Power Meter Brands

4iiii Innovations makes crank arm-based power meters for the road and MTB. Their 1st generation left side crank arm is the PRECISION. While the PRECISION remains very popular, they are currently rolling out their 2nd generation crank arm called the Podium. They also offer the Podium in a dual-sided crankset.

Price

• PRECISION and Podium: $399-$599
• Podium Dual-Sided: $999-$1,299

Highlights

• One of the most affordable direct force power meters (PRECISION and Podium)
• Lightest power meter (added weight)
• Easy to install (PRECISION and Podium)

Key Features

PRECISION
• Road and MTB
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Podium
• Road
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Podium Dual-Sided
• Road
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Easton and Race Face offer the CINCH Power Meter Spindle. Paired with Easton’s EC90 SL road or Race Face’s Next SL MTB cranksets, the CINCH replaces the OEM spindle (axle) and measures left-side power. This replaceable spindle system allows users of Easton or Race Face cranksets to easily and affordably add power to their bikes.

Price

• Power meter spindle only: $599
• Power meter spindle + Easton EC90 SL crank arms: $949
• Complete crankset with power meter spindle: $1,067

Highlights

• Highly adaptable as the cranksets fit road, CX, gravel and MTB bikes
• The CINCH is safely located in your frame, free from impact, rocks and weather
• Options start at $599 (CINCH only)

Key Features

• Road, CX, Gravel, MTB
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: Lithium-ion battery
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Favero is on the second version of its power meter pedal and it’s called the Assioma. They offer the Assioma DUO which measures left and right leg power, as well as the Assioma UNO which measures left leg power only. The Favero Assioma is the most affordable power meter pedal available.

Price

• Assioma DUO: $799
• Assioma UNO: $519

Highlights

• The most affordable power meter pedals
• Very easy to install
• Independent left/right power (DUO)

Key Features

DUO
• Road
• Installation: Very easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

UNO
• Road
• Installation: Very easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

In 2017 FSA released their PowerBox Crankset Power Meter. It uses Power2Max’s proven spider design and comes with FSA chainrings and crank arms. It comes in both alloy and carbon versions. At $649, the alloy version is the most affordable crankset-based power meter on the market.

Price

• PowerBox Road Alloy and Carbon: $649 (alloy) and $1,190 (carbon)
• PowerBox MTB Carbon: $1,150

Highlights

• The most affordable crank-based power meter (Road Alloy)
• Uses Power2Max’s proven spider design (accurate and reliable)
• Full of features (Auto Zero, user friendly battery, L/R power, BLE, etc.)

Key Features

• Road and MTB
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: CR2450
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes (with system upgrade)
• ANT+ (Bluetooth SMART with system upgrade)

Garmin is on the third version of its power meter pedal, the Garmin Vector 3. They offer the Vector 3 which measures left and right leg power, as well as the Vector 3S which measures left leg power only. While the previous versions were met with mixed reviews (largely due to the pedal pods and torque requirements), the Vector 3 and 3S have received high marks for their easy to use design and slim form.

Price

• Vector 3: $999
• Vector 3S: $599

Highlights

• Easy installation allows the Vector 3 to be installed just like a normal pedal
• Slim pedal design resembles a traditional pedal in look, size and shape
• Independent left/right power (Vector 3)

Key Features

Vector 3
• Road
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: LR44/SR44
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Vector 3S
• Road
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: LR44/SR44
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Created in partnership with SRM, the EXAKT pedal-based power meter is built on a LOOK carbon pedal body and benefits from SRM’s deep experience in building power meters. Available in dual- and single-sided versions, the EXAKT offers all the features you would expect in a modern-day power meter including dual-sided power, easy installation, Bluetooth SMART and a rechargeable battery.

Price

• EXAKT Dual: $1,699
• EXAKT Single: $899

Highlights

• Dual-sided power (EXAKT Dual)
• Easy to install (left-side crank arms)
• Rechargeable battery with 100 battery life

Key Features

EXAKT Dual
• Road
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

EXAKT Single
• Road
• Installation: Very easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Pioneer makes a crank arm-based power meter. Like some other manufacturers, they locate their power sensor on the inside of the crank arm and make both single and dual-sided systems for the road. Pioneer is known for its 12-point force measurement and HDPower Metrics, an in-depth pedaling metrics analysis.

Price

• Left-side crank arms: $559-$629
• Dual-sided cranksets: $999-$1,299

Highlights

• 12-point force measurement and HDPower Metrics
• Lightweight at only 22 grams of added weight (left-side crank arms)
• Easy to install (left-side crank arms)
• Single and dual-sided systems available

Key Features

Left-side Crank Arms
• Road
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Dual-Sided Cranksets
• Road
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PowerTap is the only power meter brand to offer three different power meter types. They offer a pedal-based power meter (the P2), a hub-based power meter (G3) and a chainring-based power meter (C1). PowerTap has been making power meters for close to 15 years and remains one of the most sought-after brands.

Price

• P2: $899
• G3: $399-$599
• C1: $699

Highlights

PowerTap P2
• Very easy to install
• Independent left/right power
• Q-ring compatible and no rider weight limit

PowerTap G3
• The only hub-based power meter available
• Affordable with models starting at $399
• Quick installation if you buy a completed wheelset

PowerTap C1
• The only chainring-based power meter available
• Estimated L/R power measurement
• Relatively easy installation

Key Features

PowerTap P2
• Road
• Installation: Very easy
• Battery: AAA
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PowerTap G3
• Road, MTB, CX, Track
• Installation: Very easy (if you buy a completed wheelset)
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PowerTap C1
• Road
• Installation: Medium
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes (estimated)
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

ROTOR offers a variety of bottom bracket-based power meters for the road and MTB. Their power meter is essentially a crankset (arms, spindle and spider – rings sold separately), however they locate the power sensor and electronics in the axle of the crank (hence the term “bottom bracket-based power meter”. They offer the dual-sided 2INpower as well as the single-sided INpower.

Price

• 2INpower DM: $1,300-$1,400
• INpower DM: $779

Highlights

• Independent left/right power (2INpower DM)
• Optimized for Q-rings
• High level of compatibility with ROTOR’s universal bottom bracket

Key Features

2INpower DM
• Road and MTB
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

INpower DM
• Road and MTB
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: AA
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

SRM has been producing power meters since the late 80’s and many consider them the gold standard of power measurement. They offer crankset-based power meters (with or without chainrings) with power measured at the spider. Their newest power meter is the Origin, which uses a LOOK carbon crank arm for superior stiffness and low weight.

Price

• $1,399-$2,499

Highlights

• High levels of accuracy (+/- 1.0%)
• The new Origin is super light, accurate and looks great
• Longest battery life of any power meter

Key Features

• Road, MTB, CX, Track
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: Proprietary or rechargeable (Origin)
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: No
• ANT+

Stages Cycling was the first power meter brand to produce a left side crank arm-based power meter. They are now on their third generation of power meters and make left side only, right side only, as well as complete cranksets. Stages makes power meters that are compatible with Shimano, Campagnolo, FSA, Cannondale, SRAM and Race Face.

Price

• Left-side crank arms: $474-$949
• Right-side crank arms: $649-$749
• Complete cranksets: $999-$1,299

Highlights

• Compatible across a wide range of cranksets
• Affordable with units starting at $529
• Easy to install (left-side crank arms)
• Offer both single and dual-sided power measurement

Key Features

Left-side Crank Arms
• Road, MTB, CX, Track
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Right-side Crank Arms
• Road
• Installation: Medium
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Right leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Complete Cranksets
• Road
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: CR2032
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Velocomp, manufacturer of the AeroPod and PowerPod, takes a different approach than other power meter brands. These power meters measure power by calculating the forces that oppose the rider – wind, gradient, acceleration and friction. This is called opposing force technology. While this type of power meter isn’t for everyone, it does offer a number of unique benefits.

Price

• AeroPod: $499
• PowerPod: $199-$373 (depends on features)

Highlights

• Affordable with models starting at $199
• The only device that can measure power and aerodynamic drag (AeroPod)
• Compatible with any bike and easily transferable

Key Features

• Road, MTB, CX, Track
• Installation: Easy
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: No*
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART (ANT+ only and ANT+/BLE versions available)

*The AeroPod and PowerPod don’t display real-time L/R data, however using Velocomp’s Isaac software, you can analyze your pedal stroke in detail on a post-ride basis.

Verve Cycling manufactures the InfoCrank, a complete crankset. The InfoCrank is considered one of the most accurate and consistent power meters. The InfoCrank places its strain gauges within the crank arm – the only one to do this. The InfoCrank has been certified +/- 0.5% accurate, all the way up to 3,000 watts.

Price

• $1,399-$1,641

Highlights

• High levels of accuracy (accurate to within +/- 0.5%)
• Independent left/right power
• No need to zero-offset (calibrate)

Key Features

• Road and Track
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: SR44
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+

WATTEAM sells the POWERBEAT, the first user-installed power meter. The POWERBEAT Dual attaches to the left and right crank arms and measures total power. The Single is a left side power meter attaching only to the left crank arm. The POWERBEAT is the most affordable, direct force power meter on the market.

Price

• Single: $259
• Dual: $399

Highlights

• Most affordable direct force power meter
• Independent left/right power (Dual)
• Very light (35 grams of added weight per side)

Key Features

Single
• Road and CX
• Installation: More involved (45 min. estimated)
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Left leg
• L/R power: No
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Dual
• Road and CX
• Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
• Battery: Rechargeable
• Power measurement: Both legs
• L/R power: Yes
• ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART