Selle Italia

X1 Plus Flow Saddle

Compared to Selle Italia's road racing saddles like the SLR model line, the X1 X-Cross Flow expands in length and width, adding 4 and 8mm, respectively. Those dimensional tweaks may seem insignificant, but millimeters matter when setting up a cockpit, and the larger platform provides more support for body english or stable comfort. When combined with more padding than on minimalist race saddles, this expanded surface area makes the X1 X-Cross versatile enough for everything from muscling through rocky berms, plowing furrows in sand pit peanut butter, or shifting about during the course of long base miles or charity gran fondos.

By carving a pressure-relieving Flow channel out of the saddle's center, Selle Italia also helps keep your weight on the ischial bones rather than the delicate, soft tissues that they protect, and — though the brand doesn't make the claim — the Flow channel has obvious benefits in weight loss compared to the non-Flow version.