3D Printed Saddles - future or fad

[Eterna7m]

They are amazingly comfortable, but do change the 'feel' with the bike slightly on the road. God send after 5+ hours, but not a big deal on shorter rides. Can see them being a game changer on rough terrain though.

Speaking as someone who has put a fair bit of time on the original power mirror and now Romin mirror and coming off years of using a Romin Evo mixed in with a Toupe and Power Arc for a bit.

What did make you switch to the romin and are you happy now?

[tommyboyo]

They are amazingly comfortable, but do change the 'feel' with the bike slightly on the road. God send after 5+ hours, but not a big deal on shorter rides. Can see them being a game changer on rough terrain though.

Speaking as someone who has put a fair bit of time on the original power mirror and now Romin mirror and coming off years of using a Romin Evo mixed in with a Toupe and Power Arc for a bit.

What did make you switch to the romin and are you happy now?

Well Romin Evo was my saddle of choice for many years, so I had to try the mirror version.

I currently have a mirror on one bike and and a basic SW on another. I actually prefer the latter for short sharp rides, but the mirror for longer days.

[spartacus]

The only way I see 3D printed saddles being better in a truly revolutionary way is if they make it for you. Instead of just making what are essentially normal saddles that are all the same, just done with 3D printing.

They're not the same as normal saddles. They are constructed differently and have very different physical properties.

They're normal saddles in the sense that they're mass manufactured saddles done from a single mould. I understand that they're not the same as normal saddles. But that's not revolutionary. It's revolutionary when you can walk into a Specialized shop, sit on a trainer that has a few sensors on the saddle for a while, pick one of their base designs that's then adapted to your ass. Noseless saddles are more revolutionary at the moment than 3D printed ones.

The entire point of them is the material itself moreso than the shape. I don't think there's much if anything to be gained by contouring a saddle like this to an individual ass because again the whole point is that it's compliant which makes it completely different than a saddle with a structure that would maybe benefit from being molded to an individual.

[m3bas]

I tried the Romin Mirro for a while but sold it and went back to the Pro Stealth, albeit the newer curved version. Couldn't get used to the squishiness.
Having said that I can see it being amazing on a gravel bike as its noticably smoother and more compliant.

[robeambro]

Thanks all for the good contributions.

Many have mentioned these saddles may be more comfortable - I wonder whether these would also be great for indoor training, where many of us - well, at least I do - struggle with comfort on anything longer than 40 minutes.

[raggedtrousers]

Thanks all for the good contributions.

Many have mentioned these saddles may be more comfortable - I wonder whether these would also be great for indoor training, where many of us - well, at least I do - struggle with comfort on anything longer than 40 minutes.

I made this point earlier in the thread. The Power Mirror is the only saddle that lets me tolerate >90 min on the trainer.

I can do 4hrs outside on a range of saddles with no issue.

[Usernamealex]

The Chinese are making these saddles too which are plenty available on Ali.

Sent from my SM-G977N using Tapatalk

[Eterna7m]

The Chinese are making these saddles too which are plenty available on Ali.

Sent from my SM-G977N using Tapatalk

Without knowing too much about the technique I’d be skeptical about these.
I’ve read plenty about there being a difference between fizik and specializeds padding… so I’d think these ones are definitely different.

[Yoln]

It's just one data point, but I haven't found any comfort improvement using an Antares Versus Evo.

For example a Berk Lupina, which is very close to the "perfect" fit for me with zero padding, is much more comfortable than the Antares that is close to perfect fit but not quite and with 3D printed padding...

[uppis]

Thanks all for the good contributions.

Many have mentioned these saddles may be more comfortable - I wonder whether these would also be great for indoor training, where many of us - well, at least I do - struggle with comfort on anything longer than 40 minutes.

I made this point earlier in the thread. The Power Mirror is the only saddle that lets me tolerate >90 min on the trainer.

I can do 4hrs outside on a range of saddles with no issue.

Same here, used to have trouble on trainer after 2-3 hours, with power mirror 5 hours goes pretty smoothly.

[Aeo]

Has someone tried the 3D printed saddles from Aliexpress?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004629571141.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004347682124.html

The shape looks very much like the Bjorn Setka, the cover has a different pattern

[JeffK]

I've tried my fair share of saddles, including the Specialized 3D printed saddles. Ive never really found a "perfect" saddle, but I think that might have changed. I recently got a Reform saddle which is heat moldable which helps it form fit exatly to your sit bones to eliminate pressure points. I tried the saddle on my gravel bike for a few longer rides initally and it was one of the best saddles I have tried without even doing the molding process. I still had one pressure point on my left sit bone, which is common for me, but it was very manageable. I did the heat molding process on the trainer and the last few rides on the saddle have been perfect! This might just be the perfect saddle finally! Check them out:

https://www.reformsaddle.com/product/se ... ke-saddle/

[moock]

Has someone tried the 3D printed saddles from Aliexpress?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004629571141.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004347682124.html

The shape looks very much like the Bjorn Setka, the cover has a different pattern

saddle.jpg

both links error 404.

[Aeo]

You will have to use an IP address from outside the EU to access. Currently many Aliexpress shops are not able to ship to the EU because of new laws.

Here is a snapshot of the first link: http://archive.today/zMiHL

[mrlobber]

You will have to use an IP address from outside the EU to access. Currently many Aliexpress shops are not able to ship to the EU because of new laws.

Both links work for me from inside the EU and all the buying buttons are available (I didn't complete the full buying process though).