Selle San Marco Mantra Xsilite saddle

It’s got a great big hole in it. There, that’s got that out of the way. The Selle San Marco Mantra certainly has an individual look, and I found it a well made and comfortable perch that’s better for long rides than short ones.

Weighing in at 204g the Mantra is light but it won’t be a weight weenie’s choice. It feels solidly constructed and there’s plenty of attention to detail in the finishing. The Xsilite (Selle San Marco’s Titanium mix) rails angle the saddle very slightly down when they’re set up level, but that’s how I tend to run my saddle anyway. The nose is deep and the big flared sides extend down much further than most perches. And it’s got a great big hole in it. Did I mention that?

First impressions were of a saddle that’s fairly hard and a bit edgy around the hole; coming from a much softer Charge Spoon it was a bit uncomfortable to start with. Give it time though: after a while the edges wear in a bit and although the padding is firm it’s all in the right places. The deep sides are supposed to reduce chafing against the edges of the seat, Selle San Marco call it the ‘no shuffle system’; I can’t say that it was it any better or worse than my favourite saddles.

The Mantra gets better the longer you’re in the saddle. After you’ve broken it in it’s fairly comfy from the off, but when softer saddles can start to chafe after a few hours the Mantra is solid and dependable. The big hole gives plenty of ventilation so you’ll need mudguards in the wet and windproof shorts on frosty mornings, but it does the job of relieving pressure a treat.

Overall the Mantra is certainly one to consider for longer stints; it’s a different shape to many seats and worth a try if you’re on the hunt for a reasonably light saddle for your good bike. It’s available in black too if pimpy white won’t suit your steed; the white finish is bearing up pretty well and it’s been pretty resistant to scuffs and knocks.

Verdict

Good long distance saddle with a unique look. Takes a bit of time to break in and get used to, though.

All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.