Serfas E-Gel Cruiser Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Serfas E-Gel Cruiser | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Bike Saddle | Best Bang for the Buck | |||
Price | $68 List $39.99 at Amazon | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $37 List $37.00 at REI | $31.52 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $53 List $52.48 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Wide, thick, and ready to absorb jolts on your commutes, this saddle puts comfort above everything else | A uniquely shaped saddle that blends comfort with lightweight performance | An economical option for riders not concerned about weight that provides all day comfort and support | A comfortable balance of stiffness and cushioning, at a price that can't be beat | A highly-cushioned saddle with a soft and flexible shell that is ideal for cruising |
Rating Categories | Serfas E-Gel Cruiser | Prologo Dimension | Bontrager Sport Saddle | WTB Speed | Serfas Dorado |
Comfort (30%) | |||||
Performance (30%) | |||||
Versatility (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Weight (10%) | |||||
Specs | Serfas E-Gel Cruiser | Prologo Dimension | Bontrager Sport Saddle | WTB Speed | Serfas Dorado |
Dimensions | L 270 mm, W 200 mm | L 245 mm, W 143 mm | L 275 mm, W 163 mm | L 270 mm, W 145 mm | L 280 mm, W 165 mm |
Weight (grams) | 774 g | 191 g | 350 g | 379 g | 382 g |
Rail Material | Steel | Tirox | Steel | Steel | Chromoly |
Shell Material | Plastic | Light foam | Foam | Plastic | Dual Density Foam |
Seat Cover Material | Synthetic | Microfiber | Microfiber | Synthetic | Soft Feel Microfiber |
Anatomical Cut Out or Channel | Yes, groove | Yes, full cut out | Yes groove and cut out | Yes, groove | Yes, full cut out |
Target Use (mountain, road, etc.) | Recreational, Commuting | Road, Mountain, Cyclocross | Road, Commuting, Touring | Mountain, Road, Cyclocross | Road |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The E-Gel Cruiser has some of the thickest and softest padding of any saddle in our lineup, making wearing padded bike shorts unnecessary. An anatomical cutout in the center of the saddle relieves pressure, and rubber bushings at the rear rail attachment points isolate any vibration or bumps in the road. While the luxurious padding is comfortable for short rides, it can begin to cause hot spots and chafing on anything longer than a few miles.
Performance
The E-Gel Cruiser is not a high-performance saddle. While certainly comfortable, the thick padding and wide platform are not well suited to efficient power delivery. Comfort is the goal of this saddle and comes at the expense of all other attributes.
Versatility
This is exclusively a saddle for the cruiser bike or town bike with short trips in mind. The Serfas Cruiser is not well suited to performance cycling of any type.
Durability
This bike saddle saw limited use on our performance-oriented road bikes and thus was not exposed to the rigors of racing and day-to-day training like other saddles in our review. It was used extensively for short trips around town and spent a good deal of time out in the elements. During our testing, we did not experience any significant durability issues. However, this is not a saddle suitable for heavy off-road use, and would likely not survive much abuse outside of its intended environment.
Weight
Weighing in at 774 grams, this contender is one of the heaviest saddles we have tested, and certainly won't be winning any awards for weight. With the massive amount of padding and the rubber bushing vibration dampeners, its weight is not surprising. But does saddle weight really matter on a 40lb beach cruiser?
Value
The E-Gel Cruiser is a little on the high end of the price spectrum when it comes to comfort-oriented saddles. Other options on the market offer similar cruising comfort for a lower price.
Conclusion
The Serfas E-Gel Cruiser is only offered in our tested model. Serfas does offer a line of similar comfort-oriented saddles for men and women. While this saddle won't be found on any racing bikes, it's hard to beat its luxurious padding and comfort for cruising around town.