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Deity TMAC Review

These burly, quality flat pedals have next-level grip
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deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review
Diety Components TMAC
Credit: Diety Components
Price:  $180 List
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Manufacturer:   Diety Components
By Al Morrison ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 20, 2023
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 22
  • Grip and Traction - 25% 9.0
  • Platform - 25% 8.0
  • Mobility - 20% 8.0
  • Servicing - 15% 9.0
  • Weight - 15% 5.0

Our Verdict

The Deity TMAC is Tyler McCaul's signature pedal, designed to meet the demands of one of the planet's most versatile mountain bike riders. The TMAC is a beautiful blend of thoughtful engineering and exquisite looks. These symmetrically designed pedals are extruded and machined from T6 Aluminum for strength and durability. They offer excellent balance, a large platform, and a tenacious grip with 14 pins per side. Their two-and-one-half-millimeter concave depth enhances grip and foot comfort while climbing and descending. The shape delivers a balanced feel and helps distribute weight evenly across the platform. These big and burly pedals are a great pick for gravity-fueled riding. Compare it to top competitors in our review of the best mountain bike flat pedals.
REASONS TO BUY
Maximum grip
Large concave platform
Built with high quality parts
Versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Sometimes too grippy
Thick profile
Top loading pins
Heavier weight
Editor's Note: This review was updated in May 2023 to reflect updated scoring across test metrics.

Compare to Similar Products

 
deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review
This Product
Deity TMAC
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award 
Price $180 List
$179.99 at Backcountry
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$34.74 at Amazon
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$39.99 at Evo
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$27 List
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Bottom Line If you're searching for maximum grip, look no furtherThis pedal provides excellent grip, traction, and support and is easy to serviceLess-expensive flat pedal option for those who like to put their equipment to the testA quality composite pedal at an outstanding price pointA budget oriented pedal that offers adequate grip and a midsize platform but may be less apealing compared to established brands
Rating Categories Deity TMAC Wolf Tooth Waveform Race Face Chester OneUp Components Co... Fooker Nylon Fiber
Grip and Traction (25%)
9.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
Platform (25%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
Mobility (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Servicing (15%)
9.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
5.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Specs Deity TMAC Wolf Tooth Waveform Race Face Chester OneUp Components Co... Fooker Nylon Fiber
Measured Weight (per pair) 440 g 373 g 358 g 359 g 370 g
Traction Pins (per side) 14, 2 mm hex head top loading 11, 3 mm head bottom loading 8, 2.5 mm hex head bottom loading 10, 2.5 mm hex head bottom loading 8, 2.5 mm hex head bottom loading
Measured Platform Dimensions (millimeters) 110 mm x 105 mm 105 mm x 99 mm 110 mm x 101 mm 114 mm x 104 mm 110 mm x 100 mm
Platform Profile (millimeters) - not including pins 19 mm leading and trailing edges, 14 mm at axle 13.96 mm perimeter, 12.63 axle 14 mm leading and trailing edges, 17 mm center of spindle 13.8 mm leading and trailing edges, 16.9 mm at axle 14 mm at edges, 18 mm at axle
Concavity 5 mm difference from effective edges to center axle. Super concave 2.5mm pedal profile per side. Dual concave 1.5mm difference permieter to center 3 mm difference from effective edges to center of pedal slight convexity 4 mm difference from effective edge to center of pedal
Q Factor / Distance from cranks to furthest pin 113 mm 100mm 103 mm 106 mm 103 mm
Bearings Multi micro sealed bearings and Deity DU bushing internals Three sealed cartridge bearings and one igus bushing Cartridge bearings and DU bushings DU cartridge 3 sealed cartridge bearings
Body Material Forged 6061-T6 aluminum 6061-T6 Aluminum Nylon Composite Nylon Composite Nylon Fiber
Pedal Wrench Type 15 mm pedal spanner, 8 mm hex 8 mm hex 15 mm pedal spanner, 8 mm hex 15 mm pedal spanner, 6 mm hex 8 mm hex

Our Analysis and Test Results

With over two years of research and development put into the TMAC's design, Deity developed what they refer to as "Your Dream Pedal." The pedal has a simplistic symmetrical design and square/blocky shape, making it appear more substantial in size than its 110 mm x 105 mm dimensions suggest. Machined from durable aluminum and fitted with high-quality components, these pedals have a phenomenal grip with 14 pins per side. We loved these beefy pedals and feel they are an excellent option for downhill and aggressive enduro riding.

Performance Comparison


deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - the tmac is an impressive burly pedal that keeps the feet glued to...
The TMAC is an impressive burly pedal that keeps the feet glued to the pedals in rough terrain.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Grip/Traction


The TMAC pedals have impressive amounts of grip. There are 14 pins per side, located along the perimeter pin. Their locations, combined with two-and-one-half-millimeters of concavity, make your foot feel secure to the pedal. These pedals have so much grip that it's occasionally challenging to reposition your shoe while riding. This can be frustrating, especially when you're getting into a more technical section of a trail or about to hit a jump. There's nothing more annoying than that feeling of your foot being in the wrong position.


That said, the grip factor is so high with the TMAC that you can get away with riding with your foot in the wrong spot on the pedal for a section of trail. The weakness concerning grip is the lack of pins in the middle of the pedal along the spindle. The smooth anodized spindle section feels slippery with some shoes, especially in wet riding conditions. It's natural for your feet to drift outwards as you ride, and a center pin or two would help make your foot feel more secure and improve your grip if your footing becomes unsettled.

deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - the tmac's big platform and wealth of pins keep the feet in place.
The TMAC's big platform and wealth of pins keep the feet in place.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Platform


The TMAC pedals feature a large "block" platform that's 110 mm x 105mm coupled with one of the more aggressive concave designs on the market at two-and-one-half-millimeter. The pedals have a non-offset and symmetrical design with a square/blocky shape that feels much larger than it is. This is a double-edged sword; the large platform is great but leaves a large open space in the middle of the pedal. It's noticeable when your foot isn't on the pedal correctly and your contact point is in the open area of the pedal.


The pedal grips so well that it is hard to reposition your foot in the middle of your descent. The more you ride, the more you get used to this, but it is worthy of mention. The large size combined with the 19 mm leading edge thickness does present more potential for pedal strikes and contact with other features on the trail. We didn't experience any strikes that caused a crash while testing, but we made plenty of pedal-to-rock contact. The most vulnerable spots for contact are the leading edge and the outside edges of the pedal. The thickness of these pedals does make them less ideal for trail riders or those who frequent technical trails.

deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - the tmac has two-and-one-half-millimeters of concavity and measures...
The TMAC has two-and-one-half-millimeters of concavity and measures 110 mm x 105 mm, providing the foot with lots of support.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Mobility


Here's the blunt truth, the TMAC grips so well that it can be challenging to move your feet sometimes. The openness of the pedal design is noticeable, especially when climbing. The bearings work well and spin freely with no resistance. The pedals feature one of the deepest concave designs on the market, providing ample contact and control. Since the TMAC is one of the largest pedals we tested, the platform is plenty big to accommodate larger shoe sizes.


However, with smaller shoe sizes, the pedal's massive platform has an almost negative effect on allowing the rider's foot to stay planted in one position. Due to the large open areas between the spindle and front and rear of the pedal, if the rider's foot were to move into these zones, it gave us the feeling of our shoes falling into a hole.

deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - the pedal moves very well on its axle, but all those pins don't make...
The pedal moves very well on its axle, but all those pins don't make it easy to reposition your feet on the fly.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Servicing/Build


The Deity TMAC is well constructed and visible across the board, from its high-quality parts to its sleek machined design. They are easy on and off the cranks. This may be the one for you if you're looking for a hassle-free, dynamite pedal.


The pedal's design considers load distribution while riding various terrain, and Deity has created a system to prevent bearing blowout. If a bearing blowout occurs while you're the owner of these workhorses, the rebuild kit won't set you back much at all and is available directly through the Deity website.

deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - tmac disassemble and servicing process
TMAC disassemble and servicing process
Credit: Al Morrison

Weight


They are far from the lightest pedals at 440-grams, but they hold their weight well for their size. They offer great pedal traction and never feel out of touch with lighter pedals. The goal behind the TMAC was to deliver the largest platform available in the Deity pedal lineup at the expense of a little extra weight. Diety has created a pedal that feels much lighter than it looks. That said, the added heft and thicker profile make these pedals ideal for trail riding than other options we tested.


deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - not the lightest, but also not bad for such a burly pedal.
Not the lightest, but also not bad for such a burly pedal.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Should You Buy the Diety TMac Pedal?


If you're looking for a durable pedal with maximum traction and a large platform, ideal for gravity riding, we highly recommend the Diety TMAC. Its traction pins provide outstanding grip, especially when descending at speed. However, their thick platform may be a drawback to those who ride technical trails.

What Other Mountain Bike Flat Pedals Should You Consider?


Another great aluminum body flat pedal that excels at gravity riding is the Chromag Dagga. Its 15.75 mm thick pedal body is a bit thinner and less likely to get hung up on rocks. It also has a larger platform, measuring 111 mm x 116 mm, making it even more supportive for riders with larger feet. The 12 traction pins provide great grip, two of which are found along the axle, helping to provide traction in wet and muddy conditions.

deity tmac mountain bike flat pedal review - if you're looking for a rugged pedal with crazy amounts of grip, the...
If you're looking for a rugged pedal with crazy amounts of grip, the TMAC is a great choice.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams

Al Morrison