Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this from Amazon, having never purchased cycling gear from Amazon before, because Amazon had by far the best price on the product. The pedal is exactly as I expected based on reviews, for better and for worse. I'll go over the pros and cons. Pros: (1) Very inexpensive for the functionality you're getting - flat pedal for commuting or casual rides, SPD pedal for longer rides. (2) Relatively light weight (380g on my scale), much lighter than most mountain bike-specific SPD pedals, which until recently were your only choice for a dual-sided pedal (for example, the Shimano PD-M324 Clipless/Clip Pedals). (3) The pedals look very sleek. (4) The bearings are much better than the inexpensive pedals I had been using before on my commuter. The "spinup", for lack of a better term, requires much less effort. This may be both a combination of weight (these are much lighter than many metal platform pedals), as well as the bearings. Cons: (1) The platform side is quite slick, as others have mentioned. I bought the pedals despite knowing this because my prior pedals, which were studded, were ruining the soles on my work shoes. These pedals will not damage shoes, but at the same time, offer little grip. That's not such a problem with sneakers that have grippy soles, but with flat-soled shoes, you really have to be careful about how much pressure you put on the pedal and can't easily stand up while pedaling. In addition to the slickness of the platform, the size of the platform also contributes, as it is much narrower than a standard flat pedal, so if you're not careful, your foot can slip off the edge, not just the front or back. This is a trade-off for a sleek-looking, functional SPD pedal. (2) The clip-in side ships at a default tension that is far too tight, even for experienced riders. Anyone new to riding an SPD-style pedal should immediately adjust the tension to the opposite extreme to get a feel for using them. At default tension, they are uncomfortably hard to get out of (and I have 15 years of experience on Shimano's SPD pedals, dating back to the M535, released in 1995). (3) I purchased the black pedals because they matched my black bike better, but as expected, the paint on the platform chips off easily. This is especially true when using it with SPD cleats, which can tear up the paint very quickly if you're using the platform side momentarily while riding. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the pedals. They offer a lot of performance for the price. Just be aware of the slickness of the platform if you intend to ride with dress shoes, the problem with the default tension, and the issue with the black paint chipping.