Ergon SM Pro Saddle: Employee Review

Words by: Jared Erickson

Intro

While saddles are one of those bike components that are really based on personal preference, many riders share the same struggle of finding a saddle that is right for them. I can’t tell you how many times I have bought a saddle that looks great and seems like it will be comfortable, only to go try it out on the trail and find that it is more of a butt cheek puncher than an actual saddle. I had heard a ton of good things about this new Ergon saddle from a bunch of riders, and I thought to myself “could this be the one?” I approached the Ergon SM Pro saddle with the same reserved enthusiasm that I have whenever I buy a new saddle, however that quickly turned into excitement and elation.

Form and Function

The Ergon SM Pro is the first saddle that I have used that wasn’t truly a form of cycling torture. In fact, it was far from it. It actually made me look forward to staying in the saddle for long periods of time and allowed me to enjoy longer rides without having to consider the post-ride consequences. The shape of the saddle provides a nice platform that feels comfortable and supportive while pedaling, and the material of the saddle cover has some subtle grooves to help you stay in place if you get a little sweaty or if you encounter some moist weather. 

The relief channel also helps keep your downstairs from going numb which is great because I personally don’t enjoy that particular sensation. Having a sore bum while out on a ride is up there on my list of undesirable experiences along with running out of water, getting a flat tire, and doing a soil sample with my face.

Long Term Testing

I have used the Ergon SM Pro for about a year on everything from my XC bike to my Enduro bike, on all sorts of trails and conditions and it has worked well in every situation. It has been durable as well, even after a ton of riding and a decent amount of embarrassing crashes it has remained in one piece and hasn’t shown any significant signs of wear. On the surface, it would appear that Ergon has reached the peak final form of MTB saddles.

Final Thoughts

All of these awesome details combined with great looks and low weight make this saddle a keeper for me. The fact that Ergon also offers the same saddle in multiple variants with various rail materials at different price points is really awesome as well, so you don’t need to break the bank if you want to experience the same saddle as the pros.  There are a lot of components that I have liked enough where I wanted to transfer them to a new bike, however, the SM Pro is the first saddle I have liked enough to take with me from bike to bike, and to me that says something.