Gravel cycling is comprised of mostly off-road cycling from rugged terrain to winter exploration at the same time the cycling should occur for a Scheduled time in a competitive style. The bikes which were built for this type of cycling is known as gravel bikes. When you are not sure how intense the journey will be for you, then you grab these types of bikes.
Related Articles
Gravel bikes shows similar designs as road bikes but more suitable in a relaxed upright posture. These bikes prioritizes comfort over speed. And to make it happen, you need suitable saddles that absolutely fits with your gravel bike.
In this article, we have come up with the list of saddles which are best for gravel bikes. We have made this list based on qualitative research and dynamic testing. We think that, the Prologo Scratch 2 Pas saddle holds our top position among all the saddles that we have selected.
The Prologo Scratch 2 Pas saddle shows the most qualities to be the perfect saddle for gravel cycling. The PAS (Perineal Area System) will protect your private areas for monotonous gravel cycling. Adequate padding with waterproof cover lets you to keep on exploring with you cycle. Very strong saddle with Carbon injected base and offers different widths profiles according to rider’s butt shapes.
Length x Width: 278 x 134/143 mm, Weight: 215/217 gram
Comparison Table
Before you start to read this article, check out this comparison table so that you can get a quick idea if you do not have enough time to spare.
| Saddle | Preview | Weight (gm) | Dimensions (mm) | Cover | Padding | Rail | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologo Scratch 2 Pas | 215/217 | 278 x 134/143 | Microfiber | Active Light Foam | Tirox | Unisex | |
| SDG Bel-Air 2.0 | 275 | 270 x 140 | Synthetic Fiber | Plush PU Foam | Ti-Alloy | Men | |
| Bikeroo Men's Saddle | 440 | 260 x 190 | Synthetic Leather | Memory Foam | Stainless-Steel | Men | |
| Fabric Scoop Elite | Flat: 244, Shallow: 266, Radius: 256 | 282 x 142 | Microfiber | PU Foam | Cro-Mo | Unisex | |
| Ergon SM | 265 - 275 | 261 x 143 (S), 261 x 155 (L) | Microfiber | Orthopedic Comfort Foam | CroMo | Women | |
| WTB Silverado Pro | 218 | 274 x 133/142 | Microfiber | DNA | Cro-Moly | Men | |
| WTB Rocket Race | 270 | 265 x 130/142/150 | Microfiber | DNA | Cro-Moly | Men | |
| Brooks B17 | 520 | 275x175x65 | Vegetable Tan Leather | No padding | Chrome plated Steel | Men |
Our overall rating out of 5 stars (Our rating is based on how well the saddle can perform on gravel cycling)
| Saddle | Preview | Weight (30%) | Shape (30%) | Build Quality (20%) | Rail Durability (20%) | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prologo Scratch 2 Pas | (4.9 / 5) | (4.3 / 5) | (4.7 / 5) | (4.8 / 5) | 93 | |
| SDG Bel-Air 2.0 | (4 / 5) | (4.3 / 5) | (3.7 / 5) | (4.8 / 5) | 84 | |
| Bikeroo Men's Saddle | (3.5 / 5) | (4.8 / 5) | (3.6 / 5) | (2.5 / 5) | 74 | |
| Fabric Scoop Elite | (4.5 / 5) | (4 / 5) | (4.5 / 5) | (4 / 5) | 85 | |
| Ergon SM | (4.4 / 5) | (4.2 / 5) | (4.9 / 5) | (4.1 / 5) | 88 | |
| WTB Silverado Pro | (4.9 / 5) | (4.2 / 5) | (4.6 / 5) | (4.3 / 5) | 90 | |
| WTB Rocket Race | (4.2 / 5) | (4.2 / 5) | (4.6 / 5) | (4.3 / 5) | 86 | |
| Brooks B17 | (3 / 5) | (4.1 / 5) | (3.5 / 5) | (3.6 / 5) | 71 |
8 best saddles you can buy today for your gravel bike
1. Prologo Scratch 2 Pas: Best for 5 hours+/day on Gravel roads
- Weight (gm): 215/217
- Dimensions (mm): 278 x 134/143
- Color: Hard Black
- Cover: Microfiber
- Best for: Road/off-road, gravel, time trial
Features & Considerations:
- Expertly designed with PAS (Perineal Area System) for eliminating pressure and tension from your perineum area.
- You can choose from either Nack or Tirox rails.
- Gravel on rainy days as the saddle is waterproof.
- Very comfortable for light foam padding at the same durable for microfiber cover.
- Multi size – 134 and 143 widths are available.
- The saddle offers Carbon fiber injected base.
- Comes in three different shapes which are – Round, Semi-round and Flat.
Weaknesses:
- You may feel chafing in your inner thighs for continuous cycling.
- Have to deal with suffocation during long tours because of the lack of airflow.
The Prologo Scratch 2 Pas comes in Tirox rails in general. This type of material is used in the aerospace and aviation industry as they tend to be strong and light. You will feel no stress while taking a gravel ride. This saddle maintains a balance between strength and weight.Engineers have developed ‘Monocoque injected’ base , where the base is injected with Carbon fiber.This will result in 15% of weight demotion and provides an improved stability.
Prologo Scratch 2 Pas
2. SDG Bel-Air 2.0: Best grit gravel seat
- Weight (gm): 275
- Dimensions (mm): 270 x 140
- Color: Black, Black/White, Black/Chrome, Black/Red, Black/Green, Black/Yellow
- Cover: Synthetic Fiber
- Best for: Trail, trekking, MTB, cross-country, road
Features & Considerations:
- Timeless design with rear rise platform aids when climbing higher edges or crossing over bumps.
- Allows enhance pelvis movement for its down curved nose.
- Very durable cover stitched with 2 separate pieces.
- Base is equipped with Nylon fiber.
- Provides tensile strength for the Ti-Alloy rails.
- Keeps traction for tricky corners on wet and slippery roads.
- Ample padding with central relief channel ensures no pressure on along ride.
- Presents varieties of eye-catching colors.
Weaknesses:
- Overall poor build quality.
- Hard on the edges for minimum supplement of fabric.
- The self-tapping screws might get loose.
You will feel the Bel Air 2.0 saddle to be more supportive than your casual saddle. If you are afraid that you feel pain and soreness while gravel riding with this seal as it contains less padding, then you are wrong. The comfort of this saddle does not come from its padding, instead comfort comes from its shape.
SDG Bel-Air 2.0
3. Bikeroo Men’s Saddle: Comfortable choice for big guys
- Weight (gm): 440
- Dimensions(mm): 260 x 190
- Color: Black
- Cover: Synthetic Leather
- Best for: MTB, road, indoor, BMX Bike Seat
Features & Considerations:
- A great saddle designed based on the comfort for men’s anatomy.
- Generous amount padding with memory foam makes it very soft and comfortable.
- It has a cavernous cut-out that will make sure your prostate area is pain free.
- A complete package which includes a waterproof cover, fitting tools and instruction book.
- An economical saddle for multipurpose uses.
- Absorbs unexpected and intense shocks, you get from bumps for its spring suspensions.
- Stainless-Steel rails so that it won’t get rusty over time.
- Universal rail mounting system will adjust to any bike post.
Weaknesses:
- There is a possibility of popping off the rail because it is surrounded with cheap plastic.
- It is not a lifelong product.
- For aggressive biking the cover produce minimum amount of breathability.
When you are a big guy and you are planning to start gravel riding, then the Bikeroo Men’s Comfortable Saddle is the saddle which you can choose as a starter. Usually gravel cycling is an aggressive type of cycling where you don’t get enough chances to relax, hence it occurs on off-road with competitive style of cycling which is time consuming. So rather than going for an expensive professional saddle, this saddle will cover the requirements for gravel cycling when you are not physically fit for this type of cycling but you still want to do it occasionally.
As for the women who are in the same situation and interested in gravel biking can choose the women’s variant of this saddle which is Bikeroo Women’s Comfortable saddle.
Bikeroo Men’s Saddle
4. Fabric Scoop Elite Saddle: Saddle that’s as at home on the roads as it is on gravel
- Weight (gm): Flat-244, Shallow-266, Radius-256
- Dimensions (mm): 282 x 142 (same for 3 profiles)
- Color: Black, Black/White, Black/Red, Black/Green,
- Cover: Microfiber
- Best for: Road-racing, cyclo-cross, endurance, gravel
Features & Considerations:
- The interesting feature about this saddle comes in 3 profiles- Flat, Radius and Shallow.
- Very durable waterproof microfiber cover which can withstand many years of rough use.
- Base with very flexible with Nylon construction.
- 7 mm Cro-Mo rails.
- Winner of multiple ‘Best in Test’.
Weaknesses:
- Not the most comfortable seat for all types of riders.
- May experience painful bumps for deficient amount of padding.
The Fabric Scoop Elite saddle is the combination of comfort and performance. Although it is designed for all disciplines but this saddle is a great choice for gravel bike seat. Everything about this saddle is versatile. No matter which type of cycling you want to do, this saddle will remain stand by for making it happen. This saddle is extremely strong as it is built with three-part saddle building process.
Fabric Scoop Elite
5. Ergon SM Saddle: Women’s specific
- Weight (gm): 265 – 275
- Dimensions (mm): 261 x 143 (S), 261 x 155 (L)
- Color: Stealth Black
- Cover: Microfiber
- Best for: Cross-country, endurance, trail, MTB
Features & Considerations:
- Very supportive center cut-out so that women will find enough surface to sit on a dynamic position.
- The cut-out also keep the genital parts cool with sufficient air ventilation.
- Orthopedic foam padding will let you enjoy unrestricted pleasure while riding.
- Very strong shell with Nylon composite construction.
- Economical CroMo rails which will complete the job without any issue.
- A great saddle for gravel in a reasonable price.
Weaknesses:
- The narrow flat contours may be unpleasant for some women.
- The rails are strong but they are not the best under extreme pressure.
- Comes in only one color, which is boring.
As the pelvic bone arch of females are wider than males, the sitting area should be wide enough to suit the specific sitting points. In addition have anatomical peculiarities as they have great pelvic flexion. As a result when riding in a normal saddle their pelvic tilts further forward which increases pressure point contacts. With all these consequences keeping in mind The Ergon SM Women saddle came in a new shape which was built collecting feedback from women with the help of CNC-milled prototypes and the Ergon Factory Rider Team’s girls.
Ergon SM
6.WTB Silverado Pro: For adventure road, gravel, cross country, trail, enduro
- Weight (gm): 218
- Dimensions (mm): Narrow – 274 x 133, Wide – 274 x 142
- Color: Black
- Cover: Microfiber
