In this article I’m going to focus on a number of the most comfortable all-mountain bike saddles, which are very affordable nonetheless.
The all-mountain discipline of mountain biking needs to feature the best of both worlds when it comes to mountain biking. Long hours in the saddle spanning multiple days means it’s no luxury to have a comfortable saddle to get you through those days.
In this list I’ve focused the most on comfort, or else this article would have a different name. And less so on speed / weight. I’ve been able to keep the prices low by not incorporating any exotic carbon instances of MTB saddles. Those types of saddles tend to be two, three, or more times more expensive than the ones featured here.
What you get on this list are well-padded allround all-mountain saddles, with lots of padding, no sharp edges, in a variety of widths and lengths. The list features both short-nosed flat saddles, as more classically shaped swooping designs.
So with that being said, let’s head over to the overview of the most comfortable all-mountain bike saddles.
Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Men
The Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Men has the overall same dimensions but a much larger center depression. I don’t have to explain why.
It’s interesting to note that where Selle Italia opts for a wider version of a feminine saddle with the same characteristics otherwise, it feels like Ergon at least changed the overall upper shape of their saddles.
That kind of makes sense considering the fact that there are serious differences between a male and female. Apart from all of the other factors that make this saddle great for touring. Like the multi-layered padding and overall flexibility. All that padding doesn’t mean it’s a cushion. But it performs a bit like memory foam, where a couple rides in you feel more adjusted to the saddle.
- Gender specific ergonomics
- Heavy
Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Women
Don’t get confused about the name of the Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Women. It’s not specifically for E-bikes and not specifically for mountain bikes.
This is not a road bike saddle. Not its weight, not its design, not its padding hints in that direction. It is a great option for a robust touring / gravel / MTB saddle.
The strong CroMo steel rails support 2 variations with the widest measuring 160 millimeters at a standard length of 278 millimeters.
Their sales page features a lot of impressive medical copywriting. But it doesn’t take away that saddles can still be hit or miss. Why you might want to consider this saddle is that it really does feature several layers of unique feminine oriented padding in a design that also has a large center depression.
Those various levels of padding create flexibility in the saddle, firmness where necessary, and added comfort and damping properties as well.
The saddle has a very premium and solid look, which feels much more at home on a touring or mountain bike than on a road bike.
- Gender specific ergonomics
- Heavy
Ergon SM E-Mountain Pro Men
Ergon is one of the few saddle manufacturers that creates distinctive gender-specific saddles. The Ergon SM E-Mountain Pro Men is their go-to saddle for mountain biking.
Plus padding and loads of comfort in an ergonomic nylon composite shell. The arc in the back means you can push against it to stay in control of more demanding sections of your trail.
A long channel in the center takes care of necessary pressure relief to soft tissue and sits between orthopedic foam halves covered in durable microfiber.
All that plushness does push it over 300 grams at 335. The saddle comes in two widths; 143 and 152 millimeters depending on your personal preference or sit bone width.
- Gender specific ergonomics
- 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
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
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
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
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
Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow
The Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow is a road bike saddle with a very long name and lots of padding.
That doesn’t mean it’s heavy with a weight sitting at 207 grams. And to achieve such a feat you get a stiff carbon injected nylon shell atop a Stealth Xsilite alloy rail, a mixture of silicon, carbon, and titanium. They claim the rails are basically bomb-proof and resistant to the elements.
The reason you might want to buy this saddle is because its classic-looking race-shape of 277 x 132 millimeters offers a plushness in a package that also features a center cut out, running basically all the way to the back of the saddle. Not everybody likes to be riding a super firm race saddle, and Selle San Marco is targeting that market with this saddle.
So if you actually like a bit of extra padding for your rides, this could very well be the saddle that ticks those boxes for you.
- Lots of padding, lightweight for an MTB saddle, classic shape, cutout
- None
Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Narrow
The Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Narrow is a firm and wide road racing saddle and is one of the lightest on this list at 217 grams.
At a width of 135 millimeters it can definitely be considered narrow with a medium length of 265 millimeters. Rather than having a full cut out the center dips almost in the entire length of the saddle.
There’s a considerable amount of padding which wraps all around the saddle, which means you’ll never feel any sharp edges.
The saddle has a big sweep upwards in the rear, making it more suitable for hilly rides when you need the support in the rear of your saddle while going up. It’s also the reason this saddle has crossover appeal in the gravel and MTB discipline, which usually necessitate more dynamic styles of riding.
So if you like to climb and even think you might take this saddle onto roads less traveled, the comfort and climbing appeal of this saddle will stand out.
- Affordable, lightweight, narrow
- Firmness may not suit everyone
Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide (Open)
The Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide with the cut out version is slightly lighter at 210 grams, which is incredibly light all things considered.
It has the same overall features as the one without the cut out, and uses the same type of materials. That means you get a glass fiber reinforced shell on top of manganese steel rails, with plush padding in a semi-short length.
The version of 145 millimeters is more neutral than the narrow 135 millimeters, which allows for a bigger platform to support the rider. You might argue that that actually improves because the rider has to spend less energy staying into position.
The microfeel cover onto the star shaped design looks great and the finish is superb, which makes this saddle the perfect choice for adventurous riders on a budget.
- Has cut out, excellent and durable build quality, budget-friendly
- Too stiff for some
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
WTB Pure Steel
The WTB Pure Steel is a great all-mountain and enduro saddle, which so happens to be probably one of the most budget-friendly MTB saddles in the market.
The WTB Pure comes in three variations with respect to the rails. There’s titanium, chromoly, and the steel version. It says something that the steel version is one of the cheapest saddles of all the articles I’ve written about saddles.
You wouldn’t say that, based on the excellent design of the plush saddle. A swooping nylon shell is covered with a lot of padding and has a perforated microfiber cover. The memory foam-like substance adjusts perfectly to your specific geometry.
The lifted rear end helps to support you while climbing and the nose dips to prevent your shorts getting hooked. With so much padding the saddle obviously doesn’t have any sharp edges, which are reinforced to protect it when crashing.
I really can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t want to buy this saddle, especially not with such a price. A winner for sure.
- Impressive value-for-money, excellent MTB saddle
- None
Specifications most comfortable all mountain bike saddles
Name | Price | Rail | Dimensions | Weight | Shell | Padding | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Men | 160 USD | CroMo | S 278 x 147 mm – L 278 – 160 mm | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam | ||
Ergon SM E-Mountain Core Prime Women | 160 USD | CroMo | S 278 x 147 mm – L 278 – 160 mm | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam | ||
Ergon SM E-Mountain Pro Men | 120 USD | CroMo | S 274 x 143 mm – L 274 – 153 mm | 335 g | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam | |
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Men | 100 USD | CroMo | 300 g | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam w. gel padding | ||
Ergon SMC Sport Gel Women | 100 USD | CroMo | 295 g | nylon composite | Orthopedic Comfort Foam w. gel padding | ||
Fabric Scoop Sport Gel Radius | 47 USD | steel | 260 x 155 mm | 374 g | nylon | ||
Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 | 99.99 USD | s-alloy | 251 x 130 mm | 216 g | nylon | ||
Selle San Marco Aspide Short Open-Fit Sport (Narrow) | 59 euros | carbon steel | 250 x 139 mm | 265 g | glass fiber reiinforced | Pullfoam | |
Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow | 159 euros | Stealth Xsilite | 277 x 132 mm | 207 g | carbon reinforced nylon | biofoam | |
Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Narrow | 79 euros | manganese | 262 x 135 mm | 217 g | glass fiber reiinforced | Biofoam | |
Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide (Open) | 79 euros | manganese | 262 x 145 mm | 210 g | glass fiber reiinforced | Biofoam | |
WTB SL8 Cromoly Medium | 96 USD | cromoly | 265 x 142 mm | 266 g | Flex-Tuned Shell | HLX Padding | |
WTB Pure Steel | steel | 275 x 145 mm | 345 g | Flex-Tuned Shell | DNA Padding |
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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