Selle Italia’s Model X Green eco saddle adds another new Comfort+ version, still made in Italy with unique tech that keeps pricing down and performance high. Focusing on a 4x thicker variant of the supportive gel padding, the Model X Green Comfort+ saddle is targeted at endurance riders and e-bikes. But at the same time, it could be a great option for any serious cyclist prioritizing comfort over saving grams…
Selle Italia Model-X Green Comfort+ saddle
See the trick is, the Selle Italia Model X Green saddles are not exactly light, starting at 315g. While they share a similar shape and feel to many other premium cycling saddles that cost 3-5x as much, the reinforced shell, the 7mm tubular steel rails, and their integrated padding construction end up weighing a couple of hundred grams more than similar-looking saddles. That means the thinner saddle with ~33g of gel padding is already quite hefty. And now with about 133g of the same patented thermoplastic elastomer Total Gel (TPE) padding over the same shell, this new Selle Italia Model X Green Comfort+ saddle weighs a full 415g.
Tech details
Selle Italia’s use of this heavier construction comes down to the new patented manufacturing process that is simplified and automated in such a way to reduce the reliance on environmentally harmful adhesives, messy polyurethane foams, and to be able to bring manufacturing back to Italy. What they’ve done is create a faster new process where tubular rails are in-molded to a reinforced composite plastic shell, and then in a second step the TPE padding is co-molded directly to that shell with no need for an extra cover, glues, or fasteners. A side benefit besides automation, it’s simply quicker to produce, start to finish.
Selle Italia focuses a lot on hyping the new saddles as eco-friendly, paired with reduced CO2 emissions. But even that ‘green’ element just has a lot to do with more efficient manufacturing and on-shoring production while keeping consumer costs low.
Model-X Green Comfort+ saddle – Pricing, options & availability
The best part about the Selle Italia Model-X Green Comfort+ saddle is its affordable 60€ price tag, or just 50€ for the lighter, thinner padded original version. Both come in a single 145mm x 245mm curved top, wide & short shape that Selle Italia calls L3 Boost. Both are available now.
We’ve started to see the original Model X popping up as an OEM saddle on several gravel & endurance bikes, and Selle Italia says this new Comfort+ variant will get similar OEM spec, on e-bikes as well.
