My wife, god bless her, want's nothing but clip-less pedals for Christmas. She does not race and frankly isn't very nimble on the bike. Because of this, I'm looking for the "easiest" solution. I use Shimano SPD's and have no issues with them but my sense from using them is that there is probably an easier method out there in terms of getting in (mostly) and getting out of the pedals.

Similar to your SPD's, Crank Brothers pedals are very good. Very easy to get in and out and zero adjustment needed. Eggbeater design has 4 sides to clip in while their other models have a 2-sided design. Crankbros used to make a road specific pedal called the Quattro but that got discontinued. You can easily find it on ebay and bonktown though.

yeah, i was going to suggest crank brothers pedals. you just kind of aim your foot somewhere near the pedal, and you'll be clipped in before you know it. the only problem with them is that they break, but they have a really good repair/replacement service.

Shimano M520s set on low tension are very easy to get into and out of. That's what I put on my wife's bike. She still unclicks about 3 blocks from any stop but that's just her

Speedplay, period, end of story.....
Good luck-

Listen, If you think it will only be a mistake to go full clipless, get some hybrids. That is what I did as I was unsure that I would like the clipless, I loved them. But the hybrids were a perfect choice as they did not REQUIRE me to wear clipless system shoes. They have the clips on one side and a platform on the other.

I can post pics if you want.

This also allowed me to get used to being clipped in as I could unclip on one side as we were coming to a stop but still pedal using the platform side. I fell ONCE, due to mud and it was nothing.

+1

Go for Light Actions.

crank brothers egg beaters with some mtb shoes. I use this combination (I have shimano mt40 shoes) and they are very easy to get into, easy to get out of and look badass!

Combo platform/clipless pedals just means that they'll be the wrong way up 50% of the time when you start out.

I think double sided SPDs with a cage are a more attractive option:
https://bike.shimano.com/publish/cont..._mountain.html

If you're sticking with clipless shoes all the time though, eggbeaters are pretty easy to get in and out of.

SPD's with the tension slacked right off. Put the worn cleats from your own shoes on hers, and keep the new ones for yourself. She'll have no trouble unclipping then.

+1 speedplay light actions

I probably agree with the other on the crankbrothers too..... it easy to get in and out...

Speedplay Light Action. And then when she becomes a fast road bike rider, its easy to transition to Speedplay Zeros.

Time ATAC mtb pedals are the easiest I have tried. I have them on my mtb and fixie. I would not recommend any single sided pedals.

I got Bontrager "R" https://bontrager.com/model/07891 shoes and Look Keo Easy pedals https://www.amazon.com/Look-Easy-Clip.../dp/B001I2I092 ... they are easy in and out. These are my first clipless set that I've ever had and I've had zero issues. I got them at my LBS and they put the pedals on and let me try them on a trainer... pretty simple.

Oh these are Christmas presents and I don't know about them, except I had to test them out just to make sure they worked... you understand, purely for testing purposes.

Can I assume you are getting her both pedals and shoes? I have recommended a more mountain/fitness/recreation shoe many times, but given this a road biking forum and I'll assume you are taking about road riding; so then I suggest a real road shoe and pedal. They are lighter, cooler (temp cooler), and more efficient for road riding.

So then I would not go with SPD. Its a nice system for the right application, but the tiny cleat on a hard soled shoe on the small pedal leads to rocking on the very small platform and hot spots are more common. Oh wait, my bad, I just reread your post. You use SPD so I would put her on SPD. This way you're dealing with one style cleat in the house. So if a bolt falls out you have spares in the toolbox for both of you. When she says somethings not shifting right, its easy for you to hop on her bike for a spin to see the problem. SPD pedals are so stupidly simple to clip into so into you won't find much else better. There are others that are just as easy in a different way, but SPD is really easy; well as you know. Plus there are so many great priced SPD style shoes and pedals out there. If she has never ridden clipless before, have her ride around the lawn the first time because she will fall over at the first stop. Thats just a normal right of passage.

Or......take the opportunity to get you both on real road shoes and pedals.

Speedplays are a very fine suggestion. My wife and I use LOOK and she's a novice rider but has no problems. I have new Sidi Veta's for her for Xmas.

This is the way to go.

I've used both M520 SPDs and Crank Brothers Eggbeaters, and find the Shimano pedals are significantly easier to unclip. Especially true if you replace the stock cleats with Shimano's SH56 multi-release cleat. Adjustable release tension makes the Shimano SPD pedals especially good for clipless newbies. With the SH56 cleat and reduced tension, a mild yank will cause the pedal to release. As the wearer gets more comfortable with clipless, tension can be increased to prevent accidental release.

+more to crank bros.
Since riding clipless I haven't fallen, and its the fact that they release almost naturally when you start to fall. They have saved me from looking dumb many times.

Even easire the speedplay lights, look at the frogs

This is actually quite brillant I got a pair of new M520s for my wife and she didn't like them. I swapped my old pair for her new ones and she was much more pleased. I hadn't thought of using old cleats. It would have done the same thing. Well done, Sir. Well done.

another vote for the speedplay lite actions. Designed for just this purpose, with the added bonus of non-restricted float.

I've been leaning towards the speedplays even before this thread. I've never used them myself but they seem to offer ease of use as well as solid performance.

I'm not so much concerned about her getting out as I am about her getting in. I'm far less worried about her flopping over at a stop sign than I am slipping off a pedal and racking herself in an intersection where she's at risk of getting run over by an idiot.

Funny this was my problem yesterday. I had a chain come of and had to pull over, but I was a pretty steep hill... getting clipped in turned out to be harder than I thought.

This right here. 100% right. Get her some Light Actions and be done with it.