When it comes to an entry-level flat pedal, the Race Face Chester would be at the top of most lists. The durable nylon body makes for a lightweight pedal that glides over rocks easily. The 16 pins (8 per side of the pedal) made from machine screws do a great job of locking onto your shoe. The Chester’s come in a variety of colors too, which makes them a fun way to add some bling to your bike. Lastly, they come in at a great price point. While it may come as a surprise that your new bike doesn’t come with pedals, $39 is about as cheap as it gets. Unless of course, you look at Amazon.
Fooker Pedals
Enter the Fooker. This blatant rip-off of the Race Face Chester is exactly that. Coming in at nearly half the price as the Chester, the Fooker has pretty much the same exact specs in terms of weight, size, number of pins, etc. The only difference is the number of bearings on the spindle. The Fooker has 3 bearings while the Chester has 1. I am not an engineer, but it seems like more bearings would be better? Let us know in the comments if you think otherwise.
| Weight | Pins | Size | Bearings | |
| Race Face Chester | 360 grams | 8 per side | 110x101mm | 1 |
| Fooker Pedal | 358 grams | 8 per side | 109×100 mm | 3 |
Here’s The Rub
So here comes the question. Can you feel good about buying a pair of Fooker pedals knowing they ripped off the design from Race Face? When the cost savings are significant, it makes for a tough decision. I feel conflicted about it myself. Surely the overall quality of the Race Face would shine through over time and justify the higher price tag, right? You would hope so.
Is One Better Than The Other?
Seth from Berk Peak tried to tackle this question by conducting his own research. He tested the Race Face Chester and Fooker for one year straight, riding with a Fooker on one side and the Chester on the other. In the end, the Fooker performed just as well. When Seth pulled apart the pedal to examine the spindle and bearings and compared, the Fooker let in a little more grit and grime. Seth attributed this to a better-designed seal on the Chester. Overall though, they held up about the same.
Our Thoughts
There is no denying that the Fooker is a solid pedal. You could even say that it’s the exact same as the Chester. Therein lies the problem, at least for me. To blatantly steal a design from a company and undermine them the way that Fooker did, I think is wrong. We have seen Race Face slash prices on the Chester, and they are now going for $39. I think it is safe to say that the competition from Fooker played a big part in this. You won’t see any of my bikes with a pair of Fooker’s. What do you all think?
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