The Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 saddle is aimed at gravity riding such as enduro and downhill. With that in mind it has a flatter and narrower profile for better bike control. It's also equipped with a neat 12-function multi-tool. In use, the perch proves to be a bit too gravity-orientated for long pedalling days due to its flatter profile not being supportive enough, but it's a smart-looking and well-finished seat for gravity-orientated riding.
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Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 saddle + Alpaca Tool Carrier - Technical details
Let's start with the saddle, Fizik’s Gravita saddle is designed with gravity in mind and therefore the profile is flatter and narrower than other options. A 130mm width is claimed to give more room between the legs to move the bike around while riding technical terrain. The profile features a wide and flat nose for comfort while perched forward for steep climbing and gives a platform to push against. The flatter profile also makes moving fore and aft on the saddle simple. The saddle rails are in a continuous loop which is said to result in a more sturdy platform, improved weight distribution and reduces the risk of rails breaking during a crash. The wings and rear end of the saddle are designed to be flexible to reduce leg bruising and lower the risk of breaking during impact.
The tool carrier is fully integrated into the undercarriage of the saddle and is secured in place with a single bolt. The moulded plastic carried holds two 16g CO2 cartridges and a 12-pronged multi-tool which is held in place with a rubber strap. The multi-tool contains all the hex-keys you could need including the 8mm, cross and flat head screwdriver, T25 and T10 keys along with an inflator head for the CO2 cartridges.
Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 saddle + Alpaca Tool Carrier - Performance
The Gravita Alpaca feels like a well-constructed item. Its cover is neatly finished around the edges, the plastic base moulding is solid with a gloss finish and the cover underneath the nose rounds off nicely. With the multi-tool in place, the saddle and carrier weighed 365g.
The saddle cover itself feels like a durable material with a textured cover right at the tail. Although the textured part is grippy enough the majority of the saddle is very smooth and I found this to be quite slippery when wet and muddy. This was only annoying when trying to pitch forward for a steep climb and on the plus side it is easy to clean as mud doesn't build up so much.
The profile of the saddle wasn’t for me; the flatter nature of the Gravita Alpaca didn’t work so well for long days in the saddle. I found my sit bones weren’t being supported as much as I’d like – most likely due to the 130mm width where I’m more accustomed to 143mm – and the flat profile did create pressure points although these were lessened with a good chamois. For long pedalling days, Fizik does a similar saddle in the Gavita family called the Terra which is wider and more shaped.
In theory, I liked the accompanying tool holder. It proved to be quiet and gave excellent access to bike fixing capability. The multi-tool itself is a solid item, very sturdy and certainly built to last with all the hex/torx/screw keys you could ever need out on a trail. The integrated CO2 cartridge head is nifty and access is easy thanks to a hooked rubber strip that stows it quietly in place, it's a neat little package.
My biggest issue with the concept, however, is the fact that all these tools are right in the firing line of the rear tyre so any water and mud are soon caked all over this. Other tools that are cleverly stashed are at the end of handlebars, crank spindles and steerer tubes which are always clean to use on a muddy ride but unfortunately not so much with this setup. The multi-tool holder does a good job of shielding a lot of the mud but it still gets in. I don’t think this should be a deal breaker, however, just something to be aware of when reaching for these tools on a muddy ride.
Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 saddle + Alpaca Tool Carrier - Verdict
The saddle and tool carrier combo retails at £110 which is pretty reasonably priced for a technical saddle with a nifty tool set. Other options could be to buy your preferred saddle (for me a Specialized Bridge Mimic at £80) and spend £30-£40 on a stashed tool kit such as OneUp EDC lite or Torque Covert 7. As much as I like the Fizik offering, I’d prefer my on-bike toolkit to be stashed out of the elements as much as possible.
The Fizik Gravita Alpaca X5 + Tool Carrier saddle proves to be well suited to gravity-orientated riding but may not be the most comfortable option for all-day pedalling. Its reasonably flat profile and narrow base don’t provide the support or relief needed for all-day pedalling duties and in the wet/mud, I found the cover to be a little slippery. It is a well-finished item and have no concerns about the durability or quality of the saddle. Fizik does a Terra Gravita saddle which is more aimed at trail duties so this is worth checking out. The multi-tool and cartridge system is clever covering off most trail-side bike fettling eventualities, however, it is very exposed to the elements which can be impractical on muddy rides.
