No strangers to the saddle market, Fizik now have an offering for the female mountain bikers too, in the form of the Luna X5. The slim design and low profile make for a comfortable ride if you like a relatively aggressive riding position.
The Luna X5 mountain bike saddle is designed specifically for women with a focus on providing relief to the soft tissues and on providing freedom of movement so the rider can stay out for longer and ride harder. I’m sure you’ll know what I mean when I say there is nothing more debilitating on a ride than sore ‘bits’.
Aimed at riders adopting an aggressive riding position the Luna X5 measures 141mm at the rear and 280mm in length and measures just 50mm width in the middle of the nose. From rails to top of the saddle in the middle of the nose measures 47mm, fairly low profile, great to help get that saddle out of the way on descents, if you are struggling by millimetres to fit a longer dropper post in your bike, a low-pro saddle like the Luna X5 might help.
The saddle is designed around a central carbon reinforced nylon spine. The long, sleek nature offers you unrestricted leg movement, which coupled with the elastomer ‘wings’ that flex means there’s no uncomfortable rubbing on the rear or inner thighs when things get hot and sweaty. I’ve used previous Fizik saddles (namely the Vesta) with its claimed ‘wing flex’ and not been able to detect movement, but it's much improved where the Luna is concerned.
The narrow, lengthy nose means that there is plenty of space to move around when climbing and getting your weight on the front is easy. The flat rear surface of the Luna X5 has previously been alien to me but here, coupled with a middle cut-out, it’s a pressure-free place to be. The flat rear also makes it super easy to slide weight backwards too, whether seated with a dropper extended or hovering over a lowered dropper post. The rear of the saddle is also pretty short and blunt, making sure it wasn’t in the way as I got behind the saddle when descending. When covered in mud, I found I slid around quite easily on the flat saddle, something that could maybe be rectified by a grippier top covering. The cushioning of the cut-out is soft, dampening out vibrations whilst also retaining shape well. I get on well with a flat nose on a saddle, finding it the best way to dispel unwanted pressure and I've been saddle sore free since riding on the Luna X5.
The Luna X5 uses alloy rails, keeping the price down to £90 and the weight up at 267g. It's not a featherweight but it's light enough to be on par with its competitors. I’ve been using the Luna X5 for about a month now and can confirm that the hardwearing reinforced Microtex layer panels on each side of the saddle do their job. However, that highlights some nicks and scuffs on the back of the saddle though where the classic Microtex material is used, it'll be interesting to see how well the Luna X5 fares over the remainder of the winter.
It’s a bold move by Fizik to go for an opposing looking flat saddle design, but one in keeping with the style of their other models, it’s unfussy and comfy for both the sit bones and other bit’s alike, you don’t get that feeling of being ever in the ‘wrong’ position. The flat nature worked for me, saddle reviews are such a difficult thing as all women are shaped differently and saddle choice is usually a game of trial and error. I can say though, if you are looking for a ‘less is more’ feeling and like to ride in a more aggressive (less upright position) then the Fizik Luna X5 would be a great saddle to try your luck with.
It’s worth noting, the Luna X5 comes in two widths, regular (141mm) and large (153mm), both costing £90. If you like gadgets too, the Luna X5 will allow you to fit a rear light or, on a gravel bike say, a small saddle bag directly to the underside of the saddle, a neat addition.
