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The top 21 best road bike saddles with cut out

In this article I’m going to give you my top picks for the best road bike saddles with cut out.

Cut outs have been among us for about a decade now, and in that time they’ve been featured ever more prominently among the lineup of the biggest brands in the world.

And for good reason. Every road cyclist knows about saddle soreness and perineal numbness. And saddle shapes have changed over the years to enable riders to sit on their sit bones and still remain comfortable riding for hours on end.

In a world where every rider’s anatomy necessitates a different approach when it comes to saddles, this is a difficult feat to achieve indeed. But what has stood the test of time is the center cut out, which is a way to alleviate pressure on soft tissue and support using your sit bones.

While not as extreme as say the design of ISM saddles, with their two pronged noses, as of late, saddle shapes have reached new extremes. A good example of this is Selle Italia’s SP-01 series. Not only is the Italian manufacturer known for its huge cut outs in their saddle design, a saddle bearing the SP-01 moniker has its shell halves only attached at the nose.

The amount of saddles with cut outs versus those that don’t have one seem to be about fifty-fifty. But there are major differences among brands. While Selle Italia has a saddle lineup with the majority featuring large cut outs, a brand like Fabric or Ergon shows the exact opposite. With either no cut outs among their saddles, or very few.

So it seems not everybody favors cut out saddles. A well-known compromise for padded saddles is to have no padding in the center but rather a shallow depression, with an intact saddle shell.

Making a saddle with a cut out requires a higher level of engineering and doesn’t necessarily equate to the saddle being lighter. That’s because the saddle has to support the same weight with less material. The reason that the lightest saddles are the most expensive, because they feature the most sophisticated saddle engineering. Just think about the difficulty of achieving the same result using less than half the material, or even more.

All in all, there’s a reason we have saddles with cut outs and that’s because they simply work by alleviating stress to an area where you don’t want any. So let’s head over to my list of the very best road bike saddles with cut outs.

Brooks B17 Narrow Carved

B17 Narrow Carved
B17 Narrow Carved

The Brooks B17 Narrow Carved is the exact same version as the B17 Narrow without the center cut out.

For a saddle with such a vintage build, a center cut out behaves a bit differently than on a saddle with a shell. To keep the shape of the saddle in place, there’s a lace that ties underneath the leather upper and keeps the sides from pulling away from each other.

As with all Brooks saddles, the B17 Narrow Carved has a breaking in period, where the thick leather upper adjusts to the rider. But after a considerate amount of miles both the breaking in and center cut out make for an exceptionally comfortable retro-styled saddle.

This saddle is definitely a special piece of bicycle equipment for the vintage connoisseur who doesn’t mind the time necessary to grow towards the ultimate riding experience. And as such the B17 Narrow Carved offers its goodness for those who’re willing to wait for it while riding.

Brooks C15 Carved

C15 Carved
C15 Carved

The Brooks C15 Carved is the same version as the regular C15, except it has a cut out.

As with the Brooks C13, whether or not you opt for the cut out version is up to. Just remember you get a bit more compliance out of the saddle because of the missing material.

Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow

Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow
Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow

The Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow is a road bike saddle with a very long name and lots of padding.

That doesn’t mean it’s heavy with a weight sitting at 207 grams. And to achieve such a feat you get a stiff carbon injected nylon shell atop a Stealth Xsilite alloy rail, a mixture of silicon, carbon, and titanium. They claim the rails are basically bomb-proof and resistant to the elements.

The reason you might want to buy this saddle is because its classic-looking race-shape of 277 x 132 millimeters offers a plushness in a package that also features a center cut out, running basically all the way to the back of the saddle. Not everybody likes to be riding a super firm race saddle, and Selle San Marco is targeting that market with this saddle.

So if you actually like a bit of extra padding for your rides, this could very well be the saddle that ticks those boxes for you.

Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide (Open)

GND Dynamic Wide (Open)
GND Dynamic Wide (Open)

The Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide with the cut out version is slightly lighter at 210 grams, which is incredibly light all things considered.

It has the same overall features as the one without the cut out, and uses the same type of materials. That means you get a glass fiber reinforced shell on top of manganese steel rails, with plush padding in a semi-short length.

The version of 145 millimeters is more neutral than the narrow 135 millimeters, which allows for a bigger platform to support the rider. You might argue that that actually improves because the rider has to spend less energy staying into position.

The microfeel cover onto the star shaped design looks great and the finish is superb, which makes this saddle the perfect choice for adventurous riders on a budget.

Fizik Vento Argo R5

Vento Argo R5
Vento Argo R5

As far as budget goes the Fizik Vento Argo R5 is the most premium option on this list with a suggested retail price of 99 euros. It can be had for cheaper on Amazon though.

It’s another very well made short-nosed saddle with a carbon-reinforced nylon shell with a large center cut out. This cut out transitions into a lower surface area both front and back, planting you firmly in place.

This version also has an alloy rail to keep costs down and a width of either 140 mm for the small or 150 mm for the larger version.

This saddle offers ample amounts of comfort for relaxed road riding, thanks to the plush padding and cut out.

Fizik Arione R1 Open

Arione R1 Open
Arione R1 Open

The Fizik Arione R1 Open is the cut out version of the regular R1.

A lot of manufacturers make cut out versions of all of their saddles and Fizik is no exception, basically doubling their entire lineup. The cut out is rather small but sits in an area lower than the two padded halves and moves all the way down the length of the saddle.

The carbon version is actually a bit heavier than the non-cut out version at almost 200 grams.

There’s plenty of room to mount your carbon-specific seatpost on the braided carbon rails. The overall very long design is something you hate or love, because the added length in the back is mainly there for aesthetic purposes.

The carbon composite shell is a tad wider than the regular R1 at 132 millimeters, but still very narrow.

The standard R1 is already a very comfortable saddle, but if you like your performance racing perch with a cut out, the R1 Open is your obvious choice.

Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow

SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow
SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow

I can’t shake the fact that the name of this saddle could be some underground German house song. It’s cool though, but not nearly as cool as this saddle.

Each half of the Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow is only connected at the nose. This causes them to flex more noticeably when riding ostensibly making the ride more comfortable.

It’s the most beautiful saddle from this list and my first pick if I could have found it for a price my wallet deemed more amenable than its full retail price of €450. Road.cc called it “sex on rails”. I agree.

Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Superflow

SLR Kit Carbonio Superflow
SLR Kit Carbonio Superflow

The Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Superflow is a superbly crafted saddle with many outstanding details.

The 131 width one sits at 148 grams, while the 145 is slightly heavier at 153 grams. That’s extremely light for a saddle measuring 275 millimeters in length.

This very expensive saddle has carbon ceramic rails underneath a carbon injected nylon shell with Mikrotek microfiber cover.

Selle Italia’s Superflow refers to their penchant for huge cut outs. And with that much material removed there’s very little for your body to use other than the sit bones. Your anatomy is a unique thing, but the slightly swooping shape of the SLR does allow for some adjusting on the saddle back and forth to find that position that feels best for you.

The ovalized carbon ceramic rails and the carbon composite shell provides a fair amount of flex, and the padded upper adds to the overall comfort you’ll enjoy with this road saddle.

The saddle is more delicate than some of the others with the cover stretches all the way to the edge and zero scuff protectors. But that’s kind of a trade-off between design versus protection. And it does mean you will never feel any sharp edges because there aren’t any.

Overall this premium offering from Selle Italia has proven to be one of the most popular road bike saddles in their high end performance category. And I can clearly understand why.

Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow

SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow
SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow

The naming conventions of Selle Italia are very confusing indeed, until you understand that they simply have a fancy way of putting saddle parts into the name. The Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow is a good example.

SP-01 refers to a new innovation where the two halves of the saddle are only held together at the nose. In this case we’re talking about a carbon composite shell dropping the weight to below the magic 200 gram mark at 160. That’s featherweight territory.

Kit Carbonio refers to the carbon rails, which further adds to the premium feel of the saddle. It adds an extra damping factor, but do keep in mind the oval rails need a compatible seatpost. The unique looking rails adds an additional shock absorption factor to the overall high comfort level obtained by the prolific use of carbon throughout the entire saddle

Superflow is Selle Italia’s way of describing their saddle cut outs, which are large and prominent. Even more so with the SP-01 outlandish shape.

And Boost is their way of telling you’re dealing with a short-nosed version of the saddle. With a single size of 130 x 250 mm it’s not only short but also narrow. The taper at the front does lead to a wider nose than on non-boost saddles, which makes a more forward position a comfortable possibility.

It’s the SP-01 saddle that provides the most performance and flexibility in use, with just the more outrageous full carbon Tekno trumping it. The saddle is both a gorgeous and astonishing feat of saddle engineering, that provides the absolute best the Italian company has to offer to the serious road cyclist.

Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance Superflow

SLR Boost Endurance Superflow
SLR Boost Endurance Superflow

At 202 grams the Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance Superflow is a featherweight short-nosed premium performance saddle.

SLR denotes Selle Italia’s foray into short-nosed perches and at 130 x 248 mm for the regular and 145 x 248 mm for the wide version, they are short indeed.

The swooping design is felt even more by the gel padded cover. It’s amazing that Selle Italia has managed to cram so much comfort and padding onto a saddle that weighs so little.

Like most of Selle Italia’s premium endurance saddles, this one features titanium rails and durable Fibra-tek cover onto a carbon composite shell.

Saddles are exceptionally personal product offerings, and when buying such an expensive one as this one you want one that’s right for you.

This saddle is anything but cheap, but for that premium you get one of the lightest endurance saddles in the market for long comfortable hours in the saddle.

Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady TI316 Superflow

SLR Boost Lady TI316 Superflow
SLR Boost Lady TI316 Superflow

The Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady TI316 Superflow is a female-specific short-nosed premium endurance saddle.

It’s so similar to the Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance Superflow I really had to look at what makes this a woman’s road bike saddle.

It has the same overall shape with large cut out, titanium rails attached to a carbon composite shell, with gel padding, and a Fibra-Tek cover.

It has the same overall dimensions and it weighs the same… No wait, it doesn’t because it’s even lighter. 3 grams for the regular and a single gram for the wide version to be exact.

I’ve overlayed the Lady onto the unisex version and the width actually seems to be a bit smaller, though the number that Selle Italia gives says it’s 130 mm in both cases.

Well it’s a great saddle, and it’s cheaper. What’s in a name.

Selle Italia SLR Superflow

SLR Superflow
SLR Superflow

The Selle Italia SLR Superflow is a classically shaped high performance road racing saddle.

With widths of 131 and 145 millimeters and an average length of 275 millimeters the carbon composite shell features the large cut out that Selle Italia saddles are known for.

Just like many other premium saddles from the brand, the shell is held into place onto the seatpost with titanium rails.

The large cut out, its length, and shell material means there high levels of natural damping combined with a flexy shell that prevents chafing.

Even with this length it doesn’t mean the nose is truly supportive to be sitting on for extended periods of time. If you prefer such a position you’ll need to be looking into the boost (short-nosed) version of the SLR.

Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Superflow

SP-01 Boost Superflow
SP-01 Boost Superflow

The SP-01 saddles is a separate category of saddles which provides more flex due to independently moving saddle halves.

The Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Superflow is somewhat affordable, ditching full carbon rails for a titanium version. This means the saddle adds a couple of extra grams of weight, but the round 7 millimeter rails are fully compatible with your standard seatpost. So that’s a great benefit for riders who don’t want to add to their costs by needing a carbon compatible seatpost.

Still this is not a cheap saddle because it features the same carbon injected nylon composite that Selle Italia uses for their lightweight performance saddles.

Its flat profile and sloping short noise is perfect for a forward position while sitting in the drops. That means this is an aggressive racing road bike saddle.

Be aware of the fact that the saddle is incompatible with saddle bags because of the open halves.

This design provides an optimal road feel with less padding needed, but still providing ample amounts of damping because of the relatively high amount of flex. So this unique design from the Italian saddle giant is a great innovation that’s bound to attract a faithful following.

Selle Italia Novus Superflow Endurance

Novus Superflow Endurance
Novus Superflow Endurance

The Selle Italia Novus Superflow Endurance has endurance in the title, so what exactly is so different about this saddle to earn that moniker.

For starters, the two-pronged split-nosed design sitting on titanium rails is distinctive enough. It means the cut out of the saddle extends all the way to the front of the nose, reminiscent of those produced by time-trial favorite ISM.

Where you can actually sit the two shell halves not only offer extra padded support, but also a layer of gel padding to add to the overall damping qualities of the saddle. A durable Fibra-Tek perforated microfiber cover has the Selle Italia logo on it.

The overall build quality is downright amazing, and the long and narrow shape of the saddle measuring 138 x 282 mm for the regular size and 149 x 282 mm for the large one, means there’s plenty of room to find the correct position for your sit bones.

The reason why you have to pay twice the amount of money vs the TM version is the composition of the shell. Where this one uses carbon fiber, the other one is made from nylon. And that carbon shell sits on top of titanium rails instead of a manganese steel one. That means a more flexible perch and just some more damping effects as well, with the tiniest of weight gains as well.

Granted the split nose design might equally split onlookers into categories of those who hate and those who love it, but there’s no denying that this saddle will save your behind on longer rides.

Selle Italia SLR TM Superflow

SLR TM Superflow
SLR TM Superflow

The Selle Italia SLR TM Superflow is pretty similar in specs to the Selle Italia Flite Boost TM Superflow except it offers a more traditional design.

If you’re not into short-nosed saddles, the classic design of the SLR measures 131 x 275 millimeters. As with many other saddles from Selle Italia, it offers a large center cut out for pressure relief.

You get a nylon shell with extra padding for comfortable rides. A manganese rails for a bit of flex to take out road buzz, in a package weighing 205 grams.

It’s a classically shaped road bike saddle from this big brand name, which offers loads of comfort for everyday riding and endurance races.

Selle Italia Flite Boost TM Superflow

Flite Boost TM Superflow
Flite Boost TM Superflow

Selle has gone all-in with short-nosed saddles and the Selle Italia Flite Boost TM Superflow is a great affordable option.

The Flite name has been around for an extremely long time, but this saddle looks nothing like the first iterations.

The narrow version of this saddle sits at 135 x 248 millimeters. The stubby nose means less sliding around, for those who appreciate that, putting your body more firmly in place and more easily in a forward position. The entire notion is a better power transfer to the pedals.

True to both its racing and endurance nature this is an almost entirely flat saddle with a huge cut out, something a lot of Selle Italia saddles are known for. And it offers a thicker padding to stay comfortable with long hours in the saddle.

The overall build quality of this saddle is superb, with a gorgeous perforated Soft-Tek microfiber upper and subtle brand covering.

Although not cheap per se, you get a lot of tech from one of the biggest brands in the saddle industry.

Selle Italia SP-01 Boost TM Superflow

SP-01 Boost TM Superflow
SP-01 Boost TM Superflow

The Selle Italia SP-01 Boost TM Superflow is a relatively new design from Selle Italia, where the center cut out moves all the way through to the end of the saddle.

That means no more saddle bags, you won’t be able to attach them. But instead you get more flex in the rear because of the two halves that can move more independently from each other. The result is more road feel in a less bumpy ride while you ride in the drops.

Personally, I like the innovation but I can understand that such a design might not be for everybody. But you have to realize that you not only get independently moving halves, but also more flex in the saddle itself. And at the end of the day it does work to improve riding comfort.

It’s like riding a saddle with more padding, without actually having that extra padding. That means the weight of the narrow 130 millimeter saddle stays at 200 grams, while the 250 millimeter short and straight length locks you into a comfy racing position.

I’m all in for cycling tech or else I wouldn’t be writing this stuff, and I can only applaud Selle Italia for taking the next steps when it comes to road racing saddles. And with Their SP-01 they’ve hit the mark just right.

Selle Italia Novus Endurance TM Superflow

Novus Endurance TM Superflow
Novus Endurance TM Superflow

With endurance in its name it should be obvious what the Selle Italia Novus Endurance TM Superflow is for.

Its unique-looking design looks similar to those used by ISM, with the nose cut in half and slightly dipping.

This affordable long-distance offering features a lot of extra padding for a weight penalty, tipping the scales over 300 grams. But this is not a saddle for those looking to shave an extra 100 grams of their bike, and people who’ll actually be doing gran fondos will care less about such a thing.

What they will care about is comfort and this saddle excels in that area. You can actually take this saddle on roads that don’t necessarily resemble smooth tarmac, and the plush ride will allow you to enjoy it from start to finish.

Selle Italia offers a number of magnificent showpieces, and this saddle is not among them. It’s purely functional with a core focus on being able to eat mile after mile of road. So if that’s your thing there aren’t many options that offer a greater return on investment, if any.

Selle Italia Model X Comfort+

Model X Comfort+
Model X Comfort+

At 415 grams and with loads of padding the Selle Italia Model X Comfort+ is meant for riders who like to enjoy the scenery more than getting as fast as possible from A to B.

The sweeping form favors a more upright position. It’s still a great looking saddle for gravel and endurance riding, and the finish of the taut microfiber cover is fantastic, as befitting of the Italian brand.

One of the best things about this saddle is obviously the price, which means that road enthusiasts can obtain a high quality product at a decent price.

This is the right saddle for weekend warriors, who enjoy leisurely rides in great comfort while catching up on the latest news with each other riding in the hoods.

Prologo Scratch M5 Pas

Scratch M5 Pas
Scratch M5 Pas

The Prologo Scratch M5 Pas is a short-nosed lightweight road bike saddle.

The overall design features a large seating platform and dropped nose, which enables dynamic riding where you need to get frequently out of the saddle.

The saddle offers two options for the rails with the Tirox alloy versions hovering around 200 grams and a much lighter carbon version sitting at 134 grams. Oval carbon rails require a carbon specific seatpost, so make sure you have one, should you decide to opt for the carbon version.

The Scratch M5 is decently padded and looks futuristic with its five panel layout across a rounded 250mm length shell. This separate paneling should help to add some extra flex to the saddle for added comfort.

Prologo Kappa Space

Kappa Space
Kappa Space

Coming in both white and black with red elements thrown in the Prologo Kappa Space is the most in your face options of all the saddles listed here. So if you’re in for that type of design this one will float your boat.

Besides the design aspects the Kappa Space has a more classic looking arrow design at 270×147 mm, sitting on cro-mo 7 mm standard rails.

The center cut out and dipped area is more narrow than several of its competitors, which is also in line with more classic designs.

A great fit on a bike saddle will always be something intimately personal. But if you feel more familiar with classically shaped arrowhead saddles, and you like its design, this great piece from Prologo is the best choice.

Specifications road bike saddles with cut out

Name
Rail
Price
Dimensions
Weight
Shell
Padding
Cover
Buy at Amazon
Brooks B17 Narrow Carved
steel
150 euros
279 x 151 mm
510 g
none
none
vegetable tanned leather
Brooks C15 Carved
steel
120 euros
283 x 140 mm
432 g
vulcanized rubber
none
nylon
Selle San Marco Aspide Supercomfort Racing Narrow
Stealth Xsilite
159 euros
277 x 132 mm
207 g
carbon reinforced nylon
biofoam
microfeel
Selle San Marco GND Dynamic Wide (Open)
manganese
79 euros
262 x 145 mm
210 g
glass fiber reiinforced
Biofoam
Microfeel
Fizik Vento Argo R5
S-Alloy Ø7 mm
109.99 USD
S 265 x 140 mm – L 265 x 150 mm
S 225 g – L 232 g
carbon-reinforced nylon
type 1 foam
Fizik Arione R1 Open
carbon braided Ø7×10 mm
199.99 USD
S 300 x 132 mm – L 298 x 142 mm
S 199 g – L 205 g
carbon reinforced nylon
microtex
Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow
carbon Ø7×9 mm
560 euros
S 130 x 245 mm – L 145 x 245 mm
S 105 g – L 110 g
carbon
none
Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio Superflow
carbon/keramic Ø7×9 mm
380 euros
S 131 x 275 mm – L 145 x 275 mm
S 148 g – L 153 g
carbon reinforced nylon
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow
Carbon/Keramic Ø7×9 mm
360 euros
130 x 250 mm
160 g
carbon composite
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SLR Boost Endurance Superflow
TI 316 Tube Ø7 mm
320 euros
S 130 x 248 mm – L 145 x 248 mm
S 202 g – L 207 g
carbon composite
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SLR Boost Lady TI316 Superflow
TI 316 Tube Ø7 mm
300 euros
130 x 248 mm
S 198 g – L 206 g
carbon composite
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SLR Superflow
TI 316 Tube Ø7 mm
300 euros
S 131 x 275 mm – L 145 x 275 mm
S 185 g – L 190 g
carbon composite
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Superflow
TI 316 Tube Ø7 mm
280 euros
S 130 x 250 mm – L 146 x 250 mm
S 188 g – L 194 g
carbon reinforced nylon
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia Novus Superflow Endurance
TI 316 Tube Ø7 mm
240 euros
S 138 x 282 mm – L 149 x 282 mm
S 288 g – L 293 g
carbon composite
gel padding
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia SLR TM Superflow
manganese tube Ø7 mm
160 euros
S 131 x 275 mm – L 145 x 275 mm
S 205 g – L 210 g
nylon
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia Flite Boost TM Superflow
manganese tube Ø7 mm
150 euros
S 135 x 248 mm – L 145 x 248 mm
S 230 g – L 233 g
nylon
Soft-Tek
Selle Italia SP-01 Boost TM Superflow
manganese tube Ø7 mm
130 euros
S 130 x 250 mm – L 146 x 250 mm
S 200 g – L 205 g
Selle Italia Novus Endurance TM Superflow
manganese tube Ø7 mm
100 euros
S 138 x 282 mm – L 149 x 282 mm
S 306 g – L 310 g
nylon
extra padding / gel
Fibra-Tek
Selle Italia Model X Comfort+
FeC Alloy Ø7 mm
65 euros
145 x 245 mm
415 g
Prologo Scratch M5 Pas
nack carbon / tirox
138/213 euros
250 x 140 mm
nack 134 g – Tirox 201 g
Prologo Kappa Space
cro-mo Ø7 mm
78 euros
270 x 147 mm
249 g
nylon
Light foam
bio vanseijen

Johan van Seijen

FoundeR Restoration.bike

Johan van Seijen is the founder of restoration.bike. His passion for cycling in general, and restoring older bikes turned into a website to share his knowledge with a broader audience. Starting out on his father’s road bike and riding classics as the Amstel Gold Race and Liege Bastogne Liege he has shifted his attention to trail, XC, and gravel riding since. No matter how much he loves writing about everything related to cycling, nothing beats actually using his ever-expanding bicycle collection.

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