Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow saddle review

The Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow is a high-end road bike saddle, made with a short-nose design, 3D-printed padding and plenty of carbon fibre.

The Italian brand claims to have delivered “a new dimension of saddle comfort” at a low weight, albeit with a painful price (£399.99 / $449.90 / €429.90).

However, the 3D-printed padding, carbon base and central cut-out combine to produce an exceptional saddle.

Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow specification and details 

Measuring 245mm long and 145mm wide, the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow is a short-nose saddle.

A fairly wide, pressure-relieving channel runs through the middle of the saddle.

The carbon rails extend far back into the wings, where they point upwards through a joint into the carbon hull.

This is covered in a plush, double layer of 3D-printed padding.

Overall, the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow is firmer on the wings to support your sit bones. The rounded nose is softer to reduce the risk of discomfort as you tilt your pelvis forward to get lower on the bike.

This cushioning contributes to the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow’s 198g weight. It's relatively light in the grand scheme of things, but unexceptional at this price.

Many of the best road bike saddles are much lighter (and cheaper), but 3D-printed saddles prioritise long-distance comfort over affordability and low weight. Weight weenies look elsewhere.

Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow performance 

The Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow was a joy to sit on.

Since it’s a short-nose saddle, it encourages you to roll your pelvis forward and rest your pubic bone towards the front of the saddle.

I felt solidly planted in this relatively aggressive position. But if you tend to sit more upright on the bike, such a saddle probably won’t suit you.

Carbon hull and rails

Being carbon, the rails and hull are pretty stiff, which contributes to the sensation of pedalling efficiency, but not excessively so. They’re sufficiently compliant to damp vibrations from rough surfaces.

The rails run flat almost to the back of the saddle, which increases the scope for saddle fore/aft adjustment – something occasionally limited on short-nose saddles.

I ran my saddle fairly far back and didn’t hit the adjustment limit on either a zero-offset or setback seatpost.

3D-printed padding 

The differing density of the 3D-printed padding is a masterstroke.

The saddle wings are comparatively firm to support your sit bones, which I found worked well.

Towards the front of the saddle, the padding gets progressively spongier. For me, this prevented any soft-tissue irritation.

The nose of the saddle has the softest padding. While this isn’t a place you should spend much time on a short saddle, the cushioning enabled me to perform on-the-rivet efforts without pain.

As a caveat, 3D-printed padding won’t transform a saddle that’s the wrong shape for you into a comfortable seat.

Riders who do shorter, full-gas efforts, such as time trials or criteriums, might find the cushioning unnecessary. It could even be a hindrance if a firmer saddle feels more efficient or supportive.

Pressure relief 

While it’s hard to isolate any part of the saddle, I felt the pressure-relief channel did its job. I experienced no numbness or tingling, even during a 20-hour training week.

Moreover, the padding covers the edges of the central cut-out. This is important, because when exposed, these edges can cause chafing for some riders.

Selle Italia says the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow is intended for use on road bikes. I tested the saddle solely on tarmac, but think it would also suit gravel racing. Its comfort would be welcome while riding in an aerodynamic position on rougher surfaces.

Of course, the high price of entry might make you worried about damaging it in a crash (which are inevitably more frequent when riding off-road), but the same could be said of any expensive bit of kit.

Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow bottom line

As a saddle for riding fast and far in exemplary comfort, the Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow would be high on my list, if I had £400 / $450 / €430 to splash.

If you don’t, Selle Italia makes cheaper versions of the Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow. Because their design and technology are similar, they should provide similar performance, albeit at heavier weights.

The non-3D printed version with alloy rails, for example, scored four stars in our testing and costs only £79.99 / $74.90 / €84.90. The Novus Boost Evo Kit Carbonio Superflow (£254.99 / $309.90 / €279.90) has carbon rails and traditional foam padding, saving you about £150 / $150. 

Unless you ride a heck of a lot, or suffer badly from saddle sores, you probably can do without the 3D-printed padding and carbon construction.

That said, provided it’s the right shape for you and you can afford it, the Selle Italia Novus Boost Evo 3D Kit Carbonio Superflow will make many types of riding more enjoyable.