In the world of high-end modern saddles, innovation is now centered around 3D printing. The fact that 3D-printed saddles are not dominant on our list of top road bike seat options is mainly due to their high price. Pricing is indicative of the fact that production 3D printing still remains a very new concept. This small market is the one that drives real innovation, despite the high price.
Selle San Marco 2.0 3D Racing Shortfit Saddle Tech Specifications
Price: £319.99 / $379.90
Length: 255 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight: As measured at 220g
Rail: Round stainless steel
Selle San Marco is the latest company to offer 3D-printed saddles. Selle San Marco announced in November, last year that the Shortfit 2 3D Racing saddle was a new top-of-the line option for its Shortfit 2 saddle line. Two options are available depending on the rail shape and weight you prefer. We are only just beginning to see both of them available for purchase. While testing the stainless steel rail, I had the chance to take it on a trip through California. FSA K-Force We 12s Groupset It’s time to reveal the details. You might want to consider buying a new saddle in the summer. Read on to learn if Selle San Marco Shortfit 2.0 3D Racing is right for you.
Design and aesthetics
Selle San Marco was not the first brand to introduce a saddle that is 3D printed. Fizik and Specialized, both of whom have moved onto second-generation products, are not even close to Selle San Marco. The process of 3D-printing is not a unique one. Selle San Marco uses a similar process to others, namely DLS (Digital Light Synthesis) from Californian brand “Carbon”.
DLS is unique in some important ways. DLS works by first shining UV light at a fluid through a “dead zone” instead of using physical material. As the light strikes the liquid, a thin layer forms and the object is moved away from the edge. The liquid will eventually produce a part with minimal layering visible and no internal voids. The final step involves heat curing, which provides additional strength. It seems to work well for saddles – it’s recently debuted in helmet pads too – but, as mentioned, it’s not unique to Selle San Marco.
Selle San Marco’s designers chose to build from an existing quantity rather than focusing on developing a brand new production process. This saddle starts out with the same size as the other Selle San Marco Shortfit options, which in the S3 version starts at 140 x 255. This length falls between two of the most popular 3D-printed saddles: the Fizik Vento Argo at 265mm and the Specialized Power at 242mm. The L3 is 155mm wide, and comes with a lighter weight and carbon rails.
Image 1 You can also find out more about the following: 3
If you look past the shortfit 2.0 3D’s dimensions, you will notice a small wave. It’s a slight wave so, if you like a deeper one, you may want to consider something else. There is instead a prominent rear kick, then a slight rise and dip before a very subtle descent begins. The centre of the saddle has a large depression which starts at the rear kick, then narrows and continues in a teardrop-shaped shape all the way up to the nose. The outer wings are steep, and they drop quickly.
One place where the 3D printing is dominant is the aesthetics of the Selle San Marco Shortfit 2.0 3D. Specialized uses an outer that is more closed in the Power Mirror, and while the Fizik Antares Versus evo of the first generation was a little bit more open, Fizik has closed the pattern even further on the Vento Argo. Selle San Marco is a bolder design that shows off 3D printing.
When you look at padding, you’ll see three-pointed shapes. It could be a series or triangles, depending on how you look at it. It’s open in both cases, and a close look reveals the many layers that were created. Despite the fact that the matrix is open, it’s still opaque and you cannot see through it. Each section of padding is placed on top of a shell made of carbon reinforced nylon.
Image 1 You can also find out more about the following: 2
Enjoy the Performance
The moment I sat down on my Specialized 3D printed seat, I fell head over heels. I didn’t love the shape, but 3D printing the padding has changed everything. With the ability to change the matrix structure very precisely, a brand can tune softness and stiffness in ways that are impossible with traditional padding. Specialized offers a saddle with a much softer feel than what you would expect from a performance saddle.
Fizik gave me the opportunity to test a 3D saddle. Fizik quickly pointed out that the Fizik Argo Adaptive was a second-generation product, and Fizik’s ability to finetune padding is much greater. The shape of the saddle is not my favourite, but it’s good enough for me to have ridden thousands of miles in that saddle. Fizik did not seem to take as many liberties when it came to the 3D printing capabilities. The padding feels more traditional, but is still good.
After a few more years of riding, I finally got to try the Selle San Marco Shortfit 2 3D Racing Saddle in S3 size. I am in love. Although I am a big fan of the shorter shape of saddles, I don’t like the fact that narrower saddles are being discontinued. I am not a large person, and my hips tend to be narrow. I always want the narrowest option when testing.
Image 1 You can also find out more about the following: 3
Fizik and Selle San Marco both quote a 140-mm width, but the specs do not tell the whole story. The Shortfit 2.0 is more pronounced in its wing design, and the drop-off on the wings is steep and rapid. The area you actually sit in is about 60mm, and is roughly 30mm narrower than on the Fizik.
Selle San Marco has also mastered the use of 3D printing technology for padding. Traditional foam has a lot of unnecessary stiffness. With a wide front and a large cutout, you’re essentially balanced on a long straight tube of padding. This, along with the kick and wave, keeps you seated in a relatively static position. It’s not as painful as it sounds, because the sections are much softer than the foam. And the nylon shell gives you a little give. It’s perfect for me.
Image 1 You can also find out more about the following: 2
Verdict
A saddle’s design is subjective, and there will never be a saddle that suits everyone. This is true even when discussing a 3D-printed saddle. There is only one difference: 3D printing allows much more precise padding tuning. This new tool allows saddle companies to perform the same tasks they have always done, but with greater precision.
This means you have to forget the 3D-printing technology. Selle San Marco Shortfit 2 3D Racing is a good choice if you’re a smaller person who likes a narrower seat. You will also want to have a small wave in the saddle to keep you in position while you are seated, but you stand up often enough to appreciate a comfortable saddle. You can check out the Selle San Marco Shortfit 1.0 and, if money is no object, you could also opt for the 3D-printed version which is more comfortable without chafing.
The carbon version is worth it. The 3D-printed version is a lot more expensive, but the carbon version is only a small amount. They work well, but don’t match the quality and look of the upper. If you want to go the extra mile, add some bling. Carbon is a little lighter but still not as light as a featherweight.
Image 1 You can also find out more about the following: 2
| Design and aesthetics | The upper is beautiful, but the base makes the shoe look cheap. | 7/10 |
| Weight | There’s a very direct correlation between weight and price. This is the middle of both weight and price compared to Fizik. | 8/10 |
| Comfort | The fit is personal of course, but for me, it is perfect. Incredibly comfortable and soft where I need it but there’s enough support right under the sit bones. | 10/10 |
| Performance | Super comfortable, and you can move easily on it when you choose. The support is enough to keep you steady when you need to. I’m a big fan. | 10/10 |
| Value | Fizik has a higher price tag, but is a better buy. | 8/10 |
| The following are some of the most recent reviews: | Row 5 Cell 1 | 86% |