Selle SMP Stratos

Price Paid:  $220.00

Bike Setup:
Fuji SL1
Dura Ace/Ultegra components
Shimano wheels

Summary:
This is my fifth saddle that I've tried and it's by far the best saddle for me. The other ones all gave me numbness no matter how much adjustments I made. I've had a little over 500 miles on this saddle and there's no feeling of any numbness at all even on the first time I sat on it. The only pain I get once in awhile is the pressures coming from my seat bone, but it goes away the more I ride. I also heard the Fizik Aliant is also comfortable...I was debating on the Aliant over the Statos, but I'm glad my purchase this one. The saddle is worth every penny that I paid. This is a keeper.

Strengths:
No numbness.
Shape fits me perfectly.
Fit and Finish is great. No scuff or color wear on the leather after 500 miles.. I have the black one.

Weaknesses:
Price...
A lot more pressure on the seat bone but you'll get use to it and it'll away

Similar Products Used:
From Worst to Good
San Marco Ponza, San Marco Zoncolan, Fzik Arione, and Bontrager Race

Price Paid:  $0.00 at gift

Favorite Ride:
Apple Orchard

Bike Setup:
Spiuk Aura/Chorus

Summary:
Like every saddle on the market it has to fit your anatomy. That said, it is comfortable enough on very long rides for my old bones. It definitely eliminates any numbness issues.

Strengths:
Light weight, radical design

Weaknesses:
Price

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia Gel, San Marco Aspide

Price Paid:  $280.00 at australi

Favorite Ride:
no cars

Bike Setup:
Time Edge

Summary:
see my SMP Evolution review on same date

Strengths:
comfortable

Weaknesses:
expensive

Similar Products Used:
Fizik

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Bormio – Umbrail – Prato – Stelvio - Bormio

Bike Setup:
Principia Gaia, Ultegra 9-speed, Shimano WH-R561 road wheels.

Summary:
I borrowed successively a SMP Stratos and SMP Glider test saddle from a LBS since I was looking for a saddle not giving any pressure in the middle. I wanted to solve the numbness I sometimes experienced with my previous saddle, a Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel. I started with a (century) ride with the Stratos. This is one of the smaller versions of the SMP which I expected to fit me because of my limited seat bone distance of 3,9 inches. Since I felt my seat bones were not well supported by the Stratos, I changed it for the (wider) Glider and did a century with that saddle the day after. Both avoid any pressure in the middle because of the large cut-out, so numbness is history. Since the seat bones are supported over a very limited surface, the pressure in that area becomes a very heavy torture after as little as 20 miles. I have never experienced something like this. A Selle Italia SLC Gel Flow, also with large cut out, but with even much less padding, appears to be more comfortable for me (though not perfect). So not the firm padding, but the posture of the SMP’s seems to be the problem. I was really happy to end the experiment with the SMP’s.

Strengths:
No numbness

Weaknesses:
Heavy torture
Expensive
High weight
Firm padding

Similar Products Used:
San Marco Rolls **, Selle Italia Flite Ti version 1 ***, Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel (version 1) ***, Selle Italia SLR 135 gram version **, Selle Italia SLC Gel Flow ***, San Marco Aspide Glamour 190 gram version w/o cut-out ****.

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Price Paid:  $180.00 at WayPastFast

Favorite Ride:
Rollyview

Bike Setup:
Lemond Tourmalet w/ Reynolds DV46UL. Tufo S3 lites glued.

Summary:
After trying a few of the SMP saddles, the Stratos proved to be the perfect blend of comfot/padding and minimal weight. There was no break in period where it was uncomfortable and then comfortable. This thing was gold right from the start. I was looking to replace a worn out Specialized Alias. The Alias was good on the hoods, but not so much in the drops or in an aero tuck. This saddle shines at such angles.

Strengths:
Super ergo shape. Very comfortable in a drop or areo position. Absolutely no numbness or pain after 3 hour rides. All the focus is on my legs now, without having to maneuver or micro-adjust to find a less sensitive position as with my former saddles.

Weaknesses:
None for me. Although, others have called it firm. I thought the stitching might fray, but so far it still looks perfect. Pricy, but considering what's at stake...

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager Race Lux - Cocytus. That's right, the lowest level of hell and all it's icy numbness! Specialized Alias - Limbo (no punishment, but the position could easily worsen). Selle Italia Trans Am - Purgatory (respite, and a feeling that things down below just might make it through the race OK).