HT's PA03A pedals might not have the snappiest of names, but when it comes to getting boatloads of grip from a durable and comfortable platform at a bargain price, it's worth remembering it as they're the ones to beat.
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Unlike most high-end pedals, the HTs use a pedal platform made from nylon reinforced plastic. It's the same stuff they make the straight-to-bin pedals included with most new bikes from, but when done right, it makes a lot of sense. As a material, it's lightweight and highly durable, with a tendency to bounce rather than crack or bend, while the self-lubricating nylon will slide rather than bind when you hit it against rocks.
The big difference between this and cheap and nasty pedals is the platform shape. The eagle-eyed will notice it shares more than a passing similarity with the aluminium bodied Nukeproof Horizon flats we've tested previously. That's an entirely good thing, as the platform is decently long and broad, offering loads of support and plenty of foot positioning options. It's got a slightly concave shape to allow your foot to sit in and while they're not overly thin at 18mm, I didn't have any issues with unexpected pedal strikes.
The pedal spins on a cromoly steel axle with a DU bushing on the inboard side and a pair of ball bearings supporting it at the outboard edge. Despite making it through a grim winter of riding, they're still smooth and when the inevitable happens and play appears, it's possible to rebuild them cheaply.
The grip is provided by a mix of eight 5mm long steel pins that thread all the way through the body and two moulded plastic pins per side. Those moulded plastic pins aren't as grippy as the steel ones, which means the pedal is at a slight outright grip disadvantage compared to those aforementioned Nukeproofs.
However, these are less than half the price and they're a fair bit lighter too at 351g versus 430g for the pair. That makes it eminently easy to overlook any small flaws and if you're into the whole colour matching thing, there's a huge palette of finishes to choose from.
