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review

Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive

8
£399.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A firmer ride than most 3D-printed saddles, but well made and very comfortable overall
3D printing allows for differing zones of cushioning for comfort and support
Shape suits those who like to move around
Shell flex helps comfort
Eye-watering price
Weight: 
190g

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The 3D-printed Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive performance saddle has a wide and relatively flat shape, providing comfort on long rides where you find yourself seated for many miles at a time. Like many 3D-printed saddles, though, it isn't cheap, and the benefits don't necessarily include a huge weight saving – you can certainly get lighter saddles for less.

You can check out more options in our guide to the best road bike saddles.

> Buy now: Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive for £351.12 from Pro-M-Store

There are a number of 3D-printed saddles on the market, and I've reviewed a fair few of them. I've got on well with them, too. I like the way the cushioning can be controlled by the lattice design in various sections, and the breathable nature of having all those holes running through the upper construction.

The Vento Argo is slightly different to the others I've tried, though. It doesn't have as thick an upper as the Selle Italia SLR 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow, or the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror, so it's not quite so plush.

2023 Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive - back.jpg

I'd say the Fizik is better aimed at those who ride hard and fast and put a lot of their weight on the pedals rather than on the saddle itself.

Fizik says the 00 Adaptive is the lightest option in the Argo range, 'with a lower profile 3D-printed padding combined with an incredibly stiff high-module, full-carbon shell and rails'. It's 39g lighter than the kium-railed R3 that Jamie's been testing (according to the road.cc Scales of Truth), but costs £140 more.

2023 Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive - rear.jpg

To achieve the desired comfort and support there are zonal differences in the upper mesh. The side and nose sections are firmer than the central two, which means vibration from the road is damped a touch for your more delicate areas while the side sections give resistance to your pedalling action, stopping any power from being wasted.

2023 Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive - top.jpg

Comfort is boosted by way of some flex in the carbon fibre shell, and the carbon rails, and the shell has a cutout to reduce pressure in the centre.

2023 Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive - underside.jpg

The Argo 00 Adaptive is available in two widths, 140mm or (on test) 150mm, with both being 265mm in length.

Compared with a lot of saddles it's quite a flat shape. Personally, I prefer something with a few more curves in its profile as I tend not to move about much, but if you do you should get on well with the Fizik. Not that I'm saying I didn't – I carried out plenty of rides of up to five hours without any comfort issues and I didn't find a single hot-spot, nor did it cause any numbness.

But as we always say in a saddle review, comfort is subjective – what I find comfortable might, to you, feel like sitting on a bed of nails, or what is uncomfortable for me might make you feel like you're floating on a cushion of air.

> Video: How to choose the correct saddle for you and your riding

The Argo 00 Adaptive is a good-looking saddle, and it looks and feels well made too. The join between the upper and the shell is secure all of the way around, and both are hardwearing. The upper doesn't scuff at all when leant against walls, and should stand up well in the event of a minor off.

All of this high-end quality doesn't come cheap, though it's on a par with other expensive options.

The Specialized Power Pro with Mirror I mentioned earlier is £290, and is quite a bit heavier at 254g, but the S-Works version, which Mat tested in 2020, is 193g and £390.

And that Selle Italia SLR Boost 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow costs even more, at £409.99, though it is lighter, too, at 177g.

But as Jamie pointed out in his review of the R3 Adaptive, if you're happy with a non-3D-printed saddle then there are plenty of lighter and cheaper options out there: the Giant Fleet SLR, for example, which Liam tested in 2020, is £129.99 and 184g.

Conclusion

Overall, the Fizik Argo is a very comfortable saddle, especially for those who tend to ride harder. The sections that are more cushioned improve the ride, and the overall quality is excellent. It's a high price, but on a par with other 3D-printed saddles.

Verdict

A firmer ride than most 3D-printed saddles, but well made and very comfortable overall

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Fizik Vento Argo 00 Adaptive

Size tested: Large (265x150mm)

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Fizik says, "Our short-nose performance cycling racing saddle featuring 3D-printed padding for zonal cushioning comfort across the entire surface and full-carbon shell and rails to save weight without sacrificing support."

It's a firm saddle, but that makes it ideal for performance riders who don't want any sag as they pedal hard.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Fizik:

ARGO 00 150 - ADAPTIVE

Adaptive: Carbon® Digital Light Synthesis™ 3D-printing technology, offering seamlessly engineered zonal cushioning

Argo: Versatile short-nose saddle that encourages stability and relieves pressure on sensitive areas

00: A combination of a high-module, full-carbon shell and rails for maximum stiffness and minimal weight

Length: 265 mm

Width: 150 mm

Height at 75 mm width: 43 mm

Length from nose to 75 mm width: 114 mm

Weight: 186 g

Rail: 7x9 mm

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a firm saddle that gives a great platform for hard riders to get the power out ot the pedals without bouncing around.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Zonal cushioning is clever.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Like other 3D saddles, it's pricey.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's similar to other top end 3D saddles from Specialized and Selle Italia.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a very good saddle, well made from high-end materials, with clever cushioning 'zones' that take out the worst of the road buzz. It's pricey, but no more so than other similar saddles.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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4 comments

Avatar
check12 | 9 months ago
0 likes

the none 00 version is £140 cheaper 

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Global Nomad | 9 months ago
0 likes

so many parts of bikes are now way to expensive to buy and test...i have several saddles that were not quite right at £50-£100 but I swallowed that and passed them on to others if it suited them. But at circa £400 you really need a test ride - would be good to know in reviews at this level if that is possible.

Avatar
peted76 | 9 months ago
0 likes

Blimey, that is an eye watering price! Not one for the weight weenies either. 

Avatar
Freddy56 | 9 months ago
0 likes

And yes, they do wear away shorts at a greater rate.

After 5,000kms alternating between two pair of shorts, both have lots of contact abrasion . Comfortable thou!

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