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About Us
Kool-Stop International was started back in 1977, in Oregon USA. After creating the bicycle brake pad that had an internal frame and an air cooled heat sink, the small garage based company started to build a name for itself. The growth of the Kool-Stop name has carved for quality brake pads in all areas of the cycling industry.
tracy bucksbee
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2025
I would recommend these brake pads for anyone looking for more stopping power from rim brakes. I use these on my road bike and mountain bike on the rear, rain or shine and they always stop. They always stop great, never overheat, and never squeak (in my experience). The better for surface area would be the CoolStop salmon and black MTB pads (I run these on the front for better modulation going downhill). Install these according to their instructions on the packaging and you will be golden.
Cutstomer
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2024
Put these on and at first loved them. But soon began to squeal. I don't mean squeak squeak I mean closer to a small animal caught in a trap. I had them set parallel to the rim as they tell you to... so I tried cleaning the rims real well and cleaned the pads even though they did not have much use yet. One wheel got better but the other was still pretty bad. So... I toed them in a bit and now they are fine.No complaints, good feel, and good stopping power. (I don't ride in the rain so can't comment on wet stopping power)
Richard Wagoner
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2023
I needed new pads for an older bike that used this style ... these stop as good as the originals did when new, and were easy to install. For whatever reason, these are getting harder to find as disc brakes get more popular, I guess. But they work good and are a great price.
Big Dollar Steve
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2022
These replaced my fossilized rubber brakes on my 50 year old ten speed. The rear ones went on great, but due to the extra length of these pads I needed to move the front caliber further from the fork. After some washers to move the front brakes, I’m confident I will stop reasonably quick
MW
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
I haven't been able to adjust these to prevent loud squealing when I brake. It is a nuisance that one needs tiny pliers rather than an Allen wrench to tighten these.
Yolk
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2016
I haven't tried Kool Stop brakes until I bought and installed these. I'll be comparing them with XLCs' cantilever brake pads (1/2 the price for 2 pairs)It is as advertised. I ordered 2 pairs.They were easy to install, instructions were good.If you get the toe angle and plane adjustment right, then you will get really good power out of these. I installed them shortly prior to me writing this review. They haven't broken in yet, but after going back and forth in the driveway, I can immediately notice the stopping power is strong as hell. Like a good V-Brake strong.Honestly, they're way stronger than the XLCs. Sorry XLC, I think I'll be switching over to Kool Stop.I haven't taken the bike out to the trails with these pads yet, so I'll break them in and come back with an update soon. So far, 5 stars until a problem arises.
Roast Pork
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2015
I've been nearly rear-ending cars. I've gone down hills on which I can't get the bike to stop picking up speed with both brake levers squeezed down against the handlebar (and the brakes adjusted as close to the rim as they can be without rubbing). The local bike law says the brakes must be capable of skidding one tire on dry pavement. Ha!. Just from that, I knew the factory V-brakes on my Specialized Rockhopper were never good. Well, the frame and fork have disc mounts (but the hubs don't), and I was weighing the options of spending $400 on new wheels and new disc brake parts or selling the bike and buying a disc-equipped bike. The brakes were that bad.I put these on yesterday. Yes. Now I can skid to a stop and slide it sideways if I want to. I don't want to, but if I did, I could do it with one finger on the lever. Likewise, I could launch myself over the handlebars with the front brake if I wanted to. Don't know exactly why I'd want to do that, but it's nice to know the capability is there.Simply awesome. I guess people who know wouldn't be as surprised as I was how much of a difference good brake pads can make.
Z. Mensinger
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2011
Just installed last week, so they're still getting broken in, but so far, the pads are quiet, grippy (only installed a pair on my rear brakes so far), and smooooooth. Definitely a huge improvement over the (potentially original) old Dia-compe pads on my cantis. Look a lot nicer too! Made sure to thoroughly clean off the rim before using the new ones, as advised by other reviewers and the product packaging.To follow up after additional use. They can squeal sometimes, if you have to brake for an extended time like on a steep downhill. And when they do, they squeal REAL loudly. Pedestrians definitely know you're coming. For now I just have a pair on my rear brakes, so it's not a big deal as they don't get used much, but I could see it potentially being annoying if I had them on the front. But I haven't tried anything to make them quit squealing either, since it's pretty infrequent.Second follow-up: after about a month or less, the squealing that had developed went away again. Once in a great while I'll hear a chirp or two, but otherwise, nice solid brake pads that stop well and are nice and quiet.
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