Fizik Terra Argo X1 saddle

The Fizik Terra Argo X1 saddle is designed specifically for gravel riding, with a shortish nose. It's very nicely made with enough padding to damp whatever road buzz is called when it's off-road, and isn't so soft that it mutes the terrain or causes numbness. I found it very comfortable on long gravel rides of both a relaxed and competitive nature, and though it's light, you can get lighter for less money.

Fizik's Argo saddles are all quite short nosed, and are divided into the Tempo models designed for endurance road riding, the Vento models that are for racing/performance, and this Terra line specifically designed for gravel riding.

How can a saddle be specific to gravel I hear you ask? I asked exactly the same question and the response was: 'The Terra Argo has been engineered with a compliant shell to offer a certain degree of flexibility. This controlled elasticity absorbs road chatter and vibrations, delivering the comfort needed for long distance riding over unpaved roads.'

> Buy now: Fizik Terra Argo X1 for £179.99 from Bike-Discount

The Terra Argo range comprises three different models: the 271g X5 is the most price conscious at £89.99 with S-alloy rails; the X3 is 12g lighter than that and costs £129.99 with its Kium rails; and then this X1 is the top of the range option with carbon rails, a claimed weight of 215g and that price tag of £179.99.

We found that claimed weight to be almost bang on, with this 150mm width version coming in at 216g on the road.cc Scales of Truth. The saddle is also available in a 160mm width if you have wider sit bones.

As with other short saddles, your position on the saddle is fairly limited – the short nose means you can't wriggle forward and backwards very far – although all of the Terra Argo saddles are 5mm longer than the Tempo Argo range.

The sides of the saddle drop away quite quickly so I didn't find that they interfered with moving legs, and the shape strikes a good balance of enabling you to sit in a more upright position when offroad and still allowing you to get down in the drops when attempting to be fast, the short nose in particular helping there.

That one position is a very comfy place to be, although, as ever with saddle comfort, it's subjective – what I find comfortable might, to you, feel like sitting on a bed of nails, or what is uncomfortable for me might make you feel like you’re floating on a cushion of air.

Here, the width of the saddle provides a stable base and the single-piece synthetic upper is not only wipeable but also pretty grippy so I had no worries about slipping forwards on technical descents. You'll also notice that the central cutout, which is there to reduce pressure on soft perineal tissue, features a plastic splashguard.

> 10 of the best saddles you can buy for mountain bikes and gravel bikes

The carbon-reinforced shell with its designed compliance gets bolstered by Fizik's slightly thicker 'Type 2' padding. I'm not always a fan of softer saddles – some of the comfiest I've used are little more than a carbon plate – but the X1 does a good job of taking out the high-resolution buzz of gravel without muting all feeling from the terrain. Fizik says this is down to its 'progressive' foam which is softer at the top next to your bum and harder the lower down you get. Whatever it is, it does a good job of soaking up the bigger bumps of a broken road surface, making it comfortable on even my six-hour gravel rides.

And then we get to the rails, carbon ones in the case of the X1 that measure 7 x 10mm. That's not unheard of but could cause you some issues if you use a saddle clamp that clamps from the sides and not the top and bottom. For example, Specialized carbon clamps are designed for 7 x 9mm rails and so are incompatible; Trek uses a similar system but it does at least make adaptors, so you'd need to consider that in your overall costs.

The Argo X1 doesn't come cheap either. Its £179.99 rrp makes it the same price as the PRO Stealth Curved Team saddle, which Steve tested earlier this year, and that's also lighter at 168g. Obviously the X1 is designed for off-road use, so the additional padding and that splash guard will have added weight. However, the PRO Stealth Offroad saddle is designed for the same purpose and also weighs in less (207g), while also being cheaper at £129.99. (You can read Shaun's test of that one here.)

Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best cycling saddles

There are plenty of more expensive options out there as well – the Cadex Boost saddle, for example, which Stu tested in 2020, costs £249.99. That is once again lighter, though narrower.

Conclusion

Overall, the Terra Argo X1 is a very well-made saddle that I found extremely comfortable. There are lighter alternatives available for the money, but I'd be happy to forgo that in the name of comfort. I would be tempted to save myself a few quid and go for the Terra Argo X3 or X5, though, as they borrow much of the same technology but with cheaper, if heavier, rail materials.

Verdict

Comfortable and high-quality gravel-specific saddle