WTB Pure Chromoly Review

Hands-On Review

While bike saddle fit can be somewhat subjective, some aspects are generally good for human anatomy and the evolving sport of mountain biking. Multiple riders test all of our saddles over an extended length of time so we can write with consensus.

Comfort

The Pure uses a relatively classic, if not large, shape. Measuring 275mm long and 148mm wide, it's not a dainty saddle. The saddle has a contoured shape that cradles the pelvis and features a pressure-release cutout called the Comfort Zone. This is a small oval-shaped window cut into the shell that allows the padding to push through, providing a soft spot for your most sensitive spots.

The Flex-tuned base seeks to balance comfort and efficiency. WTB says it's their mid-flex material, which feels accurate. It isn't carbon stiff, but it doesn't have the drop in sag of the Comfort shell. The padding is thick; this isn't a minimalist design, but it doesn't lose sight of its ergonomic form. The nose of the saddle drops low to prevent hanging up on your shorts, and the bottom of the nose tapers inward to prevent chafing.

Performance

I spent years guiding multi-day cycling trips for people who were generally unaccustomed to spending all day, every day in the saddle, and the day 3 complaints were common and predictable. Luckily, that's right around when we were passing through a town with a bike shop, and I'd advise grabbing a Pure off the rack. This saddle was almost universally met with sighs of relief. After 20-25 hours in the saddle, these desperate riders would have dropped hundreds of dollars for the ugliest saddle in the world if it meant finishing the week in comfort, but the Pure was almost always the answer.

Due to its wider profile and thick padding, some of our testers felt it was too large or too comfortable for shorter rips off-road. The saddle has a hammock-like center that allows you settle in and bask in its comfort. While this is fantastic for comfort, it's less ideal for moving fore and aft, as you'll find on a flatter saddle. When you do pull forward to “ride the rivet,” an expression that means to sit on the nose while climbing, you fully employ the extra-thick padding and wider drop nose. Our male and female testers appreciated the saddle equally, with lighter-weight riders less able to fully utilize the density of its padding.

Versatility

We found the Pure to be an awesome all-mountain saddle, with the platform and squish that made it well-suited for gravity-fed adventures, but I wouldn't pigeonhole it into a mountain bike use case. If you're a road rider, bike packer, or gravel adventurer who hasn't been happy with the minimalist offerings in your discipline, the Pure might be your ticket. We find the saddle to be almost egregiously heavy in its steel-railed form, but it's incredibly well priced and quite durable. As the old expression goes, “light, cheap, and strong, pick two.” If you're weight-conscious, you can lighten your wallet and buy the titanium-railed Pure for $143. It costs more than twice as much as the Chromoly saddle, but you'll shave 100 grams without sacrificing comfort.

Durability

All WTB saddles use a Microfiber Cover that looks and feels like leather, but this synthetic material is more durable and offers anti-microbial properties. The cover feels supple and lets you sink into the foam padding. The rear corners of the cover use an ABR, an abrasion-resistant material that feels a bit like Cordura or Kevlar and provides additional strength in that high-stress area. Our test saddle saw tester action for the better part of 4 months and looks no worse for wear. Over the years, we've owned many of these saddles, and while the old ones had seams in the cover, we still have several in great shape.

Weight

At a whopping 346 grams, you might wonder if there was a tube velcroed to the saddle when we weighed it, but nope, that's just how much it weighs. While it's the heaviest saddle in our test, we have a feeling that those who desire this level of comfort won't fret about the grams. If that isn't the case, the titanium model will give you all the comfort and benefits without the weight penalty.

Value