![dmr-oioi-saddle-review-4.jpg dmr-oioi-saddle-review-4.jpg](https://off.road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/970wide/public/thumbnails/image/dmr-oioi-saddle-review-4.jpg?itok=DDCHGcWn)
- Tough build
- Aggressive looks
- Harsh fabric
- Holds mud and water
Endorsed by pro downhiller Ben ‘Deakinator’ Deakin, the OiOi is a comfy, gravity-focused saddle with rufty-tufty camo styling that's backed up by strong, no-nonsense design. While the shape is good enough for almost any kind of ride, the OiOi's not perfect – the fabric holds mud and water, and is a little abrasive too.
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Built using superlight foam (most foam is pretty light anyway...) on sturdy (not very light) CroMo rails, this saddle is medium to long, and fairly flat both lengthwise and across. A central relief groove helps keep your delicate bits intact. There's also a cutaway in the centre of the saddle base, and this is key to the long-ride comfort.
The plastic shell offers decent flex with that cutaway to encourage it, and while the saddle feels somewhat basic, its lowish price reflects that.
The cover is durable and rather rough, which is excellent for keeping you in place when pedalling, but unfortunately it does the same for mud, which it holds onto with some tenacity. It's going to give lighter, thinner shorts a pretty hard time as well.
Whilst the OiOi is best suited to Enduro and DH, it’s a decent budget all-rounder. Good comfort, strong CroMo rails and that solid-feeling base give the whole saddle a no-messing type feel that's probably going to come out of crashes better than you.
While its snub nose and flat top make it look pretty aggressive, especially with the Camo fabric, it's user-friendly. The length is good for moving around when climbing, without wanting to hook up on shorts.
I was surprised to see some piling on the fabric sides from thigh rubbing, but it seems to just be a bedding-in process – there's no sign of the cover breaking down or wearing through. It's tough stuff.
One downside of the fabric's density is that it also holds water, taking ages to dry out after wet rides. It just can't shuck mud or bead water the way a smoother finish can.
DMR has given this some nice detailing, but mud plus flapping shorts made quick work of dispatching the painted rail graphics. The rear logo is stitched in and way more resilient. As a bonus, the OiOi's shape means its easy to get to your seatpost clamp when fitting it to the bike, which is not true of every saddle.
The OiOi is good value, if basic and chunky - and the looks are a bit love/hate (it's only available in Camo Grey or Camo Green). It's comfy, tough and secure, and holds you very firmly in place... so long as you don't mind it doing the same for any flying mud and moisture.
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