Ergon SM3 Saddle: Final Review- by Guitar Ted
Ergon has made a name for itself by putting out contact point products that are unique, high quality, and effective for many riders. Starting with grips, then moving on to pedals, the only item missing from the range was a saddle. Obviously, the new SM3 has closed that gap. For a full and detailed look at the SM3, see my previous post here.
I have ridden this saddle for well over two months on short rides and long. As written up in the previous post, the saddle first found a home on one of my single speeds, but I felt a more telling result might be gained from a bike that I sat in the saddle more than I do while single speed riding, which is punctuated by several out of the saddle efforts. To that end, I placed the Ergon saddle on my Salsa Cycles Mukluk and rode it for rides of a half an hour to three hours in length at times for the last two months I have tested it.
The interesting thing about this saddle for me is that it gives me the sensation that my legs are freer to move near my hip area. This never seemed to be something I would have thought was necessary, or even good until I rode the SM3. Now going back to other saddles my legs feel a tiny bit restricted, and I can see why sometimes I get chafing or just fatigued from saddles that aren’t fitting me as well as this Ergon one does.
The other main thing I have noticed is how easy,(and then how much), it is to slightly shift my weight on this saddle to not only weight the bike differently, but to use my leg muscles in different ways. Important on long pedaling sessions where sitting in one spot can get tiresome and cause soreness more quickly.
The Ergon SM3 has not only proven to be a very comfortable saddle for me, but a tough one as well. Before removing it from the single speed, I came down on it so abruptly and hard that I broke the carbon seat post I was using right in half. On another occasion, while using it on the Mukluk, I slipped off the platform pedals and came crashing down on top of the saddle with my full weight. No negative effect to the Ergon SM3, and fortunately, none to me, with the exception of a bruised ego. 
Conclusions: While I have not noticed anything negative concerning the construction or performance of the SM3 to speak of, Ergon CEO Franc Arnold told me at Interbike that little details he is not pleased with are being refined to make the Ergon SM3 even better. That said, if Ergon improves this already really great saddle, I can’t imagine I would notice much in my riding, but all the better, right?
As for mountain biking use, I can say the SM3 is easy to move around on, doesn’t snag my shorts, and is durable. The SM3 does require a bit of a flat profile, to “nose down” attitude, from my usual slightly “nose up” saddle settings, so do note that you may need to go outside your usual parameters to make this work for your needs. Once I got the SM3 dialed in though, I found it to be very comfortable, less fatiguing, and I could even do rides without a chamois in comfort. Finally, while saddle choice is highly personal, I can highly recommend taking a hard look at what Ergon has to offer here. While they are a “new” player in the performance saddle market, the SM3 has a lot going for it for a first time effort.
Note: Ergon sent the SM3 Pro saddle over to Twenty Nine Inches at no charge. We are not being paid nor bribed for this review and we strive to give our honest thoughts and opinions throughout.
Spot on review. I’ll add that this is the only seat were I’ve completely forget about it on the longest of rides. And I’ve been riding some pretty cushy seats the last 5 years (terry’s carbon fly). Not one complaint after 4 months on this seat, recommend it too (suppose color options would be nice, but ERGON takes so long to get products to market I wouldn’t want to slow them down just for color options).
I wish Ergon’s marketing made more sense. I bought the base SM3 model. I wanted to know what another $35 got me in the SM3 Pro. I believe the ONLY difference is the carbon shell. It’s my understanding the it is maybe more compliant, but ways almost the exact same.
Anyway, my experience so far is that every time I sit on the saddle it feels a little strange, and yet I don’t experience any numbness. I’m finding that I really like this saddle in spite of how it sometimes feels funny.
Of my previous saddles (I’ve had a lot) my last few favorites have been the Devo/Deva and the Silverado all from WTB.
I think I want to try the SM3 on my road bike too. I think I may have to get a second saddle actually.
@John (Aka Wish I Were Riding) The carbon shell is supposed to flex more optimally for a slight boost to comfort over the base model, and isn’t really there for weight savings, but that is a bonus sometimes with carbon fiber usage.
You may be interested to know that Ergon is going to release a road version of their saddle which is optimized for the more “bent over” position on a road bike.
I guess the real test is; did you go out and buy one for all of your bikes?
Both you and John(AKA) say the saddle feels a little weird, I guess you got to try it for yourself to understand what that means.
Do you think that Ergon will have a “try a saddle program” like WTB? Isn’t that the best way to get people to try new products that they may not think they would like?
I have had mine for about a week and while not a ton of rides as of yet, I’d agree it does have this odd way of making your legs feel a bit less restricted around the hips. Also feel more centered on this seat than others, as well as feel it’s easy to move fore and aft.
I have a few good rides planned for it, but so far I’m happy. Usuaully I feel a saddle needs more break in time before it feels good. This felt great out of the box. Only thing I did change was a more nose down (slightly) than the level saddle position they suggest. That said, it’s on my cross bike too and I’m more bent over on that.
Yogi, yes there will be a demo program implemented in the USA. Ask your dealer. They can then inquire with us to get a set of demo saddles.
John, correct, the only difference between the SM3 and SM3 Pro is the shell. SM3 shell is a GFK material, which is the same materials as our barends. SM3 Pro shell is a 100% carbon shell.