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review
Saddles
Arte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddleArte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddle

Arte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddle

6
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Dec 3, 2012

0
£34.99

VERDICT:

6
10
A decent, comfortable saddle with a pretty good weight, but average build quality
Weight: 
272g
Contact: 
www.arteselle.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Part of the 3 Action range, along with the Titanium Misy version tested a little while ago, the steel railed Arte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddle here is cheaper, heavier and more padded.

Just to recap, the 3 Action idea is one that separates the saddle design into three parts. A raised rear for climbing, a flat section for the less lumpy stuff and a dropped nose for when you're head down giving it the beans.

In practice it all works rather well. Being able to ease back against the elevated tail when climbing provides a good solid platform to push back against providing power. It also relieves some lower back pressure.

The middle section has a cut-out to remove numbness and the slightly increased level of padding over the titanium version is much appreciated. The Misy is a comfortable saddle while the narrow nose is ideal for the larger thighed rider. The slightly dropped nose helps when you're really going for it taking a bit of pressure off of the sensitive bits as you're flying over rough surfaces.

The sacrifice of the extra padding and a change to steel rails sees an increase of 50g over the titanium but at 225g its still a relatively light saddle especially for its £39.99 price tag.

Day-long comfort is good with an ideal balance of padding - meaning it's supportive enough without being squidgy. A few 4-5 hour rides were carried out in comfort with no numbness or hot spots.

Build quality is okay but not quite up to the standard you'd expect for forty quid. The material is stapled to the saddle shell and in places it was coming away and puckered in others. Thankfully the man-made upper looks good from above and should prove to be pretty hardwearing.

Verdict

A decent, comfortable saddle with a pretty good weight, but average build quality.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Arte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddle

Size tested: Red

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

A performance saddle on a budget.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

3 Action design which gives different positions for changing terrain.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
6/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
5/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

If the build quality was better it would be worth the forty quid.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's comfortable, looks good and the 3 Action design works.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The 3 Action concept.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Poor build quality.

Did you enjoy using the product? It was okay.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Ribble Winter Trainer for commuting, Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Sarto Rovigo

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

selle
Saddle
Arte Selle Misy AX 3 Action saddle
arte
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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