Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Are plastic toe clips really that bad?

Thoughts?

Some people seem to prefer them as they are wider and, apparently, less apt to snapping.

I use them on my commuter. No problems whatsoever.

i like mine, the only thing i am noticing is that at the top where the strap goes through is wearing down from dragging on the ground...meh

yeah i snapped 3 pairs of alloy tow clips in a few months from riding around where i live (from going on and off curbs due to bad drivers and bad roads) and now i just use plastic ones and haven't snapped one yet although alloy ones are much more comfortable

Steel or plastic work. Aluminum just ain't tough enough.

My plastic ones were more comfy than my steel ones, but the plastic ones broke @ the screw holes, something that metal would never do.
Why doesn't anybody make wide metal ones?

My clips must have been smashed down for a while, because they open side seems to rest very close to the pedal (if that makes sense.. think of it as "closed"). That made it entirely too difficult to get my feet in while moving :( I have steel clips that hold their shape now, and it's exponentially easier to get my foot in

My plastic ones were more comfy than my steel ones, but the plastic ones broke @ the screw holes, something that metal would never do.
Why doesn't anybody make wide metal ones?

Soma does.

they're ugly but they're really good

they're ugly but they're really good
Reminds me of the movie 'Crazy People' and their Volvo commercial slogan, "Volvo, They're Boxy, But They're Good."

i rode plastic clips for 2 years and loved them. and they're cheap!

This is not a problem for me... I use PowerGrips.

*GD&R*

my powergrips broke:(

Overpowered 'em????

Overpowered 'em????

lulls

they're ugly but they're really good

yeah, so are.............never mind:D

I've seen some plastic ones that stay open and hold their shape, which I imagine would be fine, but my stock plastic ones were super floppy and would never stay open, so it was a b*tch to get my foot into when I rode fixed. Switched to steel MKS and have to say its way better.

Soma does.

Hey, they look nice, I'll have to get me some:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/oppy_xx_4loop.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/steeldouble_toeclip_oppyx.jpg

steel is real

i switched from plastic, to steel, but also at the same time i put on spd's on a road bike.

i think plastic is better for cost... steel isn't nice enough of an upgrade to be worth the extra seven bucks.

plastic good

No problems with mine

I spend too much time looking down at strap systems and ignore the road. It can take a lot of time to get your feet into the things . Power grips are a little less awkard. It takes so long fumbling about and ignoring the road, i'd thought I'd crash. It clipless for me. I never have to take a glance, its like automatic.

I got to be fairly automatic in grabbing that little V shaped bit on the pedal and rolling it back, sliding my foot in and nestling it side to side in my clips/straps just the same... To each their own :)

I personally prefer steel. I broke a set of plastics awhile back and I have not yet broken steel, though those are just my anecdotes. I find steel a bit easier to get into as well, though the narrow steel clips aren't as comfy for me.

So, no, plastic isn't bad, but different people prefer different things.

I would have to say look out for the cheaper plastic toe clips. The more poorly designed ones can sometimes catch your shoe laces which has the same affect of not knowing how to unhook from clips, leading you to face plant into a shop window and ultimately laying on the ground, your bike on top of you with an entire store looking at you and your big scuff mark on your nose and forhead, much like a rug burn, that takes about two weeks to heal... ****ing hate plastic clips.

That and I think they don't look as stylish, but if we all followed that train of thought we would have a bunch of people riding around the streets a high speeds not wearing any type of head protection and that would just be crazy.