The new Bel-Air 3.0 was a test winner previously, one of the best mountain bike saddles we’ve tested and, apart from some new colours, it remains unchanged. It still has a distinctive high tail and stress relieving channel, but this has mellowed out over the years, so it not only looks sleeker, you transition between the different areas a lot easier.

It’s one of the lightest saddles we’ve tested, so is not as well-padded as some and there’s less depth across the nose, but when you rotate forward for a steep climb there’s a central cutaway to help alleviate perineum pressure. Overall, the Bel-Air feels a lot firmer than the Specialized Bridge Comp, but the fit is still very good. 

Like a lot of saddles, the rails are suspended slightly on the base, so there’s a decent amount of flex when you’re rattling along a bumpy track. These are a Lux Alloy, which is still essentially cro-mo but it’s around 15% lighter and stronger.

Like most manufactures, SDG is using a Atmos 3D co-moulded construction, which is the same as the Spank Oozy and Burgtec The Cloud MKII saddles. There are no exposed seams, no staples showing or rough edges, but the cover on our sample has started to lift slightly in one place at the back. On the top are two sonic-welded patches, which stop abrasion, but they don’t collect mud like the Kevlar patches on the WTB. 

Adding a cutaway to the Selle Italia XBow makes it feel flimsy, but the one here is quite small and it’s covered, so there’s no issues with excess flex or, importantly, spray. The channel is quite shallow too, so doesn’t hold onto slop like the SQ Lab, and as a result the Bel-Air does feel grippier. 

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