Have used Crank bros for years for mountain and road. However over the years I've broken just about everything they've made. Usually just a spring here, a blade there, but the final straw was after a couple axle breaks. I finally I switched to time atac earlier this summer. Am extremely pleased so far. Expensive but worth it. BTW, I use them with Sidi bulets, lakes, and in the winter some Lake winter boots (awesome). I ride year round, typically putting on 7-10k miles. Am extremely fond of winter touring right now. Love the adversity, beauty and quietness of winter touring.

That said I've been looking very closely at something called Power Grips. THey're a very simple and elegant form of pedal strap. What draws me to them is the fact that I can use any shoe including winter boots, they look very efficient, solid and easy to step into and most importantly that they can work with any standard pedal that can accomidate tow straps so even if I break a pedal I can pick up another platform pedal anywhere and put the power straps on. Sure beats buying a whole new set of clipless pedals when out on tour and mailing the broken ones home or to the manufacturer. Ohh... and again... having comfortable shoes off the bike. A friend of mine did the great divide route with a pair earlier this summer. It's what originally got me thinking about them. That I'm thinking about doing a winter ride of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Natchez Trace. There will be some efficiency loss, extra weight, just plain slower in using a gortex winter hiking boot on such a ride, but it may well be worth it for the comfort.