The new Syncros Tofino saddle range jumps on the short nose, power position bandwagon but brings along some unique features to set it apart. For starters, it’s designed as an endurance saddle for longer road and mountain bike rides. It comes in a massive variety of material and shape options, with designs to fit virtually any type of rider. One of the more interesting parts of the design, though, is the hidden mounts under the tail where you can bolt accessories directly to the saddle for perfect, wobble-and-rattle-free performance.
The Tofino’s design is a departure from their FL series, and is the first of a complete revamp for the saddle range. Syncros worked with Gebeomized, a German firm that works with top level World Cup teams and athletes, both on road and MTB. Using biomechanics-based testing and research, they say these new saddles can both improve a rider’s comfort and output, making them much faster on the bike. The Tofino’s design is built around the idea that you’re not always supporting your weight on your sit bones, so the saddle needs to work no matter if you’re on the tops, drops or aero extensions. Here’s the complete story:
The Tofino comes in three levels, the top 1.0 with full carbon 7x9mm rails and a carbon-reinforced nylon base and weights as low as 170g. Below that is the 1.5 with hollow ti round rails, and at the base level is the 2.0 with chromoly rails. All use the same microfiber cover and lightweight PU foam inside for support.
All three versions get two size options, each of which is offered with or without a cutout. Perhaps counterintuitively, the narrower 250x135mm version is for more casual riders that sit more upright. The Tofino V is the wider one at 250×145 and it’s designed for more flexible, aggressive riders that tend to sit more toward the front of the saddle with a more “V” like shape formed by their torso and femur. The idea is to better support the sit bones even when you’re more forward on the nose.
The non-cutout version offers a recessed center channel, but the cutout one drops it all the way through and ends up being the lighter saddle. A women’s version called the Savona is available in most iterations, too, and adds more padding, which ends up rounding off the tail’s profile a bit more than the standard versions shown here.
Syncros has three bolt-on accessories available for them, a small saddle bag, a GoPro-style camera or accessory mount, and a fender.
