SQ Lab 6OX Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 Saddle review

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The SQ Lab 6OX Infinergy Ergowave is designed “for long and steep climbs”. Which is more than can be said for our two testers (only joking guys!)

  • Brand: SQ Lab
  • Product: 60X Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 Saddle
  • From: SQ Lab
  • Price: £175.99
  • Tested by: Ross then Benji for 4 months apiece

This very wordy-named item is SQ Lab’s first ever Made in Germany saddle. SQ Labs are very much into doing things a biut differently than others. They throw a whole loads of research and development into their products and aren’t afraid of doing things that break from the norm. SQ Lab offers an amazing amount of options for saddles, with a huge breadth of anatomical knowledge to back this up.

The special thing is that the foam of the saddle, is not yer usual PU foam, but BASF Infinergy (also found in running shoes). This material is claimed to be very robust as well as being more comfy (due its quick rebound nature, essentially).

The “wave-shaped elevation” extends from the rear to the front is designed to reduce the pressure in the perineal area or female pubic arch. For pressure relief on longer climbs off-road, the nose is wide with a flat and as large as possible contact point.

If you’re looking for a new saddle then it would be worth taking a look at their range, but with something so personal as saddles it would be advisable to give it a try first somehow.

Even though the saddle tested is the smallest of the sizes, it is still quite big, with a wide back and broad nose. That width can be felt a bit when you’ve got the saddle dropped for descending and it’s noticeable in between your thighs. While there is a significant depression in the middle of the foam, and a stepped profile, once sat down it still feels flat side-to-side, without the feeling of any real ‘sat on a rolling pin syndrome’ contours.

The saddle comes with the medium elastomer pre-fitted, and we decided to keep this one on to give us a baseline to compare to and be able to go firmer or softer if needed.

We initially installed the saddle fairly central on the rails and pretty flat but in this position we struggled to find a sweet spot for pedalling like this. We slid it a bit further (5-7mm’ish) forward and also dropped the nose slightly, and this gave us a much more comfortable position for sitting and spinning away.

Despite the fairly thick padding across the back of the saddle it’s pretty firm. After getting the general saddle position right we carried on using the medium elastomer for a couple of weeks, hoping to ‘adjust’ to it, but we still found it overly firm. We then dropped down to the softest elastomer to try and get a bit of extra comfort.

Swapping these over was straightforward and literally takes a minute or two. Pull the old one out, push the new one into position. Simple. Swapping the elastomer over isn’t going to change the feel of the actual saddle padding or shape, but there is a definite difference.

The softer elastomer added a bit more comfort, allowing the saddle to move slightly more when pedalling. But still, we’ve just not been able to get to the ‘favourite-pair-of-slippers’ comfort that you get when you really gel with a saddle. 

Durability

Build quality on the 6OX Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 saddle is impressive and after eight months use it’s not showing any particularly undue signs of wear. It’s been ridden in some pretty ropey conditions, taken the brunt of the bike being turned upside down and been crashed a few times. The material is good at shrugging off water rather than soaking through and our only wet weather issue is that the central depression can hold mud and water.

Overall

Saddles are probably the most personal component on a bike, and what works for one person, and on paper works for you, won’t always work out in the real world. (You should read our best mountain bike saddles guide to see what we lot like.)

Ross has always preferred slightly more minimalist and firm-ish saddles but unfortunately with the SQ Lab 6OX Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 he never managed to find the sweet spot. 

Benji is typically better served by flatter saddles and thus did find this SQ Lab saddle okay comfort-wise. As with Ross, despite the elastomery insert, it is very much a firm saddle as opposed to a sofa and Benji did find it a bit too firm for him. He did also find it not exactly ‘difficult’ but more… distracting to try to stay seated in the rear stepped-up area; he kept finding himself frequently more in the middle of the saddle.

Saddles though eh? Personal. Very personal. The SQ Labs is clearly very well made and designed with the best of intentions and research etc. It could well be the saddle that your rear has been looking for.

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Review Info

Brand: SQ Lab
Product: 60X Infinergy 2.1 Saddle
From: SQ Lab
Price: £175.99
Tested: by Ross then Benji for 4 months apiece

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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Home Forums SQ Lab 6OX Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 Saddle review

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • SQ Lab 6OX Infinergy Ergowave Active 2.1 Saddle review
  • hardtailonly
    Full Member

    Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a £175 saddle. Don’t think I’ll take a punt!

    mtbfix
    Full Member

    Whilst I’m sure the saddles are great, if be hard pressed to step away from Bontrager for a lot of fit crucial components these days. The 30 day guarantee is a no brainer.

    Pyro
    Full Member

    I’ve got one on my Enigma that I picked up second hand on ebay for about half the RRP. Took a bit of shoogling to get right, but did me well for RttS last year with no issues or major sores, despite only being about my third ride out on it. I use WTB Volts or Ergon SM Pro saddles otherwise.

    monkeyboyjc
    Full Member

    I’ve always wanted to try an SQLabs saddle (and there swoopy carbon bars) but the cost of trying expensive saddles like this, for the potential pain and suffering it could provide has always put me off.

    When you find a saddle that works you tend to stick to it so the idea of spending £170 upgrading becomes more painful than the current seat.

    fatbikeandcoffee
    Free Member

    I’ve got a couple of the older 611 model, but certainly wouldn’t pay RRP, and find them ace, but then every one has a different backside 🙂

     

    Mat
    Full Member

    I’ve been running various itterations of SQ Lab saddles since someone took me aside and measured my bum at a tbc night in Edinburgh. I find the platform/cut-away great for looking after my hydraulics so to speak. I switched to a WTB volt for a bit one summer and started getting worrying aches that seemed to go once I switched back.

    barney
    Free Member

    I like SQlabs saddles, form-wise, a lot, having had a number of – uh – downstairs issues in the past.  Although being over 100kg I have eventually managed to bend the rails on two, which is infuriating, as there’s no way to repair them. Also, the prices shooting up recently (can’t think why) really doesn’t help matters.

    GoatKarma
    Free Member

    For existing SQ users – any tips on getting the position correct?   I do a fair lot of ultra-distance riding, and usually start to get sore bruised cheeks after 15+ hours in the saddle. After trying unsuccessfully a few of the Specialized 3d printed saddles, a friend recommended an SQ Lab saddle but struggled on a couple of rides with comfort and position, causing issues elsewhere with pressure/rubbing etc.  Into winter now, so bit harder to do long testing when it takes >8hrs for symptoms to start too!

    barney
    Free Member

    GoatKarma – I don’t think I’ve ever found a saddle that didn’t bruise my arse after 15+ hours (thanks to a very brief foray into 24 hour racing 20 years ago)!  Might your chamois/chamois cream application also be a factor?

    1
    GoatKarma
    Free Member

    Cheers Barney – yeah I’m starting to think maybe SQLabs saddles are better at sorting perineum issues that I’ve never had a problem with.   Have experimented with a few different chamois and creams, but you are probably right – it’s just time in saddle leads to bruising, especially as you get more tired leading to less power outputted causing your legs take less of the weight so you aren’t “hovering” as much above the saddle any more.

    Del
    Full Member

    would be curious to know the tester’s thoughts WRT to the SDG bel air or the alleged forum favorite charge spoon?

    dyna-ti
    Full Member

    would be curious to know the tester’s thoughts WRT to the SDG bel air or the alleged forum favorite charge spoon?

    They arent expensive enough to be the bestest saddley saddle ever. Turn you into a riding god where you’ll be able to climb mountains without so much as even the slightest effort.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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