Mountain bike saddles, truth be told, receive a lot of criticism, but even so, it is correct to say that without them, riding up a mountain would be very painful. Not exactly a feeling you want to imagine or even experience. To your surprise, even the thickest padded saddle can cause you a lot of pain and discomfort. This is probably because the bike saddle through the ride is supporting up to half your weight. Add to this the pull of gravity and you can’t begin to imagine the pressure exerted on them. Slight irritation and chafing seem like a gate free pass especially when you think of other larger risks including impotence and prostate cancer. This is enough to send many males running scared to get the most expensive piece of mountain bike saddle there is in the market. But before you freak out, there is an easier way out of the rut you are in. you do not have to spend your entire saving to get comfort. You just have to ensure that you get yourself one of the best there is. Choose the best mountain bike saddle that is designed for use with a mountain bike.
Click here to see our favorite saddle on Amazon
Getting the best of the best in the market will cost you some time in research and will have you trying and failing. Well, at least when you are doing it on your own without help from a professional. There are factors to consider if you to land the very best. We shall shine the light on these factors and put you on the right path of getting the best the market has to offer.
To understand the term best when it comes to mountain bikes saddle, you need to understand the mountain bike saddles themselves – from a fundamental basis. Their types, shapes, construction and the material that is used to make them. This understanding will help you make an informed decision even when you come across a product with technology that amazes you – which you will.
Mountain bike saddles shapes and types
As you would expect, the best mountain bike saddles come in a wide variety of shapes to suit the different needs of riders all over the world. These needs are affected by its use and the body type of the individual putting it into use. This is to mean that saddles designed for men will not work to provide adequate comfort for women. Why? Because women have wider pelvic sittings. And since we are on the topic, there are also bikes for women – specifically designed to meet their body type needs.
The type of bike will also affect the type of saddle that you can buy. Yes, they are all mountain bikes, but you must agree that not all of them feature the same design and technology. Heck, they too come in different sizes.
General saddles
These are the type of saddles that have been designed to cater to general off road riding. They usually have one style so it is pretty easy to pick them out from a full shelf of saddles. They come with a nose sloping downwards and a rear end that is shapely. They tend to be narrow and very light. In addition, they feature padding to support the pressure points on the saddle.
Racing
Since they are designed to allow the rider full movement and to prevent chaffing while riding, they are usually very narrow. The saddle tends to shift most of your body weight to your hands rather than support the entirety of your weight. As such, they do not have a heavy need for padding. Their top is usually stiff.
Gel
From their name, you can guess what they use. Yes. They use gel. This material is similar to what celebrities used for their breast implants. The gel is used to provide cushioning for the derriere. But since it is not enough on its own, it is sandwiched between a top cover and a hard bottom plastic.
Cutaway
There are some saddles that have a slit right at its middle. Now you probably have once wondered what this ‘hole’ is for. Well, it is for aeration, but even more importantly, this cutout is used to accommodate the sensitive perineal area. It protects this area from constant irritation which causes pain after a while. And no they were not to accommodate the genitalia. Is they were, for this reason, they would have been made slightly bigger and would vary greatly in their size to accommodate the variety.
Noseless
From their name, you get that they do not feature a nose like the conventional saddles. Do. This style of mountain bike saddles is very popular in the US and has in the recent past started to penetrate the UK market. This design, just like the cut out is used to relieve pressure on the perineum, shifting it onto the sit bones. They are however not very common since the nose proves to be very useful when it comes to going up a hill.
Saddle components
Shell
The shell determines the shape of the mountain bike saddle. Many of the hard shells, as you would imagine, are made from molded plastic such as carbon fiber and nylon. As for leather saddles, instead of having plastic for the shape, they feature a thick hammock between the two supporting rails. There are claims that leather saddles are the most comfortable, but then again this is just a matter of preference. But when you consider the fact that the leather saddles over time conform to your shape, you might buy into it.
Covering
Many of the saddles available come with a covering for the padding or shell. This covering is usually made from a variety of materials. There are those that are made from Lorica, those made from leather and others still made from bulletproof Kevlar. The cover, however, does not affect the efficiency of the ride to a great extent aside from the durability and friction when riding.
Saddle mounting
Regardless of the saddle that catches your eye, you will notice that they all have one thing in common – rails. Professionals refer to them as cradles. Traditionally, they feature two rails that are parallel to each other on the underside.
The rails are designed from carbon steel, titanium or even aluminum. It is up to the manufacturing company to decide which one they fancy and the effect they want to achieve. Of all of the materials used to make the cradle, titanium is the lightest.
Factors to consider when choosing the best mountain bike saddle
Now, we have already gone through all this. However and so that we are on the same page, let’s iterate these factors. For starters, you should now your needs, which in this case is mountain riding. Second, you should pay attention to the cushioning, the design and shape of the saddle, the material used to make the saddle and last but not the least the price of the saddle.
Paying attention to these factors may seem like a long process, but it is rewarding…very rewarding.
Best mountain bike saddles reviews
To help cement all the knowledge that we have so far acquired, let’s have a look at some of the top saddles and how they compare to the features and factors we have just mentioned.
WTB Pure V Race Bicycle Saddle
Going up a hill is not an easy task. The steep slopes can be rather unforgiving. But you, of course, thrive on the pressure the sports exerts right? Why else would you be so into it? But even while you might enjoy and love the sport, there is a limit to the kind of pressure that you can take. Pressure to your perineum is not one that you want to feel. That kind of pain is not washed away by a cold shower. To avoid this, you most definitely have to get the saddle right. And which other saddle provides comfort like the WTB Pure VRace?
Its performance precedes itself. Whether you are working up a hill or going through one of the muddiest roads in a race. You will have premium comfort.
It is made to last. You will have it for a very long time never regretting the choice you made to pick it out from the store shelves. Its padding is just right. It is not too thick that it looks uneven and not too thin. It will absorb all the rock shocks providing you with a smoother ride.
On the end, it’s wider. And from the science you know, the wider the surface area, the lower the pressure right. This saddle will support you perfectly exerting very little pressure if any to your bum. You will be able to maneuver flawlessly as you go higher and higher the hillside. Adding up all the features it comes with, you will agree that it is a great saddle and very few saddles available in the market can match it.
Click here to check it out on Amazon
Outdoor Anatomic Relief Saddle VD-104
This is one killer saddle. The designers of this product had in mind extreme mountain bikers. So if you are just starting out, you will find it to be on hell of a saddle. From durability to efficiency, comfort, and design. It will support your bum just right. It will be just like it was custom made for you. And what even better is that the price is very affordable. High yes, but considering the features and performance, it is very affordable in comparison to other products that have the same features.
It comes with a cutout to help relieve the pressure on your perineum and a long thin nose to provide you with ample space to pedal up the hill. This will reduce the friction you generate in the process. Supporting the perineal area will avert any unnecessary pain.
Truth be told, this saddle was made to amaze and it does just that. Its durability ratings are through the roof and its previous consumers have nothing but praise to sing for it. so here is the thing, if you are hoping to get it in the meantime before you get the cash to get one that is costlier than it is, you are in for a rude shock.
Click here to check it out on Amazon
Serfas RX Women’s Bicycle Saddle
It may not be a brand that you hear of every single day, but it does get the job done. If there is one thing that you should get used to by now, is that brand names play a very small portion in you getting the best fit for you in the market. Sure there are certain brands that have a reputation for providing top quality products, but what good would a quality product do you if it is not the best fit. As a matter of fact, every time you look at the product ten years down the line, it will act as a remembrance for the mistake that you made. So even while you consider the brand, it should not be the very first thing on the list that you use to judge a product.
The Serfas RX is a women’s bike saddle. It is one of the few there are in the market. And while it is designed for mountain riding purposes, it can also be used for road biking as well. It features great comfort and perfect ergonomic design. And like many other products, it features a cut out right at its core. It gets rid of any and all numbness that may be as a result of long riding and irritation to the perineal area.
Its cover is waterproof. As such, you can use it in the mud and under the rain. No weather will be able to stop you from taking part in the sport that you so love. Its price is one that will shock you. With all it has to offer, you would expect it to be staggeringly expensive. But it is not. In fact, it is very affordable.
Click here to check it out on Amazon
Conclusion
As you head out to make a life altering purchase, remember to try out all saddles that you consider of buying. You can never tell the comfort levels of a saddle by just looking at it. Feeling it is the only way you can be sure. Many stores allow for this so it should not be an issue.
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