The innovation in modern high-end seats has moved to 3D printing. This doesn’t necessarily mean that 3D printed options dominate our list of best road bike seats. They continue to represent a small portion of the market, primarily due to pricing. The pricing reflects the fact that 3D printing is a relatively new technology. This small market is the one that drives real innovation, despite the high price.
Selle San Marco 2.0 3D Racing Shortfit Saddle. Tech Specifications
Price: £319.99 / $379.90
Length: 255 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight: As measured at 220g
Rail: Round stainless steel
Selle San Marco has become the latest company in the list of companies offering 3D printed saddles. The brand introduced the Shortfit 2 3D Racing Saddle in November last year as a new option to the Shortfit 2 line of saddles. The two options for rail shapes and weight are now available. Recently, I was able to test the stainless rail option while on a California adventure. FSA K-Force We 12s – Groupset I am ready to tell you all about it. You might want to consider buying a new saddle in the summer. Read on to learn if Selle San Marco Shortfit 2.0 3D Racing is right for you.
Design and aesthetics
Selle San Marco wasn’t the first company to bring a 3D-printed saddle to market. Fizik, Specialized and other brands have already moved on to the second generation of products. The process of 3D-printing is not a unique one. Selle San Marco, like others before it, uses a method called DLS or Digital Light Synthesis by the Californian company ‘Carbon.
DLS is different from other 3D printers in several important ways. DLS begins by shining UV through a dead-zone at a liquid. The light causes a layer of liquid to form as it hits the liquid. As the object moves from the edge, the liquid is left with room for the next one. The liquid will eventually produce a part with minimal layering visible and no internal voids. Heat curing is the final step, which increases strength. It seems to work well for saddles – it’s recently debuted in helmet pads too – but, as mentioned, it’s not unique to Selle San Marco.
Selle San Marco designers focused on building a product from an existing quantity, rather than focusing on developing a brand new process. This saddle starts out with the same size as the other Selle San Marco Shortfit options, which in the S3 version starts at 140 x 255. This length falls between two of the most popular 3D-printed saddles: the Fizik Vento Argo at 265mm and the Specialized Power at 242mm. The L3 is 155mm wide, and comes with a lighter weight and carbon rails.
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You’ll notice a slight wave in the Shortfit 3D 2.0 as you look past the dimensions. It’s a slight wave so, if you like a deep one, you may want to consider something else. There is instead a prominent rear kick, then a slight rise and dip before a very subtle descent begins. The centre of the saddle has a large depression which starts at the rear kick, then narrows and continues in a teardrop-shaped shape all the way up to the nose. The outer wings have a steep drop-off.
One place where the 3D printing is dominant is the aesthetics of the Selle San Marco Shortfit 2.0 3D. Specialized uses the Power Mirror with a closed-off outer, and Fizik Antares Versus is slightly more open in the first generation. Fizik Vento Argo, the second generation, has a pattern that’s even closer. Selle San Marco is a bolder design that shows off 3D printing.
You will notice a series three pointed shapes as you examine the padding. You can see triangles or stars depending on the angle you’re looking at. It’s open in both cases, and a close look reveals the many layers that were created. Although the matrix is very open, it’s still opaque. Each section of padding is placed on top of a shell made of carbon reinforced nylon.
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Performance
I fell in awe the first time I sat down on a Specialized 3D printed seat. I wasn’t in love with the design, but 3D-printed padding changes everything. It’s possible to adjust the stiffness and softness of the foam by varying the structure very precisely. This is impossible to do with traditional foam. Specialized’s saddle is much softer than one would expect of a high-performance saddle.
Fizik gave me the opportunity to test a 3D saddle. Fizik quickly pointed out that the Fizik Argo Adaptive was a second-generation product, and Fizik’s ability to finetune padding is much greater. It’s not my favorite shape, but I have used it for thousands of miles. Fizik did not seem to take as many liberties when it came to the 3D printing capabilities. The padding is more traditional but still very good.
After a couple of years, I have finally had the opportunity to sit on the Selle San Marco Shortfit 2 3D Racing saddle, in the S3 Size, and I’m in utter love. Although I generally like the new shorter saddle shapes, I am not a huge fan of losing narrow saddles. I am not a large person, and my hips tend to be narrow. I always want the narrowest option when testing.
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Fizik and Selle San Marco both quote a 140-mm width, but the specs do not tell the whole story. The Shortfit 2.0 features a more pronounced design with a steeper drop on the wings. The area you sit in is about 60mm wider and 30mm narrower than on the Fizik.
Selle San Marc also appears to have understood how to use 3D printing technology in the padding to its best advantage. Traditional foam has a lot of unnecessary stiffness. This saddle’s combination of a large cutout and a narrow front leaves you balanced on long, straight virtual tubes. The wave and kick, combined with the narrow front, keep you in an almost static position when seated. The sections could be torture, but they are softer than foam. There is even some give from the nylon shell. It’s perfect for me.
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Verdict
A saddle’s design is subjective, and there will never be a saddle that suits everyone. This is true even when discussing a 3D-printed saddle. Only the 3D printing process allows for a much more precise adjustment of padding. The new tool will allow a great saddle company to do the same thing they always did, only with more precision.
This means you have to forget the 3D-printing technology. The Selle San Marco Shortfit 2D Racing Saddle is a great choice for small people who prefer a narrower saddle. You will also want to have a small wave in the saddle to keep you in position while you are seated, but you stand up often enough to appreciate a comfortable saddle. The Selle San Marco Shortfit is the perfect saddle for you. If this sounds appealing, then check out the Selle San Marco Shortfit 2.
The carbon version is worth it. The 3D printed version costs more, but it’s only a modest price increase to upgrade to carbon. Although the stainless rails and nylon are functional, they do not match the quality of upper. If you want to go the extra mile, add some bling. The carbon is also lighter, but it’s not a featherweight.
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| Design and aesthetics | The upper is beautiful, but the base makes the shoe look cheap. | 7/10 |
| Weight | There’s a very direct correlation between weight and price. This is the middle of both weight and price compared to Fizik. | 8/10 |
| Comfort | It is personal to each individual, but it fits me perfectly. Incredibly comfortable and soft where I need it but there’s enough support right under the sit bones. | 10/10 |
| Performance | It is super comfortable, easy to wear and move when you like. There’s enough support for you to stay stable. I’m a big fan. | 10/10 |
| You can also value | Fizik has a better value than Specialized, despite the higher price. | 8/10 |
| You can also read more about it here | Row 5 – cell 1 | 86% |