Posted on April 26, 2022 by Jordan Villella

The new Power Pro with Mirror is nearly the same as the S-Works but swaps out carbon rails for titanium ones, adding a few grams but keeping all the comfort. The Specialized Power Mirror saddle is now available with hollow titanium rails and is $125.00 cheaper than its S-Works brethren.

For those unfamiliar with the Specialized Mirror saddles — let me catch you up. The base of the saddle is the sturdy and well-respected Specialized Power shell and uses the same overall shape. The top pad is 3D printed using a liquid polymer to create an infinitely tunable honeycomb structure; it conforms to and supports all the bits while you sit. Hows does it work? A patent-pending matrix of 14,000 struts and 7,799 nodes can be tuned individually to deliver unprecedented sit bone comfort — very plush.

For all intents and purposes — the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror is the S-Works version with rails that can take more abuse and a carbon shell that utilizes a new sustainable 15% reclaimed carbon fiber.

The saddle’s carbon base is built with an all-new reclaimed carbon process. The method uses carbon scraps from factory production, combined with injected nylon, building a more sustainable carbon base. This process is the first step on the road to closed-loop production for Specialized — creating less waste while maintaining product integrity. We’re optimistic that Specialized will eventually use this new process and shell for most of its saddles.

Like most all of the Pro models in the Specialized saddle ecosystem, the new Power Pro with Mirror arrives with Titanium rails. The round titanium rails offer more options for seat post compatibility and added resilience to damage. The swap adds roughly 61g to the overall weight of the saddle, coming in at 235g for our 144mm version. *The S-Works model weighs in at 192g in the same width.

This review was my first time riding any Specialized Power saddle with Mirror. I’ve ridden other 3D printed saddles, but this was the first for a saddle that I ride daily — the S-Works Power is my preferred saddle.

As for fit, I set the new saddle up with the exact fit measurements as the S-Works Power it replaced on my cross country bike, same tilt, and same height. The padding on the nose and the pad, in general, is much more responsive than the S-Works Power with traditional foam.

The most notable difference is the response and suppleness of the pad. Think of the traditional Power as a traditional casing clincher and the Power Pro with Mirror as a super supple tubular. My changes to the saddle placement were minor. I adjusted the tilt-up slightly (I usually ride the Power at a – 3°), the padding is very responsive, and I felt like I was sinking in a bit more than usual.

Another thing that took some getting used to was the feel of the liquid polymer outer used for the 3D honeycomb printing process. The traditional Power saddle has a smooth surface, one that’s easy to adjust your posterior on and migrate to other sections of the saddle. The Power Pro with Mirror has a tacky feel, not sticky but more like a “locked and loaded” feel. Depending on your choice of shorts, sensations could be a bit different. It took some time but I ultimately adjusted to the new sensation and now prefer it to my traditional Power saddle.

The new Power Pro with Mirror made its way from bike to bike, gravel to the road, and back again for review. The impressions were the same with different bike disciplines; the is a very comfortable saddle, and the titanium rails keep it simple, so you don’t have to swap out the seatpost ears or the post altogether.

I enjoy plenty about this saddle, but there are some shortcomings. The mega-complex structure of the 3D-printed honeycomb can act as a mud trap and clog up on wet rides. The 3D printing could create a slight problem for anyone that frequently rolls around in the mud or gross wet gravel. I’m confident that Specialized didn’t intend this to be their new cyclocross saddle, but the sky can open at different points, and a dry XC course can become peanut butter, just like the US Pro Cup Fayetteville last weekend. The mud (and pebbles) will eventually disappear, but it can take some thoughtful washing and more high-pressure spraying than is customary.

After spending lots of time on the Power Pro with Mirror, I can undoubtedly say it’s one of the most comfortable saddles I’ve ridden. The fit and comfort are hard to match; the price tag is still more than most saddles on the market, but can you put a price on comfort? Having ridden this saddle on all manner of disciplines and intensities, I can say it’s now my go-to saddle. I’ll go back to the traditional Power for ‘cross season, but until then, the Power Pro with Mirror is the perch for me.

If you’re looking for a new saddle and like the feel on a short nose or are a current Power saddle user, I recommend trying the Specialized Power Pro with Mirror. It might mean a longer ride or less posterior pain in the long run.

For more information check out: Specialized.com

Jordan Villella is a staff writer for BikeRumor.com, specializing in cross country mountain, gravel, road, and race tech. He has been writing about the bicycles and bike culture for over ten years with no signs of stopping.

Prior to BikeRumor, Jordan raced at the professional level and wrote for MTBR and now-defunct Dirt Rag Magazine. He’s covered races, including World Championships and World Cups — where he loves to report what the pros are riding.

Based in Pittsburgh, PA — Jordan spends his time coaching cyclists of all abilities with Cycle-Smart, racing bikes around North America, and adventuring with his family.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

finally. i hate carbon rails. i hope romin with titanium rails is coming soon..

Carbon rails are awesome–until they break by your third ride.

Unless mine is off, my 143-mm S-Works Power with Mirror saddle’s actual weight is 204g.

I took the weight from our past piece on the S-Works version that Jayson wrote. He has a photo on the scale at 192.5g https://bikerumor.com/review-specialized-s-works-power-mirror-saddle-w-3d-printed-carbon-foam-padding/

I’m all about a more comfortable saddle. I do wonder about the long term durability as this honeycomb design looks like it may be fragile?

I’ve now warrantied two power mirror saddles. They won’t last a full year if you do 10k miles. The structure starts collapsing and coming apart.

That’s interesting, what kind of riding?

how much do you weight?

Had one on my audax/endurance bike for about 18 months and done 10k miles on it so far and no durability issues to report, looks almost like it did the day I put it back n.

I’ve ridden it in nearly every condition and its be very sturdy, I’ll have a long-term review after riding it all season.

I love my power mirror. Like Jordan said here, it’s not really meant for CX or MTB so yes keep it away from dirt. Comfort of this saddle is 5 out of 5. I already did well with the normal power, but this thing just does not have any pressure points. Like even after 5hrs it feels great. So feel is 5 of 5. Here’s the 3 negatives about the saddle. 1. is moot now, but it was only carbon railed till just now. 2. like Jordan said, if you get dirt on it, it’s not coming out. I even tried to use sonic cleaning with no luck. 3. Surprised nobody has mentioned this yet. If you move fore and aft on the saddle the 3d holes grip your bib like no other. So you really cannot move around on this saddle with out it gripping to your bibs. Like it’s not just a little bit, it’s like you are on grip tape. I hope in the future they kind of put a solid top layer over the 3d suspension part. That way you can move around without the holes grabbing your bibs.

I will get this for my gravel bike since finally no stupid 7×9 carbon rails.

The Mirror saddles are like a cult. Every person who sits on mine (or one of my other friends), immediately tries to order or source one locally, price be damned.

I’ve never had an issue with mine gripping my bibs, but I can attest to the bizarre (after having been riding bikes for decades) sensation of not having any sitbone fatigue after a 5 hour or more ride. Really wish I had one of these the last time I did Unbound, lol. I ride a lot of dusty roads with it and never have an issue with dirt… but I also never put bikes away dirty, so idk.

You really cannot put a price on comfort and there’s never been anything near as good as these 3d printed saddles (not sure about the Fizik ones, though both Specialized and Fizik get the printed part from the same company).

Sad that Specialized’s unwritten rule is that their higher performance saddles are mutually exclusive with big asses: 168mm widths are only available at the bottom of their lineup, no pun intended.

Hey, I resemble that remark! 😉

I had the S-WORKS version of this saddle, lasted 3 rides before the carbon rails snapped, Was amazingly comfortable though, zero hotspts and great support, was gutted when it collapsed, Saw this Titanium rail version and ordered immediately, arrived this AM, just fitted and waiting for its first outing!

Hi Joseph, i have a Swork Mirror, and im worry about the durability or the rails, my weight is 80kg, I install this saddle on my bmc team machine, the seatpost had vertical clamp, in many reviews is read that with this clamps I don’t have problems with carbon oval rails. Are you agree ? what do you think ? I only take 3 rides with this saddle, do you recommend change this one for the Pro One ? Tks. An sorry for my poor English.

So in a nutshell: a power saddle but softer. Couldn’t they do that without $300 of 3d printing faff?

So, are we all supposed to be Big S fanboy bootlickers and already know what “with Mirror” in relation to a saddle is supposed to mean?

Brand-specific marketing terms shouldn’t be just thrown out there with zero context. Not all of us are eager to suckle at the teet of the big 3…

© Copyright 2022 Bikerumor, All Rights Reserved