PRO MSN 1.3 Saddle Review – Enduro Comfort Meets Trail Performance

Key Details of PRO MSN 1.3 Enduro Saddle

• Product Name: PRO MSN 1.3 Enduro Saddle
• Category: Mountain bike saddle / Enduro saddle
• RRP: $235 AUD
• Weight: 258g (actual, 142mm width)
• Widths Available: 142mm, 152mm
• Material: Carbon-reinforced base, polyurethane upper, Inox stainless steel rails
• Features: Central comfort channel, drainage port, short-length design, mild curvature
• Intended Use: Enduro, trail, and all-mountain MTB
• Buy from: pro-bikegear.com

Pro is a brand that is known for their ride-ready, no-nonsense components. As I am on a bit of a mission in life to find the one saddle to rule them all, I tested out their newly released PRO MSN 1.3 saddle. 

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Designed specifically for enduro and trail riders, tackling tough terrain, the PRO MSN 1.3 is a mildly curved saddle that provides a neutral position on the bike. It features a short length design, keeping trend with most newer saddle offerings within the past five years. The PRO MSN 1.3 is offered in 142 and 152mm widths, and features a carbon reinforced base with a central recess and drainage port for those truly mucky and wet days on the bike.

The Pro MSN 1.3 is extra robust thanks to the firm polyurethane upper and reinforced carbon base. Inox stainless steel rails mount the saddle to your seat post, so while the saddle isn’t super light at 258g (actual weight, 142mm), it’s far from a heavyweight option. 

Installation and set-up

Installing the Pro MSN 1.3 saddle is a piece of cake with standard posts and I installed this saddle on my do-everything trail bike. With standard stainless steel rails, installation is a matter of removing your old saddle and sliding the PRO MSN 1.3 onto your post. Pro provides a handy cardboard tool that is integrated into the packaging that allows the user to identify the 80mm width spot in your existing saddle. Once this is done, you can install the PRO MSN 1.3 in a similar position to replicate your existing reach. This is super handy when switching between a standard and short-length saddle, where that 80mm point may be up to 3cm in difference.

Once your saddle is installed at the correct fore-aft, it’s a matter of adjusting the saddle angle to ensure you can sit in that desired neutral position. I found that I wanted to have the nose of the saddle quite flat, however that pushed me forward onto my hands and made for quite an uncomfortable ride. By incrementally moving the saddle nose upwards I was able to find a spot where I felt noticeably ‘in’ the saddle, also easing the pressure from my hands.

PRO MSN 1.3 on the trail

What makes a saddle a good choice for enduro and trail riding? I kept coming back to this thought during the rest period. Coming from a flat, hard short length saddle, the PRO MSN 1.3 really sits you in a solid position when pedalling for long periods and climbing. I found the 142mm to be supportive of both ischial tuberosities (aka: sit bones) with the anatomical channel effectively relieving soft tissue discomfort.

With that said, sliding forward onto the nose is still very manageable for very steep and technical climbing. The polyurethane upper allows enough ease of movement without sliding, partially again due to the saddle’s mild curve.

Descending is what this saddle is all about, and the PRO MSN 1.3’s tapered edges and depth means that it’s unlikely to snag shorts if you’re hanging off the back. The design also means there’s no plastic bits to jab you when moving around on technical trails, something I have found to be prevalent with other short length saddles that feature bits of plastic reinforcement in awkward spots.

I wasn’t able to use this saddle in the monsoonal weather patterns experienced over summer, as local trail networks close when wet! However the drainage port was effective when washing a muddy bike. I did find that the PU upper did show some signs of wear on the rear of the saddle from everyday use, without any big crashes it’s surprising that it exhibited the wear, likely as a result of cafe leans post-ride.

Our take on the PRO MSN 1.3

The PRO MSN 1.3 enduro saddle is a great option for the rider that is prioritising a comfortable seating position for the long grinds to the top of the descent, without compromising performance on the way back down. I used this saddle for epic fire road rides, social cross country jaunts, and local downhill runs and it stood up to the test. For those not too concerned about needing a super light-weight saddle, it’s a great saddle for all mountain biking riding, not just enduro.

Pros and cons

Pros
– Comfortable anatomical position
– Materials and construction mean no short snagging
– Drainage port for wet weather

Cons
– Expensive
– Not super lightweight for the weight weenies