HT T2 – Put to the test in our big pedal shootout 2023
The HT T2 clipless pedals certainly are eye-catching. Of course, the golden colour plays a part, but the elegant, filigree look also makes them stand out. The Taiwanese brand’s pro team is big, but they’re still very rarely seen on the trails. How do the pedals perform in our group test?
Release angle 13° | Q-factor 56 mm | Manufacturer’s website
The HT T2 don’t just look slender, they’re damn light, too. No other pedals on test can undercut the HTs at 378 g for the pair, and there is even a version with a titanium axle that weighs less still. For € 159.90 you get a specially developed clipless mechanism that’s spring-loaded on both sides. The spring preload can be adjusted, and if you want to adjust the feeling of the pedals even further you can choose between four different cleats. The 13° release angle is the same for all cleats, but they differ in their float and release hardness. The included X1 and X1F cleats have 4° and 8° float respectively. Optionally, you can get the X2 cleats, which offer 4.5° float and are harder to click in and out. Lastly, there are the X1E cleats, which are multi-release, allowing you to release the cleats by pulling to the side, up, or back. However, we wouldn’t recommend using these as they can make you form a habit of using the wrong technique. There are four pins on each side, but since they’re grub screws that go in from above, replacing them is difficult once they’re caked in dirt or damaged.
HT T2s pedals on the trail
Clicking into the HT T2s is easy and once you’re in, they provide a relatively free-floating feeling, though you can always feel a slight bit of tension on your feet. As such, you can move your feet more freely than with Shimano mechanisms and the float feels smoother. Compared to the Crankbrothers pedals, they feel less free, offering a more defined clicked-in and clicked-out feeling. One problem these two pedals share, however, is that the click action quickly starts feeling vague, making us increase the spring preload to counteract it. The clipless mechanism of the HT pedals stands out relatively far above the cages, so if you come loose, you won’t have much grip until you click back in. The front pins don’t help much in this case either: they sit so low down that the soles of the shoes don’t touch them, whether you’re clicked in or out. On the other hand, the rear pins, which are new for the T2 compared to the T1, are much more effective and allow you to fine tune the amount of grip you want on the pedals. The self-cleaning of the T2s is good despite the small cages and we had no problems clicking in even in the wettest conditions.
The HT T2 pedals are as rare as they are beautiful. They’re the lightest clipless pedals on test and can be adjusted to your preferences both via the spring preload and different cleats. That said, we cannot recommend the multi-release cleats, as they let you get used to the wrong technique. Being clicked in feels relatively free, though you can always feel a slight tension on your feet. However, the cleats wear out quickly and the pedals don’t provide much grip unless you’re clicked in.
Tops
- super light
- adjustable spring preload and a choice of cleats
- free but defined feeling when clicked in
Flops
- multi-release system isn’t advisable
- minimal grip if you’re not clicked in
- wear out quickly
You can find out more about at ht-components.com
Click here for an overview: The best pedals for mountain bikers
all pedals in Review: Acros Clipless Pedal | Crankbrothers Mallet E LS | Hope Union | HT T2 | Shimano XT PD-M8120 | TIME SPECIALE 12 | Chromag Dagga | Crankbrothers Stamp 7 | Hope F22 | Look Trail Fusion | Nukeproof Horizon Pro Sam Hill | OneUp Composite Pedal | Race Face Atlas | Sixpack Kamikaze RA | SQ Lab 50X | Tatze Link Composite |