WTB Koda Saddle: Quick Review

 Editor’s Note: Grannygear, our long time contributor here, is back again with a review of the new WTB Koda saddle. Enjoy!

WTB Koda Saddle: Quick Review- by Grannygear

Recently WTB released a new MTB saddle that caught my eye as a potential perch for gravel bike use.Although testing or recommending a saddle is a bit foolish, since no two butts are the same, I asked to see a sample and see how my wife liked it. Yes…this was intended for Mrs. Grannygear.

WTB
The WTB Koda saddle: Designed with women in mind, but men seem to like it as well.

Pity the rider who, upon finding the perfect saddle for them, also finds that that same ‘perfect’ saddle will no longer be manufactured. Time marches on. So after we had scoured eBay for used versions of the fav saddle, we set about finding a newer model that would work. She uses the same saddle across road, MTB, and gravel, so if possible it would do triple duty.

This is what WTB has to say about the new Koda saddle.

WTBWe were sent the Pro version with cro-mo rails and DNA padding, an upgrade from the standard padding quality. Note that WTB suggests a wide variety of uses ranging from road to enduro. In reality, what matters is what works for you. I tend to run a different saddle on road, MTB, and gravel so I am a mixed up mess in that way. But I find a medium padded saddle is good for gravel as it seems to offer the right amount of support yet gives some needed absorption of bumps and such.

I weighed the saddle at 234g in the 150mm wide version which is right in there according to WTB’s specs. It is a short saddle and the cut out zone is not that extreme as compared to other female specific saddles on the market. It also is not quite flat with small kick at the back and only a slightly dropped nose. I would call it a very generic shape and something that should be good all around unless you have some very specific preferences.

We have run it for many hours of riding now, and after the initial tweaking of placement, we have been pleasantly surprised. I say that, as my wife must have tried a good half dozen other options and typically rejected them after one ride. Sometimes less than one ride. The Koda is still in place and has been well received, being comfy for the most part and saving some weight off the old saddle. Bonus!

WTBWe also swapped it onto her Domane road bike and it has been OK there too.

If there was to be any improvement, Mrs. Grannygear would like more cutout. On longer rides, especially if she was climbing a lot as it would rotate her forward a bit and apply more pressure.

Of course, only you know your backside as well as is required to decide what saddle is for you, but WTB has been in the saddle game for a good long time and the Koda looks like a worthy addition.

Here is a quick video with Rebecca Rusch talking about the new Koda

 

Koda Overview with Rebecca Rusch from WTB on Vimeo.

NOTE: RidingGravel.com was not paid nor bribed for this review. Grannygear strives to give his honest thoughts and opinions throughout.


About The Author: Grannygear hails from SoCal and spent most of his cycling days as a mountain biker from the formative years of mountain biking all the way up to the present day. His day job is in the tech sector, but he has spent time writing about off road 4X4’s, 29″ mountain bikes, and cycling in general. Grannygear and Guitar Ted have worked off and on together since 2009 after a chance meeting at Interbike. With gravel cycling on the rise, Grannygear has been exploring how this genre’ works in SoCal and now does guest pieces for RidingGravel.com in his spare time.

 


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Author: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted hails from Iowa. Home of over 70,000 miles of gravel and back roads. An inaugural member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame and Co-creator of Trans Iowa in late 2004- Guitar Ted has been at the forefront of the growth of gravel events and riding since then. Creator of Gravel Grinder News in 2008, he produced the premier calendar of gravel and back road events. GT joined forces with Riding Gravel in late 2014.

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2 thoughts on “WTB Koda Saddle: Quick Review

  1. I have the Comp 150mm model and I have to say this is one of the more comfortable saddles I’ve run yet. I’m around 350lbs and I immediately noticed how the slightly shorter & wider front end felt like it was putting less pressure on me, and I felt like I could have my saddle more horizontal without feeling discomfort when in the drops.

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