Deity Speedtrap Saddle: Product Review

If you are putting together a new trail bike, finding the right saddle is the perfect way to finish off your build. There are plenty of good looking saddles out there from brands like Deity, WTB, Ergon, and SDG to name a few. We think Deity is a pretty rad company and so we had our guy Max Morgan write up a review on the Deity Speedtrap saddle that he is currently riding on his Santa Cruz Hightower trail bike. To learn more about the team behind Deity Components, listen to Vital MTB's Inside The Line Podcast with Eric Davies! 

Saddle Specifications

Deity Components introduced a completely new lineup of premium products in 2017 with all new handlebars, grips, stems, saddles, and seat posts. Deity has collaborated with industry leading saddle manufacturer SDG Components to bring together the Speedtrap saddle. The Speedtrap starts with a plastic molded base similar to what is found on the SDG Duster and is then finished off with Deity's own foam mold on top. This seat uses high quality mid density EVA foam for resilient durability, a soft synthetic cover for minimal wear, and kevlar sides to protect your seat while giving you the grip where you need it. The Speedtrap is offered with either hollow Chromoly Steel rails or solid Titanium rails. 

The Setup

I've got a Deity Speedtrap Titanium railed saddle mounted up on my Santa Cruz Hightower trail bike. The Hightower is a 29" wheeled trail weapon with 135mm of rear wheel travel and with this setup, 150mm fork travel. The Speedtrap saddle is mounted on to a Fox Transfer Factory Series dropper post with 150mm of travel. I've ridden this trail bike all of 2018 with this particular saddle on board. 

The bike is outfitted with Fox suspension front and rear, a Fox 36 fork with a Grip1 damper up front and a Fox DPX2 shock in the back. This Hightower is finished off with Industry Nine Enduro 310 carbon wheels, and Maxxis DHR II EXO casing tubeless tires.

• 2018 Santa Cruz Hightower, size L
• Deity Copperhead 50mm stem, Deity Skyline Handlebars 780 x 25, Deity Knuckleduster grips
• Fox 36 fork with a Grip1 damper, Fox DPX2 rear shock with the .8 DPX2 volume reducer installed
• Industry Nine Enduro 310 carbon wheels, Maxxis DHR II 29x2.4 WT EXO 3CMaxxTerra tires
• TRP G-Spec Quadiem Brakes paired with Galfer Disc Wave rotors and Galfer Performance brake pads

Installation and Initial Impressions

When you get the Speedtrap saddle in your hands, it feels like a premium product. All of the stitching and stapling of the cover is tidy and clean. The saddle mounts up just like any other traditional railed saddle. I got the saddle positioned on my Transfer dropper post in just a few minutes. 

Riding and Performance

Which mountain bike saddle you run comes down mostly to personal preference. Each rider is looking for something a little different when it comes to saddle fitment. For those reasons, when you find a saddle you like, most riders like to stick with it. Some saddles use fancy relief cuts and shapes to make your ride more comfortable. Some of them work and some can just be a gimmick. With the Deity Speedtrap saddle, there aren't any fancy tricks or marketing gags. It is just business. And for those reasons, that's why I think the Speedtrap saddle will suit most riders. The Speedtrap saddle keeps me comfortable riding all day long with out any numbness, tingling, or aggravating pressure points. For me, that is just about all I am looking for in a saddle. Is it comfortable? For me it is. 

After riding the Speedtrap saddle for almost a year, it still looks like it is brand new. The synthetic cover is easy to keep clean and the Kevlar corners on the back side of the saddle have proven to be durable enough for normal wear and tear when riding. The foam underneath has also held up just like it is supposed to. I like the simple clean design of the Speedtrap saddle and I think it finishes off the whole Deity kit nicely. I decided to go with the all black Titanium railed version just because it's a little bit lighter and I dig the all black. There are plenty of different color options available as well, even a limited Turquoise color to match your Yeti.

What's The Bottom Line?

The most important thing when finding the right mountain bike saddle for you is comfort. The Deity Speedtrap saddle uses a simple design with high quality materials that I think will be comfortable for most riders out there. The Speedtrap falls right in the middle of the road in terms of crazy innovative cuts and tricky technical features found on some other seats out there, and I think works well because of that. The Speedtrap is simple, comfortable, durable, and looks sharp.

To help you find the perfect mountain bike saddle for you, check out our Five Favorite saddles!

About Me

Max Morgan is 26 years old, and lives in Brevard, North Carolina. Max grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started racing downhill at the age of 15. He has now been racing professionally for the last 8 years, competing in the UCI World Cup series and U.S. Pro GRT series. To learn more about Max, check out Max's rider spotlight here! 
Instagram: @mxmorgan77