Saddle preference is about as subjective as someone’s spicey food tolerance. Make that salsa too hot, or embark on too long a ride with a saddle that just isn’t right, and you’ll often end up wearing the same pain face.
While Fi’zi:k saddles go over as well with my butt as ornery Mexican food, WTB saddles have always felt just right, so I was very excited when they offered to send out a weight weenie saddle for a Santa Cruz Highball project.
The Volt is one of four WTB saddles available with carbon rails, and at a claimed 155 g, is the lightest production saddle they’ve produced. Our review sample came in a mere 2 g over claimed.
This model, as well as the Rocket, are both available starting this year in three different widths – 135, 142, & 150. The medium and wider versions are available in four different trims (Comp, Race, Pro, & Team), with prices starting at $40.
The narrow 135x260mm version we tested is also available with carbon rails, and retails for an eye watering, albeit competitively priced, $249.99.
The oval-shaped 7×9 mm carbon rails are designed for Thomson style top-down clamping posts and there is no claimed weight restrictions. As an added assurance, the saddle comes with a generous two year warranty.
The saddle has a subtle dropping nose to reduce the risk of getting hung up when moving about, and a long central cut out, or “Comfort Zone,” for *ahem* soft tissue relief.
The rear of the saddle has a slight rise often dubbed a whale tail, which provides support when climbing, and is said to help tilt the rider’s pelvis into more of a climbing position.
Kevlar trim at the corners protects the saddle’s vulnerable bits from abrasion.
On the Trail![WTB Volt Carbon Cover](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 600 400"></svg>)
In previous years, the Volt has proven it’s versatility be winning both the overall Enduro World Series title under Jereme Clementz, and the World Endurance Single Speed Championship under Brett Bellchambers.
Despite not possessing even an iota of either mans skill, to say this saddle is one of my favorites would be an understatement. For years I alternated between the WTB Devo and Silverado, but the shorter overall length of the Volt and more defined whale tail, have made it my preferred model.
It has relatively firm padding, but is comfortable even on all day rides. Our review sample has only been subjected to a few months of abuse, but considering I have several WTB saddles that should have earned their retirement several years ago, and continue to perform like new….longevity shouldn’t be an issue.
At this point I’d like to interject with some negative qualities about the saddle, but I can’t think of anything other than it might be a touch narrow for some in it’s carbon railed form. I do however still think the WTB Weirwolf tire is terrible, thank you for asking.
