The SMC4-M in detail

First of all, let's disentangle the somewhat cumbersome designation SMC4-M: "S" stands for "saddle", "M" stands for "mountain bike", "C" stands for "comfort series", the "4" indicates the generation and the final "M" (or "L" if applicable) for the width of the saddle, which is therefore available in M or L.
The "SMC4 Comp Gel" saddle - the top model in this series - has an aluminum frame (with a small amount of titanium, called TiNox). The seat shell is made of a nylon composite material, the upper material is made of microfiber and good padding is provided by orthopaedic comfort foam plus gel padding.
In addition to the "Comp Gel" model we tested, the saddle is also available in the "Sport Gel" and "SMC4" versions.

The basic shape is the same for all models and they all have the approximately nine millimeter wide relief channel in the middle of the seat. However, they differ in the structure of the upholstery and the material of the frame. The Sport-Gel has the same upholstery structure (orthopaedic comfort foam plus gel padding), but only has a frame made of steel with a chrome-molybdenum alloy (CroMo). The cheapest model in the range, the SMC4, also has upholstery with orthopaedic comfort foam, but no gel padding.

The optimum saddle size

Whether you need the saddle in "M" or "L" depends on the distance between the sit bones. The length of the saddle is identical for both sizes, but the L saddle is ten millimetres wider than the M saddle. If you don't know the distance between your sit bones, you can also have it estimated on the Ergon website by simply entering your height, weight and hip circumference.
However, it is very easy to measure the distance between your sit bones yourself. You can find lots of instructions online and it is definitely worth determining this value.

Installation

There were no problems or surprises when fitting the saddle, just tighten the bolts, align the saddle and you're done.

The Ergon Comp Gel "unterem Füdli"

The saddle feels - after a short familiarization period - very sporty and yet comfortable, no trace of a soft (gel) sofa or the like. Ergon has found a good balance between comfort and sportiness. The foam-gel mixture distributes the pressure on the saddle very well, yet you never have the feeling of literally sinking into the saddle. On routes with long passages, you completely forget about the saddle, which is of course a good sign.

On very steep climbs, the wide saddle nose turned out to be very helpful: it made the already strenuous position more bearable.

The saddle isn't exactly one of the slimmest of its kind, but that doesn't matter for bikes with retractable seat posts. We then fitted it to a race fully without a dropper post, and even here we hardly ever got stuck with our shorts after a short adjustment from the hard and slim race saddle to the SMC4-M.
Fortunately, the saddle only had to endure a few falls, which it took without any problems. Neither the cover nor the saddle frame have suffered any visible damage.

Conclusion on the Ergon SMC4-M Comp Gel saddle

When it comes to saddles, recommendations are always very difficult and can only be given with caution. In our test, however, the Ergon "SMC4 Comp Gel" found many friends. We really liked the mix of comfort, weight and function and definitely give it the thumbs up. Anyone looking for a comfortable yet sporty saddle should definitely give the Ergon SMC4 Comp Gel a try.

www.ergon-bike.com