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review

Fabric Scoop Sport saddle

8
£34.99

VERDICT:

8
10
With a fantastic shape and padding, the Sport is a great entry to Scoop ownership
Weight: 
304g
Contact: 

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The Fabric Scoop has long been a favourite of many riders and this Sport model makes that level of performance and comfort available at a budget price. With three profile options, there is also plenty of scope for whatever type of riding you do.

  • Pros: Excellent shape, bonded upper makes it look more expensive than it actually is
  • Cons: Only available in black

The Scoop has been around for a number of years, having originally being known under the Charge brand (Fabric became an off-shoot of Charge bikes). I've ridden loads of them on various different test bikes over the years and owned a couple myself and the shape of each model has always sat well with me, excuse the pun.

> Find your nearest dealer here

First of all, you can get the Scoop in the three shapes. Flat is for the performance rider as it has the flattest rear section and lowest amount of padding, which suits an aggressive position with a high saddle-to-handlebar drop. A thinner nose allows for better leg movement.

The one we've got here is the Shallow – the middle of the road option, if you like. The rear is more rounded and has thicker padding, and is ideal for those who sit a little more upright, the type of position an endurance or gravel style bike is likely to put you in; not full-on racer but you'd still like to tuck into the drops every once in a while.

Fabric Scoop Sport saddle - detail.jpg

The third shape is the Radius, which is more rounded again and with thicker padding, ideal for a pretty upright seating position.

The Shallow is a good compromise for most riders. I tried it on a couple of bikes including my slammed race bike and my more upright winter trainer and I found it spot on. The padding is still pretty minimal which is ideal when you are riding at a decent pace and putting most of your weight through the pedals. The slightly dropped nose offers plenty of comfort too when you are crouched forward.

Fabric Scoop Sport saddle - nose.jpg

It has a width of 142mm and a length of 282mm, so there is a decent platform for your weight.

Fabric uses various materials throughout its Scoop range, especially when it comes to the rails. This entry-level Sport model comes with basic 7mm diameter steel rails, which add a bit of weight over the higher offerings that sport the likes of chromoly, titanium and carbon fibre. At 304g it's still not exactly a weighty seat and it does keep the cost down.

Fabric Scoop Sport saddle - underside.jpg

It's well made, too, especially when you consider it costs just £34.99. Rather than stretch the microfiber upper over the padding and glue or staple it to the underside of the shell (which Fabric says compresses the foam and therefore needs to be firmer) the microfiber layer is bonded to the top of the shell with the foam in the middle.

Whatever the performance gains, it certainly looks a much smarter way of doing things, and gives a neat and clean finish.

Fabric saddles have typically been offered in a range of colours, so you could change the upper or even the shell to match a saddle to any bike paintjob, but unfortunately you don't get that here as the Sport is only available in black.

Value-wise, the Scoop stands up well against the opposition when you take into account the build quality.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best saddles

The Genetic STV 143 is a similar type of saddle coming in a range of three widths to suit different riding styles. I wasn't overly enamoured with its firm nose padding, plus it is more expensive at £49.99, although a tiny bit lighter.

Another saddle that comes in at a penny under 50 quid is the Selle Royal Lookin 3D Athletic. Mike reckoned it was ideal for a 45-degree rider angle, so sort of what we are looking at here with the Scoop. The Lookin is heavy, though, at 359g. Madison's Flux is another £34.99 saddle, and might be worth a look if the shape works for you.

On the whole, the Scoop is a great saddle for pretty much every discipline as long as the shape suits you, and with the three options available that should be most people.

Verdict

With a fantastic shape and padding, the Sport is a great entry to Scoop ownership

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Fabric Scoop Sport saddle

Size tested: 142mm x 282mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fabric says, "Enjoy unparalleled comfort and performance in a saddle shaped for you. Coming in three profiles, depending on your style of riding, the groundbreaking design reinvents saddle making to create an incredibly responsive, comfortable, light and durable saddle."

That pretty much sums the Scoop up really: it's a great all-rounder.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Fabric lists these features:

Rails: Steel (7mm)

Base: Flexible PP

Cover: Microfibre

Profile: Shallow

Width: 142mm

Length: 282mm

Mid rail to saddle topper 48mm Steel rails (7mm)

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a well-made saddle with a great shape for all kinds of riding.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great shape.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It's only available in black.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Genetic's STV 143 is more expensive at £49.99, as is the Selle Royal Lookin 3D Athletic at £49.99. The Madison Flux is the same price as the Scoop.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Sport has the same great shape and padding levels of the rest of the Scoop range, with a little extra weight, but at a very good price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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5 comments

Avatar
a1white | 5 years ago
0 likes

I have a Charge Scoop (just before they changed the name). Truely excellent saddle, for the price, it is a great upgrade from the standard saddle you'll get on most bikes.

Avatar
Doug.F. | 5 years ago
0 likes

 Thank you.

 

 Doug.

Avatar
Doug.F. | 5 years ago
0 likes

Available for sale at which shop / online in the U.K  ?

 

Thank you.

Avatar
bendertherobot replied to Doug.F. | 5 years ago
0 likes
Doug.F. wrote:

Available for sale at which shop / online in the U.K  ?

 

Thank you.

Buy now from Merlin Cycles (£31.00), Cyclestore (£31.30), and ProBikeKit (£31.99).

Avatar
Tass Whitby replied to Doug.F. | 5 years ago
0 likes
Doug.F. wrote:

Available for sale at which shop / online in the U.K  ?

 

Thank you.

There are buying links in the review, Doug (top and bottom). And a link to where you can find your nearest dealer.

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