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I have been looking online at new saddles and there sometimes is a measurement or something saying "narrow twist" or something like that. so it mad me wonder, what dose this measurement even mean? what are they measuring?

I feel kinda stupid asking this sweatdrop

also do you have any tips on looking for saddles?
I am looking at a used bates caprilli all pourpose, is this a good saddle?
what do you guys think of the CAIR system?

Like Minilin said, the twist is the narrow part of the seat right behind the pomel. I'm nto sure why they call it the twist, because it doesn't twist, but oh well. I don't know how the measurements affect the feel or balance of the saddle though, sorry.

Bates is a good brand. Really high quality. I've never ridden in any of their all-purpose saddles, but I'd bet they're pretty good quality.

I've never used the CAIR system, but my only skepticism with it would be the chance of uneven pressure in the panels. There's probably a way to fix that though, because I can't imagine saddle manufacturers not figuring that out, and they've become pretty popular. In general, it seems like a good cheap way to get a "custom" saddle.

The main question is going to be how does it fit your horse. If you can find a place that lets you "test drive" saddles, that is certainly ideal, because you don't know how different makes and designs are going to affect your horse's movement or your position until you sit in them on your horse.
Another option could be to see if you can borrow friends' saddles just for a ride to see how they fit your horse and what the different styles do to his movement. Even if you don't get the exact saddle that you're looking at, you can see how different things affect him, which will allow you to make a more educated purchase.
Make sure you can see the saddle before you buy it. Feel the leather, make sure it's supple and has been well cared for and doesn't have any cracks or breaks it in. Check the stitching everywhere, but especially the billets. Make sure there is NO cracking on the leather on the billets and that the stitching is still in good condition. This is the part of the saddle that receives the most stress, and is kind of important for safety, lol. Make sure the tree is still in good shape and isn't broken or cracked. You can do this by standing the saddle on end and pushing (GENTLY) on the cantle to see if the tree will bend or buckle at all. If the panels have flocking, make sure that the padding is even throughout the panels. It's fairly easy to get a saddle reflocked or get something restitched, but you don't want to have to worry about that right after you get a new saddle! Unless you can get a really good deal on one so you can justify the cost of the repairs.

A well-cared for used saddle can often be better than a new one because it's already broken in and suppled up. Make sure you get one that's been well cared for though, because if it hasn't, it can be an accident waiting to happen.