A well-cushioned saddle with an effective pressure relief channel and plenty of stability

The new Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo is a lightweight saddle that provides comfort and a pressure relief channel down the centre while still feeling stable enough to allow you to transfer power efficiently to the pedals.

  • Pros: Comfortable, supportive, lightweight
  • Cons: It costs £210

I reviewed the Fizik Arione R1 saddle earlier in the year, and a lot of what I said there holds true here too.

> Find your nearest dealer here

First of all, you need to decide which of Fizik's three road saddle shapes is right for you – Arione, Aliante or Antares – based on your spine flexibility. The simplest way to do this is by using Fizik's app.

Then you input your bodyweight and your average speed on a flat road (it doesn't say over what distance) and the app gives you a suggested saddle size (regular or large). I'll assume you've done all that and that the app has told you that you need an Arione.

What's new here is the Versus Evo pressure relief channel down the centre. Previously, Fizik offered Versus (VS for short) saddles with what you might call a valley – a depression in the padding – running from the nose to the tail.

Fizik Arione R1 VS Evo saddle - back.jpg

With the Versus Evo, the padding and the cover on one side of the saddle are entirely separate from the padding and cover on the other side with just the carbon composite-reinforced nylon shell providing the continuity down the middle. It's a completely new design that requires a new manufacturing process. The padding and the shell aren't bonded together here, it's just the Microtex cover and the shell that are attached to one another. Plus, while I'm going on about such things, the cover doesn't extend over the edges of the shell, it's simply fixed to the top.

Fizik Arione R1 VS Evo saddle - nose.jpg

In use, you certainly notice that channel because there's no pressure at all down the middle. Personally, I like the Versus Evo but the smooth-topped Arione R1, with a more even distribution of pressure, works better for me. We're all different, though, and I can certainly imagine that the Versus Evo will suit many people who struggle with a more traditional saddle shape.

Fizik's Comfort Core foam provides progressive cushioning. It manages to feel reasonably soft but supportive at the same time, if that's not too much of a contradiction in terms.

Two ribs run front to rear over the entire length of the shell, providing some structure in that direction to stop the saddle sagging like a hammock, while the wings – the sections between the nose and the widest part of the saddle – are specifically designed to flex as you pedal, and they definitely do that. I find the amount of flex and cushioning provided by the Arione R1 Versus Evo to be pretty much ideal – comfortable with enough give to soften any hard hits that might come your way, but solid enough that there's no bouncing around when you increase the power.

Fizik Arione R1 VS Evo saddle - underside.jpg

The rails are carbon braided, measuring 7 x 9mm in profile, so just check that your seatpost will take them. If not, or if you want to save some money, the Arione R3 Versus Evo (£139.99) comes with 7mm round kium (Fizik's tubular steel) rails.

The Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo saddle is £31 more expensive than either the Arione R1 or the Arione R1 Open, which has a hole (rather than just a channel) in the centre designed to relieve pressure, so you're paying quite a lot extra for this particular design.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best high-performance saddles

There are, of course, far cheaper options if the main feature you're after is a pressure relief channel. Fabric's Line Elite Shallow, which we reviewed a couple of years ago, for instance, is priced at just £54.99. The Arione R1 Versus Evo is made from different materials, though, and it's a lot lighter, ours hitting the scales at just 170g, quite a bit below Fizik's published weight of 185g (doesn't Fizik know that the bike industry's official practice when coming up with a published weight is to put stuff on the scales and then deduct 10%?).

Overall, the Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo is a high-end option for riders with plenty of flexibility who like a flat saddle. If normal saddles leave you feeling uncomfortable and numb, the valley down the middle might provide the pressure relief you need.




road.cc test report

Make and model: Fizik Arione R1 Versus Evo saddle

Size tested: 299 x 132mm

Tell us what the product is for

Fizik says this:

"With full-channel comfort and advanced technology, materials and craft, Arione R1 Versus Evo is a leading performance road saddle for riders who want a flat saddle profile and a pressure relief channel.

Made for Snake riders with high body flexibility and no pelvic rotation while pedaling, the Arione is longer than any other fi'zi:k road saddle, flat from nose to tail and with a narrow nose, so you can move around to find your power spot. The Regular model is the narrower of our two options.


Like all performance fi'zi:k road saddles, Arione R1 Versus Evo is light, flexible and agile. It's designed for pros, with pros and raced by pros.With full-channel comfort and advanced technology, materials and craft, Arione R1 Versus Evo is a leading performance road saddle for riders who want a flat saddle profile and a pressure relief channel."

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

Fizik lists these features:

Versus Pressure Relief Channel

Shell: Carbon-reinforced nylon

Rail: 7x9mm Carbon Braided

Cover: Light Microtex

Padding: Comfort Core foam

Dimensions: 299x132mm

Integrated Clip System compatible

Rate the product for quality of construction:
Rate the product for performance:
Rate the product for durability:
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)

According to our scales, it's almost as light as the standard Fizik Arione R1.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)

It's very comfortable, although I actually find the standard Fizik Arione R1 suits me marginally better.

Rate the product for value:

You are paying quite a bit more than for one of Fizik's other Arione R1 saddles. Fizik says this is largely down to an entirely different production process.


I find that this saddle provides enough flex and cushioning while still being firm enough for stability when you increase your power.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The level of comfort provided here.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

£210 is obviously a lot to spend on a saddle.

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

This is a high-end saddle made from very good materials. It performs exceptionally well, but you have to pay a lot for it. All that adds up to an 8.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:


