shimano cage vs cageless pedals

i'm dabbling with clips again for some rides after a couple yrs of being totally on flats. in the meantime i sold my clips and needing new ones. i like the idea of shedding weight and the xt or even xtr's appeal. i've read that some guys feel no difference between the cageless and caged versions when clipped in. the cage seems to have no contact with the shoe itself from what i can tell. what's your opinion?

part 2- does anyone feel the xtr's offer any real world benefit other than about 30g (insignificant IMO).

The XTR has a slightly lower profile. The cage adds a bit of platform when not clipped. Adds zero support when you are attached. But if you look at the race and trail side by side, there is a larger polished area where the sides of the shoe beside the cleat contact the pedal which is larger on the trail pedals.

I've found the trail pedals to be easier to find the right position on the cleat to clip in. I use the deore level m530s

The cage offers the most benefit when trying to clip in in sketchy situations. Ya once clipped in it doesn't offer much support. But opting for a cage less SPD pedal to save 100g is a poor choice IMO unless on a pure xc machine

The platform makes it easier to guide your foot to clip in. It also helps in those awkward situations where you have one foot cliooed out. It makes no difference once you are actually clipped in.

I've enjoyed the DX ones. The pedal is pivoted slightly in the cage which makes entry and exit easier. They also have a bigger platform when not clipped in. But they are much heavier.

I now have the XTR trails and they are amazing.

anyone question the durability of XT vs XTR? given these pedals may last a long long time, i'm wondering if the XTR's are as reliable as good ol' XT's

anyone question the durability of XT vs XTR? given these pedals may last a long long time, i'm wondering if the XTR's are as reliable as good ol' XT's

I have consumed several sets of the XTRs and actually just downgraded to XT for my latest set to see if the materials wear a bit better. I liked the XTRs, but they are definitely not pedals to last a "long long time".

I'm just wrapping up my 3rd year on XTR trail pedals and they function exactly like new. They are battered from taking many hits over that time and still, everything is tight. These were hits so bad that it made my rear tire go airborne.

I'm not sure how people are breaking these, maybe it was a bad batch or something?

I'm just wrapping up my 3rd year on XTR trail pedals and they function exactly like new. They are battered from taking many hits over that time and still, everything is tight. These were hits so bad that it made my rear tire go airborne.

I'm not sure how pedal are breaking these, maybe it was a bad batch or something?

There was a bad batch. The axle broke at the outer cone. Problem addressed though.

The cage on the 8020 looks like its just there to deflect hits. Doesnt seem like it would help much for clipping in. The older 785 almost looks better


On second year for the XT Trails. Easier to stand on while unclipped, vs. the race pedal. I find the cage takes also protects the mechanism a bit vs. the race pedal which has none. Why pay more for the XTRs? It's not like they're radically different in performance.