VERDICT

As the women’s test in particular proved, choosing a saddle is a very personal decision because we’re all built differently and favour different ride positions. The ISM PN3.1 has been a revelation for many female riders, but it didn’t quite work for us. We did like the cushioning in Specialized’s popular Power saddle, though, and the softer nose. The Fizik Luce also delivered in terms of comfort, with a wide and comfortable rear platform that didn’t cut into our legs.

Top in the men’s test was Prologo’s all-purpose, non-slip, padded TiroX. Selle Italia’s SP-01 also impressed, borrowing cutting-edge tech from the automotive industry, but the £249.99 price tag puts it out of the reach of the average rider. Budget buyers could do a lot worse than Spesh’s Toupe Gel Comp, which, at a wallet-friendly £80, features dripdown tech from Specialized’s top-end Toupe saddles.