Chromag Lynx DT trail saddle

SO GOOD

Sitting on the Lynx DT is like slipping on to your favourite bar stool – it’s that comfy! The padding is softer and thicker than most, which makes long days out a doddle.

The lengthy profile means this comfort doesn’t come at the cost of technical manoeuvrability. It’s a fantastic seat for longer-legged trail bikes and riders who want to recover on the climbs rather than attack them.

NO GOOD

With chromoly rails, the Lynx DT is the portliest saddle here at 295g. We also found that after several gritty winter rides the colour began to scuff off the lower sections – disappointing at this price.

PRICE 95$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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