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HT Components D1 Review

A dual purpose, light weight pedal that brings adjustability to each side of the platform
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HT Components D1 Review
Credit: HT Components
Price:  $145 List
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Manufacturer:   HT Components
By Joshua Hutchens ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Aug 29, 2018
59
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#18 of 21
  • Ease of Exit - 25% 4.0
  • Ease of Entry - 20% 3.0
  • Adjustability - 20% 9.0
  • Weight - 15% 8.0
  • Platform - 10% 6.0
  • Mud Shedding Ability - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The lightweight D1 tried to combine the best of both sides of the HT pedal line up. Beautifully machined, extremely slim, lightweight and svelte, at first glance, the HT Components D1 pedals bring together an exciting array of features and adjustability. Unfortunately, the HT offers only a lackluster clipless experience surrounded by an impressive looking pedal, which doesn't quite bring us to pedal nirvana. An easy favorite out of the box, we were curious and then quickly dubious. The pedal feels high quality and the flat side hooks up quite well. The clipless side, however, offers inconsistent release tension, pin interference, and a cleat that can jam.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Dual sided
Dual purpose and adjustable in an attractive package
REASONS TO AVOID
Clipless entry is poor
Relatively expensive

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Mountain Bike Pedal
Top Pick Award
Another Great Trail Riding Pedal
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
 
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Adjustability on each side makes this lightweight pedal a fit for a range of ridersStable platform, highly adjustable, and available in a multitude of colorsShimano's latest enduro approved pedal grows up a bit and the refreshes are mostly welcomeA solid choice for those wanting next generation stability at an entry-level price pointIf you want to travel light on a budget, this is your pick
Rating Categories HT Components D1 HT Components T2 Shimano PD-M8120 XT... Shimano ME700 Shimano M520
Ease of Exit (25%)
4.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
5.0
Ease of Entry (20%)
3.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
Adjustability (20%)
9.0
10.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Weight (15%)
8.0
8.0
7.0
5.0
8.0
Platform (10%)
6.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
3.0
Mud Shedding Ability (10%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Specs HT Components D1 HT Components T2 Shimano PD-M8120 XT... Shimano ME700 Shimano M520
Weight per Pair (grams) 388g 380g 430g 482g 374g
Weight of Cleats and Bolts (grams) 60g 62g 51g 50g 50g
Cleat Type X1/X1E/X1F HT X1 cleats SPD mountain SPD mountain SPD Mountain
Style clip/flat mini-cage mini-cage mini-cage no cage
Platform Dimensions (lxw) 100 x 86mm 83.5 x 68mm 100 x 71mm 100 x 74mm 42 x 61mm
profile height 14mm 17mm 18mm 19mm 22mm
Q-Factor 56mm 56mm 55mm 55mm 55 mm
Total Width from Crank Arm 97mm 90mm 92mm 93mm 80mm
Entry 1-sided 2-sided 2-sided 2-sided 2-sided
Adjustable Tension yes yes yes yes yes
Traction Pins 5/9 4/side 0 0 0
Bearings sealed bearing, igus bushing and needle bearing Stainless Steel sealed cartridge bearings dual angular contact, metal retainer dual angular contact, plastic retainer Dual Angular Contact
Cage Material extruded / machined aluminum extruded/CNC machined aluminum anodized and machined aluminum painted aluminum n/a
Pedal Wrench Type 8mm allen 8mm allen 8mm allen 6mm allen or 15mm open end 8mm allen

Our Analysis and Test Results

The sleek and slim packaging is the first hint the HT D1 gives of its slender and exceptionally thin profile. Opening these pedals is a rewarding experience, the pedal bodies are extruded, machined and anodized, creating a high-quality feel. The combination of sealed bearing, needle bearing, and Igus bushing gives this pedal the best hand feel of the bunch, which is to say it's very smooth. Unfortunately, its performance doesn't match its appearance.

The D1 includes cleats allowing 4 degrees or 8 degrees of lateral float, one of the few pedals on the market to do so. The clipless side features adjustable spring tension and five removable traction pins while the flat side features nine traction pins.

The Time and HT pedals are the only ones that allow lateral float. Lateral float is the side to side movement of the forefoot, essentially a variable Q-factor. (A typical clipless pedal allows the heel to float while the forefoot remains anchored.) While often touted as beneficial for those with existing knee issues, the resulting inconsistent release point doesn't seem worth the potential upside.

Performance Comparison


ht components d1 - exceptionally thin and showing some aggressive pins on the flat side.
Exceptionally thin and showing some aggressive pins on the flat side.
Credit: joshua hutchens

Ease of Entry


The traction pins are a bit too aggressive on the clipless side of this pedal. We ran through all of our test mountain bike shoes and both cleat configurations and still could not quite engage the clipless side of this pedal while the pins were present. The only remedy was to remove the traction pins from the clipless side altogether, losing the stability and grip they provide. A lower pin height would be a welcome addition for this reason.


Most troubling was that once while fumbling around trying to get clipped in, and mashing our shoes into the pedal, it finally stuck, but not in the engagement mechanism. The cleat lodged in the front half of the pedal, the back of the cleat stuck underneath the front retaining spring. After a moment of panic, it pulled loose. You can see the bizarre situation in the photo below.

ht components d1 - oops, i don't think thats supposed to happen. i was incredulous...
Oops, I don't think thats supposed to happen. I was incredulous, sitting on the side of the trail wearing one shoe and trying to figure out what happened here
Credit: joshua hutchens

Ease of Exit


While the flat side of this pedal offers excellent grip and a nice large platform, the clipless side feels far less refined. The traction pins were obstacles to entry and release, but even with all the pins removed, the pedal didn't provide consistent release tension.


Lateral float pedals can suffer from inconsistent release tension because the cleat's nose is not held in a rigid position. It can shift between positions, some of which work better when you initiate a release.

ht components d1 - this just shouldn't fit here like this.
this just shouldn't fit here like this.
Credit: joshua hutchens

Adjustability


Having a pedal that offers adjustability allows us to tailor its traits to our liking, and the HT D1 brings loads of adjustment, more than most pedals we tested.


For starters, the D1 provides cleats for 4 or 8 degrees of lateral float. They also sell an X2 cleat that allows 4.5 degrees of lateral float. You can adjust the release tension with a 3mm hex. There are five removable traction pins on the clipless side. The flat side of the pedal features nine traction pins and an exceptionally low profile height of 14mm.

ht components d1 - 388 grams is an impressive weight for a pedal with this size and...
388 grams is an impressive weight for a pedal with this size and features.
Credit: joshua hutchens

Weight


A glorious 388 grams, the HT is the lightest pedal in this comparison and amongst the lightest of any clip-flat on the market. The D1 weighs only a few grams heavier than the acclaimed XTR M9120 Trail

ht components d1 - we ran every configuration of the traction pins on the clipless side...
We ran every configuration of the traction pins on the clipless side but weren't happy with the engagement until we removed them all.
Credit: joshua hutchens

Platform


The extruded and machined pedal body holds five traction pins on the clipless side and nine on the flat. The pedal is extremely thin, measuring only 14mm. This allows you to feel low in the cockpit while minimizing your risk of pedal strikes. The platform feels low, and the traction pins bite effectively.

ht components d1 - the ht after a couple hundred muddy engagements.
The HT after a couple hundred muddy engagements.
Credit: joshua hutchens

Mud Shedding


The HT's performance wasn't hampered when the conditions turned wet and muddy. The spring mechanism and a rather minimal pedal body stayed clean enough to get the job done. That said, we found the engagement on this pedal quite difficult at times. It's just that the mud didn't make it worse.

Value


The priciest pedal in the group lists many features and a fair bit of adjustability. The poor performance of the clipless mechanism, however, leaves us reluctant to recommend them.

Conclusion


Beautifully machined, extremely slim, lightweight, and svelte, they bring together an exciting array of features and adjustability. Unfortunately, the HT doesn't offer the reliability of performance that we strive to recommend.

Joshua Hutchens