The X-Venture+ is the upgraded sibling to LOOK's standard X-Venture, and the plus designation marks where the meaningful changes are: a Chromoly+ axle running on dual ball bearings paired with a plain bearing, an aluminum body in place of the composite found on the base model, and aluminum pins on the flat face rather than the molded pins of the standard X-Venture. The premise is the same one the X-Venture line was built around — clipless on one side, flat platform on the other — but the + version is the one to reach for if you want the cleaner internals, the alloy chassis, and the longer service life that comes with them.

One side clips in. The other doesn't ask you to. For gravel riders and bikepackers who split time between long clipped-in efforts and sections where you'd rather plant a boot flat, the X-Venture+ covers both without committing to a dedicated platform or swapping pedals mid-ride. The aluminum body handles rock strikes and trail debris with more authority than a composite chassis, and the aluminum pins on the flat face bite into the sole of a trail shoe or hiking boot rather than letting your foot creep under load. The 77mm support surface keeps the profile compact enough to clear rocks and roots on technical sections, while still giving your foot enough contact area to feel planted whether you're clipped in for a sustained climb or sitting flat through a hike-a-bike section.

The X-Venture+ ships with X-Easy cleats, which use the standard two-bolt mounting pattern that fits the same gravel and mountain shoes as Shimano SPD. X-Easy cleats allow exit in multiple directions rather than only laterally, which reduces the precision required when you're tired or coming out at an awkward angle on loose terrain. Float runs 6° and the release angle sits at 13°, giving your knee room to track naturally through the stroke before the cleat hits the release threshold. Retention is adjustable across a 5-10 range, wide enough to cover a light touch for quick exits and a firmer hold for terrain where accidental release isn't an option. SPD cleats work here too if you're already running them on a pair of gravel shoes.... Read More