The Specialized Romin Evo Comp saddle is a curved profile saddle that features Specialized's proprietary Mimic technology and a more traditional, long nose shape. The Romin makes a great saddle for anyone who likes a little more support and the soft pressure relief channel makes it great for women - but that doesn't mean it wouldn't fit men as well.
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Specialized Romin Evo Comp Mimic saddle - Technical details
Specialized Romin Evo Comp is a traditionally shaped, longer nose saddle with a slightly curved profile - the rear of the saddle scoops up a little bit but otherwise, it's flat.
Specialized offers its saddles in three different versions; Comp, Expert and Pro. This one, being the comp version, is the bottom of tier one and features hollow Cr-Mo rails and level two padding. The more expensive Expert version gets titanium and the Pro carbon rails, meaning that there are some weight (and possibly, durability) benefits for those higher-tier models.
The Romin is available in a cutout version as well, but this saddle features Specialized’s Mimic technology, which initially was developed for women, but has been proven to work across genders by minimising any soft tissue swelling.
In essence, the technology means there is no visible cutout, but instead, the central channel is covered by a lot of softer material that mimics the soft tissue. The surrounding saddle utilises what Specialized calls “medium density foam”, which means the padding is not too firm or soft for a bike feel, but still offers a bit of cushioning.
The Romin Evo Comp with Mimic is available in three widths: 143mm (tested), 155mm, and 168mm and the weights range from 241g to 257g.
Specialized Romin Evo Comp Mimic saddle - Performance
Apart from the Mimic technology and width, the Romin Evo shares barely any of the characteristics of my favourite saddle, yet, I have found it to be excellent. The two major characteristics of this saddle are the Mimic technology and the curved profile - and I got along well with both of them.
I usually don't ride a very curved profile, and thought that the Romin would be too much - yet I found myself appreciating the slightly 'scooped up' tail end, especially on longer rides. The shape offers more support for maintaining good posture especially when riding in a more aggressive position, and I felt my sit bones were much better supported than on a very flat saddle.
That said, the shape doesn't lend itself too well to those who want to move around the saddle a lot, as the curve means you will likely find one position much more comfortable than another. For me, the curved shape worked well, but if you ride mountain bikes, the Specialized Phenom might be a better choice.
Then there's the Mimic technology. I've been riding pretty much solely with the Mimic Power saddle for quite a few years now and although there are other saddles I’ve found comfortable, the technology easily feels superior to any other - and it's definitely one of the positives of the Romin, too.
The technology was originally launched as a woman-centered feature, Specialized has since steered away from referring to the Mimic saddles as women’s specific, as they suit other genders as well. As a woman, though, I’ve found that the way the technology eliminates a full cutout works great in relieving the pressure, but without creating those hard edges that a proper cutout sometimes does. Not to mention, a lack of cutout is also a good positive when riding off-road without a mudguard…
The middle of this saddle is made of a very soft material, and when you poke it has a kind of memory foam feel to it. When sitting on it, I didn’t really notice the padding in the middle, just that it was comfortable to sit on. The soft channel extends to the nose, and the rest of the saddle is quite firm, but I found it comfortable even on longer rides without any issues. And on the topic of the long nose, I cannot say I think it's necessary for it to be there, but I do feel it maybe allows a slightly more varied saddle position to be adopted than with a short nose saddle.
Lastly, the build of the saddle. This is a well-built bit of kit without any visible defects and the Cr-Mo rails are good enough for everyday riding I have nothing negative to say about the quality, nor did I find anything to wear out quickly.
Specialized Romin Evo Comp Mimic saddle - Verdict
Overall, the Specialized Romin Evo Comp Mimic saddle is a very comfortable saddle that offers a great pressure relief channel and a good level of support regardless of the ride duration, in a lightweight package.
The Giant Romero SL saddle that Liam tested is similar in that it has a slight curve to it, a comfortable shape with a pressure relief channel and a long nose, but beats the Romin in price - costing £75 compared to £95.
The Romin is, however, quite competitively priced compared to Repente Artax GLM (£165) that Matt praised for comfort, long rails, and lightweight at 164g. That certainly beats the 241g of the Romin, but then again the Comp is not the lightest version of the Romin Mimic range, and if compared to Fizik Terra Argo X5, the Romin is lightweight compared to Terra’s 271g.
I think the Specialized Romin Evo Comp Mimic saddle makes a great option if you want a little more support from your saddle, on longer days out or perhaps just for comfort. This is a well-made saddle with a competitive price and it's available on varied widths to suit different riders.
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