Selle San Marco Mantra Superleggera Saddle

The Selle San Marco Mantra Superleggera Saddle is an incredibly light and very stiff design that allows for a really strong transfer of power. I wouldn't expect to see anybody using it during Roubaix this year, though.

The Mantra Superleggera is one of the most expensive saddles that has graced my bike over the years. It is also by far the lightest, but these two things alone don't necessarily make a great saddle – so how does the rest match up?

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Weight is the biggest selling point of this saddle, and Selle San Marco has really pulled out all the stops in cutting down excess, with my review model coming in at 112.1g. To put that into perspective, if you have an iPhone sat in your jersey pocket it weighs more than this saddle. It also doesn't have a weight limit, which is rare for a saddle that's coming in this close to the magical 100g mark.

This low weight comes from a number of factors, the first being the use of the moulded 40T high modulus carbon shell. This not only keeps the grams to a minimum but also keeps it incredibly stiff. When I have seen saddles this thin in the past, they have always had a certain amount of flex, making them slightly more comfortable but also reducing power transfer. This isn't the case here, on both counts. On some saddles you can detect a bit of a difference in power transfer, especially when climbing while seated, but on the Mantra Superleggera you can really feel the difference on the climbs.

It is always worth noting that, when talking about comfort, saddles are a very personal matter and different designs will suit different people. My views here are in relation to my observations, but they may be totally different for you.

I have to say, this saddle is not the most comfortable I have used. On perfectly smooth roads it wasn't an issue at all, but its lack of flex meant on rougher roads I found the bumps were that much more forceful, and after a few hours out on the north Kent roads I was feeling more delicate than I normally would.

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It's partly down to the stiff carbon construction and partly the Pebax foam used. Selle San Marco has deliberately used a very lightweight foam given that this is a saddle with weight at the very top of the agenda. According to Selle San Marco it adds only 9.5g of weight, but means that, going back to the iPhone analogy, the entire construction of the saddle is thinner than an iPhone 6. Naturally, less padding means less shock absorption, so that it doesn't deal too well with bumps should not come as a surprise.

In terms of looks, the saddle is – to my mind – genuinely beautiful, with a low profile, tastefully low-key branding, and a natural looking curve towards the rear. It is helped by the Microfeel covering which is also pretty hardwearing – there were a couple of times when I leant it against a wall and there was no scuffing or scratches, always a good sign. It also has very long rails, which helps with adjustment and gives it a low-slung look.

As regards price, yes it is very expensive, but it is very much a saddle for the weight weenies of the world, those who are willing to break the £1/gram rule. If you can afford it and low weight is your objective, then you could argue that it's reasonable.

It's an impressive saddle, as much for its mechanics as its performance. Selle San Marco has really pulled out all the stops to design a saddle for climbers, and has achieved that with this combination of incredibly low weight and superb power transfer. I prefer a little more padding under my sit bones, but if you are looking for a super-lightweight climbing saddle and don't mind dropping nearly £300 on it, you will find few better.

Verdict

A saddle for the climbing weight weenies, and they will certainly be impressed by it