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review

Fabric Scoop Gel Saddle

9
£49.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Super-comfy, well-made, sleek and good-value saddle for those with wider sit bones
Weight: 
273g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Fabric Scoop Gel is described by the Somerset-based company as a 'comfort' design, and for me – saddle choice being such a personal decision – it ticks all the boxes: it's comfortable, well made, attractive and a fair price.

It's aimed at leisure, commuter and off-road riders who adopt an upright position, so has large gel inserts covering the three pressure points – the nose and wings – plus a V-shaped central channel to alleviate pressure on your bits. It's a unisex design, as are all Fabric saddles, but is particularly suited to women with wider sit bones.

> Find your nearest dealer here

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I rode it both with and without padded shorts and found the design suited me really well, because it passed the test of a good saddle – namely, I wasn't aware of it. On rides of about 30 continuous miles it remained comfortable, and even the slightly dropped nose felt fine to perch on during short, steep climbs when I needed to get my weight forward.

Fabric Scoop Gel Saddle - nose.jpg

The Scoop Gel comes in just one width (155mm) and one profile (Radius) and is slightly wider and slightly shorter than the standard Scoop. I usually ride narrower saddles but I had no issues with the extra width – for increased sit bone support – hindering my leg movement. Fabric's Radius profile is the deepest and plushest of its three standard profiles, for maximum comfort. The pleasant ride is enhanced by the (imperceptibly) flexible nylon base and curved profile.

It's a mid-weight saddle at 280g (my sample actually tipped the scales at 273g), although this felt pretty light against comparable saddles – my 130mm WTB Rocket V is 320g, for example. The Scoop Gel has hollow chromoly rails, with very subtle marks to indicate seat clamp fore and aft positions.

Fabric Scoop Gel Saddle - underside.jpg

It looks a quality piece of kit. Despite the generous width, it's still sleek and attractive. The seat is made from a durable, waterproof microfibre, which makes it very practical – it doesn't absorb water and simply wipes clean. It doesn't scuff that easily either, though I took care when leaning it against walls as I didn't want to mark it unnecessarily. It is vacuum bonded to the base too, so no ugly staples.

> Buyer's Guide: How to choose the right saddle for your bottom

For just less than 50 quid it's very good value for the quality and comfort it offers, and it comes in white as well as black with a choice of green, purple, black, turquoise or white base.

Verdict

Super-comfy, well-made, sleek and good-value saddle for those with wider sit bones

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fabric Scoop Gel Saddle

Size tested: 155mm width

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fabric says: "The wonderfully simple and invitingly soft Scoop Gel has three large gel inserts that allow you to have it all: performance and comfort."

It's designed for people who ride in an upright, relaxed position. "The Radius profile places the accent on comfort for easy riders: urban, leisure and all-terrain cyclists who pedal in an upright position. A more rounded profile and increased padding supports a style that places more of the rider's weight directly on the saddle."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Weight: 280g

Width: 155mm

Length: 260mm

* Large gel inserts

* Waterproof cover

* Flexible nylon base

* Profile: Radius

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10

280g is mid-weight but it's not claiming to be a lightweight saddle.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

I found it supremely comfy, with and without padded shorts.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Great value considering its performance and the quality of design and construction.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well indeed.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfort, appearance and quality.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nowt.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

This deserves 9/10 thanks to its well-crafted, quality design and materials that make it a super-comfortable saddle at a very good price.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 170cm  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Marin Point Reyes 29er  My best bike is: Whyte T-130 RS

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, mountain biking, audax

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