Very fair question.

The Dash Custom is $575, has minimal padding, not ISO tested for strength/durability (to our knowledge. but we respect the fellow Colorado-based company and I rode a tri.7 from 2010 to 2014).

Our saddles are well padded and greatly surpass ISO testing and have no weight limit. That is largely due to the rails and shell being one piece and made at the same time with the unidirectional carbon fiber from the rails spread throughout the entire shell of the saddle. So, part of the cost is that innovation. You may not need or value that innovation.

The two other saddles you mention are considerably more heavy, not made in the US, not handmade, so it's like comparing a Porsche to a Kia. Now, a Kia will get you from point A to point B just as well as the Porsche, but the the latter does have performance benefits and significantly greater investment in innovation.

Another innovation: our foam and cover material are molded directly onto the shell of our saddle, both beginning as liquids. We aren't merely slapping/gluing on something made overseas. On that, We could go overseas and pay $5/hour or less to have our saddles made. That doesn't sit well with our values. We respect if others do not share our values.

Further, our shell and rails will last 10+ years and we offer foam/cover replacement (free during the first year and for a nominal fee after the first year).
We also have a 30 day money back, no questions asked guarantee, and a Demo program where people can try a saddle for 2 weeks for free.

Last, our saddles are darn comfortable and as pointed out in this instagram post, our saddle is 5.5x cheaper $/g than the cost of reducing weight in a set of wheels.

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now, in reference to this thread ...

The existence of Porsche and Ferrari does not exclude or in almost any way affect the existence of or market performance of Kia and Hyundai. There's room in the market for both. Similarly, it would be a difficult argument to make or prove that the existence of Darimo, THM, Gelu, Schmolke, Tune, Gemini, the new Scott TT frame, $3k aerobars, or $5k wheels affect the existence and continued introduction of more affordable bikes and bike parts that help make our sports more inclusive. But, we have no issue with value signaling. Regarding the role of product reviews of high end products, I love what James Huang recently did comparing the top of the line Canyon to a lower end model on which he swapped to Hunt wheels.

There may actually be less of an effect of high-end goods on the inclusiveness in sport than there is an effect caused by demand for cheaper goods on ethically concerning working conditions in locations where those cheaper goods are produced. Reviews that only push for lower pricing might help drive that latter effect: https://escapecollective.com/...de-by-modern-slaves/

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