Bontrager Evoke Saddle

With any bike part there’s an element of personal preference that can make or break its success. This is especially so when it comes to saddles. They are a very personal and individual item, and what feels comfortable to one can be the source of great pain for another. As a result, finding a comfortable saddle can be a real hit and miss process that gets pretty expensive if you land a few duds along the way.

In an effort to streamline this process and guide you straight towards your ‘perfect match’, Bontrager uses their ‘inForm’ saddle sizing system—think of it as speed dating for your bum! It starts at a Bontrager dealer where they’ll identify your riding style (road, MTB, triathlon etc.), look at your posture (leisure, performance or aerodynamic) and the amount of time you generally spend in the saddle. Those factors will guide you towards the saddle that’s deemed most appropriate, but it doesn’t stop there.

Each Bontrager saddle is offered in three widths and most dealers will have an ‘inForm Saddle Sizer’ on hand to determine the width that’s best for you. The Saddle Sizer is a seat with a gel insert. You simply sit on the Saddle Sizer and your sit bones leave an impression in the gel that directs you to the appropriate saddle width. It’s a quick and straightforward process that should see you in and out of the store within 10 or 15 minutes.

Most mountain bikers will wind up on an Evoke saddle. The Evoke is offered in both men’s and women’s versions and three different spec levels. The base level Evoke R ($59) has the softest padding and runs hollow cro-moly rails. Next in line is the $99 Evoke RL with ‘slightly firm’ padding and hollow titanium rails. At $229 the carbon railed RXL is lightest Evoke and it’s said to have firm padding.

After going through the inForm fitting process, I was directed towards the Evoke RL. My sit bone dimensions placed me on the borderline between the narrow 128mm saddle and the intermediate 138mm width, and it was suggested that I try the wider option first.

It seems that most performance oriented saddles tend to be a bit stingy with the amount of padding that’s provided. This certainly isn’t the case with the Evoke RL. Bontrager’s online saddle selector describes the padding as ‘slightly firm’. That is a fair description, as it is quite supportive, but the padding is also surprisingly deep. The carbon reinforced nylon shell also offers a small amount of ‘give’ to help take the sting out of the trail. Despite the generous padding, the titanium railed Evoke was respectably light at 237g (this weight will vary depending on the saddle width that you require).

The outer cover is lightly textured with a slightly rubberised feel; for me it offered just the right mix of grip while still being able to shift around on the saddle. It also uses abrasion resistant material on the sides to thwart the inevitable bike drop damage. The finish leaves nothing to be desired and I was more than happy to fit it to my fancy carbon MTB.

Instead of employing a central cut-out to relieve pressure on your unmentionables, Bontrager uses a subtle recess through the mid-portion of the saddle that aims to achieve the same goal. I can’t offer too much detail on this front but let’s just say that everything still works after four months on the Evoke.

Deep and Supportive

While there’s plenty of depth to the padding, it’s worth noting that the foam density varies across the saddle. It’s firmer towards the rear where your weight is supported and softer towards the nose. Aside from supporting your bodyweight and reducing pressure on the more vulnerable parts of your anatomy, the softly padded nose means the Evoke doesn’t transform into some vile torture device when you’re forced to sit all the way forward on a really steep climb.

There’s nothing odd or extreme about the saddle profile. It has a subtle dip towards the centre but it still allows you to move fore and aft. The rear is rounded with nothing to get snagged on when you are behind the saddle on super steep descents and the nose is wide and soft enough to make extended climbs less of a pain.

For me this saddle just about disappeared. There was no break-in period and it never gave me any grief, even on my longest rides. From the outset it was forgotten and I’d happily run this saddle forevermore. So, was this saddle dating bliss the by-product of Bontrager’s university researched inForm fit system, or was it just a random coming together of compatible forms? I’d suggest it’s a bit of both. The Evoke is a sensibly shaped saddle with plenty of supportive padding. The width options help to cater for differing anatomies and their saddle selection system accounts for various postures and riding styles. Tie all of this together and there’s a fair chance you’ll be heading in the right direction.

Of course there’s always a chance that the designated inForm saddle won’t be your perfect match. You can apply all the science you like but when it comes down to it, saddles are a very personal choice. As a result it’s reassuring that Bontrager offers an ‘unconditional guarantee’ with their saddles. If you aren’t happy with the product, it can be returned within 30 days for a replacement or a store credit. So if your first choice doesn’t pan out as you’d hoped, swap it for a different saddle or just trade it for something else that you need—it’s a pretty good deal. Personally I’m going to stick with the Evoke RL, as I’ve found a genuinely compatible partner for those long days in the saddle.

Trek Bicycles Australia www.bontrager.com