Prologo Zero C3 Nack saddle

The Prologo Zero C3 Nack is a light, thinly cushioned and beautifully finished saddle, although it's an expensive one.

Hot on the heels of the £314 Selle Italia Flite Tekno Flow saddle, the Prologo Zero C3 Nack is the second most pricey saddle that we've ever reviewed.

It's a beautifully made saddle featuring a carbon composite base and Prologo's Nack braided carbon rails. Kevlar and aluminium filaments are used to add strength in the clamping area.

The upper comprises light foam padding and a microfibre cover. Ours is black with red details, and a white/black/red model is available too. You have to be quite careful when leaning your bike up against a wall to avoid scratching the cover, although that's the case with the vast majority of saddles out there.

The build quality is second to none, as you've every right to expect on a saddle of this price. The underside looks as tidy as the top without a staple in sight. It really is a gorgeous saddle.

The saddle is 270mm long and 132mm across at the widest point. The nose is slim – 40mm across at the midpoint before tapering down considerably – so you're very unlikely to suffer any thigh-rub as you pedal. I certainly didn't experience anything like that, even on long day rides.

The shape is flat from front to rear with just a slight rise towards the back. It's flat across its width too.

A good way to find out whether this is right for you is to visit a Prologo dealer and go through their My Own saddle selection system.. It's a two minute process that involves measuring the width of your sit bones, your flexibility, and your body mass index. You end up with a saddle recommendation.

The fairly shallow cushioning means that the Zero C3 Nack is quite a firm saddle, although flex in the base – not loads, but some – helps smooth over road vibration and takes the edge off bigger hits. A quick squeeze test confirms what your body tells you: that the base doesn't bend as readily as many others out there. I didn't find that to be a problem, though. It was perfectly comfortable for both short and long rides, although it's safe to say that if you're after a soft, deeply cushioned saddle, this isn't the one for you.

Our test model weighs 164g. That's a touch higher than Prologo's official weight of 149g but it's still very light. If you're a racer looking to save the grams, this is one to consider.

The most important thing, though, is that you find the saddle comfortable. I got on really well with the narrow shape and the shallow padding but you don't want to take a chance on £300 so, if you're interested, get along to a Prologo dealer and do the My Own saddle selector process to make sure it's suitable for you.

Verdict

Lightweight, shallow cushioned, beautifully finished saddle that sits towards the firmer end of the spectrum