Prologo Dimension AGX 143 T4.0

The Prologo Dimension AGX 143 T4.0 saddle is designed to work across a range of terrains – and I found that it did so very well indeed. This is one impressively comfortable saddle, the shape works, the padding is effective and it doesn't cost the earth, which is a winning combination as far as I'm concerned.

Our best road bike saddles buyer's guide rounds up our favourite road saddles, while our sister site off.road.cc lists its top mountain and gravel bike saddles. 

AGX stands for 'adventure, gravel and cyclocross', so first up I bolted the Prologo to the Fairlight Secan gravel bike I'm reviewing and headed straight out onto the trails. The Dimension felt as if I'd been using it for years – like a saddle that had bedded in and compressed to my shape over time. That's how good the comfort was.

I'm not a big fan of a lot of padding, especially if it's overly soft and squidgy. While some think more padding equals greater comfort, I just find it causes numbness and/or hot spots as a ride progresses. So, I was glad to find that while Prologo has added a touch more padding thickness than you'd find on the road version of the Dimension, of which I've ridden loads, it still maintains a firmness that while supportive, doesn't dull any of the feedback coming to you from the frame and your rear tyre.

The AGX has a curved upper, which is a shape I like. The slightly curved rear section gives you something to push against when you're climbing, and thanks to its 'shorty' design and the fact that the nose drops ever so slightly, there is nothing to apply pressure to your vulnerable bits when you're hunkered down in the drops.

A large central cut-out also helps blood flow.

During the review period I also did a few gravel rides over three-and-a-half hours long – and I found that the padding didn't compress over time and the Prologo felt just as comfortable at the end of the ride as it did for the first hour. There is some subtle flex in the shell that helps reduce some of the small bumps too, although it's not enough to feel too flexible when you're pedalling hard in the saddle.

If you aren't a gravel rider but want a comfortable saddle for the road with a bit of extra padding, then the AGX is definitely worth a look.

The Dimension AGX features a carbon fibre shell underneath the foam padding and a microfibre upper. The T.4.0 model's rails are made of 7mm diameter chromoly steel. This makes the T4.0 the heaviest saddle in a three-saddle range; a Tirox rail option comes in about 45g lighter, with the carbon-railed Nack model around 60g lighter.

The overall finish is to a high quality, with the durable upper tucked under the padding before it is mounted on to the shell, which gives a clean edge all the way around. On some saddles the upper is glued or stapled to the underside of the shell, which can look a bit rough and ready.

This T4.0 model weighs 248g and is 143mm wide and 245mm long.

Value

Fizik's gravel-specific shorty saddle is the Terra Argo, which like the Prologo saddle, is available in various builds at difference prices.

The full carbon X1 model that we reviewed costs £179.99, but Jamie rated it highly for its shape, comfort and its overall build quality. The entry level X5 model, which has a similar tech spec to the Prologo, is £99.99 although I'd say the Prologo has the win when it comes to aesthetics.

The Prime Primavera Shorty carbon saddle impressed me very much, and until the AGX came along it was the one that was fitted to my gravel bike. It has an RRP of £119.99 but is currently just £94.99 online and for that you are getting a full carbon construction and a weight of 175g.

The Prime Doyenne road version comes in at just £59.99. It has titanium rails, Tom rated it very highly and it looks like it has slightly thicker padding than most road saddles have.

Conclusion

The shape, padding thickness and the quality of the Prologo Dimension AGX just works from all directions from me. It's comfortable, well made and comes in at a decent price overall.

Verdict

A decent spec for the money, backed up by excellent comfort and shape to create the ideal saddle for all kinds of riding