whole-hearted attempt to challenge companies like Trek and Specialized, who are not only bike manufacturers but seem to cover every single eventuality and need a mountain biker might face.

Giant Pinner Pro Details
• A380 aluminum platform
• Concave surface (18.3 - 16.2mm)
• Chromoly steel spindle
• Sealed cartridge bearing
• Weight: 455g claimed, 462g actual
• Size: 121x110mm
• Contact Surface: 115mm x 110mm
• $115 USD
• Pinner Pro, Elite, and Comp models available
www.giant-bicycles.com

photo
The large platform features inboard bearings.

Details

I’ve had the Pinner Pro pedals on test over this brutally cold winter. Giant have made pedals in recent years but, in my experience, sometimes they lacked that premium feel and often struggled to achieve any real foothold in a competitive aftermarket, where it seems that excellent pedals come two to the dozen. But how did these pedals fare? And what do they offer to begin with?

The pedals have a large 121x110mm platform, which is ever so slightly concave. The leading and trailing edge have a height of 18.3mm and the center measures 16.2mm. There are ten easily replaceable hex pins per side that measure 4mm out of the pedal. I really like this style of pin. Yes, it might mean you have a slightly more angular-looking pedal, but having the Allen key interface on the backside of the pin, and out of harm's way, is something I really like. I only tend to replace pins when I’ve damaged them and by that point the small, often 2mm interface might well have been warped and bent beyond all recognition.

photo
There is a small bearing in the platform that fits on the out edge of the axle.
photo
Once you loosen the Torx bolt, the axle is simple and easy to clean.


The pedal is an A380 aluminum and has a chromoly spindle running through it and sealed bearings inside. To access the internals of the pedal one uses a Torx key that is housed within the cage. This isn’t ideal and I’d much rather they used an Allen key interface. You need to either have a micro ratchet and fittings or L-shaped keys, which not everyone has. For instance, I know lots of people that just have a multi-tool style set of Torx wrenches. The nut itself uses an opposite thread on the drive side pedal.

The pedals weigh an actual 462g for the set and retail for $115 USD. There is another pedal in the range, the Elite, which features a very similar shape and dimensions, as well as a chromoly axle but uses a nylon body. The Elite sells for just over $50 and weighs an actual 378g.

photo
The interface is too soft for my liking.
photo
No excuse to install them on the wrong side.

On Trail Performance

The $115 dollar Pro pedals are incredibly grippy and have become my go-to pedal. Although they might be ever so slightly heavier than some options (for instance, the Crankbrothers Stamp 7s are around 375g) this doesn’t concern me, and I don’t believe it should matter to the kind of person that wants a big, large pedal with as much grip as possible.

The large platform, which has a 115x110mm contact area, did a fantastic job of holding my feet securely while also blending in comfort.

I’ve done some long, all-out-slog-out climbs on the pedals in a variety of shoes and not have any issues with hot spots or irritation. I’ve used different brands of shoes, too. On the class-leading Stealth rubber of the Five Ten range the grip is fantastic. In another set of test shoes where the grip isn’t typically so good, the Pinner Pros go a long way to save the shoe’s blushes.

I like this style of the slightly concave pedal. Previously I’ve resorted to going to hardware stores and buying 12 or even 14mm long grub screws to try and increase the grip of my pedals. This is great until your foot slips and you remark quietly to yourself that you wish you hadn’t bothered, although your language at the time might have been a little more colorful.

photo
Easy to replace pins get a big thumbs up from me.
photo
Side profile.

Reliability

I installed these pedals on my bike in the autumn, and have been running them across various bikes for the interim. Admittedly, we did see a lot of snowfall and freezing temperatures for some weeks which curtailed riding in Squamish. Despite this, I would say I’ve put some decent miles on these pedals so far.

It’s also worth noting that I am somebody that potentially washes their bike too much. If I ride, I clean. I’m not particularly sympathetic with the hose, either. In that time the pedals have stayed creak and play free. There was a small rumble coming from the non-driveside pedal, but a quick regrease of the axle remedied this.

My pedals and rear mech are in a sorry state, currently, and it’s a testament to some of the faster, rougher enduro tracks that have opened up recently around town. As you can see by the state of the pedals, they’ve definitely made contact with the ground at various times but haven’t suffered any bending in the axle. I don’t know how much shape plays its part in deflecting impacts, and it’s hard to conclusively prove. There is of course an argument that it will glance rocks better - and that’s something I can see working.

photo
The pedals have been caught in the crossfire between my careless riding and the ground many, many times.




Pros

+ Grip and comfort
+ Reasonably priced - not cheap, but reasonable
+ Pins are easy to replace
+ Seem to withstand abuse well
Cons

- Could be easier to access internals
- Developed a slight rumbling noise in one pedal over winter




Pinkbike's Take
bigquotesThe Pinner Pro, in some ways, typifies Giant. They offer a good value and it's easy to see what you’re getting. Yes, they are cheaper pedals out there but this Pro manages to offer a good bang for your buck while not reaching the dizzying prices of some other brands.

The grip levels are fantastic, the looks are clean and simple. If you don’t care about weight and are looking for a no-nonsense aggressive flat pedal then the Pinner Pro would be a great choice.
Henry Quinney


Author Info:
henryquinney avatar

Member since Jun 3, 2014
322 articles

104 Comments
  • 166 7
 Raise your hand if you’re too vain to run Giant pedals on your non-Giant bike?
  • 22 1
 The real question is, would you run giant pedals on your giant bike?
  • 26 1
 Not for that price.
  • 25 3
 A Yeti owner who would install these on his bike deserves the world Zen award for being the serenest.
  • 9 0
 @calmWAKI: Yo, what bike are you running on your Giant Pinner Pros?
  • 2 0
 Hand proudly on my keyboard rather than in the air. I'm pretty sure all I care about with a pedal is that it grips my foot, doesn't snap and doesn't have self destructing spinny bits... of which I have had a few pairs of CoolGuy brand pedals that had dead bearings/bushing within a season.
  • 43 2
 How hard is it to include just one good side profile shot of the pedals? You took 16 artsy ones, just snap one which will give us a good idea of the concavity and pin heights relative to axis.
  • 6 1
 Yeah. I'm just gonna assume for every pedal review that no proper side shot = a big fat lie that they're concave.

It worked exactly like that with the recent one, I think it was PNW or something.

[edit] giant's website doesn't provide a side shot either. No luck with google image search. I'm saying concave my arse.
  • 3 0
 Front, side, top, and iso view should be standard.
  • 38 0
 @freestyIAM That's a fair cop! I just ran to the office to get another shot and you should see an updated article now. Artsy? I'll take that though! Haha!
  • 4 0
 @henryquinney: Thanks for adding the photo!

As expected, not concave. But at least they're not convex either like some others, just flat.
  • 1 0
 @bananowy: I think the finned part of the outer pedal obscures the view slightly. They are concave, even if only be a few mil - I measured on the outer edge and over the axle. Cheers
  • 3 3
 @henryquinney: Thanks for the review and the side picture. Maybe next time i suggest you put a ruler across the pedal to show how much concave or convex a pedal is, nobody would be able to deny it anymore
  • 13 0
 @marge88: Yeah, fair. I mean, I measured it with some calipers to 0.1 of a mil and included that in the article. If that's not enough I don't really know what to say. Haha.
  • 3 3
 @henryquinney: Calipers to quantify, but a lot of people have to have a picture or a video. No reading comprehension or understanding of numbers, measurements, statistics, science...whoops, got sidetracked.

I think marge88 has a good suggestion for the future, put a ruler across the pedal to illustrate any curvature.
  • 2 0
 @henryquinney: I think the only option left pedal over to their place. Or you could post them to a neutral third party for confirmation? I'll DM you my address Wink
  • 1 0
 @marge88: Great idea, here's a "poor man's version": www.pinkbike.com/photo/22057209

@henryquinney I get it you used calipers but the finned part doesn't really obscure anything. Your foot would rest on it so that's where it should be measured. Are you saying that part sticks out taller than the axle bulge? And by "a few mil"? It kinda looks like they match here: www.pinkbike.com/photo/22046706. Maybe you meant a few hundredths of a mil? BTW, a few mil of concavity wouldn't be "only", that would be a lot.

I'm gonna take a wild guess that you measured 18.3mm on the raised front/back and 16.2mm in the lowest part ignoring the axle bulge and the middle raised bit?
  • 4 1
 I think everyone should be very thankful we have a site like this (still mostly free best I can tell, unless they are sneaking in my house and stealing money?) where the author comes into the comment section and sees feedback, runs back in to measure things and get more photos, then comes back here to be told he needs to do more work for us. Good job @henryquinney
  • 2 0
 @yupstate: if it’s free then you are the product.
  • 39 2
 Pinner?...I barely know her
  • 2 2
 favorite comment lmao
  • 12 2
 But really, you Kenda know her
  • 23 5
 Thank goodness Giant came out with a pedal - not a lot of other options out there right now.
  • 15 0
 Are these e-bike compatible?
  • 1 9
flag spencer-funk (Feb 10, 2022 at 9:01) (Below Threshold)
 You can use any pedal on an ebike
  • 6 0
 If they were, they´d sport a giant label saying so (and be 50$ more)
  • 2 0
 @spencer-funk: guilty as charged
  • 3 0
 @TwoNGlenn according to Specialized, these Epedals are ebike specific

www.specialized.com/us/en/epedal--cnc-alloy/p/217061
  • 2 0
 @freestyIAM: lol. Capitalism!
  • 15 2
 Reasonably priced - not cheap, but reasonable... at 115$ !!!??????
  • 9 2
 Cheaper than most almost all other high end aluminum pedals out there....
  • 3 0
 @Marky771: New XT and Saint pedals are just behind the corner.. with similar prices.

Or would you rather choose Giant?
  • 3 0
 @Marky771: developed a rumble over the winter. Doesn't sound very high end to me. I have an old set of wellgo pedals that are nicer than these
  • 8 2
 Pinkbike readers every time a review mentions that something is reasonably priced or budget friendly: "bUT yOu diDNt CoNsULt mE AboUT mY bUdgET anD wHetHEr I coULD aFfORd iT beFOrE mAkinG tHaT StaTEMenT!!!"
  • 1 0
 @pakleni: the new saint pedals look sweet
  • 2 1
 @reindeln: Pedals for more than 110 dollars are not budget friendly and certainly drive off of a extremely bloated margin. The trend to flat pedals tends to normalize exaggerated prices.
  • 10 0
 The thumbnail picture made me think it was one very strangely shaped pedal lol
  • 2 0
 This! I thought they were severely bent beyond repair lol
  • 11 0
 I can’t get over that first sentence.
  • 5 0
 Giant is a giant company.
  • 2 0
 @islandforlife: I Hope their Glory days aint over
  • 2 0
 Giant are a huge company or should it read Giant is a huge company. Hmmm
  • 4 0
 Doesn't look concave at all. Curious where those measurements were made, because the axle bump and the knobs on the outside edge seem to be the same height as the leading and trailing edges.
  • 6 0
 "No excuse to install them on the wrong side.". Were you successful when you tried last time?
  • 3 0
 The wrong side of the crankarm
  • 2 0
 Won a pair dual slalom racing, and they were surprisingly nice. Don't let the branding put you off....still, there are less costly alternatives that are just as good, if not better. These don't offer anything new.
  • 2 0
 I'm looking for some new pedals, what do you recommend in the lest cost but as good or better category?
  • 1 0
 @IMeasureStuff: depends on what size and kind of shoe you wear and whether you want composite or metal. I have Specialized Bennies for aluminum flats and I wear an 11.5 with Freeriders, they're pretty excellent for the price and rock strike durability - $85, not too much grip but hold my feet nicely in rough terrain. These are much, much better than the DMR V8 aluminum and Chromag Synth composite ones that I've had in the past.

My girlfriend has Deity Deftraps, composite, with her size 8(W) Freeriders and she thinks they have almost too much grip. I think these were $55 and they have lots of colors. I've heard Kona Wah Wahs are great if you have big feet and don't want to spend a ton of money, usually under $60 for the composite version.
  • 2 1
 @IMeasureStuff: OneUp Composite: excellent performance, $59, and 100 grams less per pedal. Hard to beat.
  • 1 0
 @albert03: easy to beat, deity deftraps. No giant axle bump, larger platform, still nylon.
  • 1 0
 So will new Giant bikes actually come with pedals now?

Hopefully the actual manufacturer will start their own brand called "Your name here" they only sell stems and pedals that look oddly like every other pedal and stem on the market.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, these look very "taken from a chinese manufacturers catalogue" like
  • 1 0
 I have used Giant Pinner DH flat pedals for almost 4 years. I rrally liked low profile and weight. Here with new model I can see many improvements but axle design remains quite poor. Those pedals will get loose and you would not be able to do anything with it.
  • 4 0
 These pedals look normal sized to me, why are they called Giant?
  • 1 0
 Just saw these at my LBS for the first time. They come across looking cheap, but it's nice to see another option for people with big feet. Giant gets my begrudging respect for specifying the useable platform size!
  • 2 0
 Follow up: I ended up buying a pair of these and fully agree with @henryquinney's assessment. They are comfortable, which I think is an underrated trait in a pedal. Lots of grip and I forget about them while riding. They just work really well and are a compelling option for people with big feet.

There is now a magnesium version that costs an extra $20 and drops 80g.
  • 1 0
 That hump protruding from the spindle looks painful. That's why I switched from Oneup Composites, which looks to have a smaller hump, to Canfield Mountain pedals.
  • 1 0
 I bought these and there is no hump. The flat spot over the axle is lower than the leading and trailing edges, and is big. It does carry a little of your weight but is not noticeable, let alone painful
  • 4 0
 Sweet Wellgo's bruh
  • 4 4
 Specialized was never a bike manufacturer. Trek gave up on in-house production over the past 20 years.

As for the pedals, I’m sure they’re decent. Probably made by Wellgo.
  • 1 0
 What they mean is "brand", yes.
  • 1 0
 @JohSch: we can’t know what they mean. That’s called the authorial fallacy. What they SAID is incorrect.

Shame on the writer, shame on the copy editor.
  • 2 0
 I'm wearing my Oneal Pinned Pro shoes on my Giant Pinner Pro pedals and rolling on Kenda Pinner Pro tires.
  • 1 0
 Are you on one of those hippy dippy mushroom trips again
  • 3 0
 121x110mm actually is pretty Giant
  • 2 0
 What's the pins' thread? Can I fit there chromag dagga's pins and have daggas grip without daggas price?
  • 2 0
 Ok, so i checked this with a bikeshop in Germany and the thread is 4mm, which means you can fit chromag dagga pins and have chromag dagga grup for half the price, albeit without the bling and possibly the durability.
  • 2 0
 Yo, have any Giant Iguana's?
  • 10 0
 You're a giant iguana
  • 2 0
 No, but my Giant Butte is quite popular.
  • 2 1
 @youreapinkbikecomment: your mom's a giant iguana
  • 3 1
 Kenda called, they want their tire names back.
  • 1 0
 All of these pedals from all these brands are the same, we need a different, new kind of pedal
  • 4 0
 Hear me out. Velcro pedals.
  • 1 0
 @bozomichael: velcro works when wet

Mud, tho.... Frown
  • 2 0
 Or, hear me out, maybe we are good on pedals?
  • 2 0
 FINALLY! BIG NEWS! The industry is really lacking for flat pedals.
  • 1 0
 Lets hope they are more reliable than the last one. www.giant-bicycles.com/au/pinner-dh-pedal-recall-2020
  • 1 0
 It’s a spank pedal. Almost exactly. Get original, or get original trying giant.
  • 2 1
 These look like they weigh 15 lbs
  • 1 0
 Would be sick if they came included with bikes
  • 1 0
 Must be a giant margin for a diecast pedal. Giant size, giant prize
  • 1 0
 These should be the biggest pedals around.
  • 1 0
 Same size as chromag dagga
  • 1 0
 @EnduroKW: l was just thinking since they're Giant pedals they should be really big.
  • 2 0
 KENDA Pinner Pro tires
  • 1 0
 Did they ask Gwin to use his Pinner tire name? Lol.
  • 1 0
 Scudgood.
  • 1 0
 Looks like a stamp
  • 2 2
 The R and L marking screams Walmart.
  • 1 3
 Another pedal review. Whoopie doo!
  • 2 4
 So, OneUp pedals knockoff?
  • 1 1
 Exactly what I was thinking!
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