Specialized Phenom saddle gets Mirror treatment

Today Specialized released the S-Works Phenom with Mirror saddle, a high-end 3D printed saddle with carbon rails and shell that’s aimed at a wide range of riders. If you know you get along with the Phenom shape and want to maximize butt comfort, it’s an investment worth considering.

In a Nutshell

• Materials: Carbon shell, carbon rails, polymer padding
• Sizes: 143 mm (tested), 155 mm
• Weight: 223 g (size 143)
• Rider Weight Limit: 240 lb
• Price: $450

The S-Works Phenom Mirror is available now.

Phenom Joins the Mirror Family

Over the last five years Specialized has rolled out S-Works and Pro versions of two of its flagship saddles, the Power and Romin EVO, in a 3D printed matrix called “Mirror.” The Specialized Phenom is the brand’s latest model to get the science treatment, and we got our hands on the pricey and comfortable saddle.

As opposed to the locked-in style of the snub-nosed Power or the more traditional, aero road style of the Romin EVO, the Phenom is designed for a mountain biker, roadie, or gravel rider who adjusts positions as needed, and has the flattest platform of the bunch. Specialized says it’s a really versatile saddle shape, with sponsored riders ranging from road to DH reaching for the Phenom.

The folks in the Body Geometry touch-point department throw a ton of science at research and design, and the honeycomb matrix purportedly allows for individually tuned density and creates a hammock effect in which the saddle, rather than the soft tissues around a rider’s sit bones, supports weight. Specialized says the Phenom has a little more “travel” than the Power, with thousands more of those printed struts and nodes. That cushy polymer matrix does add weight; the non-Mirror S-Works Phenom is almost 80 g lighter at 149 g and costs $325.

The Phenom saddle has mounts molded into the shell that are compatible with SWAT accessories like the Mountain Bandit, a strap with compartments for a tube, CO2, and tire lever. It’s a nice touch–the last thing you’d want to do with a saddle this nice is hang an unsightly bike bag off its dainty rails.

Fit and Performance

Here’s the obvious saddle review disclaimer: everyone’s butt is different, so if you struggle to find a saddle that works for you, it’s a good idea to look into a comprehensive bike fit, or at least test out a few different saddle shapes to learn more about what makes you comfortable.

That said, there are folks on the internet who call the Power with Mirror the most comfortable saddle in the world, so I was very interested to see if the Phenom with Mirror has that same magic.

I do like the Power, possibly more than the Phenom, and I don’t like the Romin EVO (with sharper swallowtail wings, the Romin is definitely a road saddle that’s not designed for mountain bike descending). I get along with saddles like the WTB Silverado, the (sadly discontinued) Specialized Henge, and the Ergon SM Enduro, all of which have a flattish profile and longer nose, but I also like the PRO Stealth Off-Road, which is more snub-nosed like the Power.

I like a flat saddle and run my saddles exactly horizontal. Since it has no curvature, the Phenom might be a good choice for more enduro-biased riders who tilt their saddles down, although it does have a slightly longer nose than the Power (27 cm vs 24 cm) that can get in the way on descents.

The Phenom saddle surface is firm to the touch but supple under the sit bones; as promised, there’s a gentle sinking sensation as you straddle it. It appears to be a little taller than the Power–I had to drop my seat post a few millimeters to accommodate the different height when I switched to the Phenom.

The textured surface of the saddle with its large pores and honeycomb weave gives the saddle a grippy quality, which I prefer to a super-slippery saddle but does mean moving around requires a little more intentionality.

Since the Phenom with Mirror has an open weave, it has a propensity to eat up mud and even small rocks, but it’s pretty easy to spray any detritus out with a hose, and conversely the saddle doesn’t absorb and hold water or liquid mud the way normal foam can.

Two limitations of the S-Works saddle, thanks to its carbon rails, are a 240-lb rider weight rating and an incompatibility with seatposts equipped only for round rails. If those limitations or the price tag is a dealbreaker for you, past releases would indicate that there’s a good probability that Specialized will eventually offer a Phenom Pro with Mirror, which will likely have titanium rails and a reclaimed carbon fiber shell, for around $125 less.

Fortunately, Phenoms are pretty easy to find–the shape has existed for a long time at a lot of price points, so you can test this saddle in a shop or even by snagging a cheap used one before committing to the S-Works version.

Another Butt’s Take

After a few rides, I handed the Phenom over to Cy Whitling, who has different saddle preferences. Here’s what he had to say:

“I’ve had good experiences with flatter saddle shapes and so far I’m getting along well with the S-Works Phenom with Mirror. I’ve got a pretty picky butt and tend to run a dramatically down-angled saddle. The first thing I noticed about the Phenom was the texture–it’s got a really nice grip to it, without feeling like it’s hard to reposition yourself on the saddle, or like it’s going to wear your shorts out extra fast.

But the most important sensation I noticed with the Phenom was an absence of hot spots. According to my PT I’ve got a pretty messed up hip and butt area, and I’ve come to accept a certain level of pressure points and hot spots on all saddles as the norm. On the Phenom, those issues are dramatically reduced. I’m excited to move the Phenom over to my gravel bike, and log some longer rides on it there.

This should be obvious, but bears mentioning: Nobody needs a $450 saddle. But, especially for an industry leader like Specialized, I understand the drive to make a truly premium, no expense-spared saddle like the S-Works Phenom with Mirror. It allows riders to try a bunch of saddles, date around, and sow their wild oats. And then, once you’ve figured out what your posterior gets along with the best, consider investing in a higher-end, ‘forever’ saddle, like this new Phenom.”

So Who’s It For?

The Specialized S-Works Phenom with Mirror saddle appears to have some legitimate science backing it up and if it’s anything like its sister saddle, the Power, it’s probably going to garner a big following among a variety of riders. This is an investment saddle, so it’s not one we’d recommend to someone who is still looking for a shape that suits them–this is a saddle to purchase if you already love the flat, medium-long nosed, medium-padded Phenom shape and want a extra dose of comfort, paired with light, stiff, high-end rail and shell materials.