Fabric Scoop Gel Saddle

The Fabric Scoop Gel is described by the Somerset-based company as a 'comfort' design, and for me – saddle choice being such a personal decision – it ticks all the boxes: it's comfortable, well made, attractive and a fair price.

It's aimed at leisure, commuter and off-road riders who adopt an upright position, so has large gel inserts covering the three pressure points – the nose and wings – plus a V-shaped central channel to alleviate pressure on your bits. It's a unisex design, as are all Fabric saddles, but is particularly suited to women with wider sit bones.

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I rode it both with and without padded shorts and found the design suited me really well, because it passed the test of a good saddle – namely, I wasn't aware of it. On rides of about 30 continuous miles it remained comfortable, and even the slightly dropped nose felt fine to perch on during short, steep climbs when I needed to get my weight forward.

The Scoop Gel comes in just one width (155mm) and one profile (Radius) and is slightly wider and slightly shorter than the standard Scoop. I usually ride narrower saddles but I had no issues with the extra width – for increased sit bone support – hindering my leg movement. Fabric's Radius profile is the deepest and plushest of its three standard profiles, for maximum comfort. The pleasant ride is enhanced by the (imperceptibly) flexible nylon base and curved profile.

It's a mid-weight saddle at 280g (my sample actually tipped the scales at 273g), although this felt pretty light against comparable saddles – my 130mm WTB Rocket V is 320g, for example. The Scoop Gel has hollow chromoly rails, with very subtle marks to indicate seat clamp fore and aft positions.

It looks a quality piece of kit. Despite the generous width, it's still sleek and attractive. The seat is made from a durable, waterproof microfibre, which makes it very practical – it doesn't absorb water and simply wipes clean. It doesn't scuff that easily either, though I took care when leaning it against walls as I didn't want to mark it unnecessarily. It is vacuum bonded to the base too, so no ugly staples.

> Buyer's Guide: How to choose the right saddle for your bottom

For just less than 50 quid it's very good value for the quality and comfort it offers, and it comes in white as well as black with a choice of green, purple, black, turquoise or white base.

Verdict

Super-comfy, well-made, sleek and good-value saddle for those with wider sit bones