In this article I’m going to give you an overview of some of the best budget mountain bike saddles.
Cycling has become more expensive the last couple of years, and bike saddles are no exception to the general rule that prices have gone up. So it’s almost embarrassing to say that budget in my mind means a saddle costing less than a hundred dollars.
A hundred dollars doesn’t necessarily feel like a budget price, but high-quality saddles usually start above that number. So relatively speaking it’s at the lower price spectrum and a good requirement when creating a list of budget mountain bike saddles.
The good news is that all of the items on this list are quality items. And the way to keep the price low is to use materials that don’t really affect riding comfort or performance. So yes, carbon saddles with carbon rails do have a number of advantages, but they simply cost at least three times as much.
So if you’re looking for a list of the best budget mountain bike saddles that don’t break the bank, here it is.
Fabric Scoop Sport Gel Radius
Fabric makes fantastic affordable saddles and Fabric Scoop Sport Gel Radius is a great example.
The nylon shell has a pronounced swoop, which makes going on and off the saddle easy for dynamic riding. The shell is held by steel rails and measures 260 x 155 mm.
At 374 grams it’s anything but light, but for downhill purposes this doesn’t really matter anyway. And it’s the most budget-friendly offering on this list.
You really can’t fault this saddle, especially not for this price. So if you’re looking for a comfortable mountain bike saddle that definitely doesn’t break the bank, this is the one.
- Budget-friendly
- Not for weight weenies
Selle San Marco Aspide Short Open-Fit Sport (Narrow)
The Selle San Marco Aspide Short Open-Fit Sport is both a short and narrow saddle for aggressive road racing on a budget, at least where your saddle is concerned.
It has a carbon steel 7 mm standard rail underneath a glass fiber shell, weighing in at 265 and a foam upper. It has a very wide cut out, and in combination with the reduced length, this ensures your sitting bones do the heavy lifting and increases comfort.
This is a solid option for aggressive riders who don’t mind a race-oriented firm ride. For more leisure touring look elsewhere.
- Carbon steel rail, wide cut out short-nosed saddle
- Firm aggressive ride
Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5
At 130 millimeters, the Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 is a narrow performance mountain bike saddle.
With a flat shape and rounded corners, you’ll have loads of flexibility to move around as the trail dictates your handling.
Some riders prefer a saddle to do nothing else but not get in the way as part of the ride is spent out of the saddle. This saddle does that and still offers enough padding at a very light weight of just 210 grams.
An excellent and affordable option for your tactical trail riding.
- Flat shape, performance oriented
- None
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Women
As with the Core Prime models the Ergon SMC Sport Gel Women features a very distinctive feminine oriented cut out in a saddle with a large seating area.
It’s more affordable, has the same saddle ergonomic shape, but gel padding instead of the memory foam like substance of the Core Prime. Unlike the male version, this saddle has such a large open space you can deem it an appropriate center cut out.
It supports an upright position with enough cushioning to take out any irregularities in the road.
- One of the few ergonomic saddles, gel padding, supports upright position
- Heavy
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Men
The Ergon SMC Sport Gel Men is the male version obviously. Ergon has taken its research into male and female anatomy and applied it to this saddle as well.
This result in a more pronounced depression in the center of the saddle. Both saddles are on the less aggressive side of the riding spectrum.
- One of the few ergonomic saddles, gel padding, supports upright position
- Heavy
WTB SL8 Cromoly Medium
The WTB SL8 Chromoly is a plush MTB saddle with a large swoop.
There are also titanium and carbon rails versions of this saddle but they significantly bump up the price whereas every other feature stays the same.
It’s a more allround mountain bike saddle that offers loads of comfort in a 142 millimeter shell width.
The chromoly version has memory foam padding that’s less stiff than the titanium and carbon versions. The shell has noticeable flex. So even though its wider than some of the more performance oriented entries, you’ll hardly notice it because the saddle moves with you.
- Plush and comfortable, great all-round MTB option
- None
Prologo Kappa Space
Coming in both white and black with red elements thrown in the Prologo Kappa Space is the most in your face options of all the saddles listed here. So if you’re in for that type of design this one will float your boat.
Besides the design aspects the Kappa Space has a more classic looking arrow design at 270×147 mm, sitting on cro-mo 7 mm standard rails.
The center cut out and dipped area is more narrow than several of its competitors, which is also in line with more classic designs.
A great fit on a bike saddle will always be something intimately personal. But if you feel more familiar with classically shaped arrowhead saddles, and you like its design, this great piece from Prologo is the best choice.
- Affordable, classic shape, cut out design
- None
Fizik Tundra M5
The Fizik Tundra M5 is a true cross-country saddle, and an affordable option for people who’re looking for a high-quality seat.
The narrow performance saddle measures 287 x 126 mm, and has a carbon composite shell made from carbon-reinforced nylon with wing-flex technology. This means the saddle moves with your pedal stroke, making for a more natural feel.
It has an overall flat shape, which means it’s a solid option for mountain bikers with average flexibility in the hips and don’t necessarily want a locked-in feel when sitting.
It features a large central channel with padded halves for pressure relief. And has a slightly drooping nose to facilitate easier going into a standing position and back onto the saddle without shorts or bibs hooking. The padded shell extends all the way to the side, so no sharp edges causing irritation, chafing on the legs, or chewing up your shorts.
This one is the most affordable option, forgoing either a Kium or carbon rails for a more standard alloy. This keeps the price low. But the weight is still very respectable at 235 grams. For comparison, the carbon version is 70 grams lighter and costs 150 USD more.
- Affordable cross country saddle, performance oriented, flat shape
- None
Specifications budget mountain bike saddles
Name | Rail | Price | Dimensions | Weight | Shell | Padding | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fabric Scoop Sport Gel Radius | steel | 47 USD | 260 x 155 mm | 374 g | nylon | ||
Selle San Marco Aspide Short Open-Fit Sport (Narrow) | carbon steel | 59 euros | 250 x 139 mm | 265 g | glass fiber reiinforced | Pullfoam | |
Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 | s-alloy | 99.99 USD | 251 x 130 mm | 216 g | nylon | ||
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Women | CroMo | 100 USD | 295 g | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam w. gel padding | ||
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Men | CroMo | 100 USD | 300 g | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam w. gel padding | ||
WTB SL8 Cromoly Medium | cromoly | 96 USD | 265 x 142 mm | 266 g | Flex-Tuned Shell | HLX Padding | |
Prologo Kappa Space | cro-mo Ø7 mm | 78 euros | 270 x 147 mm | 249 g | nylon | Light foam | |
Fizik Tundra M5 | s-alloy | 99.99 USD | 287 x 126 mm | 235 g | carbon composite | PU foam |
Johan van Seijen
FoundeR Restoration.bike
Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.
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