A lightweight gravel saddle made for long days
The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Ti 316 Superflow takes the compact shape of a performance road saddle and adds more comfort for gravel riding. It is light, supportive and well suited to riders who want an efficient pedalling position without being beaten up by rough roads.
This is not a wide, heavily padded comfort saddle. Its comfort comes from the Superflow cut-out, Light Gel padding, integrated shock absorber and, most importantly, choosing the correct width.
Performance support with added comfort
The shortened SLR Boost shape gives you room to move while keeping you supported in a purposeful riding position. Its neutral profile suits riders who rotate forward over the bike as well as those who remain slightly more upright.
The Superflow central cut-out reduces pressure through the perineal area. A thin layer of Light Gel helps soften repeated vibration from corrugations, coarse chip seal and broken gravel without making the saddle feel overly soft.
An integrated shock absorber between the shell and rails adds another small amount of movement. You still get the direct feel expected from an SLR, but with more forgiveness than a stripped-back race saddle.
Ti 316 rails
The tubular Ti 316 rails keep the weight down while providing the strength required for regular gravel riding. They also absorb some vibration and use a standard 7 mm round profile, making the saddle compatible with most conventional seatpost clamps.
If your seatpost uses separate fittings for oversized carbon rails, check that the standard round-rail hardware is installed before fitting this saddle.
Choosing the right width
The S3 measures 130 mm wide and the L3 measures 145 mm. Wider is not automatically more comfortable and neither is choosing the saddle with the most padding. Your sit bones need to land on the supportive part of the saddle while still giving your legs room to move freely.
If you are unsure where to start, read our guide to Retül Digital Sit-Bone Measurement.
You can also visit Chain Reaction at 4/218 Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch for a free in-store measurement. It only takes a few minutes and gives us a useful starting point when comparing saddle widths and shapes.
Who is it for?
The SLR Boost Gravel suits riders who prefer a firm, supportive performance saddle rather than a soft recreational one. It is a good option for fast gravel loops, long mixed-surface rides and bikepacking where efficient pedalling still matters.
Our thoughts
This is a good choice if you already like the feel of a performance road saddle but want something better suited to rougher surfaces. The gel, cut-out and shock absorber all help, but they cannot compensate for the wrong width or poor setup. Start with the correct width, then take the time to set the height, setback and angle properly.
Key features
- Compact gravel saddle with a neutral anatomical shape
- Superflow cut-out to relieve perineal pressure
- Light Gel padding for rough-surface comfort
- Integrated shock absorber between the shell and rails
- Carbon-powered nylon composite shell
- Ti 316 tubular rails with a standard 7 mm diameter
- Fibra-Tek technical microfibre cover
- Hi-Viz reflective inserts
Why buy from Chain Reaction?
- Independent Christchurch bike shop
- Free in-store Retül Digital Sit-Bone Measurement
- Practical advice on saddle width, shape and setup
- Seatpost and rail compatibility checks
- Professional saddle installation available
Specifications
- Use: Gravel
- Shape: Neutral
- Rails: Ti 316 Tube, Ø7 mm
- S3: 130 × 248 mm, 204 g (± 8%)
- L3: 145 × 248 mm, 209 g (± 8%)
