Selle Italia SLR Gravel Elite Saddle

Selle Italia SLR Gravel Elite Saddle takes the SLR road saddle and reworks it for gravel riding. Selle Italia adds a Bow Rail System between the rails and the cover, which it says reduces the vibration passed up from rough, unpaved ground, and pairs it with shock absorbers tuned for gravel. The Elite uses lightweight tubular steel rails and has extended padding with a wider nose for stability on rough terrain.

The Superflow center cutout comes fitted with a removable protective insert that covers the channel and helps keep your shorts dry in wet conditions. Take it out when you want the ventilation back. Reflective reinforced edges are there to protect the saddle on rough terrain and add visibility in low light. Selle Italia lists the Elite at 195 g in S3 and 208 g in L3, with both sizes measuring 245 mm long and 130 mm or 145 mm wide.

The Elite is the top model in the SLR Gravel family, above the Advan, which carries the same technology at a lower price and a slightly higher weight. If you ride mixed surfaces in wet weather and want a light gravel saddle with a mud-shedding option, this is the one to look at.