I bet you if you ask any mountain biker what WTB is known for, the first thing they will mention is saddles – and there’s a pretty good chance they own one too. Well here is one of WTB’s lesser know but great saddles: The WTB Devo Carbon saddle w/ titanium rails (MSRP $165 USD, $224 CAD). The Devo is a race-oriented saddle with a medium width (140mm) and a short length (255mm). This saddle will fit just as comfortably on an XC or a road bike; heck you could even toss it on a DH rig if you wanted to! After all, top DH riders like Sam Hill and Fabien Barel rock the Devo as their saddle of choice.
The Devo is advertised at just 190 grams and mine actually came in at 189 grams so the advertised weight might actually be a bit of an overestimate. The Devo is relatively flat front to back and has a “love channel” to help reduce pressure between bike and butt. At first glance you might think this saddle is hard as a rock but that’s really not the case. WTB cleverly added just the right amount of padding (they call it DNA padding) in all the right spots and over time the DNA padding will conform to your anatomy. WTB also cut reliefs in the shell to induce flex in key areas to increase rider comfort.
I installed the Devo on my all-mountain rig in just a few minutes and set it so that the saddle runs parallel to the ground (a great starting point for those of you who are wondering how to set up a saddle for themselves). From the first minute on the trails I found the Devo was comfortable and virtually eliminated the typical saddle pressure points.
After just a few miles of riding I totally fell in love with the “Goldilocks” shape of this saddle – it’s not too long and is just the right width. Since the Devo is a little on the short side, I was easily able to slide up to the nose of the saddle and back again with out any snagging during climbs. The shape of the saddle also worked great going off the back on steep descents – I didn’t feel like I was hanging up on the “whale tail” like with other saddles. This is a very versatile saddle indeed.
Looking for a saddle recommendation? While every rider has slightly different MTB saddle needs, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Devo for your consideration set. And check this out: WTB has saddle testing programs through many local bike shops to help you find the right saddle (check your local retailer for details). Give the Devo and other WTB saddles a shot – you’ve got nothing to lose and you just might find your butt’s new best friend!
Cheers.
Official Devo specs from WTB:
