Fizik Antares R1 Versus Evo Saddle

Fizik's Antares R1 Versus Evo Regular saddle takes longer to say than it does to get comfortable on. It's a light, upmarket carbon saddle that offers both central pressure relief and sit bone support, thanks to well-judged padding and useful flex – but it doesn't come cheap.

• Pros: Full-length channel, supportive padding, excellent comfort
• Cons: Slightly slippery covering, high cost

To clarify that short story of a name, Antares is the model, and it's designed for riders wanting the middle ground between completely flat and 'wavy,' raised-tail shaping.

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The 'R1' indicates that this version is high-spec, with carbon braided rails – the cheaper and slightly heavier R3 has alloy rails.

'Evo' is a reference to Fizik's 'Spine Concept Evo', which uses spine flexibility to predict which shape you'll be most comfy with. In Fizik's parlance, the Antares is designed for 'Chameleons', the middle of its three definitions: Snake, Chameleon and Bull. If you're very flexy (Snake), your pelvis can stay pretty upright and – Fizik reasons – you'll be happy on a flat saddle. At the other extreme, non-bendy backs force the pelvis to roll forwards into a position (Bull) that requires a wavy, raised-tail shape to reduce pressure.

Chameleon is a mix of the two, and I found the gentle longitudinal dip worked really well for me. Obviously saddle fit is very individual, but Fizik's reasoning is sound and the explanation is clear, making it easy to home in on a good personal match.

Finally, and because yes, we're still dealing with that epic name, the 'Regular' refers to saddle width. The Antares comes in two widths: this 139mm Regular, or the 10mm wider Large.

Get the padding wrong with a full-length channel like this and it will never be comfy, but I found the Comfort Core foam spot on – soft enough to instantly relax on, yet firm enough to hold its shape and stay supportive. I rode it for up to three hours at a time, and never found it less than excellent. It's comfortable from one end to the other, too, whether you're over the tail or up on the nose for climbing.

The thin nylon shell is carbon reinforced and lacks any central cutouts, which can only help with stiffness and (arguably better still) provides protection from cold road spray. It's forgiving enough for noticeable compliance over bad surfaces in comparison to alloy-railed saddles, especially over high-frequency judder, which it really helps mute.

Nevertheless, overall it's a firm and reliable platform to push against during hard efforts. The shaping around your thighs is excellent, so there's no rubbing or pressure even if you sit way back.

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One slight niggle is the microtex covering, which is a little too smooth to keep Lycra hooked in place, and can let you slide unexpectedly under heavy braking, on rough roads or during punchy pedalling. You may like the easy movement, of course, but I prefer more friction for deliberate weight shifts only.

The fabric has survived a few chain-cleaning inversions without suffering scuffs, though the uncovered plastic rear section does take some of the bike's weight.

Speaking of weight, the Antares R1 is pleasingly svelte at 168g, which is actually 11g lighter than the claimed weight of 179g. The slim shell and carbon rails – complete with attractive rough braiding – clearly play their part, and an ovalised, 7x9mm cross-section gives good vertical stiffness while minimising mass. I had no fitting issues either with saddle clamps or saddle bags on these rails.

Fizik has included its Integrated Clip System (a socket for compatible saddle bags) which is filled with a blank that bears the Fizik logo. It's a bit of a loose fit, so I took it out in case it fell out. Doing so saved 2g, and obviously made the Antares faster still...

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This is a well-made saddle that both looks and feels worth the cost, but that cost is still high. Bontrager's Montrose Pro saddle offers a similar construction and weight, for instance, and is £150. Note the Montrose comes in a narrow option too, although its channel doesn't reach the nose, it's a little flatter along its length and the centre is open.

For less still you could have the Fabric Line, tested here in its £70 titanium-railed version – but available with carbon rails at a decent 183g for £140. Again, however, the channel doesn't actually reach the nose, so if you're doing a lot of steep climbing, the benefits are reduced.

Verdict

A full-length channel, excellent padding and carbon build mean comfort is high – but so is the price