Specialized S-Works Romin Evo Mirror saddle

With its S-Works Romin Evo Mirror, Specialized has applied its Mirror Technology and taken an already very comfortable saddle and turned it into something special. The 3D-printed design reduces pressure and increases blood flow. But while the upper might not bring tears to your eyes, the price might.

You can get lightweight and high-performance saddles for less, so if your budget doesn't stretch to £390, check out others in our guide to the best road bike saddles. 

Liam reviewed the standard Romin Evo back in 2021 and was very impressed by its supportive shape, stiff carcass and very light weight.

While that saddle still remains in Specialized's line-up, if you want the next level of comfort then it comes in this Mirror model.

Mirror Technology, as Specialized calls it, uses a liquid polymer which is 3D-printed into a mesh network that allows Specialized to fine tune the honeycomb structure's density in a way it says is impossible with traditional padding like foam.

Apparently, there are 22,200 struts and 10,700 nodes per saddle, which are all individually tuned.

What Specialized has created is a cushion-like saddle that works very well indeed.

As with any saddle review, when it comes to comfort it's entirely subjective – what I find comfortable might, to you, feel like sitting on a bed of nails, or what is uncomfortable for me might make you feel like you're floating on a cushion of air.

I like quite a firm saddle, and this is exactly what the Romin Evo Mirror is. Regardless of all those gaps in the material, there is little in the way of sag, or even compression.

The saddle settles a little when you sit on it, but that is it. I found that it allowed a small amount of movement and cushioning when riding on roads with a rough surface, but not enough that I ever felt like I was bouncing along.

That bit of give also means the saddle remains firm enough to not cancel out feedback from the bike itself, so you are never going to feel isolated from what is going on.

The full carbon fibre base helps on the stiffness front and there is certainly no unwanted flex, even when smashing the power down from a seated position.

The shape is designed for a low-slung, performance riding position, with padding kept to a minimum at the front end, which helps avoid numbness when spending long periods in the drops. I found that the design spread my weight very evenly and avoided any hot spots, even on very long, steady state rides where I was seated for a long time.

It's not a lengthy saddle by any stretch, but it's got a bit more 'nose' than a shorty style, and this does enable you to move around a touch for switching between climbing and working hard on the flat.

Two widths are available, 143mm and 155m.

The build quality is excellent. It's very well finished throughout and stays looking clean and scuff free for many a mile. Mud and road spray does get inside the mesh pattern easily, but I found it easy to clean post ride.

The rails are full carbon fibre which keeps the weight down to a lowish 189g (although the standard Romin Evo is just 131g), and they have an oval shape of 7 x 9mm, so larger than the 7mm diameter of standard round rails. It'll be worth checking that your seatpost will accept them before purchasing.

At a cool £390 the Romin Evo Mirror is the second most expensive saddle we have ever tested – the Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Teckno Superflow takes the top spot at £439.99 (reviewed by Simon back in 2020), but the majority of this is down to the technology of creating the 3D-printed section. The standard foam S-Works Romin Evo is £255, for comparison.

Fizik has embraced 3D printing too, though, and its Antares Versus Evo 00 Adaptive is a similar design and shape to the S-Works. It's a similar price, too, costing £399.99, with the range starting at £299.99 for the R1 model.

Selle Italia has also joined the 3D printed saddle marketplace with its carbon-railed SLR Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow, and that's even more expensive at £412.75.

Conclusion

I don't think there is any doubt that 3D printed saddles are expensive at the moment, and the Mirror reflects that. What you are getting for your money, though, is a very comfortable saddle, probably more comfortable than any standard construction saddle I have ever tried. The shape is great, and I just love the way that the honeycomb design supported me so well.

Verdict

Probably one of the most comfortable race saddles on the market – it'll cost you, though