[Closed] Suggestions needed, best all day xc saddle wanted...

Gobi would get my vote; didn't like it at first but once I got the angle sorted it's the most comfortable saddle I've ever had.

Charge Spoon

SDG bel air has been the best i've tried.Even have it on my road bike.

Tried everything from speed v ( to short) to my current crop of carbon flite tt and specialised body thingy. SDG everytime though

fizik gobi for me too, tried loads for enduros and multi day epics always comes back to a gobi. I've even got one on my weight weenie bike and it's 250g which is such a compromise but a comfy bottom wins over total weight!

I tried gobi and didn't like the craddle type, I like much flatter saddles and ended up with Ritchey Wcs streem. Superbly comfy for me.

WTB Rocket has always suited me, but a friend has got a Charge Spoon and reckons it's the best saddle he's had.

Like Blazin-Saddles I don't get on with 'cradle' shaped saddles, I like the Spesh Phenom SL, did a 12hr solo on it with no discomfort at all.

So that's about 8 recommendations from as many posts, saddles are personal and all that...

It's a personal thing and it's difficult to know just by sitting on a saddle on a shop bike for a minute; so i recommend you properly test ride saddles if at all possible. However, I swear by Fizik Gobis and SDG Bel Airs - like much of the people above (so there must be something universally good about these perches :-)).

It really is personal taste and in my case budget too... £20 of charge spoon has to be worth a try, and its definately in the sit ON rather than IN variety,I had been happy with WTB & SDG untill I tried the Spoon but they were definately in the cradle variety as mentioned, I am now converted.

Phenom SL

Fizik all day for me, tried a few other makes but they just made my willy go numb 😯

Use to ride a gobi for xc but recently switched to an arione so I now ride arione's on both my road and xc bikes. 8)

You need to try a few if possible as the shape of your ass really decides what type of saddle would work best for you, thanks IMHO anyway.

I just sold a Charge Spoon because I couldn't get on with it. try to find a mate with one to borrow before you lay out your cash!!

Another vote for the SDG bel air. Way better than the spesh BG saddles I have on my other bikes.

Selle SLR here

I was happy with my WTB Rocket V but then went on a search for a saddle with more padding in the nose for steep climbs.

The Phenom SL was great but had some very alarming sharp plastic bits at the back which didn't inspire confidence when descending.

I found the Charge Spoon very comfy but underpadded on the nose for my liking.

The Prologo Vertigo Max had too much of a cradle shape (see above comments) for my liking which meant it was only comfy in one position and one position only.

Have eventually settled for the WTB Pure V. I got an OEM one on my Marin which is very soft, but more importantly has some decent padding on the nose. I got an aftermarket one for my other hardtail which was firmer and lighter (and looked smarter) and has been ideal for messing around through to marathon racing.

Selle SLR is my choice after using a Gobi for a couple of years.

I like less padding and a flatter saddle,speed needles are also very comfy ( if you can find one )

I bought an SDG Bel Air after only ever seeing postive reviews

I didn't get on with it. Too narrow and pointy. I think its a little better at dealing with stood descending though (its slightly more out the way for thigh rub), currently on my 'play bike'

I get on with Specialized saddles way better (after having my sit bones measured with the memory foam
The format (designed to be easier to move behind), is a bit easier to move around, but is a bit too hard and small (they've removed the back comfy part of the saddle) for all day rides really

WTB Speed V is too big

Fizik Gobi here.

I have a fizik gobi on one bike, amazingly comfortable, but the flexy bit at the back has started to break away after less than a year, still comfy but now ugly. Got an SDG bel air on the other bike, very comfy, to early to tell on the lifetime tho..

WTB SST reissue. Just as good as it always was, before they started playing with it.

Flite ti on all my bikes.
Good for those with big legs.

Spooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon

wtb rocket V are most agreeable

tried a spoon which was similar shape wise (ish) but less padded so got another rocket for my other bike too

I have an On-One Inbred saddle and found it pretty comfy until November, when I was climbing in Spain and got completely numb tickle tackle 😯

However, when I dig the bike out again I think I'll try a spoon

My absolute favourite saddle is the SDG Bel Air, I'd really recommend them. I also swear that the ti. railed version is comfier than its steel counterpart. On-One and Merlin used to have very good deals on OEM Bel Air, I'm not sure if they still do.

However, when I dig the bike out again I think I'll try a spoon

I like my bike, but not that much.

Just got a ritchey marathon saddle very comfy in a racing style

Another vote for Spesh saddles - though you really need to make sure they're set up right - several mates have tried them and found them uncomfortable until I pointed out that they weren't actually sat on the right bit of the saddle - eg their sit bones weren't on the bit of the saddle designed for that purpose - typically they had to adjust the saddle approx 1-2cm further forward than they thought they should be when compared to their previous saddle.

The Phenom SL was great but had some very alarming sharp plastic bits at the back which didn't inspire confidence when descending.

Huh? The Toupe has sharp plastic bits, the Phenom doesn't.

+1 for the Phenom SL. I ran the Toupe on mtbs for a while but kept snapping off the plastic bits. I think its changed slightly for 2010?

Fizik Gobi XM here...

Hmm, my Phenom certainly did, but perhaps it was a different/older model.

Would have been a great saddle otherwise, the nose was particularly good for seated steep climbs.

They look a bit more robust certainly:

[img] [/img]

As you'd suggested James they appear to have given up on the Toupe Carbon, gutted!

on one big nose is ace. charge spoon. very personal type of thing.

The Toupe Carbon is shown on a few US websites but availability is zero. I heard there were production issues and it was to be introduced in 2011 instead. Hopefully at a more palatable price point too 😉 In the meantine that new Toupe looks nice. 8)

i always use a sele italia ladies saddle on my hummer

after trying many over the years i finally listened to an old fella and gave one a try. i know they don't look that sexy but once broken in you really can't beat* a Brooks B17 narrow.
[img] [/img]
*but you can take great pride in giving it a good polish

WTB saddles are quite comfy but in my opinion are too wide and found they could chaffe. Specialised BG are ok provided you get the right size. SDG looked great (tiger skin) but felt a bit 'fat'.
but after many years of pondering this question i've come to the conclusion that its purely down to the individual - no two arses are the same i suppose.

The Toupe Carbon is shown on a few US websites but availability is zero. I heard there were production issues and it was to be introduced in 2011 instead.

Aye, but it's been pulled from the Spesh US site, where it was shown with pricing and stuff, I imagine all the shop websites just populate theirs from Spesh, safe to say you won't see it any time soon!

Tis true...however, Spesh UK are prone to copying the US specs too.

'SL3 Features' details an "incredibly stiff oversized BB" for the frameset. However what you get in the UK is a threaded 68mm bb instead. It does actually say threaded on the technical specs page which makes it somewhat confusing.

Back on topic. Difference saddles for different folks seems to be the trend. Try some out before you buy if you can.

Another vote for charge saddles.

I've done two 24 hour solos on my current one and not had to resort to two pairs of padded shorts (at the same time) in either race. That settles it for me.

If you want more convincing:

They#re probably just a rebaged cheapo generic saddle but they come in a nice range of colours, aren't particularly heavy (I think, not actually checked...), are ridiculously cheap (£20 - cheap enough to try without worrying if you're going to like it or not) and are, for me, very comfy.

Better than the flites I used to use, way better than the soggy mess SDG saddles turn into in the wet and much better than Spesh's BG stuff. Awesome.

I tried loads of saddles and the current best is a Specialized Body Geo that I got after being measured on the spesh "arse-ometer" (basically a bit of memory foam). It's still not perfect though - numbness in places I don't want it. I'm tempted to try a Charge of some kind, but I think at my weight anythings going to cause numbness!

Re: Spoons
[i]They#re probably just a rebaged cheapo generic saddle but they come in a nice range of colours[/i]

That's the thing, the Spoon isn't just a rebadged saddle, it's been quite cleverly designed/produced to give more. I'm sure Nick'll tell you if you ask him nicely.

Spesh Phenom SL - got these on 3 of my bikes, absolutely love them, very comfy and good light weight.

I've also got an Selle Italia SLR that can get used for short xc blasts but find it starts to get sore after 2.5-3 hours.

Try the I beam ones, there's loads of give in them. Comfiest I've used in a while.