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A road.cc review of Specialized’s £275 Power EVO Pro with Mirror saddle found its soft central channel effective at relieving pressure, but its firm support and 250g weight may not suit every rider. The reviewer said comfort declined after about an hour and questioned the value of the saddle’s 3D-printed construction and some performance claims.
Road.cc’s review of the Specialized Power EVO Pro with Mirror found that its 3D-printed padding creates an effective pressure-relieving channel, but that the saddle’s firm sit-bone area and 250g weight may limit its appeal. The reviewer found it comfortable at first, with comfort diminishing after about an hour, making the £275 saddle a potentially divisive choice for riders weighing comfort, weight and price.
The “with Mirror” name refers to Specialized’s 3D-printed padding, which the company says lets it vary effective density across the saddle. In the road.cc review, the channel down the centre felt noticeably soft and helped avoid unwanted pressure. The edges beside it did not cause discomfort for the reviewer. The area supporting the sit bones, however, felt firmer than expected.
The reviewer reported being comfortable when first sitting on the saddle, but increasingly less comfortable after roughly an hour. On rough Welsh roads, the saddle could feel unforgiving. That experience led the reviewer to describe the construction as a “soft here, hard there” arrangement rather than the progressive springiness they had expected from 3D printing. Specialized lists the saddle for road, gravel and XC riding, but the reviewer said the lack of give would make it a poor personal choice for gravel.
The saddle has a carbon-reinforced nylon base and hollow, black-painted titanium rails. Road.cc recorded a weight of 250g, which the reviewer said was around 100g above some lightweight alternatives. It is a little over 24cm long in the 143mm width; Specialized also offers 130mm, 155mm and 168mm widths. At £275, it costs less than some custom 3D-printed saddles but more than several alternatives cited in the review.
Comfort, Weight and Price Trade-offs
The review highlights a practical choice facing riders considering a premium 3D-printed saddle: a carefully shaped pressure-relief channel does not by itself guarantee comfort across the whole seat. The reviewer’s experience points to the saddle’s firmness and rounded profile as factors that may matter as much as its central channel, particularly on rough surfaces or longer rides.
Weight and price also affect the comparison. At 250g and £275, the Power EVO Pro is neither an especially light option nor an inexpensive one, according to the alternatives listed in the review. Those figures do not settle which saddle is best for an individual rider; fit and comfort are personal. They do give buyers reasons to compare the Specialized with lighter or less costly models rather than assuming its 3D-printed construction will offer a distinct ride benefit.
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How Mirror Padding Is Designed
Specialized’s Mirror range uses 3D-printed padding that can be designed with different densities across its surface. The manufacturer says its Body Geometry saddles are developed using pressure mapping, anatomical measurement and real-world testing with professional and everyday riders. Those are the company’s descriptions of its design process, not independent findings established by this review.
Specialized also advertises “47,000 struts of adaptive support” and specific pressure-reduction figures of “34.1% less nose pressure” and “28.8% less at sitbones.” The reviewer challenged the wording around adaptation, noting that the printed material’s density does not change while a rider uses it. The review also said the comparison behind the percentage figures was not disclosed. The source provides no further methodology or baseline for those numbers.
The reviewer compared the £275 saddle with models at different prices and weights, including the £259.99 Fizik Vento Antares Adaptive R3, listed at 228g; the £349.99 Cadex Amp 3D, at 149g; and the £409.99 Selle Italia SLR 3D Carbon, at 146g. These are comparisons reported in the review, not a controlled head-to-head test.
“The central channel is noticeably soft, for instance, and I found it worked very well for avoiding pressure where it’s not wanted.”
— Road.cc reviewer
Fit and Claims Still Need Context
The review reflects one tester’s experience; it cannot establish how the saddle will feel to other riders. The reviewer describes saddle comfort as highly personal and notes that the rounded wings and firm support could suit someone whose preferences differ. It is also unclear from the source how the reported comfort might vary with rider anatomy, bike setup or individual saddle fit.
The review does not provide the testing methods or comparison baselines behind Specialized’s stated pressure-reduction percentages. It also does not establish a measurable performance advantage attributable specifically to 3D printing over conventional materials. The reviewer’s conclusion is that the saddle did not feel markedly different from an ordinary saddle in use, but that is an assessment, not a laboratory comparison.
Riders Should Compare Saddle Fit
The source reports no announced follow-up test, product change or new company response. For prospective buyers, the practical next step is to compare the available widths and shapes and, where possible, assess the saddle through a retailer’s fitting or trial options. The review’s account suggests paying attention to sit-bone comfort over longer rides, not only the initial feel of the central channel.
Specialized’s cited pressure figures would be easier to assess if the company supplied their comparison baseline and testing method. Until that information is available in the source material, those numbers should be treated as manufacturer claims rather than independently verified results.
Key Questions
What did the road.cc review find about the Specialized Power EVO Pro with Mirror?
The reviewer found the central pressure-relieving channel effective, but described the sit-bone area as firm. Comfort declined after about an hour in the tester’s experience.
How much does the saddle weigh and cost?
The review lists a weight of 250g and a price of £275.
What does “with Mirror” mean?
It refers to Specialized’s 3D-printed padding, which the company says can be designed with varying effective density across the saddle.
Are Specialized’s pressure-reduction figures independently confirmed?
The review cites the company’s figures but says their comparison baseline and method were not disclosed in the material it examined. It does not independently verify those percentages.
Will the saddle suit every rider?
No such conclusion can be drawn from one review. The reviewer says comfort is personal, and notes that riders who prefer a firmer, rounder saddle may respond differently.
Source: rss
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