Tioga Undercover Stratum Max saddle review

Tioga has introduced the Undercover Stratum Max saddle, which combines a SpyderWeb base with deep and soft padding on top. This combination might make it a comfortable saddle for some riders but there is some movement between the guides on the saddle rails (which might leave some fit issues) and the titanium rails put it at a premium price. Read on to see how it compares to other options in the competitive best gravel bike saddle space.

Tioga Undercover Stratum Max saddle – Technical details

The Tioga Undercover Stratum Max is available in three models, each with a different saddle rail material. The steel rail is the cheapest (£69.99) followed by the chromoly (£79.99) and then the titanium alloy rail (£119.99) pictured here. All models have a single width and the saddle dimensions are pegged at 285 x 145mm. The titanium version has a claimed weight of 270g – 23g more than our test saddle which weighed 247g. Still, at nearly 250g, it's nowhere near as light as some of the featheriest options on the market.

Tioga Undercover Stratum Max saddle – Performance

It was disappointing to see how little fore/aft movement there is on the saddle rails when installing, with only 55mm between the recommended spacing. This seems odd given there is roughly 20mm of flat rail even before the bends begin – have a look at the picture below. There are likely to be some seatpost designs with clamps that exceed the maximum recommended spacing, which will pose a serious issue for some users.

The base of the saddle features the Tioga SpyderWeb design, which has become a standout attribute. The base is quite flexible, as seen by holding and moving the saddle in your hand, particularly in the places furthest away from the saddle rail connection points.

The EVA foam top is quite deep and soft with a slow rebound, which caused some small problems for me. The main challenge is figuring out the correct saddle height, as the foam top is so deep and soft that it is difficult to match the saddle height with a tape measure. If you're less picky and simply go by feel, you might be able to ride and adjust the height a little easier than me but I found that with so much movement, I needed to add a couple of millimetres to my recommended saddle height measurement.

While riding, the soft foam top is very noticeable and there is a lot of movement both up and down as well as side to side. This can work well while riding off-road on a gravel bike, subsequently bolstering comfort and potentially improving seated pedalling.

The open channel section worked well for me. It is well-positioned, providing enough rearward saddle real estate to support your weight while curbing pressure and discomfort. I wasn't sure how the SpyderWeb base area would affect comfort but it has so much flex that I didn't notice it – which is a good thing.

Tioga Undercover Stratum Max saddle – Verdict

The Tioga Undercover Stratum Max differs from most other performance saddles on the market, featuring very soft cushioning similar to what you'd get on a city or touring bike. The EVA foam is soft and the slow-release compression gives it a memory foam effect. Saddles are very personal items with width, length, cut-outs and padding all playing important roles. Issues that may cause fit problems are the one-width sizing philosophy available and very limited saddle rail adjustment.

Compared to other titanium railed saddles, the £120 may appear reasonable but I believe the £80 10g heavier Chromoly version is a better alternative. At almost the same price, the WTB Gravelier titanium version is one of my personal favourites. Pat recently tested the Ergon SR Allroad that comes in two widths and one he found to be very comfortable.

The Tioga Undercover Stratum Max saddle stands out from the crowd due to its unique design. It's flexible and the pressure-relieving cut-out section will find favour with those who prioritise comfort over outright performance.