Product Review: Fizik Arione R7 Mag Saddle

Latest version of the extremely popular Arione road bike saddle, with subtle improvements. Improving the comfort offer better positioning.

Specifications:

Cover: Microtex
Shell: Nylon carbon reinforced shell
Rail: Manganese hollow rails
Thigh Glides: with side Logos
Dimensions: 300 x 132 mm
Weight: 247g

Fizik Arione R7 Review:

The saddle arrived quickly, in its nice little Fizik presentation box. Once removed from the nice quality cardboard insert, I was pleasantly surprised at how light the saddle actually was. I mean, I knew it was “only” 247 grams, but it just didn’t seem possible. You can get cheaper “hard shell” saddles weighing far more. The lightness of the saddle, combined with its ergonomic qualities, surely make it a versatile all-rounder.

Sitting on the saddle for the first time it was quickly realised that the ITT evo chamois is a really nice quality, comfortable and chamois top wicking pad and easily removable for when you wash your kit. The stitching around the saddle is neat and the overall finish is excellent. The gels sit comfortably either side of the central cut out; once you’ve set the saddle height-wise, they are equally spaced and are long enough to support your sit-bones. The saddle flexes with your body, but without annoying the perineum. The rear of the saddle uses the Fizik ‘wing’ shape so that you can rotate your hips further without being forced to lean forward. It’s these little touches that make a good saddle a great saddle.

The Arione is made from synthetic materials and a supple microtex cover. It has a nicely padded nose, but is not so bulbous that it interferes with your knees. It has flat but deep sides to give a little more room for your trousers. Markings on both the front and rear tell you the right and left sides.

The micro fibre rear padding is generous and would be comfortable with a pair of bib shorts for all-day long rides. There is a 4mm hole in the padding for the saddle rails to pass through and a cover-strip over this to stop any chafing. The front of the saddle has a similar hole on the padding level with the cutout at the front. This is all part of Fizik’s focused effort to improve the comfort offer by better positioning. The Alium rails allow the saddle to flex with the rider’s hips. This is an excellent feature.

The saddle just plain looks good on my bike, and reflects the fact I have more of Fizik’s kit on my bike than anything else. The saddle is more green than the photos suggest and has a pleasant sort of retro look. The laser markings on the rear give you the level to set the saddle and they are accurate enough to set it up spot on. As I said in my previous Review, there is nothing worse than trial and error when it comes to setting saddle height. Why Fizik didn’t used a number, I don’t know but that’s the only rub I have against the saddle. However, they are so good at saddle positioning and the rails are tapered so you need to know the actual level to set it at. Promise. You’ll only need it the first time.

Once set up you just can’t go wrong with this saddle, it sits comfortably in all kinds of positions, and is a great place to rest your arse. Your knees are no longer painfully held apart and my legs feel much less tired after a long ride.

25 years in the saddle, total mileage is up there. Top-quality materials, quality saddle it’s got all the qualities. it needs to be an excellent workhorse for the amateur to the pro.

I’m proud to place this saddle firmly on my bikes. beautiful saddle rails… the Fizik quality in this product is most obvious in these parts. They give the saddle a very smooth and intuitive flex making your ride smoother as you ascend an uneven road at speed.

This feature will also help your chafing issues. The saddle’s ride is flat, ergonomic, and smooth. It feels like solid construction matches a subtle flex in this saddle. The cut out provides a nice relief which certainly shapes up your butt at the end of a long ride. I had no issues with this saddle at all, or with chaffing. It is comfortable, stable and.. well, completely functional.

Overall, this Arione has met my expectations, and more-so, I recommend it for those who are looking for a saddle that works well, and as a bonus has a touch of class about it.

Pros:

You can’t get cheaper hard shell saddles weighing more
The saddle has a sense of class, especially if you already own more of the Fizik range
There are loads of comfortable saddles out there, but they are made of leather.
The Fizik Arione R7 is comfortable for the long haul and comes in a small neat lightweight package
It’s a fine example of an excellent product, that is built to last

Cons:

There are loads of comfortable saddles out there, but they are made of leather.
You don’t wear leather, and you don’t wear chamois, so this is not for you. Check out the Fizik Aliante XR1 review.
Well, no-one is perfect. I can’t really find any.

Pros: