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A road.cc review of the Specialized Power EVO Pro with Mirror found its central channel effective at reducing unwanted pressure, but the saddle’s firm support and 250g weight may not suit every rider. The reviewer also questioned the context behind some of Specialized’s pressure-reduction figures. The saddle costs £275 and is offered in four widths.
Road.cc’s review of the Specialized Power EVO Pro with Mirror finds that the £275, 3D-printed saddle has an effective central pressure-relief channel, but its firm support and 250g weight may put off riders seeking a softer or lighter option. The reviewer found it comfortable at first, then less comfortable after about an hour, particularly on rough roads.
The “with Mirror” name refers to Specialized’s 3D-printed padding, which the company says lets it vary density across the saddle. In the road.cc test, the area inside the central channel felt noticeably soft and helped avoid pressure, while the edges beside the channel did not cause discomfort. The material under the sit bones, by contrast, felt firmer than the reviewer expected.
The reviewer said comfort declined over longer rides and that rough Welsh road surfaces made the saddle feel less forgiving. They had expected the printed structure to offer a more progressive spring-like feel, but described its support as a layout of softer and harder zones. Although Specialized lists the saddle for road, gravel and cross-country riding, the reviewer said the lack of give would make it a poor first choice for their gravel riding.
The saddle’s shape also affected the test experience. It is just over 24cm long in the 143mm width, with a broad, relatively flat nose and rounded wings. The reviewer found they sat most comfortably nearer the middle of the saddle, farther forward than they usually prefer. Specialized offers widths of 130mm, 143mm, 155mm and 168mm. The reviewer stressed that fit and preferred firmness vary between riders.
Comfort, Weight and Price Trade-offs
The review speaks to a practical choice for riders considering a premium printed saddle: the design offers a distinct pressure-relief channel, but does not guarantee a soft or adaptable feel on the road. A saddle that works well for one rider’s anatomy and position may concentrate pressure for another, especially where the wings curve down toward the edges.
At £275, the Power EVO Pro with Mirror is a substantial purchase, and its 250g weight is a notable trade-off for cyclists prioritizing a lighter build. Road.cc compared it with lighter alternatives, including the £259.99 Fizik Vento Antares Adaptive R3 at 228g, and more expensive models such as Selle Italia’s £409.99 SLR 3D Carbon at 146g. Those products differ in shape and construction, so the figures do not establish which saddle will fit an individual rider best.
The takeaway is not that 3D printing has no value, but that the reviewer did not find a clear riding benefit beyond the channel’s well-managed transition. Riders should weigh comfort and fit ahead of the technology label, and should check the manufacturer’s width options and return or test policies before committing where possible.
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How the Mirror Design Works
Specialized describes Mirror as a 3D-printed construction that can be tuned to provide different effective densities across a saddle. The company’s broader Body Geometry description says its products are developed using pressure mapping, anatomical measurements and testing with professional and everyday riders. Those statements describe the manufacturer’s design approach; they do not, on their own, establish how a particular saddle will feel to every rider.
The review assessed the saddle’s construction and on-road comfort, rather than presenting a controlled comparison with a conventional model. Its padding sits on a carbon-reinforced nylon base, with hollow, black-painted titanium rails. The reviewer described the build as solid, but said the saddle felt heavier than expected when first picked up.
Road.cc’s comparison included custom 3D-printed saddles priced above the Specialized, as well as off-the-shelf alternatives. The review’s price and weight comparisons provide purchasing context, but the saddles are not identical in shape, fit or design. The assessment is therefore best read as one reviewer’s experience, not as a universal ranking.
“The central channel is noticeably soft”
— Road.cc reviewer
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Fit Claims and Test Limits
The review does not establish whether riders with different anatomy, positions or preferences would experience the same firmness and pressure distribution. The reviewer explicitly described comfort as subjective, and the test account does not give a sample size beyond the reviewer’s own experience or detail a controlled comparison against other saddles.
Specialized claims the design has “47,000 struts of adaptive support” and cites 34.1% less nose pressure and 28.8% less pressure at the sit bones. The reviewer questioned the word “adaptive” and said the company did not disclose what those percentages were compared with or how they were derived. The source material provides no baseline or testing method for those figures, so they cannot be independently interpreted from the information available here.
It also remains unclear how much the reviewer’s discomfort reflected the saddle’s firmness, its rounded wings, their preferred riding position or the rough surfaces they rode. No broader rider testing or independent measurement is included in the supplied review.
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Riders Need a Fit Test
No product change or follow-up testing is announced in the source material. For prospective buyers, the next practical step is to compare the saddle’s width and shape with their own fit needs and, if available, test it on rides long enough to reveal whether the firm support remains comfortable. A short initial impression may not reflect how it feels after an hour.
Any further assessment of Specialized’s pressure-reduction figures would need the company to identify the comparison saddle or baseline, the test conditions and the measurement method. Until then, those percentages should be treated as manufacturer claims without disclosed comparison details, separate from the reviewer’s reported experience.
premium road bike saddle with mirror
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Key Questions
What did the road.cc review find worked well?
The reviewer found the soft central channel effective at relieving unwanted pressure. They also said the channel edges were not noticeable or uncomfortable during their rides.
Why did the reviewer find the saddle uncomfortable over time?
The area supporting the sit bones felt firmer than expected. The reviewer said comfort decreased after about an hour and that rough road surfaces made the saddle feel unforgiving.
How much does the Specialized Power EVO Pro with Mirror weigh and cost?
The review gives a weight of 250g and a price of £275. Both figures are from the supplied road.cc review.
What does “with Mirror” mean?
In Specialized’s naming, “with Mirror” refers to its 3D-printed padding, designed with different effective densities across the saddle. The reviewer said those zones did not feel adaptive while riding.
Are Specialized’s pressure-reduction figures independently verified in the review?
No independent verification is provided in the source. Specialized cites 34.1% less nose pressure and 28.8% less pressure at the sit bones, but the review says the comparison baseline and method were not disclosed.
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