On the third day of a cycling trip, you really notice whether your saddle is the right one. It’s not your legs that determine how far you can go; it’s your seating position that does. Therefore, Fabric is launching a new version of its best-known saddle: the ALM:HALO. It weighs only 145 grams, and for the first time there’s a version with a channel to reduce pressure on the back of the neck.
A saddle from aircraft construction
The first ALM saddle was released over ten years ago. Fabric made it together with engineers from Airbus. The saddle was made from one piece and had almost no foam. Yet it was surprisingly comfortable, because the rails act like a leaf spring. For the new version, Fabric worked again with the same engineers, who are now at the National Composites Centre in England.
What is better?
Many saddles sag in the middle, like a hammock. It feels soft in the first hour, but after a long day it presses against the wrong place. With other saddles, the sides bend downward when you step hard, causing the middle to push up into your seat.
Fabric has therefore combined the two rear rails into one sturdy base: the HALO. This keeps the saddle stable when you apply force, while the rails still provide support on rough roads.
The Ergo version: for long days
For those who suffer from numbness on long trips, there is now the ALM:HALO Ergo. It has an open channel in the middle, so there is less pressure on the sensitive soft parts. The foam runs over the channel. This prevents dirt and water from getting in, something you immediately notice when riding gravel or in the rain with a saddle with a hole in it.
Specifications and price
- Weight: 145 grams
- Dimensions: 265 x 142 mm
- Rails: carbon, oval 10 x 7 mm
- Price: €329
- For sale via fabric.cc and Fabric dealers
Our opinion
A saddle weighing 145 grams with almost no foam doesn't sound like something for a cycling trip. But the adjustable rails and sturdy middle are designed to make long days more comfortable. Yet a saddle remains very personal. Try it first, for example through a dealer with a test saddle, before you ride it on a longer journey. And pay attention to your cycling pants on long days as well: read our test of the Gonso SQLab Go.
Source and photos: Fabric. You can read more about this saddle and the technology behind it on our sister site Cyclingreview.
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