Kool Stop V Type Pads - Inserts Only

The Brake Pad

Kool Stop salmon pads are the best pads for riding. I think they hold up fairly well, do better than most in wet conditions, etc. They are reasonably priced as well.

Pros: Work great, good price.

Cons: None.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: January 07, 2013
Reviewed by: Paul S., PDX

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I've been running the black compound on Canti-breaks and V-breaks and have been pleased with durablity and performance.

Pros: New set of brake pads equals huge improvement in performance at minimum price.

Reviewed on: October 31, 2012
Reviewed by: Jon F., Harrisburg, Pa.

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My favorite pad

These pads are economically priced, perform well, and are easy to install. They wear fairly quickly (black compound), but are easy on the rims. I usually go through 2-3 pairs a year.

Pros: Price
Performance
Easy to install

Cons: Wear qickly

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 14, 2012
Reviewed by: Ron C., Oregon

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Very reliable and responsive. Been using on my cross bike and no squealing yet. Make sure to install the pins or they'll fall out and then they really won't work

Pros: Cheap, does the job

Cons: None

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: October 07, 2012
Reviewed by: sassy

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Kool Stop Salmon pads

Great for CX. Very nice stopping power, offers modulation, too. Improved performance over black pads. Long pads improve power.

Pros: stopping power

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 21, 2012
Reviewed by: Mike S., California

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The most rim friendly pad

I used these pads on my cross country tour and never had any issues. I rode through many types of conditions and was loaded heavy. I use Kool stop pads on all my bikes. They are the most rim friendly and work very well.

Pros: Inexpensive, very rim friendly, stop well, even in wet

Cons: Not as solid a feel as harder pads

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: April 20, 2012
Reviewed by: Brian K., Oregon

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I get a warm all over feeling knowing I am going to be able to stop at the bottom of a steep hill on a rainy day. It is all I have used for many years.

Pros: You stop!

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: March 30, 2012
Reviewed by: Robert E., Oregon

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Approved

There's only so much you can do for canti brakes and these pads are easily the best. Made in Lake O so essentially a local brand for Oregonians. The black pads work a hell of a lot better and give minimal shutter and squeal. That said, I still know I have canti brakes.

Pros: Good power wet
Great power dry

Cons: Cantis are still cantis

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 15, 2012
Reviewed by: Eddie, Portland, OR

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High quality pads gentle on wet rims

These are high quality pads the give great performance while being relatively gentle on wet aluminum rims.

Pros: Cause less wear on wet rims

Cons: I haven't noticed, but they are not supposed to brake as strongly as the regular black compound.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: November 04, 2011
Reviewed by: Kole K., Washington

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Kool stop makes the best break pads in the buisness, hands down.

I alternate between the salmon during cross season and the black all other times. They offer excellent braking, great modulation, minimize fork chatter on lightweight cross forks and don't pick up as many aluminum rim flakes as some extending your rim life.

The salmon offer the best braking and are ideal for wet weather and cyclocross, but wear out fast and won't last for everyday use.

Pros: -Great braking dry or wet
-Excellent Modulation
-Convienient
-Always keep a few spare sets lying around so you can replace them as you need

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 27, 2011
Reviewed by: Rex L., Oregon

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Kool Stop Pads are great

I've moved to using cartridges and these inserts rather than replacing the whole pad... which works great and is easier. The Kool Stop pads are top notch, but I think the salmon pads are a bit squishy. I've moved over to the black's and won't look back.

Pros: Great pads all around.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 01, 2011
Reviewed by: johnny b., Oregon

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These should be standard equipment

I'm using the salmon pads front and rear with cantilever brakes and Mavic A719 rims that have the milled side walls.

Braking is absolutely smooth and silent in the dry weather. In the wet, braking is very confident. Throw the stock pads away.

The pads are straight but are flexible and fit into curved brake shoes.

I have also installed these pads on a hybrid with a carbon fork and there was a bit of squealing which I eliminated by changing to the mixed compound (black/salmon).

The salmon is 85 shore hardness and the black is slightly harder with an 86 reading. The general consensus is that the black is longer wearing but the salmon works better in the wet and mud.

Some feel the dual compound is a good mix for year round riding but I would go with straight salmon as they will be gentle on your expensive rims.

Pros: quiet
gentle on rims

Cons: you may need the mixed compound with some forks
locking pins not as good as Shimano

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: August 05, 2011
Reviewed by: Richard, Washington

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I got the greens for their great performance on ceramic rims. They work perfectly and last pretty long too. Definitely choose these over Salmons if you're one of the few who still ride on ceramic rims.

Pros: Great price. It's nice they still think of us.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: March 10, 2011
Reviewed by: Dominique p., New York

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I ride in city conditions, lots of braking.
These inserts will hold 3 times more then XT/XTR pads.
Brake feel is on the spongy side, so brake lever movement should be larger then needed on an XT/XTR, but on the end of the lever movement they stop strong, So that's a good modulation just needed more leverage.
At the tail of the pad there's an offset of rubber that goes towards the rim, to remove mud or water even if brake is not applied. That's good thinking, but requires straight rims and even more leverage so the pads tips won't touch the rims too much.
If the tips cause much trouble they can be straightend-out with a knife.


Reviewed on: February 22, 2011
Reviewed by: Noam L., New Jersey

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Salmon pads are the absolute best for wet and/or dry conditions. Here in the NW is great to have a single set of pads that are equally good in either conditions. Also work well on ceramic rims as well as aluminum (opposed to green ceramic pads which will eat your Al rims for lunch)

Pros: Great in wet and dry braking, last significantly longer than dry conditions pads without chewing up your rims

Cons: None

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: February 15, 2011
Reviewed by: David B., Oregon

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Only V Brake pads I will use

Bought these to replace stock Avid pads. Only ones I will use again for V brakes. Easy to install, and cut down on the noise from pad/rim interface. Work well when new, but when you hear the screeching, it's time to swap them out. Don't seem to last as long as I would like, but work very well until they wear out, then they can go from incredible stopping power to nothing fast.

Pros: Silent, easy to set up, multiple options for different riding conditions.

Cons: wear fast, screech loud when worn.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: January 18, 2011
Reviewed by: Mark K., Texas

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I have used these for many years. The best, no real competition to these. Less rim wear and less squeal vs stock Shimanor rim pads. They do wear quickly but then again that's way preferable to rim wear.

Pros: No squealing.
Consistent product year after year.

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: December 15, 2010
Reviewed by: Joe, California

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Overrated -- the salmon pads just don't feel that great in the rain, oddly. I use black pads, and they just work a little better. Not sure why these are sold as the awesome wet-weather solution.

Would Buy Again: No
Would Recommend: No

Reviewed on: September 30, 2010
Reviewed by: Jeff O., Oregon

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these are highly durable and great engaging pads! i also appreciate the fact that i can replace the inserts and not throw away,(try to recycle/reuse) whole brake pads!

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 29, 2010
Reviewed by: bobbyk, portland, or

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best v-brake pad I've tried

Best v-brake pad I've ever used. My stock pads tended to grab rocks and grind them into the rim as well as other general performance problems. These had no such problems and were great for all-around use

Pros: great power
cleared debris instead of grinding it into rims
performed ok in wet despite not being the better all weather salmon pad

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 15, 2010
Reviewed by: Nate, California

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Great pads

Love Kool Stop pads. These worked great for me. Salmon color compound is the bomb.

Pros: Work well, less squeals, doesn't embed metal as much as others.

Cons: Could last longer

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 02, 2010
Reviewed by: Erik V., Oregon

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Only option if you have ceramic rims and are advised to use ceramic pads

Had to get the ceramic pads because my new wheelset were ceramic coated and said I had to use ceramic specific brake pads. They stop very well. And yes I still use v-brakes.

Pros: specifically for ceramic rims

Cons: none

Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes

Reviewed on: September 01, 2010
Reviewed by: ooklathemok, Illinois

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