The Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle proves to be a well-constructed and thoroughly though out offering for mountain bike applications where pedalling is done in a more upright position. The base has a great shape to not interfere with pedalling and it comes in two sizes to cater for a wide range of users. The padding is firm and the cover has proven to be durable and grippy. Unfortunately for me, whilst there was no numbness or rubbing, my sit bones didn’t agree with the overall saddle profile. For the money, it’s a top-quality offering and of course, the saddle compatibility is a personal thing.
Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle – Technical Details
The SMS Sport saddle is aimed at trail, all-mountain and bike packing riders, men specifically, catering for more upright seated positions. The all-important shape aims to provide targeted relief for men using a central channel which is said to relieve pressure on the perineal area which can cause numbness. A flat and even relief surface has been shaped to support the sit-bones with careful consideration to the upright seated position. The padding used consists of an orthopaedic foam which is intended to cushion against impacts and vibrations whilst also relieving pressure.
The saddle base is constructed using a nylon composite shell which is shaped for more freedom. It’s narrower in the transition area between the rear and the nose to give more space for the legs when pedalling.
Rails are made from TiNox XP (a titanium compound) which use a 1.5mm wall thickness blending high strength and low weight. Total claimed weight for the SMS Sport saddle is 260g. Dimensions for the saddle come in at 248mm length, 140 width and a height of 63mm.
Available in S/M and M/L sizes, with S/M suiting sit bones widths of 8-12cm and the M/L catering for 12-16+cm widths. Only available in the standard black colourway.
Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle – Performance
First impressions of the SMS Sport out of the box were the reasonably flat profile and firm padding. It’s a nicely built saddle with the materials feeling durable, the saddle cover has a matt finish to it which offers some grip over some saddles which are a smoother affair. The nylon base has a nice flex to it which should help on the trails contouring to your body and absorbing some inputs from the bike. Actual weight is a little more than claimed coming in at 275g for the S/M version.
When fitting a new saddle, it always takes a couple of attempts and some mid-ride adjustments to get it feeling just right. I did find the SMS Sport saddle to be quite sensitive to the tilt and where I’d usually run my saddles with the nose pointing down, this saddle is certainly more comfortable in a flatter position.
I was lucky enough to visit Ergon at Ard Rock last year and took full advantage of their measuring machine to find out specifically what size saddle I’d need – S/M is my size. Unfortunately I didn’t find the sizing and clever shaping tech worked for me when it came to sit bone comfort. The relief channel, trail dampening flex and overall shape do work well as I experienced no numbness or rubbing even on extended rides however the pressure on the sit bones was noticeable after a couple hours in the saddle.
I persevered with the SMS Sport to be fair in testing, tweaking the tilt to get the most comfortable position and tried different positions however, for me I couldn’t find the all-day comfort I was hoping for. A shame as I had high hopes from the tech involved but it just wasn’t for me, of course saddles are a very personal affair, so my experiences are to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle – Verdict
At £80, the Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle represents good value for money, it is the result of some clever consideration and is built from top quality materials.
Options with similar intentions include the Proxim Nembo saddle at £84. It was praised for a great shape, competitive weight and room for adjustment however the base was cited to be a little on the stiff side.
Another option is the long standing SDG Bel-Air V3 Overland saddle which comes in a little more expensive at £90. A large pressure relief channel and long-term comfort are strengths for this saddle however it only comes in one size so that may be limiting.
The Ergon SMS Sport Men saddle showed promise with some thorough consideration applied to the development of this saddle. It’s a shame my sit bones didn’t agree with the saddle profile where, on longer rides, I experience discomfort. That being said, the relief channel did a great job of alleviating any numbness and the shape of the base works great not interfering with pedalling. A well-constructed, high-quality saddle at a great price but personally not a fit for me.
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