Prologo Scratch M5 AGX Tirox

£103.99 Supportive all-road saddle with hidden benefits

AT 250MM LONG, THIS UNISEX saddle for adventure, gravel and cyclocross riders is quite short, and its 140mm width is fairly conservative. It’s designed to be suitable for male or female riders, allowing the freedom to sit fore or aft without impeding thigh movement.

The striking MSS (multi-sector system) divides the saddle’s light foam padding into five segments. For optimum support and pressure relief, Prologo’s Push and Pull interactive foam padding varies in density across the saddle, with greater density at the sit bones. It’s designed to follow your leg movement and support you without affecting the fluidity of your pedal stroke.

The long carbon fibre Active Base shell is designed for stability and vibration-absorbing compliance. A central cutout in the shell allows the saddle’s highly elastic padding to deform significantly, so it feels like a cutout without a complete opening. In use, it offers most of the pressure-relieving benefits, but with greater support, no firm edges and no unwanted spray. With its durable hollow Tirox alloy rails, the M5 AGX weighs 220g.

I’ve enjoyed riding the Scratch M5 on the road for some time, and the Scratch M5 AGX has thicker padding, a more flexible shell and a grippier surface at the rear of its microfibre cover.

I was unsure if a shorter saddle could work for cyclocross, as I felt I’d need more length for weight shifts. After many races, I wouldn’t change it. It’s the most comfy and supportive saddle I’ve used for CX, with great pedalling freedom, and I don’t slide around when really pushing hard. The flattened nose doesn’t snag shorts when sitting down, and the shell width helps when leaping on after a dismount. It’s easy to clean, hardwearing so far, and is now my favourite off-road saddle.