Saddles are about as personal as it gets. What works for me, may not always work for all riders. But, there are some saddles that can work well for most riders and Bontrager’s latest Verse saddle line aims to do just that.
Bontrager Verse Elite Saddle Features:
- Full-length cutout built for men and women
- Longer rails for increased mounting options
- Austenite rails are lighter and stronger than Titanium
- Available in 135, 145, 155 and 165mm widths
- Length: 270mm
- Height: 50mm (bottom of rail to saddle top at center)
- Weight: 255 grams (Elite 155, actual)
- MSRP: $149.99
Verse Elite — Good width, length and comfort (eventually)
As mentioned, the new Bontrager Verse saddle line is all-new and will replace the venerable Montrose and Anja saddles in their lineup going forward. The Verse is a unisex saddle that’s been built for both men and women’s anatomy. Honestly, my backside really likes the Montrose, so knowing that it’s going away has made me extra-interested in its replacement. With that, the new Verse lineup consists of the Verse Pro ($219.99), Verse Elite ($149.99) and Verse Comp ($89.99). As you go down the line you go from carbon rails to Austenite and then stainless rails and the shell material and padding changes vary as well.
Across the range, you’ll find a mind-boggling four widths, which are 135, 145, 155 and 165mm. I can’t think of another saddle range that has that kind of an offering. As always, any Trek dealer should have a Bontrager saddle measurement tool to get you the right size. And, don’t forget about their 30-day guarantee that allows you to try the saddle and return it for another or get a full refund. With something as personal as a saddle, that guarantee is so nice to have.
Let’s go through the Bontrager Verse Comp 155mm, which has been in the hopper for a little over a month. That’s a shorter than usual timeframe for a saddle review, but I’ll keep testing and post updates over time.
As with the Bontrager Aeolus saddle, the new Verse line has a Blendr mount option for attaching lights or other accessories. The mount and light are available separately and it works awesome with any Bontrager tail light, like the Flare RT. The light sits up a little higher and avoids interference with saddle bags or challenges when mounting them to an aero seatpost.
Something to mention here is the additional length of the rails on the Verse saddle. This makes the clamp-able area about 95mm, which is way more than your typical saddle, which sits between 65-85mm of adjustment. This helps avoid the need to replace your seatpost with a different setback, just to get that “Goldilocks fit.”
Getting the fit just right
As mentioned, the rail length is really long. It came in handy aboard the Canyon Endurance CF SL 8.0 because I needed a little more forward position with the included 20mm setback post. I was able to get the reach adjustment dialed in on the Verse Elite, but the saddle angle proved a little trickier.
For starters, I set the saddle up about 1-degree nose-down. I thought this would be a good starting point to get my bearings straight. After a couple of mediocre-feeling rides, I wasn’t so sure. There was continued discomfort (not numbness), just a nagging ability to get fully comfortable on it. After that, I re-adjusted it to 0-degrees and things improved a bit, but not entirely. I need more ride time to sort everything out, and maybe the 155mm width is too wide for my anatomy, but I kept fiddling with it and found my Shangri-La while testing the 3T Exploro RaceMax. I’ve had hundreds of miles of mixed-surface bliss aboard the Verse Elite.
I do love the cutout as it ensures consistent blood flow to my nether regions. Not once did I experience numbness, so that’s a good sign. I also love the nice, wide nose and the overall length of the saddle that allows plenty of fore/aft movement for varying body positions on the bike. The nose isn’t as wide as the Bontrager Aeolus, but it is significantly wider than the Montrose was.
Note: After switching to the 145, I have found my saddle. I’m nearing 1000 miles on it and it just plain works for me.
The Good
- Long rails offer tons of adjustability
- Blendr mount option is nice
- Cutout ensures blood is flowing to your sensitive bits
- Extra length gives more room to move
- 4 widths for a near-custom fit
The Bad
Still trying to find that comfort sweet spot… I’m close(the 145mm width did the trick)
The Bottom Line: Bontrager Verse Elite Saddle
I can typically find a good home on a Bontrager saddle, and the Montrose was one of my favorites. Its replacement is the all-new Verse line and it’s made to work with both men and women. There’s a ton to love with this saddle and I really like it, but haven’t quite found my sweet spot. In time, I think I’ll get it, so stay tuned. (Update: The 145mm version has been in for review and I think I found my sweet spot. Be sure to get measured for that proper fit. And, a 155 in one Bontrager saddle may not mean you’ll enjoy a 155 in other models.)
Buy Now: Available at TrekBikes.com
24 Comments
I can always can’t on FeedtheHabit to have a review on something that I am considering buying!
I have been running the Montrose saddle on my road bike, which I really like, and was planning on adding another one to my Open Up gravel bike until I noticed the release of the Verse. It appears the Verse has a little more padding which might be helpful on longer gravel rides.
Based on this recent review, I would love to get your feedback on which saddle to go with. Stick with the Montrose for gravel or do you think the Verse a better option for gravel?
Thanks David! I’m still trying to figure out if I will love the Verse saddle yet or not. I’m going to try the 145mm version to see if it’s better for me than the 155mm version. It’s a good saddle, but I’m not quite in love with it just yet.
The Montrose is a great saddle, but let me keep fiddling with the Verse and let you know.
Ok, sounds good.
Jason, just curious since you have now landed on the 145mm Verse, what width of Montrose did you ride? I’ve been running the M/138mm Montrose for a while and very happy, but I am considering adding a Verse to my gravel bike and unsure if I should go 135 or 145. Thanks for the great review.
Thanks Eric! I rode the 138 Montrose all summer on the Supercaliber and loved it. Really hard to say for sure bit a little (but not too much) extra width is nice on gravel. Good luck! It’s a great saddle for sure.
Thanks for the quick reply! I was leaning toward 145, I’ll give that a trial. My thinking was that if this saddle is replacing the Montrose and the Ajna that the 135 would replace 128, 145 for 138, etc and the 165 would be the widest predominantly women’s specific offering. I’ll post back once I’ve got some hours on it.
Thanks for the quick reply! I was leaning toward 145, I’ll give that a trial. My thinking was that if this saddle is replacing the Montrose and the Ajna that the 135 would replace 128, 145 for 138, etc and the 165 would be the widest predominantly women’s specific offering. I’ll post back once I’ve got some hours on it.
Hey, Jason and Eric. Great review (Jason). Wondering about your experiences on the 145 Verse and which trim level each of you went with. Also wondering what the difference between the 145 and 155 is, beside the obvious sit bone area (was the center also wider on the 155 causing pressure?).
Sorry for the delay, Darren. I will measure both saddles and let you know, but I believe it’s just a width difference in the sit bone area, not in the nose.
Thanks, Jason! I have the 155 Verse Pro right now. Strange thing was that I rode it for an entire month with no issue (even long rides), then suddenly the last few rides, the width at the center of the saddle feels like it’s bruising me high on the inner thighs. I’m curious if the 145 is more narrow at the center. I’m sure the noses themselves are the same width.
You are correct, Darren. The nose is identical. The only difference is in the widest part of the saddle. I just added a side-by-side photo in the review above.
Thank you, Jason! The side by side is a nice bonus, too. I’m still fiddling with the 155, but if I’m not successful, I may try a 145 based on your experience.
Sir – Thank you for the reviews of the Bontrager Verse and Aeolus. Between the two, which would you recommend for light gravel / all-road riding for a rider who mainly rides on the hoods? Thank you.
The Verse would be my choice for sure. The Aeolus is more of a drops kind of ride.
Thank you, sir.
Excellent review! I think I am going to give this a try.
Thanks for this review! Just catching up as I consider the Verse Comp. If it’s not too personal, can I ask your height and weight just to get a ballpark idea if it’s going to be the 145 or 155 for me. I’m 6’4″ 200 lbs and ride light trail, gravel, and paved. Thanks for your expertise.
Gregg… saddle width is so hard to guess, but I would say the 155 would be a better bet. Just a hunch, but there are ways to measure your sit bone widths if you really want to go that route.
If you can head to a Trek dealer, they should have a tool to measure it. If not, you can place fresh piece of cardboard on a flat, hard surface and then sit on it. You can then see the indentations where your sit bones are. That’s the hack way of measuring it.
That being said, I know I appreciate a little wider saddle (but not too wide), so I gravitate to the 155mm.
Thanks Jason! That cardboard trick sounds much better than what I’ve been trying to do with my caliper tool. I tend to agree with you- probably the 155- it’s finding the sweet spot between not sitting on your muscles too much but still enjoying getting on the bike for more than a short ride. Cheers!
Hi’ I’m from Denmark – Thanks for all the great FTH reviews 🙂
I’m a little confused about these new saddles. This new Verse is sold as the “new” Montrose, but the Montrose is a Race saddle / riding position “2”, and the Verse is sold as a position “3” /Performance..?? Isn’t the Aerolus more like the Montrose, just shortnosed?
Yeah… the Verse is more of an all-rounder saddle and may not be an exact replacement of the Montrose. But, the Verse is maybe the saddle that most people really need anyway? I have really liked the Verse Elite for my road position. I’m not super aggressive (about 2.5″ saddle-to-bar drop) in my positioning, for reference. I do like the Verse more than the Aeolus, honestly (but the Aeolus is still a great saddle that I like a lot — I just like the Verse a little more).
Sounds correct – I have to give it try. Thanks for fast usefull reply 🙂
Got the 155. Comfortable, supportive, good for movement. Taking advantage of the the longer rails for my height.
Thanks again Jason!
Awesome to hear! I’ve really liked it.