Ever since I tried the first 3D printed saddle from Specialized, I was convinced the technology was a game-changer. These saddles are genuinely a leap forward in comfort, but they have one flaw: An absurd (for a saddle) price. When Specialized released the original S-Works Power with Mirror saddle in 2020, and again when they released the S-Works Romin EVO with Mirror, the TL;DR of our reviews were "Holy shit, this saddle is amazing!" and "Holy shit, this saddle is $450!"
Specialized Specialized Power Pro with Mirror
Specialized Specialized Power Pro with Mirror
Pros
- Amazing comfort
- Lower priced than S-Works version
- Mountain bike compatible
Cons
- Still pretty bloody expensive
Specialized has finally trickled down its Mirror technology to a lower-cost Pro model, which sells for $325. Specialized achieved the $125 savings by switching to a thermoplastic carbon fiber base with 15% reclaimed carbon fiber (compared to the full carbon fiber base found on the S-Works variant). The Pro model also uses hollow titanium rails instead of carbon ones. Both changes add roughly 55 grams to the saddle, and our 143mm width sample weighed in at 253 grams. A 155mm width version is also available.
Those heavier titanium rails on the Pro provide a key benefit over its pricier S-Works sibling; they are stronger. This makes the Power Pro with Mirror officially approved by Specialized for off-road use. If you're the type of rider who uses the same saddle on your road, gravel, and mountain bikes, now you can add this one to your considered set.
The most important feature of the new Pro saddle is the 3D printed top. It's identical to the one used on the more expensive model. This should be great news for riders that wanted to try a saddle with Mirror but could not justify the price. Still, at $325, the new saddle can hardly be considered affordable (it's in the same price range as S-Works saddles that don't feature a 3D printed top). However, it is a step in the right direction. We can only hope that Specialized trickles the Mirror technology down to its more affordable Expert and Comp level saddles.
Riders looking for lower-priced 3D printed saddles can check out Fizik's latest versions of the Antares Versus Evo R1 and R3, selling for $300 and $260 respectively. The 3D printed tops on the Fizik saddles are made by the same company that prints saddles for Specialized.
Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.
