Test: Already at last year's Eurobike, Crankbrothers presented the Stamp, a completely new platform pedal that was supposed to replace the venerable 5050. The response on the market was good, the pedal and its structure proved themselves, so it's not too big a surprise that the US manufacturer added three more versions of the Stamp for this season to serve different price ranges and requirements. With the Crankbrothers Stamp 2, we are looking at the cheapest version for €79,99.
Until this season there was only the Crankbrothers Stamp, but now the model series has several variants, which are named analogously to the other pedals in the program. The previous Stamp is now called the Stamp 3, followed by the Stamp 2, the Stamp 7 and the Stamp 11. The higher the number, the higher the quality, lighter and more expensive the pedal. There are also differences in the overall height, the manufacturing process and the material of the axle.
All models have their bearings in common: Enduro ball bearings and IGUS plain bearings ensure a long service life. The pedals can be serviced in all variants and are therefore not disposable parts should one of the bearings fail prematurely. All variants are available in two sizes: The footprint of the small model measures 100x100mm, the large one is a whopping 114x111mm. Who decides which size is a matter of taste, Crankbrothers recommends the large pedal from an EU shoe size of 43.
Crankbrothers Stamp - the different variants
| stamp 11 | stamp 7 | stamp 3 | stamp 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (manufacturer information) | 299g / 325g | 345g / 375g | 399g / 455g | 415g / 470g |
| Height | 11-13mm | 11-13mm | 16 mm | 16 mm |
| Material | aluminum (forged) | aluminum (forged) | aluminum (forged) | Die-cast aluminum) |
| axis | Titan | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Price | €300 | €150 | €99,99 | €79,99 |
Crankbrothers Stamp 2 - the technical details
The Crankbrothers Stamp are equipped with ten pins per side - eight of them in the edge area, two in the middle of the base. The grub screws are screwed in from the outside - this is practical, since you can regulate the height of the pins within a certain range and adjust the grip to your own needs, but it also has disadvantages: On the one hand, screw locking is an absolute must, since the Otherwise, pins can be lost faster than you can say 'ground contact'. If the aforementioned ground contact occurs and the pins are affected, removal may be difficult because the socket for the Allen key is messed up.
The raw look of our variant is extremely successful and the pedals also suffer significantly less on the outside than painted, powdered or anodized models. The processing is already at a very high level and although the Stamp 2 is made of 'cheap' die-cast aluminum, it doesn't detract from the haptics in any way. Full points!
A difficult issue with every pedal, especially in the MTB sector, is the bearing. It should not be too heavy, not too big, but still durable, well sealed and maintainable. A balancing act that many manufacturers have failed in and Crankbrothers itself can also sing a song about possible problems. The Stamps now rely on a combination of high-quality Enduro ball bearings, tried and tested on a wide variety of components, and IGUS plain bearings. Internally, the bearings are double sealed to keep dirt, grime and wet out even in tough conditions. All in all, the large version of the Crankbrothers Stamp 2 weighs 464g - that's lighter than stated, but gram foxes won't be happy with it.
Crankbrothers Stamp 2 – the practical test
First of all: For riders with big feet like me, the dimensions of the Stamp pedals are a blessing: In recent years, more and more manufacturers have recognized that a sufficiently large footprint is crucial for good grip. But if you have shoe size 45 or more, you still have a rather limited selection of suitable pedals. This now also includes the Crankbrothers Stamp: The footprint is more than sufficient and extremely comfortable even for size 46.
In terms of grip, we have little to complain about on the pedals. If you're looking for grip monsters, you might be a little disappointed, but the performance is still well above average. In addition, the feet can still be positioned and moved reasonably well while driving. You also have some leeway because you can screw in the grub screws to different depths.
The self-cleaning of the pedals is impeccable: Thanks to their open shape, they hardly get clogged with dirt and since they have hardly any edges, they offer little surface to attack. Dirt only finds a little grip on the roughened middle bar and it can get a bit slippery at times.
After several months of continuous use in often difficult, muddy conditions, the Stamps have done brilliantly. The bearings have no play, nor do they run rough in the slightest degree. The robust pedal body easily absorbs impacts, but the pins are a bit more sensitive. Overall, however, there is hardly anything to complain about and at the current street price of just under €60, the Stamp 2 is a candidate for "Best Bang for the Buck".
