Wtb hightail saddle full#

Wtb hightail saddle full#

The High Tail saddle features a unique and distinctive cut-out to the back of the saddle, allowing for additional rear tire clearance as full suspension 27.5” bikes cycle through their travel. The High Tail saddle was developed as a direct request from Pivot Cycles, who identified an emerging need for a purpose-built saddle while designing and refining their upcoming carbon 27.5” downhill bike. In any case, it’s a great all around saddle, and the fact that it’s available in 3 widths is also surely a nice bonus as it will better fit a broader range of riders.NEW TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN – March, 2014 – WTB released a new performance saddle shape called the High Tail as well as carbon-railed versions of the Volt and Rocket V saddles during day one the Taipei International Cycle Show. Don’t let its slender shape fool you into thinking it’s only good for the Gravel and XC crowd…I’d put the SL8 on just about anything, but maybe stop short with a downhill bike. If you’re less weight conscientious, the $79 chromoly version is an even better deal. In terms of value, $129 for the titanium railed version is pretty reasonable. There’s no reason to think that it can’t hold up just as well as it shares many of the same high points on the construction side. To my surprise, I actually found the SL8 to be even more comfortable on long days despite its slender nature.

I typically look to WTB when I’m after a saddle with a bit more to it – the Silverado fits that bill and it’s the kind of seat that I’ll typically mount on an Enduro or DH bike. Additionally, the padding still feels as plush as ever. So far, the materials and craftsmanship have proven to be quite sturdy, with no split seams, bent rails or premature wear despite a few cases and small crashes. The Kevlar is an obvious plus, but keep in mind that whether you ride in Lycra or Baggies, the chaffing will wear down your riding shorts to a certain extent. Thus far there hasn’t been any degradation. The padding has also held up so far through a rather wet winter during which it has seen a great deal of moisture and washings. Out back, the width was just right for me and I never found myself fussing and shifting around side to side a few hours into a ride.Īs far as technical details go, first and foremost – I felt the padding was dense and well distributed, which is what makes the minimalist approach still somehow manage to be comfortable on trail. I had no issues with numbness whatsoever. Back to padding – while the center section visually appeared a bit narrow, it actually proved to be very comfortable on some rather big days in the saddle.

Speaking of such things – moving around, hovering over the saddle and using the inside of the thighs to steer all proved to be pleasant experiences with the SL8. Starting up front, while the nose doesn’t curl and drop off quite as dramatically as the Silverado, it stays out of the way well enough and I didn’t have issues with it wanting to snag on my shorts or jersey. Prior to the SL8, my go-to saddle has been the Specialized Phenom. I’ve certainly not been averse to fairly low profile saddles, and I’m a firm believer that no amount of padding can trump contour, shape and design. The hose looked a little on the pointy side and it seemed a bit narrow in the center, but I was quickly proven wrong. When I first eyed up the SL8 visually, I was a bit skeptical of how well I’d get along with it. You can go about 60 grams in either direction with carbon fiber or chromoly – which will also cost or save you a bit of coin as well. Coming in at 211 grams with a bunch of dirt on it, the SL8 is pretty darn light given how dense its padding is.