Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle

8
£74.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Supportive padding and a very comfortable shape for all kinds of riding
Comfortable shape
Supportive padding works both on and off road
Weight: 
195g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Selle San Marco's Shortfit Dynamic saddle balances comfort, performance and price very well. I'm a big fan of the shape, and the extra width at the rear gives you a comfortable platform to push against to get the power down.

These short style saddles have really been gaining traction in the marketplace over the last few years, suiting a whole range of riding disciplines.

> Find your nearest dealer here

When you sit on the Shortfit it doesn't really feel like a short saddle, thanks to its curved shape. Some saddles feel like they've just had the nose cut off, but this one feels to be in proportion.

2020 Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle.jpg

The slightly dropped nose is unobtrusive, and the upwardly curved tail section and 155mm (for the wide model on test here, 134mm for the narrow) width give you plenty of material to push back against when you are really driving the power down on a flat, fast section. When I climb in the saddle, I tend to push myself back as far as I can – I find it reduces lower back pain on long rides or long climbs, so the wide platform here definitely helps.

2020 Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle - rear.jpg

Selle San Marco says the shape is suitable for both male and female riders, and for use on many terrains. I especially like it for use on the gravel bike.

> Buyer’s Guide: 29 of the best saddles for men and women

The Biofoam padding is firm enough to really support you through the pedalling stroke while remaining comfortable, which is also helped by a small amount of hull flex.

2020 Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle - back.jpg

Overall, the quality is pretty good, and it is nicely finished, although some saddles we see at this price have an extra layer underneath to create a 'sandwich' for neatness, rather than just seeing the upper glued to the base.

At 195g the Shortfit is actually quite light, especially for a saddle with manganese rails and a carbon fibre-reinforced nylon base.

2020 Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle - underside.jpg

At its original price of £89.99 it was priced competitively, but it's been reduced to £74.99, so it's now cheaper than the Fabric Line-S Race Flat saddle at £79.99, which comes with titanium rails but is a fair chunk heavier. Emma also found that the firm edges of the channel could cause discomfort whereas I had no such issues with the cutout here.

Fizik's Argo R3 saddle uses a similar construction and costs £129.99.

On the whole, I really like the shape of the Shortfit and it's a well-made saddle for the money. The biggest bonus though is the balance of firmness for riding hard without sacrificing overall comfort.

Verdict

Supportive padding and a very comfortable shape for all kinds of riding

road.cc test report

Make and model: Selle San Marco ShortFit Dynamic Saddle

Size tested: Wide

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?

Selle San Marco says: "The SHORTFIT saddle was created to meet the needs of the most demanding cyclists who, for certain types of training sessions or rides, rotate their bust a lot moving to a position close to the handlebars. The special ergonomic shape of this new saddle features reduced length and ensures proper support in the generous rear section and optimum pressure distribution in the front section.

'The long central cutout (Open -Fit) guarantees all-day comfort and support on the whole length of the saddle. This feature improves the blood flow preventing numbness and provides relief from pressure on the perineum. Recommended for individuals with averagely high pelvic rotation and for women bikers.

'Shortfit features the side profile of the seating surface with a central depression of more than 5 mm that is similar to a curved line. For this reason, it is listed as Waved saddle. Recommended for individuals with both flat back (retroverted pelvis) and accentuated lumbar arch (anteverted pelvis)."

I think it's a saddle that is comfortable for a lot of different ride styles.

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

From Selle San Marco:

Rail : Manganese

Shell : Carbon Fiber Reinforced

Foam : Biofoam

Cover : Microfeel

Dimension : 250 x 155 mm

Level : Dynamic

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
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:
 
7/10

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

It is one of the best short saddles I've used.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great comfort thanks to the shape and padding.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing really, to be honest.

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

It is priced competitively, cheaper than the Fabric mentioned in the review, and some, from the likes of Fizik for instance, are quite a bit more expensive for similar constructions.

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 all-round saddle for a very competitive price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  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,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
matthewn5 | 4 years ago
1 like

Rotate their bust? Huh?
 

Latest Comments