Steel Rails, Fewer Headaches: Wove’s Practical Pivot
Wove’s new metal-railed saddles cut $180+ off carbon models. More weight, more durability. Smart trade for busy, data-driven riders?
Wove built its name on carbon-railed saddles that hover around the 150–170 g mark and cost about as much as a wheel upgrade. The Wove Mags we reviewed is light, easy to center, and comfortable—but $500 is real money for a part that lives under your bibs.
Now they’re offering steel-railed versions of the Wove Mags, Wove M8, and Wove V8. Reported target numbers: ~210 g and around $310 for a metal Mags; ~265 g and around $320 for a metal V8. That’s a 40–90 g penalty depending on model, and roughly $180–$200 saved. For a busy dad who isn’t counting grams but is counting expenses, that trade looks different.
Here’s the catch: $310 is still a commitment. And I haven’t put miles on the steel-railed versions yet, so I can’t verify how the flex compares to the carbon models. In theory, steel rails should mean fewer clamp compatibility headaches and better crash durability. If you’ve ever heard that sharp crack when carbon rails meet a torque wrench, you know why that matters. If your goal is sub-7 kg bragging rights, ignore this. If your goal is a saddle that fits your pelvis and survives a few seasons, the metal option might be the rational play.
