User submitted reviews
Review by Anonymous
I've always felt a little silly riding 2-sided pedals around on my gravel bike when I don't need to clip/unclip any more often than a single-sided road pedal, so I used road pedals for the bigger surface area and sleeker look of the pedal. But, road cleats and shoes are not great, to say the least, if I ever do need to hike a bike.
This pedal feels almost identical to an SPD-SL pedal, and looks a lot better than a double sided MTB pedal to my eye. After clipping in, I don't even notice them, which is a plus to me. They appear to be even more open than a 2-sided XT pedal, so they should clear mud if needed. Sometimes they don't hang perfectly up and down, so you need to be more conscious about clipping in than you do with a double sided pedal. Perhaps the bearings are adjusted too tightly on mine.
Do note: these would be a poor choice for cyclocross or events where those seconds clipping in might matter.
Review by Anonymous
This pedal was selling at a discount so I saw value in it even though there were warnings from other reviewers about the pedal position when mounting shoe. The problem is the pedal doesn't spin freely where the pedal is in the correct position to mount the shoe. Usually, it is in the wrong position. Maybe after time with use, the pedal may spin freely but unfortunately for me I don't want to wait for this to happen. Because of the metal cleat, this will scratch the back side of the pedal when mounting on the wrong side which I understand will eventually happen regardless with time. If I want to continue using the pedal I find myself constantly looking at the pedal when trying to mount the shoe. This can be dangerous or distracting. I've decided to remove this pedal and purchase something else. It isn't returnable after use.
Review by DCycle
Been on these for about a year now. They are not perfect, but I love 'em. On review stated that they are weighted a little off, and yes. They don't always point upright. And yes, the finish on mine started chipping away on the first ride. But who cares? They are probably the most abused part of the bike. Besides, you aren't going to see the lack of paint when you are screaming down a hill. I like the firm hold, yet with a little float with the SM-SH56 cleats. I also like the ability to wear either road or MTB shoes, now that some shoes come with both mounting systems, 3 or 2 bolt. Shimano and Giro come to mind. So many choices!
Review by Island Rider
As I said, a bombproof pedal, and light as well. Just purchased a new set because I can't believe that my old ones will last beyond the 10,000+ miles they have given me (though I rode them today and they are still ticking). SPD cleats last forever and allow me to ride my road bike with high quality MTB shoes that let me walk normally on pavement or gravel. The SPD cleats can also be mounted further to the rear than most road cleats......A blessing for a fellow wearing a size 48 shoe. The price cannot be beat for another solid product from Shimano.
Review by Dave
The left pedal was very hard to unclip even on the lowest tension setting. After replacing my cleats and shoes, I was experiencing the same issue. My LBS inspected them and pointed out the front left screw for the clip mechanism was recessed too far into the pedal casting. This defect created a lot of tension between the cleat and and the shoe. I believe Shimano probably produced a lot of ES600's with this defect. If you do a stare and compare between the left and right pedal you will see the defect.
Review by Anonymous
A lightweight road like pedal that uses a mountain bike cleat
Review by Gary R
I needed a set of replacement pedals for my new bike and purchased these online. They were easy to setup and dial in. They look nice in appearance and the best part is I don't even think about them when riding except to make sure that the right side is up to click into.
Review by Anonymous
I use it on a light carbon climbing bike. I use spd style pedals on all my bikes after trying almost every other format. These are good because they are light, permit recessed cleats on walkable shoes, have a relatively broad footprint, reasonable price. One downside is that they take some getting used to clipping in because they tend to rotate to a clip side down orientation.
Review by Jsprague56
I like to use SPD pedals on tours and events because I end up doing a lot of walking (on gravel and other uneven surfaces -- usually the SAG stops. I love these pedals because they weigh a lot less than the two-sided models and I am doing "weight weenie" on my travel bike. These function well and the spindles are long so it's easy to install and remove.
Review by Slim Jim
These pedals are easy to adjust to make them easy to step in to, and easy to release.
Their broad platform provides excellent support.
Review by Oaklandbiker
I like this pedal a lot and it is on my endurance road bike (Domane SL) and my touring/commuting bike (Seven steel frame). Reliable, easy to maintain and at a reasonable price. Shimano quality.
Review by Anonymous
If you want to ride two-bolt SPD pedals on a road bike, this is as good a way as I can imagine. These pedals are light, well-finished, with really nice bearing quality. I rode LOOKs for years, so I find "toe-ing in" familiar, but some riders may have to adjust to how these hang. With a few hundred miles on them, I've had no problem with the finish scratching or chipping.
Review by KCB
Shimano pedals continue to be the smoothest rolling after the most abuse with little or no maintenance. These replace the PD-A600, essentially the same pedal previous generation, which I used on my road, gravel, and CX bikes, outlasting similarly priced crank brothers and time atac.
Review by gSporco
Im a fan of Shimano SPD in general and these do not disappoint...
Pros:
Light weight at 280g
Simple to maintain and work on if needed
Bullet proof
Great roadie option for cyclists who prefer a more road like SPD pedal option
Cons:
They can be hard to clip in as the pedal is weighted oddly that the toe portion isnt usually rotated north.
Review by Anonymous
I have tried numerous types of spd pedals from Shimano, the Shimano Ultegra road pedals, Time Expresso, Speedplay Frogs and these are my favorite pedals for road and gravel. One sided but feels like a road pedal with no hotspots.
Review by Anonymous
My favorite road pedal is the Time Xpresso which is light and easy to clip in and out. Cleats are not durable. Wanted to switch to SPD so it is easier to walk during bike tours. These come closest for me to road pedals. Some platform to transfer power and bottom of foot does not get pressure point heat from small MTB pedals even with the Speedplay Frogs.
Review by Anonymous
Love them!
Review by JackH
As always Shimano is hard to beat, these pedals are great, easy entry & exit. Great value for the $$$
Review by JRL
Among the Shimano SPD pedals I own (M9000, M8000, A600, and this new ES600), the ES600 is the latest and lightest pair. It's similar to A600, but very slightly lighter. Since it's single sided, it is not as convenient as M9000 or M8000, but the difference is not that significant for on-road use. The only downside is the paint of the surface. It can easily get scuffs during your first ride. A600 has the same issue, but overall I prefer the appearance of A600.
Review by Colleen
I have been looking for a mountain bike cleat with more surface. They worked out great. They look like a ride bike pedal and offer the surface area I was hoping for! Love them in sure I'll be buying another pair.